Kill Bill

He was on CNN this past Saturday.
Can anyone give me a rundown of what kind of skills are actually being displayed there?
What exactly is even blended together in this film...

Thx.

Linda Palmer said:He was even on CNN this past Saturday.
Can anyone actually list the specific martial arts showcased there?
What kind of styles are even blended together in this movie?

There’s really just one discipline at play here: Movie-do.

It’s essentially a cocktail of flashy moves pulled from every conceivable—and often impossible—fighting style. You’ve got bits of kenjutsu, ninjutsu, Kung-Fu... you name it. At the end of the day, it’s all just highly polished choreography designed for the camera, leaning heavily on wires and special effects.

Where'd you even see that ninjutsu? Honestly, feels like some forced choreography—just a messy mix of Wu Shu and Kenjutsu...

Daniel Garcia said:Where exactly did you see any ninjutsu? To me, it looks like overdone choreography mixed with elements of Wu Shu and Kenjutsu.

Take that moment where Uma is hanging precariously from the roof beam while Gogo checks if anyone is at the door...

And sure, the movie is technically over-the-top—it absolutely is—but no matter how you slice it, it’s never a boring watch (and let’s be honest, Lucy Liu in that kimono is... wow 😍 ). Beyond that, one specific quote from the film really stuck with me...

Peter Myers29 said:That part where Uma is hanging out under the roof beam while Gogo checks if anyone’s lurking outside the door...

Yeah, sure, the movie is technically over-the-top as hell—totally forced—but honestly? No matter how you slice it, it’s never a boring watch (and man, Lucy Liu in that kimono is just... ufffff 😍)... besides that, there was one quote from the film that really stuck with me...

Man, what a bummer, I missed it—was right in the middle of a match! 😢
It's done pretty cool, though—kind of that exaggerated manga style, typical Tarantino-esque bloodbaths and chaos, women in hot uniforms throwing down, what more could you want?! 😍 I also caught some foot fetish elements in there, like that scene in the back of the car, the close-ups when she's hitting the gas, and then that group of barefoot women at the end where they zoom in on the feet... 😛 But Gogo in the school uniform is definitely the coolest! That whole vibe of looking like an innocent girl but acting like a total psycho killer... 🙏

The funniest part—it felt so weird watching that scene where Uma walks into the bar owned by Hattori Hanzo! Clearly, I’ve watched the dub of Kill Bill way too many times... 😁 If you haven't seen it, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTYFQ-Ll-xE
🤣 🤣

Daniel Garcia said:Ah, what a shame, I missed it. I happened to be at the restroom right at that moment! 😢

Of all the times... joooooj 🙄

Daniel Garcia said:But honestly, the most ridiculous part was how unnatural it felt watching that scene where Uma walks into the Hanza tavern!

That’s easily one of the best and funniest moments in the whole movie... 😁

Linda Palmer said:He was even appearing on CNN this past Saturday.
Can anyone give me a rundown of the actual techniques shown there?
What kind of stuff is even blended together in this movie?

Thx.

It’s probably just a big mishmash of everything, especially in the second half. As far as the swordplay goes, I heard someone mention elements of Kator Shinto Ryu, but honestly, I'm just passing along what a guy with actual experience in those arts told me.
At the end of the day, though, it's still just a movie. 😬

crimsonbison10 said:It’s likely a bit overstuffed, especially in the second half. As for the swordplay, there are certainly traces of Kator Shinto Ryu, though I’m just passing along what someone with actual expertise in the field has mentioned.
Still, at the end of the day, it's just a movie. 😬

One of the martial arts consultants on the production was Sonny Chiba (who also acted in the film). According to IMDb, he's a master of ninjutsu, swordsmanship, and God knows what else...

I don't take everything I read online at face value, honestly.

Alexander Long37 said:not because I believe everything I read online

Of course....

Linda Palmer said:He was even on CNN this past Saturday.
Can anyone list out all the different skills shown there?
What kind of stuff is actually blended together in this movie?

Thx.

The most representative skill—the one you see most—in Kill Bill is acting. It’s the sheer willpower and professionalism of actors staying on their toes for hours, taking falls, swinging at nothing in front of a green screen, and pulling off crazy stunts. Then, obviously, there's the skill used by the pros to stitch it all together and create one of my favorite flicks. Not because of the fight scenes, though—those are totally over-the-top and unrealistic—but because I just love a good show in the style of Quentin Tarantino.

Well, if you set aside the whole tightrope walking thing, you’ve actually just listed a bunch of skills that anyone over here in the States could totally train and master...

Brandon Hayes73 said:Well, if you set aside the wirework, you've basically just described a handful of skills that could be practiced right here in the States...

Exactly.
Arguing about the special effects is ultimately pointless; they obviously form the backbone of the film. However, I felt that if one watched closely enough, there were other interesting details to notice...
Particularly her swordplay...

I believe any movie intended for entertainment should be viewed strictly as such: pure entertainment. We’ve all watched those American ninja flicks or Bruce Lee movies and felt that urge to emulate them, but martial arts are one thing, training is another, and cinema is something else entirely.

On the other hand, if you're watching a documentary centered on a specific martial art... that's where you can actually see the real deal.

American Ninja is more than just some movie... it's more than life itself...

Every once in a while, you stumble upon those rare gems that actually get martial arts right. You know, films that don't just rely on flashy nonsense but actually capture some sense of realism. Take those classic Kurosawa flicks, for instance. When it comes to swordplay specifically, they really hit the mark.

The only decent part of this entire movie is the scene where they show Hattori Hanzo's katanas. 🙂 It’s all just too good to be true...

Edward Sanchez72 said:American Ninja is more than just some movie... it's practically a way of life...

👍