Film Review: Reasons why "Kill Bill Vol. 1" is Postmodern

Fig. 1. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003

Released in 2003, Kill Bill: Volume 1 written and directed by Quentin Tarentino is a martial arts film starring Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu and David Carradine, to name just a few cast members. Tarentino’s vision and direction of this film makes Kill Bill: Volume 1 an excellent example of postmodern film work. The way in which he structures the film creates a sense of uncertainty and discontinuity, the way in which time passes. The film is not shown in chronological order, distorting the passage of time which can be related to the concept of postmodernism in the sense that in a postmodern society the boundaries between time and space are blurred and distorted, and goes against all expectations of the viewers. Despite this choice of structuring the film, it does not impede the viewer’s comprehension and understanding of the events in the film, it adds to the atmosphere and suspense of the film, keeping the viewers anticipating what will happen next and where the storyline will take them.

Fig. 2. Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)

Secondly, the fact that Kill Bill was released in two volumes, Volume 1 and Volume 2, which were both filmed alongside each other, just released one year apart. However, the second instalment is not considered to be a sequel to the first and the first is not considered to be a prequel – this again has parallels with the concept of postmodernity as many theorists do not regard postmodernity as a distinctly different time period to modernism, instead they see postmodernism as being a continuation of modernity. This choice to release Kill Bill in two volumes is an interesting one and bears close ties with the concepts of both modernity and postmodernity and the passage of time.

The main character in the film, the Bride, is never referred to by her name and even in the credits she is only ever referred to as ‘the Bride’. There is one incidence in particular where the Bride’s real name is said in conversation, but this is bleeped out, causing viewers of the film to have a moment where they question whether they heard what they thought they had done and wonder why her name was bleeped out and not revealed to them.

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Fig. 1 Kill Bil Vol 1 (2003) [Poster] At: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/516SFOXbJVL.jpg

Fig. 2 Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004) [Poster] At: http://img.moviepostershop.com/kill-bill-vol-2-movie-poster-2004-1020251862.jpg