Thomas Hibbs on "Kill Bill": Tarantino’s work is sadistic...to the audience

National Review Online ^ | April 23, 2004 | Thomas Hibbs

[NutCrackerBoy]

It's hard to diss a movie with so much panache. Listening to the music during the closing credits by itself was worth the price of admission.

[First_Salute]

Jackie Brown was a well-made film.

Yet, when I heard on Jay Leno, years ago, that Tarantino was beating Mira Sorvino (sp?), and her dad also happened to see the show and promptly "did something about it," Tarantino's name has since stuck with trouble.

[Hildy]

I don't know, maybe it's a guy thing. I HATED Kill Bill Volume I. HATED IT. So please don't ask me why I went to Kill Bill 2. I loved Pulp Fiction. My favorite movie of all time. KB2 was a bit better than KB1, but not much. I just don't get what all the fuss is about.

[Future Snake Eater]

I thoroughly enjoyed "Kill Bill." The first one...eh, it was pretty good--different, but good. But the second one really brought it all into focus, and it was genuinely a lot of fun to watch. My hat's off to that annoying mosquito-on-speed, Quentin Tarantino.

[Hildy]

Are you saying that Jay Leno talked about Tarantino beating up Mira Sorvino ON HIS SHOW????? Somehow, I doubt that.

[Psycho_Bunny]

The only good film Tarantino has made was Reservoir Dogs.

Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown were OK.

In my opinion, all the others have sucked.

[sharktrager]

Mira Sorvino is suck a pompous ass she probably needed smacked up-side the head.

Just kidding.

[NutCrackerBoy]

I don't know, maybe it's a guy thing. I HATED Kill Bill Volume I.

It's hard for me to know whether something is or isn't a guy thing. I mean, I think the Three Stooges were great! I don't like action or violence in and of themselves. Both KBs give wonderful visual delights and comic book kitsch/mystique.

[Mr. Mojo]

Pulp Fiction is almost impossible to live up to.

Kill Bill doesn't even come close, but it ain't bad.

[NutCrackerBoy]

Shockingly, I haven't seen Reservoir Dogs. Jackie Brown put me to sleep, but I'd like to give it another try.

[mtg]

I rented Kill Bill I the other day. I wasn't at all impressed with the movie. Just because the guy put in some black and white scenes and some animation, some people think that makes it a great movie. Go figure.

[Army Air Corps]

The soundtrack on Reservoir Dogs was excellent; one of the best parts of the movie.

[jungleboy]

"With a bullet in her head and her unborn child ripped from her womb"

Oh Boy, can't wait to see that.....sickos

[Katya]

Haven't seen KB2 but alot of people seem to miss the Asian/anime slant to KB1. The violence/spurting blood out of necks, is just that....live anime.

I remember the furor when KB1 came out...misogynistic/gratuitous violence...blah, blah. It will definitely go down as a classic, particularly amongst film buffs, who will dissect each genre and film depicted.
KB2 I've heard, is in part an homage to the spaghetti western...so I'll have to wait and see. But you're right, Tarantino's musical choices are killer.

[hosepipe]

Saw Kill Bill I ....
Way too Japanese.. very artzy though. Just too artzy for me. Could be more movie less art would've helped. Its a wonder those turtles were not in it and Pokey man too and some ninja prarie dogs....

Kill Bill II is already dead to me. Sorry Quentin.. the Japanese bean counters must've loved it. Did they pay you a lot to come up dunb in the cutting room ?.

[Young Rhino]

KB2 I've heard, is in part an homage to the spaghetti western...so I'll have to wait and see. But you're right, Tarantino's musical choices are killer.

IMHO, every gap in KB1 was nicely filled in by KB2. Can't wait for KB3, the prequel. Then again, I rate movies by how much fun I have watching them. I don't want to be preached to about the Hollywood Left's cause of the day or watch something designed to punish the audience. In direct contrast to the KB movies is Man on Fire. It had all the potential to be a great movie. It was slow and depressing to watch...a root canal would have been more pleasant. I'd also suggest that some of the same people who are complaining about the KB movies for sadism are the biggest fans of The Passion. Objectively speaking, there is no contest. The Passion wins hands down when it comes to displaying sadism.

[JohnnyZ]

Just because the guy put in some black and white scenes and some animation, some people think that makes it a great movie.

I'm not sure those added much, and I'm not sure what would prompt that comment?

I really liked Kill Bill Volume 1 -- I thought it was hilarious (tho not a 'great' movie by any stretch). And I am NOT a Tarantino fan, although Pulp Fiction was watchable. I am, however, a Lucy Liu fan, and I thought the Japanese segments were downright awesome.

I have yet to see Volume 2 and judge whether the Gordon Liu parts are worthwhile. I'm not looking forward to a preponderance of dialogue in V2 -- scarcity of dialogue was one of the stylistic triumphs of V1.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Its a wonder those turtles were not in it and Pokey man too and some ninja prarie dogs....

If Bruce Lee were alive today, I would petition him to kick Tarantino down into the dirt.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Pulp Fiction was probably one of his better projects, even though that movie did lack some in many areas.

[NutCrackerBoy]

[David] Lynch's forays into the bizarre (Lost Highway, Blue Velvet, and Mulholland Drive) are far more creative and pack a much greater punch than Tarantino's latest. -Thomas Hibbs

Apples and oranges. But I am happy to be reminded of Mulholland Drive - one of my favorite films.