The revenge epic Kill Bill: Volumes 1 & 2 is one of Quentin Tarantino’s bloodiest films. The director sends former professional killer Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) on a campaign against her former companions. The two-parter is divided into different battle stations: the bride works through a list and we are there when she is allowed to cross out a name.
Why Quentin Tarantino didn’t use a martial arts goddess in Kill Bill
It was therefore necessary to find opponents for Uma Thurman. And as a new article from Entertainment Weekly reveals, one thing was important to the director when making the selection: credibility. So an absolute action icon, also admired by Tarantino, was out of the question for the film.
Kill Bill 1 – Trailer (German) HD
It’s about Michelle Yeoh, the martial arts legend you last saw in action in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Why didn’t Quentin Tarantino choose one of his favorite actresses? Her qualities would have suited the film perfectly. Actually. Yeoh’s answer:
I asked Quentin the same thing. He’s very smart. He said, ‘Who would believe that Uma Thurman could beat you up?’
Anyone who sees this as a dig at Uma Thurman should watch Kill Bill again.
Why Quentin Tarantino’s decision makes perfect sense
Everything Everywhere All At Once – Trailer (German) HD
Uma Thurman’s character is in the film far from a superior superfighter away. In Kill Bill, The Bride fillets her revenge objects in rows and slaughters the Crazy 88 at the Charlie Brown club in Japan. In the individual duels, however, she does not assert herself primarily through her (certainly also outstanding) fighting skills. Willpower and anger are the decisive factors against, for example, Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii or Daryl Hannah as Elle Driver.
At this point you will find external content from YouTube, which complements the article. You can show it and hide it again with one click.
Michelle Yeoh would of course have been a solo opponent. But the actress has developed an untouchable aura through her characters in films like Tiger & Dragon and Police Story 3 – Supercop. Putting her in a duel against Beatrix Kiddo would be like having Wolverine fight Rocky. Fortunately, Quentin Tarantino recognized this discrepancy.
*. . .
What do you think of the reasoning and how do you rate Beatrix Kiddo’s martial arts?