A martial arts and katana expert explains what Quentin Tarantino’sKill Bill: Volume 1gets wrong in one fight scene and demonstrates the correct technique. Released in 2003, Tarantino’s firstKill Billfilm marked his follow-up toJackie Brown(1997). StarringUma Thurman in the lead role as The Bride, the action movie follows a former assassin who seeks revenge against the team of assassins who left her for dead, with numerous over-the-top action sequences featured throughout the film’s runtime.
In a recent video forInsider,Seki Nobuhide Sensei analyzes The Bride’s fight against Gogo Yubari inKill Bill, revealing that her opponent makes a few critical mistakeswhen it comes to using her weapon, an iron ball on the end of a chain.
Seki reveals that, not only is the iron ball too large to be practical, but the fighting techniques used in the scene are less effective than they could be. As seen in the video (relevant section begins at 6:20), the expert then demonstrates how The Bride’s opponent should have disarmed and taken down Thurman’s character using the chain against the katana. Check out Seki’s analysis or watch the video below:
“The reason why chained iron balls are so effective against a katana is that if they can be successfully maneuvered around, they extend abruptly. The iron ball comes flying at you before you can react in time with the katana. But this technique is used only if you can handle it well. It is impossible to swing an iron ball of that size.
“The chain is wrapped around the sword held like this. It would be quite exhausting to swing the sword up and down like this. So it would be best just to thrust forward. If you hold the sword like this and swing it down, the way the chain is wrapped will change. At times, the chain may just come off the sword.
“The scene shows the girl wrapping the chain around the sword and pulling it away. She should have moved in closer and struck the opponent with the katana while being pulled. Step back a little while pulling a chain tightly and block the attack like this. The opponent doesn’t withdraw. Instead, they push forward with her weight. You turn to wrap the chain around the sword. Then the chain gets entangled in the sword.
“From here, turn back to the front. Keep holding the weight in both of your hands and pulling the chain tightly, then pull the chain toward you so that the opponent’s sword attaches to your body, which will immobilize the opponent.
“The score for the reality level of this scene is four [out of 10]. The reason for this is that the scene is enjoyable to watch but lacks in reality.”
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Tarantino has never been a filmmaker particularly concerned with reality. InInglourious Basterds(2009), for example, he rewrites history and has his American protagonists gun Adolf Hitler down inside a movie theater.The fact thatKill Billisn’t accurate in terms of its depiction of katana fighting techniques, then, isn’t really all that surprising, and it’s unlikely to affect the film’s reputation.
Every Unmade Kill Bill Sequel Movie & Spinoff
The Bride’s story came to a satisfying end in Kill Bill: Volume 2, but Quentin Tarantino had plans to expand this world with spinoffs and more.
Kill Billboasts an impressive 85% score onRotten Tomatoesfrom critics and 81% from audiences. Made on a budget of $30 million, the film ultimately went on to gross $180.9 million worldwide, making it a massive success. What’s more, the film’s lack of accuracy andTarantino’s stylistic flourishes surely contributed to the movie’s success.Kill Billfeatures a variety of fight sequences, many of which feature geysers of spurting blood that are intentionally over-the-top.
Tarantino would followKill Billwith the release ofKill Bill: Volume 2in 2004, which was also well-received. There have since beencalls for aKill Bill 3, but Tarantino has seemingly shut the door on the idea.
Our Take On Kill Bill’s Lack Of Realism
Why Realism For The Tarantino Movie Doesn’t Matter (But The Analysis Is Still Worthwhile)
Though the film’s ridiculousness and bold stylistic choices are part of theKill Billuniverse’s charm, it nevertheless remains an interesting exercise to analyze what it gets right and wrong. Seki, after all, clearly realizes thatthe inaccuracies are made in the name of adding entertainment value, but breaking down what is realistic and what’s not is an effective way of sharing knowledge regarding martial arts.
Knowing where the film strays from reality is not only purely informative, but it also speaks to Tarantino’s filmmaking process, and why he made certain creative choices. ThoughKill Bill: Volume 1’s realism grade may be low, it certainly doesn’t make the film any less fun to watch.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Cast
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 follows an assassin as she seeks revenge after being betrayed by her former employer, Bill, and fellow assassins. Released in 2003, the film initiates a violent journey of vengeance directed by Quentin Tarantino and stars Uma Thurman as the central character known as The Bride.
