Slicing and dicing

No, we still don’t know what was in that briefcase from 1994’s Pulp Fiction, the briefcase that Vincent and Jules recovered with the 666-lock combination. We still don’t know what was emitting the strange glow that left anyone who saw its contents awe-struck. And unfortunately, the audience wasn’t part of that. There have been dozens of speculations, though the most popular urban legend says it contained the soul of Vincent and Jules’ boss, Marsellus Wallace. However, writer/director Quentin Tarantino has openly admitted that he himself doesn’t know what’s inside it, and just wrote it into the screenplay as an intriguing plot point. But that wasn’t the only thing Tarantino left his fans wondering: After years in hiatus, the movie industry wasn’t sure when his latest project Kill Bill would be released. The film faced several tough challenges: It went millions over its budget, huge – and very serious – production delays (Tarantino, enthusiastic about lead Uma Thurman, had to accommodate the actress’ pregnancy), getting way behind its filming schedule (it took an awfully long 150 days to film), and problems about its running time, which was initially a three-plus hours movie but was then split into two 90-minute films, thus creating Volumes 1 and 2. Nevertheless, all their struggles paid off, as Kill Bill: Volume 1 is a truly original, enjoyable experience.

Thurman plays a pregnant assassin only known as The Bride, code-named Black Mamba, who, on her wedding day, is attacked by her fellow members of DiVAS (Deadly Viper Assassins Squad): Vernita Green, a.k.a. Copperhead (Vivica A. Fox), Elle Driver, a.k.a. California Mountain Snake (Daryl Hannah), and O-Ren Ishii, a.k.a. Cottonmouth (Lucy Liu), with the help of Budd (Michael Madsen). After a bullet to the head courtesy of DiVAS boss Bill (David Carradine), the group retreats, expecting The Bride and her unborn baby to be dead. Only one problem: She’s not (you’ll learn more info about the baby later on in the film, though I’d rather not spoil it). Four years later, The Bride awakens from a coma, and promises revenge to everyone involved in the crime. Thus begins her quest for bloodshed, eliminating each member one by one, and eventually leading up to facing Bill.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold." The film begins with this fitting Chinese proverb right after the nostalgic ’70s Chinese kung-fu movie fade-in. Then follows Nancy Sinatra crooning Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) as the title and opening credits leisurely – if not merrily lethargic – flash onto the black screen, one of them proudly declaring that this is "The 4th Film By Quentin Tarantino." This is how Tarantino sets the stage for the next 95 minutes, in which in that time span, he will exercise his true filmmaking prowess. Kill Bill: Volume 1 is not focused much on its very simple, direct plot, but more on its extravagant execution. Don’t get me wrong. The screenplay (which he also wrote) is very engaging and exciting, with several twists and cliffhangers in the end. However, it’s Tarantino’s amazing cinematic vision that is a marvel; though the film is set in the present day, Kill Bill feels like it’s set in a world of extreme hyperbole and exaggeration. And let me warn you right here and now: Kill Bill: Volume 1 is the most violent, brutal and bloody film of 2003 (it was released in the US in October, so I count it as an ’03 release). This martial arts revenge saga has The Bride cutting off limbs of anyone who gets in her way, and blood is even its own main character in the film; it seems as if Tarantino used hundreds – if not thousands – of gallons of fake blood. And about the exaggerations, chopping off a limb in this world would cause great blood loss, but in Kill Bill World, arteries are as large as garden hoses, causing the red liquid to gush out as if it literally came from a fountain. In Kill Bill, blood gushes, spurts, flows, pours, runs, cascades, streams, spills, and splatters, all onto Tarantino’s plain white canvas, leaving it to look like an all-red Jackson Pollack. He uses the fluid as his paint, creating a beautiful, incredibly gorgeous, exceptionally brilliant unique work of art.

Uma Thurman, looking fantastic in her yellow, black-striped tracksuit, plays her role with the utmost intensity and juiciness, making her deserve at least the Oscar nomination that she probably won’t (but still very possibly) receive. And she, along with the rest of the cast, look as if they’re having the time of their lives. Tarantino’s script is devilishly funny, viciously hilarious and clever in every way. His directing is no-holds-barred, and doesn’t apologize for it. And though the film ends with a huge cliffhanger, it doesn’t feel inconclusive but very satisfying, leaving us with just enough to anticipate Volume 2 set to be released in the US in April. Kill Bill: Volume 1 is thoroughly entertaining, fiercely funny and gloriously brutal, and proves that (the great) Quentin Tarantino is one of the greatest filmmakers in history, no matter what snobby, 80-year-old film historians might say.

Bottom Line: Kill Bill: Volume 1 is an outrageously original, ferociously funny exercise of Quentin Tarantino’s astonishing stylistic ability. I’ll even go as far as to say that this is one of the best action films of all time.

Grade: A

To Do List Movies

Watch Kill Bill: Volume 1.

TV

Watch For Love or Money. In what is the best reality dating show twist since Evan Marriott pretended to inherit $50 million on Joe Millionaire, a poor schmuck named Rob is fawned over by a group of attractive women battling to win his heart. Why is he a poor schmuck, you ask? Because he’s the only one who doesn’t know that the woman he does ultimately choose will have a chance to choose either to stay with him or pocket $1,000,000! And I think we all know the answer to that. I only saw three episodes of this series while in the US, and I was instantly hooked. It is shown on Star World, every Thursday at 9 p.m.

CDs

Listen to "The Long Road" by Nickelback. Like many of their fans, I was introduced to this Canadian rock band trough their mega-hit single How You Remind Me. Their latest album "The Long Road" has a harder, rockier feel as compared to their multi-platinum 2001 release "Silver Side Up", but most of their songs are still very catchy (Someday, Flat on the Floor and Do This Anymore are my favorites) and lead singer Chad Kroeger’s voice still incredibly powerful.

Award show countdown:

44 days till the 76th Annual Academy Awards

9 days till the 61st Annual Golden Globes

23 days till the 46th Annual Grammy Awards

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For comments, questions and suggestions, e-mail me at lanz_gryffindor@yahoo.com.