I have decided that I will be doing mini ‘review-like’ pieces for my initiative posts, because like I had mentioned previously in my PB1 Initiative – I personally find that I learn bests by viewing and having a taste of the works of other professionals.

This week I watched Kill Bill for the first time, and a lot of people seemed to be surprised that I had not seen it before. I am a big fan of all things Pop Culture and Anime, and I was most definitely not disappointed with this film. I cannot believe it has taken me this long to watch it!

Quentin Tarantino is a common name to hear amongst the film and entertainment industry, as his films have definitely made a name for himself. His work is well known for its violent nature, and yet audiences seemed to be drawn in to his style. Kill Bill most definitely lived up to his other films, with the perfect balance of action, gore, thrilling and cliche moments. It was evident that the film drew a lot of inspiration from its ‘Kung-Fu’ origins, which included various use of sound effects and variations in camera shots. The fight sequences throughout the film were very choreographed, as they were very unique and unpredictable.

One part that really intrigued me was the occasional use of black and white footage during some scenes throughout the film. My initial thoughts were correct, as I assumed it was used in order to conceal the heavy amounts of blood and gore throughout the scene. However, after some research I found that ‘The black and white photography is ultimately a homage to 70s and 80s US television airings of Kung Fu movies.’ Back in the day, both black and white or black and red were common photographic effects that were used. Originally the film was going to remain in colour, however the MPAA demanded the scene to be toned down. In the Japanese version of the film, the colours stayed the same.

If you know me, it would be no surprise to you if I told you that my favourite part of the entire film was the anime sequenced used to retell the backstory of O-Ren Ishii. I am huge fan of Anime – especially those in the action/gore genre, so this was right up my alley. The drawing style is slightly more unique compared to traditional anime, I would say even slightly fused with western animation. However Tarantino did not fail to capture the similar fast action style and voice acting during this scene, which helped it to stay very engaging and captivating for the audience.

I would definitely recommend this film to those who are a fan of action, Japanese culture, or those who would just like to view a good film overall. Kill Bill was extremely well shot, with wonderfully choreographed unique fighting scenes that will continuously keep you on the edge of your seat. I am eagerly waiting to finish up all my assignments and view part 2 of the film as soon as I can.