Kill Bill Vols. 1 & 2 (Box Set) Review

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(More customer reviews)Once upon a time in El Paso, Texas a wedding party is slaughtered execution style. However, it turns out that the Bride (Uma Thurman), who is pregnant, is not dead but in a coma. Four years later she wakes up, no longer pregnant, in time to save herself from insult being added to her injury. Then the Bride puts together her list of people to kill: (1) Vernita Green (Vivica A. Fox), (2) O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), (3) Budd (Michael Madsen), (4) Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), and (5) Bill (David Carradine). In "Kill Bill, Volume 1," the Bride only gets to the first two names on her list, albeit not in that order the way the film is cut, and then proceeds to the rest in Volume 2. This does not constitute a spoiler because you cannot have a film called "Kill Bill" that does at least get to the title character, regardless of the results. But then this was a do-it-yourself "Box Set" (I bought the two DVDs and they gave me a box to put together).
There is more happening in the each film besides the kill list, such as an anime telling us how O-Ren Ishii became the Queen of the Tokyo underworld and the training sequence in which the Bride studies with the great Pai Mei. But in the first film the primary emphasis is on how the Bride takes out her first two victims and the triumph of style as substance, especially when style means fountains of blood gushing from human beings that would make Akira Kurosawa proud. With "Pulp Fiction" Tarantino made his impression upon our ears with scene after scene of great dialogue. No wonder the soundtrack for that film had clips of some of what came rolling off the tongues of the actors (usually Samuel L. Jackson, who only plays a corpse in these films). But with "Kill Bill, Volume 1" Tarantino's blood feast is mostly for the eyes. This film is not for everybody, but then what Quentin Tarantino film ever was?
The biggest complain about Volume 1 is that it has the two most memorable sequences in the entire epic, namely watching O-Ren Ishii and her posse walk glide into the House of Blue Leaves with the blasting soundtrack giving them energy and the final showdown in an exquisite garden at night with gently falling snow where O-Ren in her white kimono and the Bride in her yellow biker suit do their dance of death with Japanese steel. Nothing in Volume 2 tops either of those scenes, which is not necessarily a bad thing, just a cinematic reality.
The caveat when Mirimax decided to split this four-hour revenge film into two volumes was that those who sensed a lack of character development and motivation in Volume 1 would be appeased by what was put forth in Volume 2, and this is indeed the case. We finally get to go back and see a couple of pivotal scenes set before the "beginning" of the film's opening, such as the massacre at the Two Pines wedding chapel. The net result is that character is more important than killing in the last half of the film, which makes sense because it would really be virtually impossible for the Bride to slice and dice more opponents than she did at the House of Blue Leaves.
I watched Volume 1 on DVD again before I went to see Volume 2 in the theater, which I thought would put me perfectly in the narrative flow. However, Quentin Tarantino has set up his audience just to play with their minds, which, of course, is what he was doing from the start and at the climax of this film I was not at all sure who, if anyone, was going to come out alive. Certainly what happens with numbers 3 and 4 are not what you expected after seeing the fate of numbers 1 and 2, but that certainly puts what happens with the final name on the list up for grabs.

There are a lot of oppositions between the two halves of this film. The beautiful setting of the duel between the Bride and O-ren in the gentle falling snow is countered by the showdown with Budd (Michael Madsen) in the harsh sunlight of his trailer in the desert. Having devoted an entire chapter to Hattori Hanzo creating his most perfect sword for the Bride, it is amazing how hard it is to get the sword out of its scabbard in this one. Volume 1 was a feast for the eyes, but in Volume 2 Tarantino's dialogue becomes more prominent, although not quite up to the level of "Pulp Fiction." But the dialogue is important because before we get around to the titular business of this film, the Bride and Bill have got to have themselves a conversation. Sound also matters more in this film: there is one sequence that is effectively done in the dark.
I am barely acquainted with the genre of Hong Kong films that Tarantino was apparently weaned on, so everything is fairly new to me and consequently smacks more of homage than parody, which is no doubt the director's intent. I probably will not go out and check out some of the films that inspired Tarantino to do "Kill Bill" which have been pointed out to me, because they will undoubtedly pale in comparison to the slicked up version that he is serving for our American palates. All things considered, I have a definite preference for Volume 1, which seems to run counter to the prevailing sentiments, but it took me a while to be comfortable with how the two parts fit together. The key thing is that they do, without Volume 2 being simply more of the same, because it is definitely not. There is something to be said for Tarantino pulling out all the stops just to have fun.

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Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, Vol. 1 is trash for connoisseurs. From his opening gambit (including a "Shaw-Scope" logo and gaudy '70s-vintage "Our Feature Presentation" title card) to his cliffhanger finale (a teasing lead-in to 2004's Vol. 2), Tarantino pays loving tribute to grindhouse cinema, specifically the Hong Kong action flicks and spaghetti Westerns that fill his fervent brain--and this frequently breathtaking movie--with enough cinematic references and cleverly pilfered soundtrack cues to send cinephiles running for their reference books. Everything old is new again in Tarantino's humor-laced vision: he steals from the best while injecting his own oft-copied, never-duplicated style into what is, quite simply, a revenge flick, beginning with the near-murder of the Bride (Uma Thurman), pregnant on her wedding day and left for dead by the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (or DiVAS)--including Lucy Liu and the unseen David Carradine (as Bill)--who become targets for the Bride's lethal vengeance. Culminating in an ultraviolent, ultra-stylized tour-de-force showdown, Tarantino's fourth film is either brilliantly (and brutally) innovative or one of the most blatant acts of plagiarism ever conceived. Either way, it's hyperkinetic eye-candy from a passionate film-lover who clearly knows what he's doing.

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The Keeper (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)The career of Steven Seagal has jumped from high to low to mediocre. When he began his action film set the bar for fight sequences just as it had been set by Bruce Lee years prior. But as he aged and became more popular, his films began to take on a different tone, preaching instead of fighting, made by less skilled directors more focused on his acting ability than his martial arts skills. And it was those skills that drew fans to the seats, not the acting.
This is not to say that Seagal's acting skills aren't up there. While made fun of by impersonators and joked about by night time talk show hosts, he's actually not bad. Unfortunately a number of his movies were. But that involved more plot lines, scripts and directors who didn't quite no how to use him. Such is not the case with THE KEEPER.
Seagal returns to form as tough as nails cop Rolland Salinger whose dirty partner shoots him during the film's opening sequence. Rolland survives and even gets revenge when the cop tries to kill him in the hospital. But even though wronged, the force demands he take an early retirement (a nice plot line that plays to Seagal's age rather than ignore it).
At home recovering, Rolland continues to nurse himself back to speed while relying on pain killers to help him out. Not overly so but to Rolland this is a sign of weakness and as the film progresses, he depends on them less and less.
While deciding what to do about the forced retirement, Rolland gets a call from old friend Conner Wells (Steph Duvall), an ex Texas policeman who struck it rich. It seems that someone has tried to kidnap Conner's daughter Nikita (Liezl Carstens) and taken out her bodyguard in the process. Knowing Rolland's skills at personal and property protection, Conner hires him to be the new head of security and Nikita's personal bodyguard.
Not only does Rolland improve security, in watching Nikita he has the chance to find out just who is behind the kidnapping scheme. One person involved is Nikita's boyfriend, an up and coming boxer backed by Conner. A self interested player, he's tied into a criminal named Jason Cross who has a past with Conner.
Various fight sequences that demonstrate what Seagal brought to the genre years ago result in broken bones and hurt feelings when Nikita feels over protected. At the same time she develops a respect for Rolland as well.
With all the attempts to kidnap Nikita, we know eventually one will work. It is then that Rolland gets the entire story from Conner. Cross is trying to steal Conner's land from him, land that has more value to it than mere oil. Now he must sign over that land to Cross and in return Nikita will be released.
Too bad Rolland doesn't like to play games by other people's rules. With a little help from some friends, Rolland sets out to track down Nikita and Cross and to make sure that this story winds up in his favor. Trust me, it's not a spoiler to tell you who comes out on top in the end. I mean come on; this IS a Steven Seagal movie. Then again he didn't finish well in EXECUTIVE DECISION.
With enough fight sequences to demonstrate Seagal's technique, plenty of guns and explosions and several good looking women to satisfy the male chauvinist pigs, this movie brings Seagal back to the fold of solid action stars. The movie may have gone straight to DVD but it will be a treat for fans.

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Steven Seagal (Driven to Kill) unleashes his wrath – and his fists – in this fast-paced thriller about an ex-cop caught in a web of deceit, racism and murder. Full of high-octane stunts and eye-popping action, The Keeper is a nonstop adrenaline rush! Double-crossed by his rogue partner and forced to retire, Los Angeles street cop Rolland Sallinger (Seagal) accepts a gig guarding the beautiful daughter of a wealthy businessman. But when mobsters kidnap her, Sallinger’s job turns from protector to hunter as he untangles a dangerous web of lies and murder. Now, in a race against time, Sallinger must use his wits, weapons and brute force to get her back – before it’s too late!
Audio: English: 5.1 Dolby Surround
Language: Dubbed: English / Subtitled: English, French & Spanish
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: Widescreen: 1.78:1

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Steven Seagal Lawman: The Complete Season One (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Tonight I watched my first two episodes of Steven Seagal Lawman and I am hooked. Let me tell you what first grabbed me: Seagal is a REAL person. He has no fluff, no (apparent) plastic surgery, no entourage, and no arrogance. He's a real man, doing a tough job with a fair amount of (well-deserved) celebrity attached to his name. Watching Seagal go through the paces with his deputies is fulfilling and enjoyable, and you feel like you can connect with him.
The second fun part of the show for me is when the suspects recognize him. In one traffic stop in tonight's episode, the two suspects are drunk. The driver says to Steven as he is questioning him, "YOu remind me of Steven Seagal." Steven keeps talking, and the the driver says to his friend, "Doesn't he look just like Steven Seagal?" And then Steven says, "Yeah, I get that a lot." Then he goes back into explaining why they shouldn't drink and drive and what they need to do next. It just adds a little fun to your regular 'COPs' Type program.
And thirdly, Seagal is working in Jefferson Parrish, New Orleans so they cover a lot of ground devastated by Katrina. Seagal and his men were there during the clean-up and have first-hand knowledge to the rebuilding of the areas affected. And they care -- they really care. No fake speeches, just real caring.
Seagal has been a cop for 20 years, and only now is he making it public. He has the skills and his notoriety can be used to bring attention to this area that needs a helping hand and your prayers.
I recommend this program whole-heartedly.
Ellen C Maze, author
A Vampire Tale for the Discerning Reader

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Steven Seagal's movies have grossed more than $2 billion worldwide. An expert martial artist with a 7th-degree black belt in aikido, he ranks among the film industry s greatest action stars. But Seagal isn t just an action hero in the movies. For almost 20 years, he has been working as a fully commissioned deputy with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana where, in addition to going out on patrol, the expert marksman works with the SWAT team and instructs Jefferson Parish officers in firearms and hand-to-hand combat. Get in on the action as Steven Seagal Lawman chronicles Seagals extraordinary life in law enforcement, riding shotgun as he and his hand-selected team of deputies respond to crimes-in-progress. Then, follow Seagal off-duty as he pursues his many ventures including musical performances and philanthropic efforts in Jefferson Parish and New Orleans.

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Kill Switch (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)The career of action film star Steven Seagal has had enough ups and downs to appear like a rollercoaster ride in one of any hundred theme parks across the country. Beginning in 1988 with ABOVE THE LAW, Seagal burst upon the scene as a martial arts master in a film that featured plot, good acting and enough action that involved non-hand to hand combat to keep audiences screaming for more.
With each new film, Seagal developed more mystery about his personal life, played roles that were a little deeper and eventually was able to parlay his clout to make films that followed items dear to his heart. Unfortunately the more he did so, the smaller the crowds to his films.
In recent years Seagal's films have taken on that dreaded identity of direct to DVD features, movies that play in either no theater or limited run. This doesn't mean that the quality is lacking all the time, just that the studio behind it has less faith in the films than Seagal does. So he has kept making them knowing fans would show.
Fans support him enough that a book has recently been released, SEAGALOGY: A STUDY OF THE A** KICKING FILMS OF STEVEN SEAGAL by Vern, a contributing writer for the ain't it cool news web site. The book covers Seagal's films from beginning to end. But I'm not sure that it included the newest release, KILL SWITCH.
Seagal plays Jacob King, a detective working in Memphis, TN, and hot on the trail of a serial killer. The film opens on a case where a psycho has implanted C4 explosives in a young woman's chest with a timer set to go off in minutes. Confronting the killer, King beats a confession out of him in time to save the girl while inflicting enough damage to require medical support for said killer.
The scene moves to another serial killer on the lose, this one having wracked up 4 bodies to date with one on the way. Using astrological signs and leaving clues to what he is up to, including a coded cipher, King attempts to figure out his prey and take him off the street.
Due to his handling of the last killer though, King now has an FBI agent hot on his tail, Agent Frankie Miller (Holly Dignard). Suspicious of King, raw to the ways of the street, she finds herself at odds with him non-stop. While commanded to co-operate, King does his best to find the killer at the cost of relations with the FBI.
The clues mount up as does the body count. And when the first killer is released due to the coercive tactics of King, he ends up dealing with both killers before the films end.
The movie offers a decent plotline, written by Seagal himself. The action sequences fluctuate between dynamic and lame. Seagal is best when he does all of the work himself, including stunts. Fight sequences where an obvious stand in takes his place seem weak while the scenes with Seagal facing the camera and doing the moves he's made famous bring a reality to it. One has to wonder why this is. With the abilities there, why resort to unfit replicas?
One of the bad things involving the fight sequences is the use of what seems to be hiccup cutting of scenes. The same shots pushed back to immediate back, fast cuts of repeated blows and a close up shooting of intimate fight scenes that were my biggest complaint in the mega hit BOURNE films. Back off and let us see the action!
Seagal's acting has been worse and better. He coasts along easily as King, using a Cajun style twang to make him seem different than usual. And King's secret past leads one to suspect that perhaps he isn't who he seems.
The other actors range from an even keel to some of the worst one line roles seen. Unconvincing would be the nicest way to put it. But all in all this movie is not the terrible film that some seem to think. And if you're a Seagal fan, you should be pleased.

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Detective Jacob Stillwell (Steven Seagal) is one of the most celebrated homicide detectives in the country. His brutal delivery of street justice is legendary among the men and women of law enforcement. But on this latest case, he may have finally met his match Lazerus, a cunning and perversely violent killer who is on the loose and terrorizing the inner city. Stillwell s desperate pursuit of Lazerus takes him into the dark, depraved Memphis underworld of street sex and senseless violence.

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A Dangerous Man (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a big huge fan of Steven Seagal. I mean I had all his movies (maybe I have some that He does not have in his own collection). Steven Seagal is at the wrong place at the wrong time and for that He is going to kill a lot of people. This movie is full of killing and action. Any action movie fan should see this. I really enjoyed. Actually the movie makes sense and is really good. The last movies of Steven Seagal were really bad, but this one and The keeper are getting our action hero back in the field. If you like Steven Seagal you should buy it. You won't regret.

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I don’t like to start a fight unless I finish it. Action legend Steven Seagal stars as Shane Daniels, an ex-Special Forces operative released from prison after serving six years hard time for a murder he didn’t commit. Back on the street, he comes to the rescue of a beautiful young hostage stashed in a car trunk with millions in cash. Wielding a devastating combination of street fighting smarts and martial arts skills, he suddenly finds himself in a deadly showdown with international drug merchants and the local corrupt cops. As the only ones standing between him and his newfound freedom, they’re about to discover just how dangerous one man can be in this explosive, wall-to-wall thriller.

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