"Kill Bill" Ruined

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-07-19 09:49am

Courtesy of www.drudgereport.com

New York Times
New Tarantino Film to Be Released in 2 Parts
By LAURA M. HOLSON

LOS ANGELES, July 15 — Miramax Films will take the unusual and potentially risky move of releasing "Kill Bill," the much-anticipated Quentin Tarantino martial arts action-adventure film, as two movies, the first to open in the fall. Miramax will in effect be taking a three-hour film with a 200-page script and turning it into a serial.

Harvey Weinstein, a co-founder of Miramax, which is financing the film, said in an interview on Monday that the first installment would be in theaters on Oct. 10. The second release date is in still being negotiated, but it could be two to six months later, he said.

To many in Hollywood, the decision will come as a surprise. Mr. Weinstein, who in Hollywood is known as "Harvey Scissorhands," after the title character in the movie "Edward Scissorhands," has a reputation for forcing directors to cut both costs and the lengths of their movies. Mr. Tarantino spent 155 days shooting the film, well more than planned and longer than usual for most films.

But Mr. Weinstein said Mr. Tarantino was something of a special case. The popularity of his violent yet original 1994 film, "Pulp Fiction," helped put Miramax on the map and generated an abundance of cash to help the studio bankroll other movies.

"Miramax is the house Quentin Tarantino built," Mr. Weinstein said. And because of this director's stature he was granted "carte blanche," Mr. Weinstein added.

"Kill Bill'` is Mr. Tarantino's first foray into action filmmaking. His limited body of work also includes the equally violent yet critically praised "Reservoir Dogs."

When Mr. Tarantino first approached Mr. Weinstein about doing "Kill Bill" several years ago, it was with the condition that he be allowed to film the whole 200-page script that he had written. When Mr. Weinstein visited the set in its last month of shooting late last year, Mr. Tarantino said in a statement, Mr. Weinstein brought up the idea of splitting it in two.

No decision was made at the time although Mr. Tarantino shot two opening-credit sequences, he said. Mr. Weinstein said it was not until he visited Los Angeles three weeks ago, when Mr. Tarantino showed him more than an hour and a half of the film, that the two decided on the two-film approach.

"Kill Bill" is the story, told in chapters, of the world's deadliest female assassin, who survives being shot on her wedding day and, after five years in a coma, seeks revenge on the man who tried to kill her. The film's samurai-style fight sequences were filmed largely in China and take place in everything from a nightclub to a snow-covered garden to a suburban home.

"There were no obstacles involved in splitting up `Kill Bill' at all because I've always designed the movie, thought about the film, as malleable in any number of versions," Mr. Tarantino said in his statement. That includes different versions for Asia, America and Europe.

The serial approach to "Kill Bill" has parallels to the making of the second and third installments of the "Matrix" series and "The Lord of The Rings" trilogy, which were filmed as one story but divided into parts and have been released on a staggered schedule. But those films were conceived as multipart releases; "Kill Bill" was not.

Despite the success of the "Matrix" and the "Lord of the Ring" franchises, Miramax's decision carries risks, given the box-office figures for a number of sequels, prequels and serials. Several have been disappointments this summer, including "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," which received heavy publicity and generally favorable reviews as an enjoyable romp but which still failed to attract crowds. The serial films that have done well at the box office, like the "Matrix" series, have had built-in audiences already interested in the story. "Kill Bill," on the other hand, is from Mr. Tarantino's original screenplay.

Mitigating some of the risk is the movie's price tag, which Mr. Weinstein estimated at more than $55 million, not including marketing costs: less than what many blockbusters cost because many of the actors worked for union-scale wages and because production costs in China are lower than in the United States.

What Miramax and Mr. Tarantino are betting on is that the director's avid fan base and the pent-up interest in "Kill Bill" — which has taken almost a decade to make and is Mr. Tarantino's fifth movie — will pack theaters not once, but twice. Still Mr. Weinstein said he was worried about overselling this film, calling it "just a fun B-movie."

The question is: Fun for whom? "Kill Bill," not unlike other films that Mr. Tarantino has made, is intensely violent. That will limit the people who can see it, particularly the younger action-film audience that studios covet. In one spectacular fight in the "House of Blue Leaves" nightclub, nearly 100 people are killed, according to one person who worked on the set in China. Much has been made of the notion that Mr. Tarantino wanted the blood to be a particularly vibrant red.

"Tarantino is something of an innovator who takes audiences into different realms," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, a Los Angeles company that analyzes box-office returns.

Miramax has yet to work out the actors' salaries for the two movies, Mr. Weinstein said. The studio is renegotiating contracts, including one for Uma Thurman, who stars as the bride who is shot, and another for Lucy Liu, who plays a member of Bill's hit squad.

Two Hollywood executives familiar with the contracts said the two actresses would receive a percentage of the box-office revenue. Because the contracts were originally based on only one movie, they will have to be changed to reflect the two-part scheme, the executives said. Stars' salary demands can often derail a movie, but Mr. Weinstein expressed confidence that a new agreement would be reached since the actors will not have to shoot new scenes.

What? 3 hours too long now? Bastards, I'm not paying twice to see what is essentially one film anyway! They're either copying The Matrix with this stunt or just thinking the audience is bloody stupid.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-19 10:35am

What the fuck? I'm fucking glad no one split Pulp Fiction in half like this, that would have sucked ass.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-07-19 10:50am

Sounds like a stupid idea, though I'd never heard of this movie before now. Three hours shouldn't be split, maybe it was more like 3 and half or more I could see it.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-07-19 11:14am

Sea Skimmer wrote:Sounds like a stupid idea, though I'd never heard of this movie before now. Three hours shouldn't be split, maybe it was more like 3 and half or more I could see it.

I've seen the preview for it several times now. I think it's on the front of a lot of the newer Miramax rentals.

It looks like Tarantino is still stuck in his 70's style obsession but has moved over into the martial arts genre. This film stars Uma Thurman and she does a lot of shit with a katana. It also has Lucy Lui in it. The preview looks pretty good.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-19 11:15am

I'm convinced it will be a good, enjoyable movie, but it won't be as important of a film as Pulp Fiction or even Reservoir Dogs.

Andrew J. · Post by **Andrew J.** » 2003-07-19 12:04pm

I'll just wait until they both come out on DVD, buy them, and watch them both in one sitting.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-07-19 01:12pm

It's only three hours! Titanic was longer!

Fuck you very much, Miramax... and here I was thinking it would be like five hours long or something...

aphexmonster · Post by **aphexmonster** » 2003-07-19 08:50pm

well thats craptacular

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-07-20 05:24am

DPDarkPrimus wrote:It's only three hours! Titanic was longer!

Fuck you very much, Miramax... and here I was thinking it would be like five hours long or something...

Agreed.

I'll take 3 hours of martial arts action, sword play, Uma Thurman and Lucy Lu over Titanic any day.

Besides, the trailer looks cool.

Uma Thurman's sweatsuit looks so retro, like a lot of the stuff Tarantino is involved with.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2003-07-20 05:55am

I was working when I first saw the preview for it, and I sought of scoffed at it, and didn't pay it any mind (this was on a Sunday), then on Thursday we need to check the 'centres' to ensure that the right Adds and Trailers have been placed in the right order for a film, and I saw it again only this time in full.

What can I say? I was totally hooked. The retro image of the film ensures that I will enjoy it as 'eye candy' if nothing else. I was really hanging out for this flick, but if they are going to do something as monumentally stupid as splitting it up, then ...

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-07-20 06:08am

Tsyroc wrote:
DPDarkPrimus wrote:It's only three hours! Titanic was longer!

Fuck you very much, Miramax... and here I was thinking it would be like five hours long or something...
Agreed.

I'll take 3 hours of martial arts action, sword play, Uma Thurman and Lucy Lu over Titanic any day.

Besides, the trailer looks cool.

Uma Thurman's sweatsuit looks so retro, like a lot of the stuff Tarantino is involved with.

Is it the Bruce Lee one from Game of Death?

I haven't seen the trailer in awhile.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2003-07-20 06:14am

Yep all yellow, with a black band running down both sides of the body!

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-07-20 06:46am

I knew it looked familiar. I hadn't placed it as being the style Bruce Lee wore in one of his movies.

That's great.

aphexmonster · Post by **aphexmonster** » 2003-07-20 08:20am

Tsyroc wrote:I knew it looked familiar. I hadn't placed it as being the style Bruce Lee wore in one of his movies.

That's great.

Well now you can think its great x2, because its getting two movies! -,-

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-07-20 09:14am

I am sure that I'm the lone wolf here, but I hate Tarantino. I thought "Pulp Fiction" absolute garbage. A collection of short speeches with "fuck" being every other word. Yay.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-07-20 12:27pm

Superman wrote:I am sure that I'm the lone wolf here, but I hate Tarantino. I thought "Pulp Fiction" absolute garbage. A collection of short speeches with "fuck" being every other word. Yay.

Bah, you've got no taste, if you think the film is tainted by just having overzealoud use of the "f" word then you're missing the bigger picture.

This film does seem different mind, I just hope this cut doesn't happen.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2003-07-20 01:13pm

I must be in the minority here. I saw the Kill Bill trailer multiple times, and each time I can't help but roll my eyes and wait for it to be over. I get no rush from it, and it feels like a parody flick, like Hot Shots, rather than a serious action movie.

Splitting it into two movies just makes it seem to me that it's just three hours of Matrix-Reloaded boring action, and making it two 1.5 hour movies is the only way to keep interest going. Not a huge plus for me, really.

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-07-20 01:19pm

Superman wrote:I am sure that I'm the lone wolf here, but I hate Tarantino. I thought "Pulp Fiction" absolute garbage. A collection of short speeches with "fuck" being every other word. Yay.

You cannot be serious. Impossible. Just......

Totaly unbelievable. Samuel L. Jackson is the man, ya dig? You can't beat Pulp Fiction in pure awesomeness and style. I just can't....

Some people are really confusing.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-07-20 03:30pm

Where can I see the trailer?

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-07-20 05:02pm

As long as Tarantino is all right with it, I have no problems whatsoever with splitting the movie up. It's good to see that Weinstein is letting the director make the decision.

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-07-20 05:12pm

Superman wrote:I am sure that I'm the lone wolf here, but I hate Tarantino. I thought "Pulp Fiction" absolute garbage. A collection of short speeches with "fuck" being every other word. Yay.

What the fucking hell are you fucking talking about, you motherfucker. Fucking pansies can't fucking take a few fucking profuckinfanities?

aphexmonster · Post by **aphexmonster** » 2003-07-20 06:56pm

Hotfoot wrote:I must be in the minority here. I saw the Kill Bill trailer multiple times, and each time I can't help but roll my eyes and wait for it to be over. I get no rush from it, and it feels like a parody flick, like Hot Shots, rather than a serious action movie.

Splitting it into two movies just makes it seem to me that it's just three hours of Matrix-Reloaded boring action, and making it two 1.5 hour movies is the only way to keep interest going. Not a huge plus for me, really.

Yeah, but do you like any movies like it ?

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2003-07-20 07:04pm

aphexmonster wrote:
Hotfoot wrote:I must be in the minority here. I saw the Kill Bill trailer multiple times, and each time I can't help but roll my eyes and wait for it to be over. I get no rush from it, and it feels like a parody flick, like Hot Shots, rather than a serious action movie.

Splitting it into two movies just makes it seem to me that it's just three hours of Matrix-Reloaded boring action, and making it two 1.5 hour movies is the only way to keep interest going. Not a huge plus for me, really.

Yeah, but do you like any movies like it ?

Pulp Fiction I enjoyed. Kill Bill just doesn't look good, honestly.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2003-07-21 02:02am

DPDarkPrimus wrote:Where can I see the trailer?

www.comingsoon.net

Has pretty much every movie there is. And of course provides a link to the movie's homepage in case you would like to browse some more.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-07-21 05:40am

Maybe I wasn't clear. Believe me, I drop the fucking fuck bomb as much as the next guy. I wasn't saying that "fuck" ruins a movie, I was making fun of the simpletons that are impressed by saying "fuck" repeatedly.

Yes, I hated "Pulp Fiction." It was a stupid movie filled with disgusting characters. While I agree that Sam Jackson is THE MAN, I cannot agree that this movie was anything other than crap. I thought it was poorly written and that Taurantino goes too far with his attempt at being "artsy." It's just drivel.

For all you morons that don't realize that I'm insulting "Pulp Fiction" and not you personally, screw you too.