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Movies / On DVD / Kill Bill Vol. 1
Kill Bill Vol. 1

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Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)

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Reviews Counted:216

Fresh:184

Rotten:32

Average Rating:7.7/10

Consensus: Kill Bill is nothing more than a highly stylized revenge flick. But what style!

Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Synopsis: After a six-year hiatus, Quentin Tarantino returns to the director's chair with KILL BILL. The movie proves once again that he is a hyperactive visionary and the master of cinematic coolness. Split... After a six-year hiatus, Quentin Tarantino returns to the director's chair with KILL BILL. The movie proves once again that he is a hyperactive visionary and the master of cinematic coolness. Split into two volumes by Miramax in order to ensure that Tarantino's vision would not be compromised (and presumably to sell more tickets), KILL BILL: VOL. 1 tells the first half of the sprawling story, which is quite simple at first glance. A female assassin, referred to as "The Bride" (Uma Thurman), is attacked on her wedding day. Dead are her soon-to-be husband and unborn child. However, she doesn't die. Four years later, she wakes up from a coma looking for revenge. Although her ultimate target is her former boss, Bill (David Carradine), it's quite clear that The Bride is saving the best for last. And before she can track him down, she must methodically take out the minions who ruined her life. VOLUME 1's targets include Vernita Green/Copperhead (Vivica A. Fox), Sofie Fatale (Julie Dreyfus), and the heartless O-Ren Ishii/Cottonmouth (Lucy Liu). Using a blessed sword handmade by Hattori Hanzo (Sonny Chiba), The Bride begins her relentless assault. Turning up the style and energy levels that he kept under a threshold with 1997's JACKIE BROWN, Tarantino's obvious glee and reverence for the underground kung fu action pictures of the '70s, and Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns, makes for a stunning visual spectacle. Employing split screens, slow-motion, an anime sequence, and his trademark ultra-hip musical selections, Tarantino's film dares viewers to be unimpressed. [More]

Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Chiaki Kuriyama

Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Chiaki Kuriyama, Sonny Chiba, Gordon Liu, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Julie Dreyfus

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Screenwriter: Quentin Tarantino
Producer: Lawrence Bender, Quentin Tarantino
Composer: RZA
Studio: Miramax Films

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Kill Bill Vol. 1

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
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Guaranteed to blow you away.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
10/07/03
Stella Papamichael
Stella Papamichael
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A blood-stained love letter to exploitation movies that seems to be missing a few pages.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Matthew De Abaitua
Matthew De Abaitua
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Brutally bloody and thrillingly callous from first to last.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/15/04
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite the (for some) outrageous amount of violence, Tarantino manages to stage these fight scenes with panache, opting for a tongue-in-cheek tone that elicits more chuckles than gasps of horror.

Full Review Source: iofilm.co.uk | comment Comment
10/13/03
Ignatz Ratskiwatski
Ignatz Ratskiwatski
iofilm.co.uk

I didn't leave the cinema aching to see Volume Two (out in February), though I'm interested to learn how things work out.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
05/07/08
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

The characters are vivid enough to rise above [Tarantino's] cinematic nerdiness. Thurman is shockingly good.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
10/02/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

A barely watchable mess, a tangled montage of fashion gloss streaked in gore, a cocktail party in an abattoir.

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
10/07/03
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
Teletext

It's all bang, bang; no kiss, kiss. But this is still bravura film-making from a prodigious talent, and Thurman may yet prove its saving grace.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Has all the coolness and daring and wit through which Tarantino made his name. It delivers what we expected, and packs some shocking punches on top.

Full Review Source: UK Critic | comment Comment
10/17/03
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic

It lacks the trademark snappy dialogue but delivers fantastic fight scenes, a cool soundtrack and a dizzying array of cinematic tricks.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/07/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

This is one killer kick-*** of a movie!

Full Review Source: 3BlackChicks Review | comment Comment
10/08/03
Kamal  'The Diva' Larsuel
Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel
3BlackChicks Review

Kill Bill Vol. 1 is contemporary Tarantino out Tarantino-ing classic Tarantino.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
10/08/03
Rebecca Murray
Rebecca Murray
About.com

This is the only episodic film that actually leaves you wanting more. The final revelation makes you re-evaluate the entire journey, which is what a good cliffhanger should do.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
10/09/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

Tarantino is totally in charge at every second. He knows exactly what he’s doing, exactly what he wants to convey from moment to moment.

Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
10/15/03
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

A wondrous ode to the joie de vivre of filmmaking, paying homage to great ‘60s and ‘70s action flicks from around the globe.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
10/10/03
Dan Jardine
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

A rampaging hurricane of a chop socky revenge flick.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
10/09/03
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

Kill Bill not only lives up to the hype, it exceeds it, with some of the most amazing fight sequences ever filmed.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
10/09/03
Bill Muller
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic

In the wake of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the Matrix series, even the recent So Close, Tarantino's movie comes off as been there, kicked that.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment 1 Comment
10/09/03
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

'Filmmaking genius or blood-loving freak? Tarantino is a bit of both ...'

Full Review Source: Atlantic City Weekly | comment Comment
01/30/04
Lori Hoffman
Lori Hoffman
Atlantic City Weekly

Quentin Tarantino comes out of the box with a vengeance, intent on the idea of parlaying hardcore grind-house into trendy art-house.

Full Review Source: Aufmuth.com | comment Comment
10/10/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Aufmuth.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Kill Bill Vol. 1

October 02, 2009: Weekly Ketchup: Threequels for Kill Bill, Transformers
This week's Ketchup includes new movies for Leonardo DiCaprio and Hugh Jackman, sequel news for Kill Bill and Transformers, two CGI animated movies about the weird twists and... More...

June 04, 2009: David Carradine: 1936-2009
David Carradine, the film and television actor who lent his rugged persona to more than 100 films, was found dead in Thailand while on location for the film Stretch. Police said... More...

September 26, 2008: Exclusive: David Carradine Cameo in Crank 2 says Statham
It's not just Death Race that boasts a cameo from legend David Carradine. According to star Jason Statham, speaking to RT this week ahead of the UK release of Death Race, the... More...

June 16, 2008: RT on DVD: 70 More Minutes of The Incredible Hulk on Blu-Ray??
This week in DVD news, that long-awaited Kill Bill double-volume set may finally be on its way and Incredible Hulk director Louis Leterrier promises enough leftover Hulk... More...

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