Release Date: April 16, 2004
MPAA Rating:Rated R for violence, language and brief drug use
Written and Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Sonny Chiba, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, Lucy Liu, LaTanya Richardson, Michael Jai White, Woo-ping Yuen, Samuel L. Jackson (cameo)

Plot:
Continuing the story-line which unfolded in "Kill Bill Vol. I," this is a revenge tale of an expert assassin, called The Bride, who sets out on a quest to wreak vengeance upon her former employer, Bill, and other members of their assassin circle, for shooting her at her wedding--along with everyone else in attendance--and leaving her for dead. When this chapter in the story begins, The Bride will have already encountered some of her targets, as she continues battling her way up the chain of command, knowing it will ultimately lead her to her main goal: her chance to 'Kill Bill.'

Review:
The highly anticipated second half of Tarantino's Kill Bill finally arrives. The film was first scheduled to be released on February. Of course, that was unlikely because Tarantino still didn't have it completed and perfected. Instead the film makes a April release to mostly every theatre near you.

In my Kill Bill: Vol. 1 review last year, I said something along the lines of "How can Vol. 2 be better than this" Then I said I would leave it to surprise me. The truth is both films deliver well and have their moments of perfection, but when you place both films together it makes for an entirely heart pounding and creative motion picture. That is truly what counts and Vol. 2 is an extremely well made film.

For one thing, this film feels more like Tarantino's past films such as Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown. He injects more of his odd, witty, but interesting dialogue in Vol. 2. Tarantino tones down the action and violence and turns up the background on Uma Thurman who once again plays The Bride. The film dishes out the dialogue and not to mention humor that we have received from other films by this Director.

Humor is such a thing that Vol. 2 even has more of and one of the biggest humorous pieces is any scene with Chia Hui Liu who plays Pai Mei in the film. He teaches Uma's character many techniques on how to fight, hold pain and stand up to future enemies of hers. He provides us with humor because of the words he says and the way he says certain things.

Tarantino also does camera movements and zoom ins that were involved a lot with many 70's films. He takes us back to that type of style with astonishing filmmaking, The film has its share of black and white scenes which is used to tell most past occurrences with some of the characters. The beauty of it all is Kill Bill only has a fifty five million dollar budget and yet it has more than enough going for it on screen.

Perhaps the biggest example of great filmmaking is having a relatively small budget and squeezing all of its juices with the best things provided to everyone, a brain. Tarantino uses his intelligence and creativity constantly in this film and keeps the pace at a smoothness to satisfy everyone. The most intelligent thing Tarantino has done with this film can easily be recruiting Uma Thurman to play the main role.

I know its not only me when I say that Uma Thurman looks even better in this film. Appealing and brutal to her enemies with her samurai sword is only one of the wonders of Kill Bill: Vol. 2. It can be said that this is Uma Thurman's best film and performance of her career. Either way, Tarantino has elevated her career as well as many others.

Quentin Tarantino makes the right move to set Vol. 2 as a deeper and more thought provoking film. Think of it like Vol. 1 setup the plot, introduced us to most of the characters and delivered most of the revenge battles that Uma Thurman was involved with. Vol. 2 on the other hand gets deeper with the story and less kinetic, but leaves a satisfying conclusion.

So many wonders are packed into its two hour running time and so many original scenes. Its still Brutal like the first and delivers unexpected endings to scenes that will have your jaw dropped to the floor. Kill Bill can seem a predictable film by the way the conclusion will come to be, but Tarantino makes you think twice and throws in a few turns on it that will have you talking for days after its over.

For the sake of spoiling an interesting part in the movie, I won't say who makes a cameo role, but someone does indeed make a cameo role in Vol. 2 and he has been in a couple of other Tarantino films. Interesting character he was just like most of what both films had combined. O-Ren Ishii, Elle Driver, Vernita Green, Gogo Yubari, Budd and of course Bill are only some of the great characters we as the audience get to witness in the films.

To say Tarantino is going to have plenty of fun having each film released separately and then together as a box set on Dvd is an understatement. With neither film being a disappointment I see why no one would want to grab a copy of both films when they make it out to stores. Its films like these why we love to go to the cinema and why not bring it to home video as well.

Now comes the question which Kill Bill is better Vol. 1 or Vol. 2. That's a question that doesn't seem to have an answer because it depends on everyones tastes. Some love action and violence and thus Vol. 1 being the better film. Other people love creative dialogue, deliverance of the story and the background of what the film had lead to therefore making Vol. 2 the better film. Whatever it may be, together it makes for a great feature length film. Tarantino stands as a Director of unique style of filmmaking, you won't find many this talented and he has delivered one of the best pictures of the year.