"Vol. 1" was all flash, gratuitous blood and nonstop action. Of course, as a Tarantino film, it wasn't just another silly action movie. The dialogue was smart and witty, and the visuals dryly poetic, as seen in the fight scene in the snow between O-Ren (Lucy Liu) and the Bride (Uma Thurman). But at its core, the movie was more concerned with violence and gore than with the underlying motivations of its characters.
That's where "Vol. 2" steps in. "Vol. 2" digs deeper than its predecessor does, looking beyond swordfights and gunplay to give us a more profound insight into the characters and what makes them tick. This is not to say that "Vol. 2" is lacking in fight sequences. The Bride comes up against the three remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (DiVAS) here: Elle a.k.a. California Mountain Snake (Daryl Hannah), Budd a.k.a. Sidewinder (Michael Madsen) and of course, Bill himself (David Carradine). It's not the nonstop gorefest that "Vol. 1" was, but it satisfies. "Vol. 2" is quietly intense and emotionally richer-a friend of mine even confessed to crying during a particularly heartbreaking reunion scene.
For those who haven't seen "Vol. 1," the story is as follows: A character known simply as "the Bride" has her wedding rehearsal interrupted by her former fellow assassins and their boss, Bill. The team kills the entire wedding party and leaves the pregnant Bride for dead. Unfortunately for them, she's only been put into a coma. Four years later, she awakens angry as hell and goes after her her old team. "Vol. 2" opens with the Bride recapping "Vol. 1." to the audience: "I went on what the movie advertisements referred to as a 'roaring rampage of revenge.' I roared. And I rampaged. And I got bloody satisfaction."
"Vol. 2" introduces new characters and re-introduces old ones. Pai Mei (Gordon Liu) is hilarious as the scornful teacher who has made Elle, Bill and the Bride into the deadly weapons that they are today. With his ridiculously overflowing snow-white locks, unmitigated disdain and highly improbable fighting skills, he provides comic relief without breaking the flow of the movie. Elle and Budd make reappearances and provide one of the best scenes in the movie, wherein they have a tiff and Elle ends up reading to Budd the deadly properties of the black mamba snake. Hannah delivers the monologue with chilling detachment.
The real treat here is the character of Bill. We finally get a proper introduction to the man, who was barely onscreen in the first installment. Bill is a complex and intriguing character, perhaps even more interesting than the Bride herself. Carradine more than does the character justice. He uses his onscreen time efficiently so that each movement that Bill makes and each word that Bill speaks is packed with meaning and intensity. One of the creepiest moments in the whole movie simply shows Bill engaged in the very ordinary act of making a sandwich. People have been muttering the words "Oscar nomination" in regards to Carradine's performance, and it's well-deserved.
The cinematography is excellent in its sense of artistry. The showdown between the Bride and Elle is saturated with color, all the better for showing off a mind-blowing fight sequence, while the wedding is shot in black and white with silvery tones to evoke the stark harshness of the scene. For one particularly claustrophobic scene, the screen goes completely black, and all we have to guide us are muffled sounds. The choices are unusual, but they work every time.
"Kill Bill Vol. 2" is half drama and half action movie, with quirky touches of romance and comedy. It's a rare movie that can stun you with amazing fight sequences while at the same time quietly break your heart. It's intelligent enough to stimulate your mind while also satiating that part of you that just wants to have a good time. It can stand alone, and would be by itself a stunning achievement. Combined with the first volume, it's indisputably one of the best films ever made.