Stephen King Takes Aim at Ultimate Tarantino Classic: “So Tiresome”
Turns out Stephen King thinks Tarantino's revenge epic is not that epic after all. Have critics been lying to us about Kill Bill? Here's what we know.
Stephen King, who has been hooking both readers and viewers to his material for decades, surprisingly found himself unmoved by the stylized violence and revenge-driven plot of Kill Bill. While critics worldwide have largely praised it, King wrote in his Entertainment Weekly article:
“You probably saw some good reviews of it, possibly even in this magazine. Steve says don't you believe it. Steve says you should remember that movie critics see movies free.”
What Problem Did Stephen King Have With ‘Kill Bill’?
King's main issue seemed to be with the film's stylized violence and what he perceived as emptiness beneath the surface.
“The violence is choreographed like an Esther Williams swim routine. When the Bride dispatches at least 70 kung-fu goons in one scene, blood spurts from amputated limbs, often in pretty spirals. And the movie’s litany of in-jokes is so tiresome,” he wrote.
Yes, but: despite his overall criticism, King did acknowledge one bright spot in the film. He praised the lead actress's performance by noting:
“Uma Thurman tries hard, and she’s the best thing in the movie, but in the end she’s stuck playing a woman who’s a label instead of a human being: She is, God save us, the Bride.”
What Do Fans Think of ‘Kill Bill’?
Kill Bill has 2 chapters which Tarantino considers as one movie (thus not breaking his 10-movie rule). King advised us to not listen to critics, but what does the audience say?
- On IMDb, Kill Bill Vol. 1 is rated 8.2/10.
- On IMDb, Kill Bill Vol. 2 is rated 8.0/10.
“The music first is breathtaking. The action is mind boggling. The animation is something magical. I am going to see all of the Kill Bills. Uma Thurman redefines herself and every woman alive. This is Wonder Woman times 10. Bravo Terrantino you deserve kudos for this majestic work,” sjanders-86430 on IMDb wrote.
“Probably Tarantino's most universal movie to date, with a little less character dependency than most of his films and a more linear approach than usual, Kill Bill Volume 1 is a great place to start for anyone new to his movies,” mjw2305 on IMDb pointed out.
‘Kill Bill’: Where to Watch?
Both volumes are available on AMC+, AMC, Philo.
