43/50: Kill Bill, Vol. 2

As I said in yesterday's 'post' I have decided to combine the two Kill Bill films. I know it is technically two movies - but it is more or less one film split into two.

First off, I have to admit, I never much thought of Uma Thurman as one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. The Poison Ivy part in Batman was supposed to go to the most beautiful woman in Hollywood, and it went to her - but I just didn't see it. Well, despite being covered in blood for most of the films, I can see now what others were thinking - she looked amazing.

So, Thurman stars as the Bride in this revenge-filled film - both Kill Bill, Volume 1 and Kill Bill, Volume 2.

In the first film, we see that the Bride was 'killed' on the night before her wedding - while pregnant. She is found by the local police and taken to the hospital, where she laid in the hospital in a coma for months.

Once she came to, she escapes a nasty orderly and one of Adam Sandler's pals, and claims her revenge upon the people that put her in the hospital.

If my memory serves, during the first film the Bride takes on Vernita Green (Vivica A. Fox) and also O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu).

The first of the two films is much more bloody - the scene where the Bride takes on Ishii is amazing as she fights an entire mob of people before having to take on Ishii herself.

The second film is a little less bloody - and I have to admit I thought it was going somewhere else at the conclusion, but I am so glad it didn't. It would have taken away from everything we were building towards.

In Volume 2, the Bride takes on Budd (Mark Madsen) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) before finally making her way to her primary target, Bill (David Carradine).

Quentin Tarantino has a pretty great way of telling a story without telling it in a straight way. He is all over the place with flashbacks and out of whack placement of parts, but somehow it all comes together - and it works here just as well as in Pulp Fiction.

Like I said, I fell in love with Thurman and her quest to find those who tried to kill her - did kill her fiancé - all while she was pregnant.

The movies weren't perfect - I felt there were some extremely slow scenes that I guess ere needed for the overall effect of the film, but I didn't really enjoy. It took away from the action sequences and her journey. I was not a fan of the slow, somewhat boring scenes between Bill and the Bride (the flashback scenes, not the end sequence). And, I definitely did not enjoy the part (that was really drawn out) between the Bride and Pai Mei (Chia Hui Liu), her training master.

Overall, however, I was thoroughly enjoyed. Not as much as Pulp Fiction, but the story was great and told in an amazing way. And, like I said, so glad they went the way they did for the ending - I would have been totally pissed if they went the other way.

If this were two grades I would probably put the first film higher. I felt it was more action packed and had less slow-down scenes. But, this is an overall grade for the pair of films.

Grade:

Tuesday's With Movies: 6/7/11

True Grit: I have never been a huge Western or cowboy fan, but I havebeen coming around a lot. I really enjoyed Tombstone and the television show Deadwood, so I am hoping that with all of the praise True Grit has received over the past year, it will also join ranks.

Just Go With It: Yes, I know, another Adam Sandler movie that probably won't be all too spectacular. But, I haven't really minded most of Sandler's work - and the supposed crapfest that people claimed Grown Ups to be, I actually enjoyed. So, I am hoping that this will be about the same.

The Company Men: I have heard some good things about this film and it stars some pretty great actors, so I am hoping it is a pretty decent watch. I don't know too much about it except that it follows the lives of some business men while their company downsizes and how that effects them and their families.

42/50: Kill Bill, Vol. 1

I know these are technically two films, but I have decided to combine both Kill Bill, Vol. 1 and Kill Bill, Vol. 2 into one review.

This is a placeholder post, however, to make sure I have all 50 for my list. And, to add the Volume 1 poster.

For the full review, check out Kill Bill, Vol. 2. Due out tomorrow.

41/50: Faster

When I first saw the trailer for this film I though, "Finally".

I have been screaming at The Rock for years to stop making the kid-centric films and get back to what you should be doing - making action films.

Since the upper-tier of action stars are getting way up in years (I am looking at Stallone) or having housekeeper babies (insert Schwarzenegger), we need a new breed of action star. Sure, Vin Diesel can do a decent enough job, and Jason Statham can be pretty bad ass - but The Rock has the charisma and the ability to be the next big thing.

Anyway, I finally got around to watching Faster and it really lived up to what I thought it was going to be. Nothing but pure action, shoot 'em up type fun - and a pretty decent twist ending, that I should have figured out, but didn't.

So, Driver (Dwayne Johnson) is in prison for a bank crime he committed with his brother and a bunch of his brother's friends. We find out that he is lucky to be alive after he was shot in the end by a rival crew that stole the money they originally stole - and killed his entire crew, including his brother, in front of him.

While inside, Driver gets pumped and revenge is on his mind. He tracks down a list of all members of the crew and their informants, and plans to hunt them down and kill them for the death of his brother.

The film also stars Billy Bob Thornton as Cop (I know the names in the movie are so generic), one of the people in charge of finding and stopping Driver's killing rampage. Cop is only a few weeks away from retirement - but this case becomes pretty important to him, and will most likely be his last.

As Driver continues to roll through his hit list, he meets up with an unexpected foe - Killer (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), a hitman hired by one of the people on his list to kill Driver.

What I really enjoyed about this film was The Rock's performance with so few lines. He was pissed and we knew it - everything we needed to know came in flashback scenes and his actions. Just a total bad ass role for him - and it was very welcomed.

Of course, Thornton had the role with most of the talking - and he plays the deadbeat cop so well.

So, yes I enjoyed the film. It was everything I was expecting. An action film with car chases, guns blazing and tons of fighting. It's nice to have this type of film in your rotation every so often.

Grade:

Who? What? Where? #25

Mad Hatter swoops in and correctly identified Mr. Kevin Bacon to

the left as Valentine McKee from the movie Tremors.

Hatter, who said he would never be able to get another, picks up his second win of the year. Jess, however, still holds the lead in the game with both Matt and Fletch nipping at her heels.

Congratulations to Hatter and good luck to everyone this week.

The concept is simple: each week I will place a photograph of a character within a film. It is up to you (the participant in the game) to tell me the following:

1) The name of the actor (or what the actor goes by in his acting profession).

2) The name of the character in the movie.

3) And, the name of the movie.

Each correct answer gets you a point - so if you get all three correct on a given week, you can get three points. I will keep a running chart each and every week. As of now, this will be played for bragging rights only - but we shall see what the future holds.

So here is week #25:

Standings:

Jess - 26 points

Matt - 17 points

Fletch - 13 points

Nick - 6 points

Mrs. Kano - 5 points

Mad Hatter - 5 points