Kill Bill Vol 1

Kill Bill Vol 1 is a real blast - considering it was intended to be a straightforward action film devoid of context. Basically, the whole movie is similar to a cartoon, serving as an ode to Japanese action flicks. It's visually stunning in terms of action choreography, has some of Tarantino's greatest needle drops, and retains a sense of glee despite the cold-blooded retribution pouring through its veins. Kill Bill Vol 1 also establishes Uma Thurman (together with her stunt coordinator Zoe Bell) as one of the finest action superstars of the twenty-first century.

However, the issue with this movie is that all the dramatic heaviness and rewards occurs in Vol 2, leaving you with little material in the first movie. Because the Bride's goal is seldom questioned, the audience just witnesses a murderous rollercoaster with no further explanation.

To be fair, Tarantino did drop some hints about the futility of revenge throughout the film - from Vernita's daughter witnessing her mother's murder, to O-Ren, whose own journey of vengeance propels her to the top of Tokyo's criminal underworld, only to be assassinated by somebody on their own path of vengeance. Still, these details are nothing in comparison to the true reckoning that occurs with the Bride's journey.

Release year: 2003

Stars: Uma Thurman, David Carradine

IMDB Score: 8.2/10