I said it in my critique of the 4K SteelBook release of Kill Bill: Volume 1 and I will say it again here. Kill Bill (as a collective whole) is one of my favorite films. The action-packed shenanigans of Volume 1 paired with the poignance and character development in Volume 2 make for a pretty perfect feature. With both volumes bowing on 4K SteelBook, we are here to give you the rundown on whether or not you need to upgrade formats.
The setup for Kill Bill goes like this:
Kill Bill follows a woman known only as The Bride (Uma Thurman) on a singular mission to accomplish the feat the title promises. Throughout this two-part feature, she slices and dices her way to the man who left her to die on her wedding day. When The Bride reaches Bill (David Carradine), there will be no mercy.
I know you probably already have an opinion on Kill Bill: Volume 2. So, I will provide only a brief critique of the film itself and then segue into the collective merits of the 4K SteelBook release.
A softer side of The Bride
The back half of this two-part feature doesn’t boast as many stylized fight scenes as the first. However, this is where we learn who The Bride is. I don’t just mean her name. We learn how she got into the predicament she’s in and how she came to know Bill. We also get more context on why he attempted to kill The Bride and everyone she once held dear.
Although Volume 2 might be a bit longer and more character-driven than the first half, there’s still plenty to appreciate. In fact, Volume 2 makes me enjoy Volume 1 even more by humanizing The Bride. When we are introduced to her, she’s a one-woman killing machine. She still lives up to that distinction in the picture’s second half. However, we see a more complete picture of the character.
Not only do we get to know The Bride in Volume 2, but we also get a clearer picture of who Bill is. I like the way Tarantino gradually shows us different layers of the antagonist. Particularly in the final hour, we see a softer, gentler side to the villain. By the time The Bride finally stages her ultimate confrontation with her former mentor, I almost feel sorry for him. Don’t get me wrong, he made his bed and there he must lay. However, Tarantino does a remarkable job of providing the viewer with a well-rounded look at the many facets of a surprisingly nuanced character.
Kill Bill: Volume 2 continues the nonlinear timeline from its predecessor.
As with its predecessor, Tarantino uses a non-linear timeline in Volume 2. That helps throttle the flow of information until precisely the right time. The roundabout approach to storytelling also helps with the pacing. The tendency to jump around keeps the material fresh. Tarantino knows exactly when to switch gears, often pivoting just as the audience is getting properly engaged, leaving them wanting more.
What about the bonus content?
Okay, you’re here for a rundown on the collective merits of the 4K SteelBook release of Kill Bill: Volume 2. So, please allow me to shift gears and speak to that.
Like the 4K SteelBook release of Kill Bill: Volume 1, this re-issue comes with beautifully designed artwork, crisp picture quality, vivid colors, and premium sound. Prior to this, I was still watching the DVD copy that I picked up during my college days. What an upgrade. I am really stoked to own the film in Ultra HD. Not to mention, this re-release also comes with a Blu-ray disc and a digital copy.
The previous paragraph represents the good. Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Like with Volume 1, the bonus content is really lacking. All of the features are ported over from previous releases.
You get a making-of featurette. This isn’t anything new for the average Tarantino fan, seeing as this very feature is included with previous home video releases of the film.
The other bonus features are a deleted scene and a musical performance by Robert Rodriguez’s band Chingon. I’m glad the excised footage is available here. And it’s neat to see frequent Tarantino collaborator Robert Rodriguez show off his musical chops. However, I wish Lionsgate had offered something more to satiate our appetite for bonus content.
If you already own Kill Bill: Volume 2 in HD, you don’t need to rush out and buy this SteelBook
If you don’t already own the film in HD, picking up this release is a no-brainer. However, if you already own the flick on Blu-ray, I recommend waiting for a boutique distributor to acquire the rights and provide a more feature-rich option.
The only compelling reason to upgrade if you already have an HD transfer of the film is the SteelBook packaging. That may be enough for some. However, in situations like this, I tend to wait for the definitive release to drop before throwing down more money on a film I already own.
If you’re in the market for a high-definition transfer of Kill Bill: Volume 2, this SteelBook boasts gorgeous packaging and artwork. Not to mention tremendous picture and sound quality. You can score your very own copy right here.
Summary
‘Kill Bill: Volume 2’ is the perfect ending to an epic film.
Categorized:Reviews
