My expectations were low going into this flick, but after the end credits rolled I couldn't help but smile with glee. Not only was I in hog heaven with the Asian cinema aspects, but that music -- that AMAZING soundtrack hand picked by this maniac -- is truly something to behold!

The CD that was released doesn't do justice to the wonderful weaving of images and score QT has created. He uses everything from Bacalov and Morricone to Hsun Chi Chen (Master of the Flying Guillotine) and Herrmann! It was like an education to those who have not experienced Spagetti Western scores (outside of Clint films) and who have no CLUE about Samurai films and Shaw Brothers classics!

The film is a wonder to behold. If you can find them, rent the old Shaw Brothers films like the 5 Deadly Venoms and 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Seek out the masterpiece series of Lone Wolf and Cub films. Behold the artistry of Samurai Fiction. Educate yourself in this genre and you will appreciate the insanity and pure love that went into making Kill Bill.

February 20, 2004 can't come fast enough!

By the way, this film is excellent, it is Tarantino's best; I don't own any of his other films and never will, but this one's a keeper (beware: he has crazy plans for the DVD so don't waste your hard earned cash on buying the first thing that comes out, his comments from Dark Horizons sounded suspiciously like George Lucas and that Star Wars fiasco he's created with which one's to buy 'cause this one has that and the other has this! grrrr). The audience got a kick out of the Nicholas Meyer quote at the beginning from The Wrath of Khan: "Revenge is a dish best served cold." And it just got better from there... the anime was pure art, the fight choreography astounding, Sonny Chiba awesome! (The Street Fighter!)

Hey Hadrian, why do you only wanna see the first volume? That's like watching Star Trek III and not bothering to see Star Trek IV! Lame-o!!! j/k

quote:

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Originally posted by sean:
Hey La La, where was Morriconne used in the film?

Hey Hadrian, why do you only wanna see the first volume? That's like watching Star Trek III and not bothering to see Star Trek IV! Lame-o!!! j/k

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Or like watching FOTR without seeing TTT or ROTK.

I can't recall where the Morricone piece is. At first I thought the Zamphir piece was his. I'll most likely see the film again this weekend. When I do I'll pay closer attention.

BTW, if I'm not mistaken the Master of the Flying Guillotine piece is Track 17 on the soundtrack entitled "Super 16 by Neu!".

MV Gerhard

quote:

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Originally posted by sean:
Hey Hadrian, why do you only wanna see the first volume? That's like watching Star Trek III and not bothering to see Star Trek IV! Lame-o!!! j/k

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It's reached a point where every so often, a large chunk of the general population blindly trust a certain guy to put together a compilation of hidden gems, and they pay willingly for it.

And yet again, we aren't let down.

For me, it would be like not being interested in finding out what's gonna happen in Return of the Jedi or The Voyage Home, they both leave unanswered questions, as does Kill Bill; and, hopefully, the audience wants to know what the next step is.

Ryan, thanks for the Morriconne info.

The last sequence in the restaurant was suppose to be over the top which is fine, but it
also lasted too long. (I was never grossed out by the violence; it was so exaggerated, it
inspired giggles from the audience.) It made its point but began to drag on and on and on.
Hello editor???

Speaking of its point, maybe volume II will have one. When I consider the plot, there
isn’t much. Pulp Fiction was much more intricate, layed, and detailed. So at this point I’m wondering if I was really handed only empty calories all glossed and veneered with the appearance of high art? I don’t know yet. Is this really anything more than a, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scored," movie? (Make Fatal Attraction look like a Disney flick. Certain women should be ticked off. )

quote:

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Originally posted by rkeaveney:
Musical highlight of the film is the use of Ennio Morricone's DEATH RIDES A HORSE ("From Man To Man"). A brilliant collection of music. No score needed!

Ryan

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When was that used? If its the piece I'm hoping it is...I must find it (as nothing by Morricone is on the CD).

why waste your valuable time with pirated goods when the real thing is much more nutritious?

If it's an inanimate object like a movie, there's no reason to be cordial especially when it's one as arrogantly overhyped, conceitedly unoriginal and racially dubious as Kill Bill.

I feel that some of those directors, especially John Ford, Steven Spielberg, and Francis Ford Coppola, are VERY capable and willing to direct some incredible garbage—same goes for Tsui Hark.

It's really too bad that Kinji Fukasaku died before completing Battle Royale II, since after the opening introdcution and first fifteen minutes of the film, it got lost, and there's an easy answer as to why: his son took over in the director's chair, producing a sub-par picture, never reaching the distance the first got to; maybe because Takeshi's hardly in it. (your list just reminded me of this! lol)

Movie: Missed the first 5-10minute Mucho gore, mucho action, leaning on the side of excessiveness. Uma Thurman was very nice. She carries the film quite well even though she didn't possess enough charm to make me feel more involved. Lucy Liu was good. Her character's backstory seems like a pastiche of various HK flicks, which is the point. Every scenes with Sonny Chiba seems to float with such airy/magical personality. What a great actor. The story is simple, so basic and the plot is as linear as you can get with a revenge arc. I'd see the second vol, just so I can find out if half of the first vol was a waste or not.

Geek note - did anyone else hear the 2 uses of the Wilhelm scream during the bloodbath? If you don't know what the Wilhelm scream is, or haven't seen the great video compilation about it, head over here.

(the video needs some updating, becuase the scream was used in AOTC, LOTR:TTT and Kill Bill, amongst others)

quote:

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Originally posted by Camillu:
Geek note - did anyone else hear the 2 uses of the Wilhelm scream during the bloodbath? If you don't know what the Wilhelm scream is, or haven't seen the great video compilation about it, head over here.

(the video needs some updating, becuase the scream was used in AOTC, LOTR:TTT and Kill Bill, amongst others)

[Message edited by Camillu on 11-09-2003]

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Yeah, that was a nice little touch. I wondered why the good old Wilhelm scream didn't make its way into the Matrix sequels actually. (I'm sure there's a deep reason for it.)

I just saw it myself and for my money, Kill Bill vol 1 is a masterpiece. Just beautiful, bloody and not for a moment boring. My favourite Tarantino by a very very definite margin. Best scene: in the swordmaker's loft.