Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

10/10/2003
111 minutes
8

An assassin is shot by her ruthless employer, Bill, and other members of their assassination circle – but she lives to plot her vengeance.

Revenue: $180,906,076

Details

Budget

$30,000,000

Rating

8/10 (17704 votes)

Status

Released

Production Companies

Miramax, A Band Apart, Super Cool ManChu

About Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Quentin Tarantino's 2003 action-crime film, "Kill Bill: Vol. 1," follows a former assassin, known as The Bride, as she embarks on a quest for revenge against her former employer and assassination squad members who betrayed her. The movie is known for its blend of martial arts, samurai film conventions, and extreme violence, drawing on various cinematic styles from different cultures. It has a distinctive visual approach, incorporating elements like anime sequences and changes between color and black and white.

The film's narrative structure details The Bride's initial targets and her path toward retribution, focusing on detailed combat sequences and a driving central motivation. Themes of vengeance and retribution are central, explored through extensive sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat. The movie stands out for its homage to different genres, including kung fu and Japanese action cinema, while maintaining Tarantino's signature directorial style.

"Kill Bill: Vol. 1" has a strong rating from both critics and audiences, with an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and an average vote of 8 out of 10 from over 17,000 TMDb users. The runtime is 111 minutes, giving ample time for the action set pieces and character introductions as the revenge plot unfolds.

Rotten Tomatoes 85%
Metacritic 69/100
IMDb 8.2/10

Why you might be searching for Kill Bill: Vol. 1

People often search for "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" because of its recognizable yellow jumpsuit worn by the female protagonist, its distinct martial arts action, and its reputation for stylized violence. The film's unique use of anime sequences and its split into two volumes also make it a memorable entry in popular culture, leading to searches about its plot and visual style.

What reviewers are saying

tmdb13206453 10/10

One reviewer suggested that the movie altered the trajectory of Tarantino's filmmaking after "Jackie Brown," and considered it a favorite alongside "Pulp Fiction," praising its style, action choreography, anime section, soundtrack, and a silent battle scene between The Bride and O-Ren Ishii.

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John Chard 8/10

John Chard described the film as a tribute to various cinematic styles such as chop-socky, sexploitation, samurai, spaghetti Westerns, anime, and old cop shows, noting that its scope led to it being split into two parts. He highlighted Uma Thurman's performance as Black Mamba/The Bride and acclaimed Tarantino's action direction.

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Wuchak 7/10

A reviewer categorized the movie as an action/thriller/fantasy that blends 60s-70s Bond elements, Spaghetti Westerns, and martial arts films, likening The Bride to an anti-superheroine. They also noted the effective use of Ennio Morricone's music but found the anime sequence overlong and some characters lacking depth.

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Dr_Nostromo 7/10

Dr_Nostromo rated the film 72/100, seeing it as Tarantino's successful, modernized homage to Kung Fu films, with vibrant characters and exciting moments, even though some scenes tend to extend beyond their immediate dramatic purpose.

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