Kill Bill Vol. 1
By Jmaruyama
Release Date: 10/10/2003
Produced By: Miramax Films/ A Band Apart
Running Time: 112 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Format: Color/B & W

Credits

Writer-Director: Quentin Tarantino
Producer: Lawrence Bender
Executive Producers: Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Erica Steinberg
Director of Photography: Robert Richardson
Production Designers: Yohei Tanada, David Wasco
Martial Arts Adviser: Yuen Wo-Ping
Music: RZA
Fight Choreographer: Sonny Chiba
Anime Sequence: Production I.G
Costume Designers: Kumiko Ogawa, Catherine Marie Thomas
Editor: Sally Menke

Cast

Uma Thurman (The Bride/Black Mamba/Beatrix?)
Lucy Liu (O-Ren Ishii/Cottonmouth)
Daryl Hannah (Elle Driver/California Mountain Snake)
Vivica A. Fox (Vernita Green/Jeanne Bell/Copperhead)
Michael Parks (Sheriff)
Sonny Chiba (Hattori Hanzo)
Chiaki Kuriyama (Go Go Yubari)
Julie Dreyfus (Sophie Fatale)
Gordon Liu (Johnny Mo)
Michael Madsen (Budd/Sidewinder)

The Story (Major Spoilers)

The story begins with the brutal assassination of housewife Jeanne Bell by a lone female warrior calling herself simply “The Bride”. We learn that the housewife and mother of one was formerly an associate of “The Bride” named Vernita Green AKA Copperhead. Years earlier, they were both members of an elite and secret assassination bureau called the DiVAS (Deadly Viper Assassination Squad). They worked for a mysterious and dark figure called “Bill”. In flashback we learn that “The Bride” had decided to retire from the organization for marital bliss. Unfortunately, “Bill” was not amused and sent the DiVAS to kill and slaughter everyone at the wedding. “Bill” personally shot “The Bride” in the head even after she confessed to him that she was carrying his child.

However, “The Bride” survived and for four years lay in a coma. During that time another associate of hers, Elle Driver AKA California Mountain Snake had attempted to kill her but was stopped by “Bill”. Through a stroke of miracle, “The Bride” eventually awoke and literally willed herself to walk again.

Determined and thirsting for revenge she sets off on a “rambling road of revenge”. She first heads off to Okinawa to pay a visit to the Master Sword Maker, Hattori Hanzo to have him forge a special Samurai Sword for her. “Bill” had once been a loyal disciple of Master Hanzo but had since strayed from him.

Sword in hand, she next pays a visit to O-Ren Ishii, the Chinese/Japanese-American Yakuza Crime Boss of Tokyo. She was also a member of the DiVAS but had since ventured off on her own. After a titanic battle at the “House of Blue Leaves” nightclub, in which she faces off against O-Ren Ishii’s teenage bodyguard Go-Go Yubari and the masked Crazy 88 Gang, “The Bride” kills O-Ren Ishii in a traditional Samurai Sword duel.

Capturing O-Ren Ishii’s beautiful henchwoman Sophie Fatale, she tortures her into revealing “Bill’s” location.

“Bill” later visits the battered and apologetic Sophie Fatale in the hospital. The movie ends with “Bill” asking if she had revealed the fact that “The Bride’s” child is still alive.

Review

KILL BILL: Vol. 1 is a movie fan’s (otaku) dream. Filled with clever references and homage’s to a score of obscure cult movies (European and Asian mostly), it is a veritable cinema of wonder.

As one such said film buff, I really was overjoyed and appreciative with all the film references. How many theatre goers would be able to name the movie from which Darryl Hannah’s character whistles the theme from (“Twisted Nerve” –1968) or that the DiVAS (Deadly Viper Assination Squad) may be a play on Chang Cheh’s classic Shaw Brothers’ film “The Five Deadly Venom’s” (Shaw Brothers, 1978). Only sharp-eyed cinema fanswould be able to appreciate Quentin Tarantino’s “tip of the hat” to such film greats as Brian De Palma, Sergio Leone and Akira Kurosawa.

While the “Shaw Brother’s” logo proudly opens the film, many of the elements in “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” are actually drawn from Japanese Movie sources. From Kenji Misumi’s “Kozure Okami” (Lone Wolf & Cub) series to Yasuomi Umetsu’s graphic anime “Kite” and Kazuhiko Yamaguchi’s “Onna Hissatsu Ken” (Sister Streetfighter), “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” seems more like a tribute to the films of Toei, Katsu Pro and Toho although the overall plot echoes many of the classic Shaw Brother’s films of the 70’s.

“Kill Bill: Vol. 1” unfortunately suffers from its greatest strength – familiarity. While fans of Bruce Lee may scream in glee at seeing Uma Thurman in her “GOD” (Game of Death) suit and Gordon Liu (from “Master Killer”) sporting the domino mask of Kato from “The Green Hornet”, would other mainstream movie goers catch all the film references. Could they possibly appreciate all the winks of trivia? Perhaps, but is that enough to carry a film?

Granted “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” is still a great action movie but without all the bells and whistles, it doesn’t really go beyond the genre that it tries so desperately to emulate.

Still, “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” is infinitely more creative and enjoyable than some of the tired and disappointing sequels and action films that have come out this year (i.e. “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle”, “Matrix Reloaded”, “The Hulk”, “S.W.A.T.” etc.). “Kill Bill:Vol. 1” is going to be a hard act to follow and only time will tell if “Kill Bill: Vol.2” will match the same energy and cinema excitement that “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” achieved.

Trivia

The haunting theme that Daryl Hannah’s character Elle Driver whistles while in the hospital is from the British Thriller “Twisted Nerve” (National Lion Film/National General Pictures, 1969). Prolific composer Bernard Herrmann who composed the song also contributed music to such movies as “Psycho” (1960), “Taxi Driver” (1976), “Jason & The Argonauts” (1963), “Citizen Kane” (1941) and “Vertigo” (1958). He also helped compose the music for the series Twilight Zone” (1959).

Oba Kenji who plays the bald headed apprentice to Chiba Shinichi’s character “Hattori Hanzo” is probably more familiar to Tokusatsu fans as galactic policeman Ichijoji Retsu in Space Sheriff Gavan. Oba also portrayed Akebono Shiro/Battle Kenya in Battle Fever J and Omei Daigoro/Denji Blue in Denshi Sentai Denji Man. Oba has also starred with Chiba in “Satomi Hakken Den” (The Legend of the Satomi Dog Warriors AKA Legend of the Eight Samurai - Toei, 1983).

Hattori Hanzo, also known as Masashige (1541-1596) is perhaps one of the most famous “ninjas” of Japan. Nicknamed “Devil Hanzo”, he served Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu faithfully during his reign in the 15th Century and helped protect the Tokugawa family during various conflicts. Various fictionalized stories of his exploits have played in Japan with the most famous being the immensely popular “Kage No Gundan” (Shadow Army; Toei/TV Asahi, 1980-1984) which starred Chiba Shinichi. Fujiko Fujio’s long running cartoon “Ninja Hattori Kun” is also a variant of Hattori Hanzo, albeit a more comical and lighthearted version.

Oddly enough Chiba Shinichi also portrayed another famous swordsman/warrior Yagyu Jyubei AKA Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi (or Mitsutoshi), who served the Tokugawa family in the 16th Century and who is a mythic figure in his own right (The Anime “Jubei Ninbocho” AKA Ninja Scroll features a young Yagyu Jubei as its hero.) Yagyu Jyubei lost his right eye in a sword duel practice mishap.

The 5.6.7.8’s is a real Japanese surf-punk band. The female trio of Ronnie "Yoshiko" Fujiyama (guitar/vocal/"shout"), Screaming "Omo" Chellio Panther (bass/backing vocals/"scream") and Sachiko "Geisha-girl" Fujii (drums) have been around since 1986. They've gone from doing primarily modern covers of 50’s & 60’s surf-rockabilly ("Wooly Bully" & "The Twist") to churning out sassy originals like the bombshell-esque "I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield",the sultry "I Was a Teenage Cave Woman" & the catchy “Woo Hoo” (as seen in the film). It has been told that Quentin Tarantino discovered the group’s music while shopping in a store in Japan.

The group’s official web page: http://www.fujiiya.com/the5678s/

Flamboyant musician and sometime actor Tomoyasu Hotei’s first claim to fame came as a member of the popular Japanese Rock Band Boowy. Later he pursued a solo career and distinguished himself as a masterful rock music composer and producer. He also proved to be quite a competent actor, starring in such films as Hiroyuki Nakano’s Samurai Fiction (1998) and the modern remake of Kinji Fukusaku’s “Shin Jingi Naki Tattakai ” (Battle Without Honor or Humanity”; Toei, 2000). It is in fact this dynamic guitar theme to “Shin Jingi Naki Tattakai” that we hear in the trailers of “Kill Bill”.

Hotei’s official web page: http://www.hotei.com/

French model and actress Julie Dreyfus, who plays the cold henchwoman Sofie Fatale to Lucy Liu’s character O-Ren Ishii, can actually speak Japanese and is also fluent in both English and French. The stunning actress is the daughter of French film star Pascale Audret. Her film credits mostly include Japanese and French productions such as “Tooki Rakujitsu” (Faraway Sunset; Shochiku, 1992), “Rampo” (Mystery of Rampo; Shochiku, 1994), “A Feast At Midnight” (Kwai River/Live Entertainment, 1994), “The Godson” (1999), “Bathory” (2000) and “Jean Moulin” (2002). She was also seen briefly in the syndicated TV series “The Crow: Stairway To Heaven” (1998) with “Brotherhood of the Wolf” star Mark Dacascos.

Meiko Kaji’s haunting theme “Shura No Hana” (Flower of Carnage) is taken from the film “Shura Yuki Hime” (Lady Snowblood; Toei, 1973). “Lady Snowblood” told of the story of a child that was “born” for revenge and who stalked the men responsible for the ravaging of her mother and death of her father. Like O-Ren Ishii and “The Bride” she is a master with the Samurai Sword.

In the ending credits Meiko Kaji’s “Urami Bushi” (Song of Revenge) from “Joshuu Sasori” (Female Convict Scorpion; Toei, 1972) can also be heard.

Jmaruyama