Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Uma Thurman is The Bride ready for her big day at the altar. But her boss Bill (David Carradine) has other plans, and she finds herself left for dead with a bullet in her head. When she comes out of a four-year coma, she has vengeance on her mind and takes on Bill's deadly squad of international assassins.

From the mind of Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill was originally conceived as one film but released in two separate volumes due to its running time. I can't say I'm a fan due to the glorified violence, but I can appreciate the way Tarantino shot the film with references to different genres, and his casting is terrific. But was all the bloodshed really necessary?

Each volume offers a fabulous AVC encode on a BD50 disc. Resolution is outstanding with razor-sharp images, solid black levels with adequate shadow detail, and deep and rich color saturation. There are many different styles of photography portrayed—from black-and-white and muted-color flashbacks with heavy grain to looking-through-the-window clarity, depending on the scene.

The audio is outstanding, with each volume boasting an English 5.1 uncompressed PCM soundtrack. I enjoy active surround mixes, and Kill Bill delivers in spades with aggressive discrete effects from the rear speakers. Dynamics are strong, with deep, tight bass, and the musical score drives the point home with a wide soundstage and expansive mix at the low and high end of the audio spectrum. Dialog is crisp and clear and firmly rooted in the center.

The supplements will surely disappoint fans, with a "Making of" featurette on each volume. Volume One also offers two musical numbers and six Tarantino movie trailers. Volume Two has a deleted scene and a live musical performance by Robert Rodriguez, all in standard definition.

These films aren't for everyone—especially me, but as a fan of cinema, I can appreciate the quality of Tarantino's work. The outstanding audio and video make this an easy recommendation for fans, but if you're squeamish about violence and blood, you may want to steer clear.

Release Date: September 9, 2008

Volume One: 7 out of 10
Picture: 9 out of 10
Sound: 9 out of 10

Volume Two: 7 out of 10
Picture: 9 out of 10
Sound: 9 out of 10

Review System

Source
Panasonic DMP-BD30

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 Amplifier
Belkin PF60 power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector