Most of the media attention so far has focused on what an outrageously violent movie this is. While, yes, it is gory, and there are lots of severed limbs, squirting firehose blood, and creative maimings and killings, this movie is not what I would consider a disturbing one.

The graphic violence is so over the top, and portrayed with such a tone of outlandish fun, it propels the mood to the level of a comedy. An energetic, craftily constructed, brutally intense comedy. Even the almost-rape scene had me cracking up, in an "ew this is so ridiculously sick it's humorous" sort of way.

The story is highly engaging, so far. I might even say brilliant, but I want to see the end of it! The beginning wouldn't hurt either. [smirk]

If Volume 2 follows through and fulfills on what has been built up so far, then the 2-movie set as a whole will likely be a masterpiece. If not, and this all turns out to be just an empty house of cards with some flimsey half-thought excuse at the end to explain it all away, then I will be very disappointed. But this being a Quentin Tarantino piece, I have faith. We'll just have to wait until February.

Uma Thurman is kickass, all the way. Not much more to be said on that matter. Keep rockin.

The music. Again, Tarantino works his magic. So many sounds out of the past and present, woven together to form a foundation upon which all else is based. Though the artists are many, the signature is Quentin Tarantino all the way through.

Style, style, style. The anime chapter was unique and gripping. In an especially bizarre twist, the animated portion of the movie was perhaps the most serious. Though the cartoon violence was just as exaggerated as the live action, it didn't elicit laughter, but drama. (Anime connoiseurs will find it par for the course, but it might be shocking to those accustomed to all cartoons as being done Disney style.) The live action violence is cartooney; hence, funny. The cartoon violence, though also cartooney, plays as real; perhaps even a bit disturbing.

In the trivia department, I did happen to notice the Red Apple Cigarette ad product placement while the Bride was on her way to kill O-Ren. The only reason I noticed this, or even had any inkling of its pseudo-significance, was because I stayed up altogether too late last night watching Pulp Fiction a second time with the trivia text turned on (2 x 2.5 hours is way too much for one sitting). Oh, the things one can learn!

Red Apple Cigarettes, now available at Mooby's. Free sample provided with purchase of 5 crates of self-sealing stembolts, while supplies last. Ignore me now, I'm off in my own little world.

Kill Bill: Volume 1. Awesomely stylish funny gory gooey movie. Q & U live up to the challenge.