Lucy Liu Movie:

Kill Bill - The Whole Bloody Affair Reviews:
How it always should have been
2009-03-10 - Okay so technically it hasn't been released yet, but it is possible to have seen the integral 'Kill Bill' if you have the Japanese versions of the films and a multi region DVD player. I'll explain how in a second, even though it just takes a little common sense. After taking a break for a while I decided to revisited the film. I can only come to the conclusion that this is Tarantino's masterpiece. If it had been released in it's uncut and full length form to begin with, then it would probably be viewed as such.

Now, back to the necessary steps to watching the films as one long film. We know for a fact that during the few times that the long version played it played with an intermission. The only possible place for an intermission is when The Bride closes the trunk on Sofie Fatale and the screen fades to black. The reason this is, is because after the screen fades to black you basically get a sneak preview of volume along with the biggest spoiler ever revealed in movie history and my main gripe about the film being released in two volumes. The spoiler was not in the version that played at Cannes a few years ago.

Anyway, fade to black, music stops, stop the film. Take a break if you want. Pop in Volume 2. Go directly to chapter 2 and there you have it. You'll notices how much better the film plays out and the emotional impact of the ending is enhanced two fold. If a multi region DVD player and the uncut volumes 1 and 2 then you can see Kill Bill as intended.

At long last... But where is it?
2008-05-28 - After I saw Kill Bill v2 in the theaters I made the conscious decision to hold off buying the DVDs till I could get both volumes in one, big, awesome special edition, and not as separate disks. Now at last it's here... or is it? I as type this review out I see that not only is "The Whole Bloody Affair" is NOT available from Amazon, but I don't even see it available from the second-hand/partner vendors either! At this time there isn't even so much as a "Notify Me When This Comes Available" option. So that begs the question, what good is a movie that can't be gotten in any way, shape, or form, no matter how great it may be?

Be that as it may, when this comes back to the market, (and it's bound to sooner or later, be as a DVD, HD-DVD, or BluRay), I WILL get this one no matter what.

4 ½ Stars: The Japanese Uncut Version with a New Re-edited Cut Graces U.S. Fans! (Yes, I know it hasn't been released yet)
2008-03-18 - This Review is Dedicated to my Amazon Friends....

Tarantino is a fan of Asian cinema; samurai films and martial arts seem to have taken a hold on the acclaimed filmmaker. Kill Bill volumes 1 & 2 is his tribute to Asian cinema, even the Shaw brothers logo shows up in the beginning of the films. The MPAA in the U.S. forced Tarantino to cut down the blood and violence to gain an "R" rating. I had to buy the Japanese region-2 releases to see the uncut NC-17 version. Finally, "KILL BILL: The Whole Bloody Affair" is set to be released on dvd with the Japanese version in one dvd set that includes a version where footages from volume 1 and two are edited together.

Volume 1- Four years after taking a bullet in the head at her own wedding, The Bride (Uma Thurman) emerges from a coma and decides it's time for vengeance! Having been gunned down by Bill (David Carradine), and his deadly "viper" squad of assassins, it's a kill or be killed fight that she is determined to finish.
Uncut version includes:
1) Almost 6 minutes more of additional footage
2) Extended Oren-Ishi origin (animated)
3) The Showdown in the "House of Leaves" is in full color, displaying its whole bloody glory. While the theatrical cut's Black & White footage seemed stylish and cool, it was originally intended to be seen in full color.
4) Extended fight footages; scene with the Bride lopping off limbs and heads of a "crazy 88" member. The Bride also cuts a member in half (vertical dismemberment, I'm making up terms).
5) Includes an extra encounter with the young Yakuza member
6) Gogo Yubari's (Chiaki Kuriyama) stabbing of the pervert in the bar is shown in all its bloody details.
7) The continuity issue with Sophie Fatale; The Bride cuts off both her arms. In the theatrical release, the Bride didn't cut off the other arm, which is why I wondered how come Sophie Fatale didn't seem to have arms when she rolled down the hill of dirt.

Volume 2- After crossing off two names in her death list, The Bride takes aim at Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), the remaining survivors from the squad of killers who betrayed her four years ago. It all leads up to the climactic confrontation with Bill, The Bride's former master and the man who ordered her execution.
However, Bill has an ace up his sleeve...
Uncut version includes 1 minute of additional footage. There is an extended cantina scene after the end of the film and the Japanese version has more blood and gore in the encounter with Elle Driver.

This 4-disc set is expected to include a re-cut version that includes footages from both volumes edited together. I guess Tarantino listened to some fans and critics that the film shouldn't have been cut in two parts.
The first volume of the Kill Bill franchise is actually a commentary on how Tarantino loves Asian cinema, Spaghetti westerns and maybe even Japanese Anime. While volume 1 definitely feels more like a chambara film with stars of Chinese Wuxia mixed in (Gordon Liu), Sonny Chiba and legendary fight director; Yuen Woo-Ping (Fearless, Kung Fu Hustle). Kill Bill is more a melting pot of everything you love about Martial Arts Asian films. The Soundtrack taken from Asian greats; such as "The Green Hornet", "Lady Snowblood" and many others. (I could write an essay on this)

Volume 2 feels more like a Tarantino film. The raw attitude, dialogue and grittiness of the proceedings exudes coolness. It also explores the rivalry between The Bride and Elle Driver as well as her relationship with Bill. Tarantino's films may be a bit "talkie" at times but it didn't really hurt the film either. I wonder how he draws the line in the amount of references he puts in a movie.

The only complaint I have with "Kill Bill" is that the finale isn't as climactic as I wanted it to be. The encounter with Bill may carry a lot of emotional sense but the showdown isn't what it was built up to be. Thankfully, the bloody fight with Elle Driver saves the film for me. Anyway, with this minor complaint, Kill Bill is a near-excellent outing for Tarantino. I don't care if you like volume 1 better than volume two or vice versa. Kill Bill may not be Tarantino's best, but I'm really happy that the uncut versions is finally set for U.S. audiences. (I do hope that this will be the last postponement, originally scheduled for Christmas 2007)

I will update this review once I see the re-cut edition. (I guess this is more of a shout-out than anything else!)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [4 ½ Stars]




Once again, the studios have lied to us
2007-12-03 - Kill Bill - The Whole Bloody Affair by Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu:
yes, the studios have famously lied to us again. they hyped up the arrival of Kill Bill: the whole bloody affair for late November (just like they did for Cool Hand Luke: Special edition) (Yes, I'm aware they are two different studios, hence the plural in premier sentence) with no payoff and with no notification at all that there will be either delays or cancellations. But my question is to you people: do you even remember anything you hear or read? Why don't we all get together and just boycott buying anything from these double dippers. Break them at the knees. Stand up and shout "We're mad as He'll and we don't wanna take anymore of your ship!". Let's just stop buying any of their "SPECIAL EDITIONS" if they aren't released simultaneously with the single disc bare-bones, if that's the preferred nomenclature, editions. I, for one, won't be buying this set and I encourage the rest of you who were thinking about buying it to stop thinking and stop buying. And they complain about piracy? If the studious wouldn't false advertise, hype us up and lead us on and let us down, piracy would only be places like China. Boycott this item and boycott any double-dipping, late-releasing, not forth-coming dvds that were falsely advertises!

It will be great!
2007-09-18 - I've owned the Japanese import of "Kill Bill, Vol. 1" for nearly two years and it's spectacular! The House of Blue Leaves showdown is in full color with about a half dozen extra action shots, including a spectacular backflip by Uma, her first encounter with the "kid" Crazy 88 (which explains her shock at his second appearance near the end), and some mind-bending additional gore. It's just unbelievable. This version also contains extras not on the American version, including fantastic behind-the-scenes production footage where you see raw takes and Uma and company practicing the fight scenes.

This version is easy to own, too. If you have a region-free DVD player (they're incredibly cheap from Internet retailers), just order the Japanese version of "Kill Bill, Vol. 1" from the many DVD Internet importers. You can have it now and not have to wait! Believe me, it's worth it.