*** Official KILL BILL VOLUME 1 Discussion Thread (1 Viewer)

[Kevinkall]

I'm surprised no one has asked this yet...

Is there any need to stay through the end credits? Is there anything at the end? (don't want spoilers, just a yes or no)

YES! Well you really don't have to wait...when you watch it you'll know what I'm talking about. CAN'T WAIT FOR VOL 2! WHY DID THEY SPILT IT(?)!!!

 

[Rob Lutter]

WHY DID THEY SPILT IT(?)!!!

Length and $$$$. If the film were over 3 hours long... they wouldn't have been able to make as much money (because the film could only be shown so many times in 1 day).

This way... they get to cash in twice and also get to run the film almost twice as many times in a day. Plus they will be able to release the DVD at least 3 times (Volume 1 DVD, Volume 2 DVD, Uber DVD)

 

[Kevin Porter]

I think I've said this before but if they come out with 7 different DVDs of the film(s) I will buy them all. Call me a blind consumer but I don't care.

 

[Patrick Sun]

Less than 3 hours before I get to check out this half of a film...

 

[David Fisher]

It may have been lost in my post, but at this point I definitely agree with the splitting of this film. As much as I like its style and action, I'm not sure if I would really appreciate (or enjoy) a 3+ hour version of this film. Like I said earlier, would even the most die-hard Charlie's Angels fan sit through a 3+ hour version of Full Throttle?

I think that QT and Miramax realized that people would complain if this movie was overly long, like some people accused Jackie Brown. By splitting Kill Bill into two shorter bursts of adrenaline, he is forcing (or allowing) us to appreciate the fine work that he and his crew have done here.

Like I said in my last post, if you aren't a fan of kung fu or action or Uma then stay away from this film. It will only make you extremely bored or upset. If you're a fan of QT, you'll probably get a kick out of some of the stuff here.

Oh, and there is some extra footage at the end of the credits... but... our screening actually tagged it at the end of the regular film. I'll go out on a limb and say that most regular run shows will place it at the end of the credits..

Oh, and check out the special thanks at the end of the credits... Governor Gray Davis?

 

[Chris]

People can knock this as "half of a film" but I'm going to tell you, this is more entertaining then a whole lot of WHOLE films I've seen, and it makes for a better combo 1-2 punch then Matrix Reloaded.

This stands on it's own merits and does a fine job of it, you are going to be thoroughly entertained, I'll probably see it again..

I was surprised at how often I got a chuckle, even though it is gruesomely bloody.

 

[Peter Kim]

I'm excited to see this...buzz has really picked up in the last week, especially the last few days with the glowing reviews. I'll be catching this one tonight, in about 5 hours.

Was the violence sickening?

 

[David Fisher]

The violence is surreal and it seems to add a layer of subtext to the story. Even though everything is well done, this isn't exactly "real-world" violence like Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs. This is a very playful QT, and he wants to make you laugh as much as you wince in this movie. Go to a late show, have a beer, and just have a fun time. If you go in with that type of expectation, then I think this movie will pleasantly surprise you.

 

[Jeff Adams]

Thats what kind of scares me about this movie, I wanted a more serious type of violent movie like Pulp Fiction and Resrvoir Dogs.

 

[Kevinkall]

Kill Bill flew by as I watched it...it seemed short. Also I didn't really like the way it ended...it didn't end it just stopped. Still an AWESOME movie with some of the best fight scenes that have ever been filmed. It was also a THRILL to see Sonny Chiba again!

I would have LOVED to have seen a full blown trailer/teaser for VOL. 2 after Vol. 1 was over!

 

[Jon_Are]

Just got back from Kill Bill.

I'm in a pissy mood because:

The house lights remained on a good twenty minutes into the film, despite repeated shouts of "lights!" from the audience.

The "gentleman" one row behind and two seats over kept a running monologue going (at a moderately loud level) , sharing his thoughts on what was being shown on screen throughout the film.

Samples of his remarks:

Whenever someone was cut in any way, he'd let out a loud "damn!".

He also freely voiced his predictions: "that's the dude who gets his head cut off"
, "Her baby is going to turn up alive"
, etc.

Finally, he really, really enjoyed his popcorn. I know, because I heard him enjoying it. Lip-smacking good, it was.

*sigh*

As for the film, I wouldn't put in on the level with "Pulp Fiction" (nor "Jackie Brown"), but if you like QT's work, this movie will fit you like a pair of old Levi's.

Jon

 

[rich_d]

Got away to see the matinee today.

My immediate reaction to the film was just how good it was. I haven't been a big QT fan. This film has moments of brilliance in it. The violence/gore? Each will have their own opinion, here is my two cents ...


Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown are fine films. Quite frankly, I disliked Reservoir Dogs - a pointless violent flick with the soul of a porno flick. Still, in all of them, QT seems compelled to sink to the ultra-violence. Admittedly less so in Jackie Brown - perhaps that's why it didn't do as well at the box office. Hopefully some day QT will grow up and move on. How his fanboy base would feel about that depends on them. If that sounds harsh, so be it. If you disagree, explained what was really accomplished by the ultra-violence that was the anime segment.

For me, most of the violent scenes do have a point if only to be faithful to the early 70's kung-fu films. The samurai seeking revenge against incredible odds. At the same time, humor, a wink to the audience - that we know the genre and enjoy the genre for what it can be. Not to compare it against a Fellini film.

 

[JonZ]

Its hard to rate 1/2 a movie but for now I say :star: :star: :star: out of 4 stars.

Loved the Shaw Scope Intro,the Green Hornet theme in Tokyo and the 5 Deadly Venoms stock music.

Sucks we'll have to wait to see the second half:frowning:.Damn Miramax.

House Of Blue Leaves scene with the snow was looked gorgeous.

Not sure how I feel about the anime segment. It kind of felt out of place.

Great to see Sonny Chiba and the Master Killer again.Both aged well.

Gogo kicked ass

 

[David Fisher]

Gogo kicked ass

.

One thing that I haven't mentioned so far is the soundtrack. The score from RZA is perfect, and really captures the feeling of old 70s genre film. Sound effects are great, and QT's choice of old pop tunes is nothing short of amazing as usual.

Damn, I'll definitely have to go see this again this weekend. What a fun movie.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

Originally posted by Jon_Are:
The house lights remained on a good twenty minutes into the film, despite repeated shouts of "lights!" from the audience.

If you were at a multi-plex (as I suspect you were) keep in mind that there is probably just one projectionist, probably at another projector or elsewhere in the booth and the projection booth should be sound proofed so you can't hear the cacophony of the mulitple projectors running. Those shouts of "lights!" were not heard by any staff member. The best thing to do in a situation like that is to go out and tell someone.

Neil

 

[David Fisher]

Neil S. Bulk said
I built two prints of this last night at my theater and previewed one of them, and there was nothing extra at the end of the movie. It just went right into the credits, and when they were over, the blue band appeared.

Hmmm. Well, I went to the Austin Film Society premiere that featured a Q&A with Gordon Liu afterwards. The announcer said that the extra bit was just tagged to the end of the film, but perhaps this is wrong. I had some friends who went to a different premiere who said that they waited after the credits and a green preview card briefly came on screen and then the houselights came on and they were asked to leave.

Some kind of conspiracy is afoot here, I am sure...

 

[Robert Crawford]

I liked the tribute to Charles Bronson's passing near the end of the credits.





Crawdaddy

 

[Chuck Mayer]

Nothing at the end for me. The gore was more amusing than anything else. We've seen worse.

I popped a review in...well, half a review for a half a movie. When we can see the whole thing together, I imagine my rating would have jumped.

The structure was rather brilliant, but my dreams of an underlying point are probably just that. It was also probably half of the second best looking movie I've seen this year (I'd still put Reloaded above it)!

Still, even with my 1/2 griping, worth seeing in the theaters. And then some.

Take care,
Chuck

 

[David Fisher]

Here are QT's comments about the split:

“If I had thought while I was writing it,” Tarantino says, “that [Miramax co-chairman] Harvey Weinstein would be willing to release it in two parts, I would have suggested it then. But I frankly never thought he would. Later on, when he himself said he didn’t want to cut a thing and would we consider releasing it as two movies, I said, ‘What an interesting idea!’ Within an hour, I had figured out exactly how to do it.”
When the time to make the final decision rolled around, in the summer of 2003, Tarantino showed Weinstein his cut of what would soon be designated Kill Bill-Vol. 1. He introduced the screening by saying: “This is either the first movie, or it’s the first half of the movie”. Weinstein’s response was unequivocal: “This is a terrific ending! So that’s it! It’s two movies!” There is certainly more precedent in American film distribution now than ever before for planning films from the outset in terms of a series of several installments. And in Europe and Asia this has been common practice for decades. In fact, one of the key influences upon Kill Bill, Kinji Fukasaku’s Battles Without Honor and Humanity, was an epic gangster drama about the decline of a yakuza clan, which was released in several installments from 1973 to 1976.

After all, the final fight sequence in Vol 1., “The Showdown at the House of Blue Leaves,” is a 20-minute samurai sword battle between The Bride and the minions of killer-turned-yakuza boss O-Ren Ishii (Liu), that took a full eight weeks to shoot, on a soundstage at the Beijing Film Studio— only two weeks less than the entire production schedule of Pulp Fiction. “When you get to the end of Vol. 1,” Tarantino says, “you’re exhausted. You’re ready to take a break.”
On a more philosophical level, Tarantino suggests, “This is supposed to be my version of a grindhouse movie, and the very idea of a three hour grindhouse movie is a contradiction in terms. It seemed pretentious, whereas two 90-minute grind house movies seems more appropriate.”

source

 

[Chuck Mayer]

As stated by other reviewers, I have no problem with the artistic decision...merely the financial one. Can I use my Kill Bill Vol. I ticket to see Vol. II for free???

If so, I shall cease belaboring that point. The film deserves better. As does the paying audience

I even agree that the audience is ready for a break. I was. I'm just ready for round II now...not in 4 months, after they milk the DVD release

Take care,
Chuck