The 258-minute version of "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair" has barely been screened since Cannes 2006, but it is undoubtedly the director's finest work, and one of the best American films of the 21st century.
In the age of streaming, there's a widespread belief that all films are available anytime, anywhere. Don't be fooled! Some of the greatest films ever made are impossible to find due to problems ranging from music rights issues to corporate negligence. In this column, we look at films that are currently unavailable in physical format or on any streaming platform, with the goal of drawing attention to them and saying to their rights holders: "Release this!"
This week, Los Angeles filmgoers can see Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" saga as he originally envisioned it: not split into two standard-length films, but as a gigantic 258-minute epic at Tarantino's own Vista Theatre in Hollywood. It's an opportunity not to be missed, for a couple of reasons. First, because "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair" has never been released in physical format or on any streaming platform; second, because viewed as a whole, and with the subtle changes Tarantino made to the theatrical cuts, this version of "Kill Bill" is arguably the best film Tarantino has ever made. It might even be the best film ever made.
If "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair" isn't the greatest film ever made, it's certainly the most cinematic film ever made, a thrilling blend of Western, martial arts epic, and revenge thriller that is far more than the simple genre mashup that description implies. While Tarantino draws inspiration from and alludes to dozens, perhaps hundreds, of films ranging from the obvious influences of Asian action cinema and B-movie Westerns to New Hollywood icons like "The Last Picture Show" and Walter Hill's "The Driver," he doesn't merely pay homage or imitate. It tackles conventions and archetypes from within, imbuing characters and situations we've already seen (and many we haven't) with a critical perspective and emotional depth that allows it to improve upon practically every film it references. In the age of streaming, there's a widespread belief that all films are available, at all times and everywhere. Don't be fooled! Some of the best films ever made are impossible to find due to problems ranging from music rights issues to corporate negligence. In this column, we examine films that are currently unavailable in physical format or on any streaming platform, with the aim of drawing attention to them and telling their rights holders: "Release this!"
This week, Los Angeles filmgoers can see Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" saga as he originally conceived it: not divided into two feature-length films, but as a single, gigantic 258-minute epic at Tarantino's own Vista Theatre in Hollywood. It's an opportunity not to be missed, for a couple of reasons. First, because "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair" has never been released in physical format or on any streaming platform; second, because viewed as a whole, and with the subtle changes Tarantino made to the cuts for the theatrical release, this version of "Kill Bill" is arguably the best film Tarantino has ever made. It could even be argued that it's the best film ever made.
If "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair" isn't the best film ever made, it's certainly the most cinematic film ever made, a thrilling blend of Western, martial arts epic, and revenge thriller that is far more than the simple genre mashup that description implies. While Tarantino makes references and allusions to dozens, perhaps hundreds, of films, ranging from the obvious influences of Asian action cinema and B-movie Westerns to New Hollywood icons like "The Last Picture Show" and Walter Hill's "The Driver," he doesn't limit himself to mere homage or imitation. He approaches conventions and archetypes from within, imbuing characters and situations we've seen before (and many others we haven't) with a critical perspective and emotional depth that allows him to improve upon practically every film he references.
“Kill Bill” has an episodic structure, with sections dedicated to each of the Bride's targets, as well as several relevant flashbacks, and the division of the story into chapters (a device that Tarantino would later use in “Inglourious Basterds” and “The Hateful Eight”) allows him to create several interconnected, self-contained mini-films. There's an anime segment, contemporary reinterpretations of the Western and wuxia genres, and much more. The film's final chapter even becomes a reflection on toxic relationships, in the style of Ingmar Bergman, whose bleak 1976 melodrama, “Face to Face,” gives that chapter its title.
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