Review of Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Tarantino at the top of his form!

The Kill Bill Saga is many things, but there are two things it is not. Dull, and stupid. Sure, it's not much more than a simple revenge story, but when Quentin Tarantino is behind the camera, it doesn't need to be. In the first volume, story takes a back seat for crazy fighting and intense kung-fu style filmmaking, with a little western thrown in. In the second volume, action takes a back seat for storytelling and the fantastic characters and acting that Tarantino is known for. This time around the Japanese kung-fu steps back for the spaghetti western style, and I loved how Tarantino blended the two styles in both films. Although in the second part the action was less emphasized, what action there was was intense and realistic and gritty. Not as much dismemberment either, sorry to disappoint. If that's your thing. Now with such of the second film being in rooted with westerns of old, I half expected to hear an Ennio Morricone score. Alas, about thirty minutes in, I hear none other than the score for A Fistful of Dollars in the background. Perfect fit. What could have been a mere better than average revenge flick was transformed into an epic of gargantuan porprtion. Tarantino is a literary and cinematic genius, and this is one of his best. I give Kill Bill five flying legs and arms and heads and stomachs out of five. 5/5