This site is designed for accessibility. Content is obtainable and functional to any browser or Internet device. This site's full visual experience is available in a modern browser that supports web standards. Please consider upgrading your browser.
ファイト／ステイナイト 
When I first ordered the R2 limited edition box of Kill Bill Vol.1, I've resigned to the possibility that I may not get it because I ordered the DVD past the pre-ordered date. Thankfully, AmoTokyo came through for me as usual so now I have in my hand the big yellow box, as well as some cool extras such as the Okinawan T-shirt, Kill Bill Kubrick, and a miniature sword. The best of extra, however, can be found inside the R2 disc itself: the full-colour version of "The Showdown at the House of Blue Leaves" scenes. Please be aware that I'm not talking about the blue/black silhouette scene which appears near the end of the film. That part is still in duotone palettes even in the Japanese version. I'm actually referring to the parts in the middle of the Crazy 88 fight scene which got turned to black/white due to the supposedly gory scenes.
Well, guess what? They're not that gory after all. I mean, it's very animated that I find it hard to believe that anyone can gush that much blood when their body parts are severed. Having said that, those who are squeamish of blood probably should stay away from this one. Everything else also looks so much better in the DVD. As a result, certain fight scenes are simply stunning. My favourite scene is probably The Bride vs. Go Go Yubari duel. It's a flat-out cool scene that looks a lot like a live action version of some anime series that I've seen. I certainly prefer Chiaki Kuriyama in this role than the one that she had in Battle Royale. I just feel that Go Go Yubari leaves a better and lasting impression on me than Takako Chigusa. I was especially impressed when I read an interview which pretty much confirms that Chiaki did most of her stunts in the film.
I also noticed something that I didn't seem to notice in the other countries' version of the film. Remember the young boy who ended up not getting killed by spanked by The Bride? Well, there seems to be a scene in this DVD in which he appears earlier before that infamous scene (see the screen captures above). Maybe I have short-attention span but I don't think I remember seeing the young boy appear before the blue/black silhouette scene. If I am right, then I am also not sure if this wasn't even in the original film and was simply added by Quentin Tarantino for the Special Edition DVD. Anyway, it's a rather hilarious scene as well as one that at the very least suggests that The Bride still has a bit of conscience and compassion in her even when she's completely surrounded by the other assassins.
But the real reason I bought the DVD was to satisfy my simple curiosity of watching some cool violent scenes that have been edited out of the US and other countries' versions. And I have to say that the whole scenes look better this way. No matter how clever Quentin was in editing that black and white scene, it still feels a bit jumpy and looks as if the black/white colouring was intended for censorship (which it was). It's quite different from the blue/black silhouette scene because that one was quite well executed in its design. To begin with, they had the owner of the House of Blue Leaves turning the light off, and then for most of the time, we only see their silhouette so the transitions between the colour and the duotones don't feel as jumpy as the black and white version.
At the end of the day, I still enjoyed Kill Bill Vol.1. I haven't had the chance to see the entire movie in its entirety again ever since I first saw it in the cinema. So this is quite a nice disc to have. There are also some DVD extras included in the disc but I haven't check most of them. I do notice that there is some kind of interview with Chiaki Kuriyama as well as the various trailers that were shown to promote the film. Anyway, I'm about to see the second film this Thursday and I hope that part of the film will go well with the first one. Please feel free to let me know if I was right or wrong about the additional young boy scene in the middle of The Bride vs Crazy 88 rumble. I'll appreciate it though if you don't spoil the plot of the second film for me just yet.
Note:
Please be aware that the following type of comments will be deleted from now on: spams, comments containing l33t talk or rudeness. Check Animesuki, Tokyo Toshokan, or D-Addicts before asking where to find a series. If you want to post spoiler, please use <spoiler>write your spoiler here</spoiler> tags.
The comment area allows post without email address. However, all posters have to fill out the name field. If you have a question unrelated to the particular entry, please email: designchronicle@NOSPAMgmail.com. Make sure you remove the NOSPAM part of the email.