Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)

Continuing the path of revenge she began after emerging from a four year coma, a woman (Uma Thurman) known as The Bride has three more people on her list: a one eyed assassin (Daryl Hannah), a burnt out assassin (Michael Madsen) now working as a bouncer in a strip club and the leader of the assassin group called Bill (David Carradine). Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, this isn't a sequel but the conclusion to KILL BILL VOL. 1 from the year before. Originally intended as one film, its over four hour running time necessitated splitting it into two parts. Alas, the second half is weaker than the first volume. There's more dead space which there wasn't in the first one. Perhaps the biggest problem is that we finally get to meet Bill here and David Carradine is a disappointment. He's not a strong enough presence or charismatic enough to make us believe that he could install such fear and/or loyalty. Warren Beatty was first announced for the part and what a coup that would have been since he has both a strong screen presence and the necessary charisma. Still, it's good enough and there's a spectacular fight between Thurman and Hannah that's thrilling. As usual, Tarantino's choice of music is impeccable. With Michael Parks, Gordon Liu, Bo Svenson and Samuel L. Jackson.