Tarantino has certainly afforded us some classic auteur fair over the years, disparate in tone, in subject and in setting, but he always delivers something uniquely him and uniquely memorable. Of all his classics, Kill Bill is the one I frequently revisit. His batshit crazy modernist ronin tale of The Bride (Uma Thurman) exacting bloody revenge on those that wronged her always hits the right notes with me.

Originally conceived as one film, the Weinsteins saw enormous potential in two-part staggered release and forced the reluctant director to split it. It has been literal decades since Tarantino was forced to divide his cut, which has infamously been labelled ‘The Whole Bloody Affair.’ Often promised to be coming to home media, never materialised, we are still to see his original vision (though a theatrical presentation of it is due to hit the US shortly, so I’ve been told). DVD, Blu-ray and now UHD 4K have come without a release, but what we have got is the theatrical editions in the latest (and likely last) generation of home media.

KILL BILL VOLUME TWO

So, in Tarantino’s original cut, there was no cliffhanger ending. What the separation into two parts provided was complete tonal shift to complete the story. This is not just more of the same to get The Bride to the end of her goal. Whereas Volume One was an action orgasm, Volume Two was a character study, culminating like a Western with a showdown at the end.

In this one, The Bride has crossed several of her quarry off her kill list. With only three to go. This one spends a lot of time fleshing out how Beatrix Kiddo became The Bride. Who created her, jaded her, changed her, and ultimately tried to destroy her. This one tonally is a 180 departure from the first, while completing the same story. It either marvels you, as it did me, or will irritate you, leaving you wanting for more of the same.

Thurman excels at allowing us to empathise with an assassin through her performance. Her adversaries, played by Michael Madsen, Darryl Hanna and David Carradine, are elevated bad guys, subverting audience expectations with understated entries and showing in a blink why they are as deadly as The Bride herself.

Gone is the kineticism of the first’s cinematography, replaced with dusty plains and worldly vistas. There are fight scenes, but they choreograph them tightly, favouring more mano-e-mano face offs to the out and out slaughter seen before. They’re still imaginative, and thoroughly fulfilling in my view, but the name of the game in the one is subversion. There are some wonderful surprises in terms of plot and character development, and while the end is ultimately sign-posted from the first frame of the first film, how it comes to fruition is delightfully unexpected, full of subtext and shades of greys.

The lesser of the two parts for me, but not by much. Not at all. An excellent conclusion.

Lionsgate Limited Exclusive SteelBook / 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital 4K

Home Video Distributor: Lionsgate
Available on Blu-ray - January 21, 2025
Screen Formats: 2.40:1
Subtitles: English; Spanish
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

VIDEO

Yeah, not gonna be lavishing the transfer with the same love I did the movie review. This Lionsgate 4K 2160p release is a bare bone upscale, and not a particularly good one. No real effort has been put into the transfer; accomplish very little delineation from the blu-rays you already own. What it does provide is an uptick in contrast and HDR (although limited) embellishments, courtesy of DOLBY Vision/HDR10/10+. It isn’t enough to warrant a double dip. It’s a token effort for a double dip. Stick with the blu-rays.

AUDIO

The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix was also a throaty and formidable presentation for the flick that challenges any sound system. But Lionsgate have again chose not to update with Dolby ATMOS or a 7.1 mix, which is disappointing. Some overheads and a new presentation might have been the clencher to buy again, but just as with the VIDEO I must say stick with your blu-rays.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• None

Special Features:

Pathetic. These releases have no effort put into them. Sweet stuff all included here. You get new, uninspiring cover art and a slipcover for the US release that’s the same dull photoshop picture.

• The Making of Kill Bill Volume 2
• "Damoe" Deleted Scene
• "Chingon" Musical Performance

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 137 mins
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino. Uma Thurman
Cast: Vivica A. Fox; Ambrosia Kelley; Michael Parks
Genre: Action | Thriller
Tagline: The New Film by Quentin Tarantino.
Memorable Movie Quote: "The lioness has rejoined her cub, and all is right in the jungle."
Theatrical Distributor: Lionsgate
Official Site:
Release Date: April 16, 2004
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: January 21, 2025.
Synopsis: The Bride continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill, the reclusive bouncer Budd, and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle.