And when I arrive at my destination, I am gonna kill Bill.
Kill Bill is a two-volume film series directed by Quentin Tarantino, and the movies were originally released in theatres in 2003 and 2004. It stars Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, and Vivica A. Fox.
These movies follow the story of a vengeful woman referred to as the Bride (Thurman) who is dedicated to getting revenge on a group of assassins called the Deadly Vipers’ Assination Squad. This team attempted to murder the Bride and her unborn child during her wedding rehearsal, at the request of her former Boss, Bill (Carradine).
Let me start by saying that this film is really gruesome. Tarantino is known for blood-filled projects, but they never fail to incorporate some form of comedic appeal. Both of the Kill Bill movies are enjoyable throughout, and despite there only being two of them, the story manages to introduce us to the characters and the exciting dynamics between them.
The first movie is what really gets the series going. We see the Bride traveling to Okinawa, Japan, and rekindling her past relations as a hired assassin, after dueling with Vernita Green (Fox). Here, the Bride faces off against Oren-Ishii (Liu), the most powerful Yakuza leader in the Japanese underworld.
Every aspect of this particular movie has been referenced in society to some extent: the famous whistle, O-Ren-Ishii’s well-known line, and the Bride’s dope onitsuka shoes. Tarantino’s use of famous songs, such as Nancy Sinatra’s “Bang Bang”, and the inclusion of Japanese culture have allowed this film to become one of the greatest examples of the 2000’s action genre.
The second film takes place in Texas, as the Bride pursues two more assassins, Elle Driver (Hannah) and Bill’s brother Budd (Madsen), before she finally faces Bill on the coast of Mexico. There is a quick change of setting to accommodate each antagonist’s attitude.
An interesting takeaway from these movies is that each assassin has a symbol above their head: a different type of viper. Their legal names are hidden under snake species that share attributes with their character. For example, the Bride’s codename is “Black Mamba”. This is a very quick snake that relies on its highly-concentrated venom to hunt. The protagonist is a reflection of the Black Mamba’s intimidating presence.
The Kill Bill movies explore the themes of betrayal, grief, and most importantly, revenge. What can be more terrifying and dangerous than a grieving mother, who’s more than ready to kill for her lost child? The main protagonist’s flashy yet powerful aura is sure to give you that adrenaline rush once you see her in her fighting stance.
If you enjoy Kill Bill or are planning to watch it, make sure to also check out other Tarantino films, such as Inglourious Basterds and Pulp Fiction. And for more revenge stories, check out the amazing John Wick franchise.
