This has been a long time coming. Although Quentin Tarantino hasn’t dropped a new film in more than six years, he’s now digging into the vault and treating his most devoted fans with a highly demanded release.
Last month, it was announced that Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” — the unified 248-minute cut combining “Kill Bill Vol. 1” and “Kill Bill Vol. 2” with an intermission — was set for its first-ever nationwide theatrical release this December 5 from Lionsgate. The rollout will feature screenings in both 70mm and 35mm formats, with plans to reach all major markets.
We now have a trailer that effectively blends both films into two minutes. It looks like we’re getting the uncensored Crazy 88 fight — in color. If you remember, to avoid an NC-17 rating, Tarantino originally switched the sequence to black and white to lessen the impact of the blood, which appeared far more graphic in color.
“I wrote and directed it as one movie — and I’m so glad to finally give fans the chance to see it as one movie,” Tarantino said in a statement. “The best way to experience ‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ is in a theater, in glorious 70mm or 35mm. Blood and guts on the big screen in all their glory!”
The combined cut eliminates Volume 1’s cliffhanger and Volume 2’s opening recap, while adding a never-before-seen 7½-minute animated sequence. Some other minor changes have been made, but otherwise, this is basically both parts stitched up together as one big movie event.
The story goes that “Kill Bill” was split into two parts primarily due to runtime and narrative reasons. When Tarantino completed his original cut, the movie was about four hours, which he and producer Harvey Weinstein agreed was too long for a single theatrical release. The first was released in fall 2003, followed by the second in spring 2004.
Regardless, I didn’t mind the split. The two ‘Kill Bill’ instalments feel strikingly different in tone and structure, which helps explain why splitting them made sense. Vol. 1 is a high-octane, action-heavy revenge saga, dominated by visually stylized fight sequences and relentless pacing, while Vol. 2 slows down considerably, focusing on character backstory, with far less action. That’s why the original two-part release worked and why Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” feels like a natural solution.
And in case you’re wondering, Tarantino counts both ‘Kill Bill’ instalments as a single movie, which is why he says he has directed nine films in his career, with one final film left to make before he retires — or so he claims.
It gives me no pleasure to report that this is one of the worst films of Schrader’s career. Wooden acting, Jack Huston and Sofia Boutella are badly miscast, the script is dull, the photography is flat; nothing works.