Kill Bill

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Interesting sites that highlight the use of martial arts in movies and television programs.

Kill Bill, directed by Quintin Tarantino (who apparently spent nearly a year devising the detailed action sequences), is meant to be the ultimate action film. Starring Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, and others, the actors underwent intensive martial arts training under the tutelage of Sonny Chiba and famed choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping. One reviewer on Amazon.com described this movie as "Lee exacting revenge on [David] Carradine."

FilmForce: Review of Kill Bill: Volume 1
"The Vernita Green scene [with Vivica A. Fox] is an example of Kill Bill at its best. At its lowest points, Tarantino has the tendency to meander a bit too much in the expository. This would be fine for a longer movie, but it slows up this half." (Originally Published: 10/16/3003; Last DCTKD update: 11/30/0002)
Sword fight superstar: Tetsuro Shimaguchi (CNNGo.com)
We learn from professional sword fight choreographer Tetsuro Shimaguchi about kabuki, the real Tarantino and how to use a blade to make overseas friends
by Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt
“[Tetsuro] Shimaguchi is one of a handful of professional sword fight choreographers in Japan and was responsible for orchestrating the entire battle [in Kill Bill]. He is an actor, a martial artist and the leader of a performing troupe called Kamui. We caught up with Shimaguchi at his dojo in Tokyo, where he runs courses in theatrical sword fighting for amateurs and pros alike.” (Originally Published: 2/2/2010; Last DCTKD update: 7/19/2010)
Mindful violence: the visibility of power and inner life in Kill Bill (Jump Cut)
by Aaron Anderson
“I argue that Tarantino’s deliberate use of borrowed imagery from Asian martial arts films is far from unique. And while this may surprise no one, the reason that I propose this might surprise many. I suggest that violent imageryespecially that connected to Asian martial artsfunctions as one of the primary cinematic languages for character description and plot progression in modern action films.” (Originally Published: 10/1/2005; Last DCTKD update: 2/28/2007)
HollywoodBitchSlap Review
Reviewer Son of Funkenstein says: "Visually the film is magnificent, and there are plenty of wry in-jokes to keep the geeky types amused...[but] my main problem with the movie was Uma...she just doesn’t cut it as a sword fighter. Neither her movement, nor stance nor execution of fighting moves is convincing enough. She looks damn good in that black and yellow jump suit, but she doesn’t look like a swordswoman." (Originally Published: 10/15/2003; Last DCTKD update: 10/19/2003)
KILL BILL: VOLUME 1
Lightsout Entertainment
"The beauty of this film is it’s style, and nothing else. We don’t need anything else...From start to finish, we are pulled into one of the most gorgeous and visually satisfying spectacles we have ever seen put to film. We know violence is a horrible thing." (Originally Published: 10/12/2003; Last DCTKD update: 11/30/0002)
Kill Bill, Vol. 1 (FilmThreat.com)
by Michael Dequina
"That Tarantino does such a bang-up, kick-ass job with so much in ‘Kill Bill Vol. 1’ ultimately works somewhat against it; all the pieces are in place for potential greatness, but in willingly keeping the picture incomplete, Tarantino keeps his wild, whacked-out, and thoroughly compelling vision from reaching that point." (Originally Published: 10/11/2003; Last DCTKD update: 11/30/0002)
Kill Bill Study Guide (HKFlix.com)
This page explains all the references and homages in the movie. Very informative. (Originally Published: 10/10/2003; Last DCTKD update: 8/20/2005)
Kill Bill Official Web Site
A very entertaining web site with cool screensavers, wallpaper, cast and crew bios, trailers, photo gallery, and a little bit more. Check out "The Locations" section for information about the intense training in California, China, and Japan. (Originally Published: 10/8/2003; Last DCTKD update: 11/30/0002)
Mystery of Kill Bill (Movie Poop Shoot)
"On paper at least, Quentin Tarantino’s KILL BILL (Miramax, Oct. 10) sounded like something I would have a wonderful time despising. Tarantino had promised the fans it would be a loving tribute to ’70s martial-arts flicks...Jesus H. Criminy. I read a quote from him just last week in which he said ‘there’s no time during this film when you won’t be completely aware this is a movie.’ That sounded to me like more of the same violence-as-fashion-show horseshit...a great big wank. On my way over to see it last Wednesday night I said to myself, ‘Get ready...grim up...this is not going to be pleasant.’ "But I was dazzled by KILL BILL. It’s a Quentin thing par excellence and a totally blue-chip experience. It’s absurdly bloody and wafer-thin and show-offy as hell. But none of this bothered me (and this is the whole payoff in a nutshell) because it’s done so well and it looks so cool. It has a sense of self- awareness and a feeling of auteurist control that is quite rare these days. The reason is that there are very few filmmakers out there with the clout and the balls to step up to the plate and make a film this deeply personal." (Originally Published: 10/1/2003; Last DCTKD update: 3/28/2005)
The Tao of Kill Bill (Cinefatastique)
Tarantino’s top-notch collaborators deliver on-screen pyrotechnics and a rich sense of Asian cinema history
by Dr. Craig Reed
This is one of the better articles about the actors and history of the cinematic nuances in Kill Bill. Who are Sonny Chiba, Gordon Liu, and David Carradine and why are they in this movie? Lengthy discussions about the motiviation of characters that are not well explained in the movie can be found here. The best quote? “David [Carradine] is about as good a martial artist as I am an actor.” Thank you, Chuck Norris. (Originally Published: 10/1/2003; Last DCTKD update: 3/28/2005)