Summary
It’s no secret that Quentin Tarantino is a huge fan of martial arts films, and references to famous movies abound inKill Bill,his epic revenge tale split into two movies. Aside from his non-chronological plots and violent action sequences, pop-culture references are one ofTarantino’s most famous trademarks.Kill Billdraws its references from a wide net, but most influential are the classic kung fu movies produced by studios like Shaw Brothers.
Thesekung fu homages are what makeKill Bill’sbest action sequencesso effective. Their inspiration shows up in myriad forms: from costuming, to fight scene choreography, and in the iconicKill Billsoundtrack. Some of Tarantino’s Easter eggs are more subtle than others –there are a few that could easily go unnoticed.
The Harsh Reality Of Rewatching Kill Bill After The Tarantino vs Thurman Controversy
20 years after Kill Bill Volume 1’s release, the movie just isn’t the same with the harsh realities revealed by the Tarantino vs Thurman controversy.
9Kill Bill Plays Homage To Shaw Brothers Studio In Its Opening
The Title Card Shown In Vol.1 Comes From Shaw Brothers' Movies
Active in the late sixties and seventies,Shaw Brothers' martial arts movieshad a huge influence onKill Bill. Founded by brothers Runme, Runje, and Runde,Shaw Brothers Studio helped to popularize the kung fu genrewith titles such asThe One-Armed Swordsman, The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin, and Five Deadly Venoms.These movies had a huge stylistic influence onKill Bill. The film’scamerawork borrows some techniques to achieve the distinctive Shaw Brothers style. Most noticeable is the now old-fashioned “crash zoom,” which filmmakers like Tarantino and Wes Anderson have attempted to make cool again.
Tarantino found a way to signal his debt to Shaw Brothers inthe opening sequence of bothKill Billvolumes.Before the film begins, thelogo that played at the start of Shaw Brothers productions flashes onscreen. It’sa nostalgic nod for audienceswho, like Tarantino, grew up watching these films. It also signals that, whileKill Bill’seaster eggsare drawn from a wide range of genres, Tarantino properly intended the movie to belong to the kung fu lineage.
8Uma Thurman’s Iconic Yellow Tracksuit Was First Worn By Bruce Lee
The Kill Bill Suit Matches Bruce Lee’s Costume in Game Of Death
The Bride’s famous look is the image that first jumps to mind when recallingKill Bill– it is one of the mosticonic outfits in Tarantino’s movies. But of course, Uma Thurman wasn’t the first actor to rock the look. The costume is avisual replica of the jumpsuit worn by Bruce Lee in the filmGame of Death. LikeKill Bill,Game of Deathis a revenge story. After a botched attempt on his life by the mafia, Lee’s character emerges from the hospital andfakes his death before seeking vengeance on his would-be killers. The storyline is somewhat reminiscent of the Deadly Vipers' failed attempt to kill Beatrix Kiddo, but this plot was notBruce Lee’s original plan.
Game of Deathwas never properly finished, as the star tragically died while the project was paused to allow him to film forEnter the Dragon.Game of Death was finished without Bruce Leeand released posthumously in 1978, withthe storyline revised from Lee’s original heist plot into a revenge story. Despite the rewrite,Game of Deathnonetheless left its mark on pop culture, and made the costume instantly recognizable. Tarantino originally envisioned Thurman wearing a catsuit for the role. Theyellow tracksuit was actually the genius suggestion ofKill Bill’scostume designer, Catherine Marie Thomas.
The Shaw Brothers Movie Has A Similar Storyline
A Shaw Brothers production, the 1978 martial arts mystery filmFive Deadly Venomssees a pupil fulfilling his master’s dying wish:to locate his five previous pupils, who he suspects may have turned evil. The film became so popular in the kung fu genre that it turned its starring quintet into icons, who became henceforth known as the “Venom Mob.“Kill Billtakes inspiration from this plotline asex-Viper Beatrix tracks down each of the Deadly Vipers to enact her revenge.
The Five Venoms each practice a unique stylebased on one of the Five Poisonous Creaturesin Chinese folklore.Kill Billpays homage to this with a similar animal theme.The Vipers are codenamed after species of snakes: Sidewinder, Black Mamba, California Mountain Snake, Cottonmouth, and Copperhead. In a more subtle nod,Kill Billalso borrows the sound effects used inFive Deadly Venomsfor sword swings and axe throws. With such minute attention to detail,Tarantino captures the feel of a Shaw Brothers movie on an almost subliminal level.
6Kill Bill Casts Gordon Liu As Pai Mei
Pai Mei Is A Stock Character In Kung Fu Film
Pai Mei is a recurring figure in kung fu movies, based on the historical figure of the same name. In legend,Pai Mei was one of the Five Elders: survivors of the destruction of the Shaolin Monastery.His name literally translates to “White Eyebrow”, hence his recognizable look. Including this stock figure isa direct nod by Tarantino to the martial arts genre,as is his casting of Gordon Liu.The actor starred in the 1980 Shaw Brothers film,Clan of The White Lotus,where Pai Mei served as the main villain.
Gordon Liu does not play Pai Mei himself inClan of The White Lotus.Rather, in an interesting reversal, he plays one of Pai Mei’s assassins.Kill Bill 2gave Liu the opportunity to play thevillain he killed inClan of The White Lotus24 years earlier. The sentimentality of this role is enhanced because Tarantino’s iteration of Pai Mei simultaneously honors Lo Lieh’s rendition of the character inClan of The White Lotus.
5Kill Bill Inverts Gordon Liu’s Role In The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin
Rather Than Playing The Student, Gordon Liu Takes The Role Of Master
Also starring Gordon Liu, the Shaw Brothers’36th Chamber Of Shaolinfollows student activist Liu Yude as he trains to seek vengeance on the Manchu government officials who murdered his friends and family. Yude, now known as San Te,must ascend through the 35 chambers of the Shaolin temple, each training him in a different aspect of kung fu.
InKill Bill,Gordon Liu’s role is flipped. No longer the student, he now plays the master overseeing The Bride’s brutal training regimen. Interestingly, there is also a familial link betweenThe 36th ChamberandKill Bill.Yuen Siu-tien playedthe abbot in charge of the boxing chamber.His son, Yuen Woo-ping, becamea successful martial arts choreographerand director whoworked onKill Bill.
4Kill Bill’s Vengeance Theme Comes From Five Fingers Of Death
Both Films Use The Intro Music From Detective Drama Ironside
Kill Bill’svengeance theme (the one with the siren sounds)had a pop culture history even before its afterlife as an internet meme. Tarantino lifted it from the 1967 detective dramaIronside, which drafted Quincy Jones to write the memorable tune.
Kill Billwasn’t the first martial arts film to use the theme on its soundtrack. Tarantino makes a reference to another Shaw Brothers classic,Five Fingers Of Death,also known asKing Boxer,released in 1973. TheIronsidemusic plays when the main character, played by Lo Lieh, prepares to fight.
3The Kill Bill Soundtrack Also Borrows From Master Of The Flying Guillotine
Tarantino Has Named The Film One Of His All Time Favorites
Directed by Jimmy Wang Wu in 1976,Master Of The Flying Guillotineis cited by Tarantino as one of his favorite films. The sequel to Wang’s earlier filmThe One Armed Boxer,Master Of The Flying Guillotinefeatures an assassin who uses a bladed hat attached to a long chain to behead his victims. The titular weapon is reminiscent of the mace wielded by schoolgirl assassin Gogo Yubari, butKill Bill’smost directFlying Guillotinereference is made in the soundtrack.
Master Of The Flying Guillotineused the driving rhythm ofSuper 16by Krautrock group NEU! to add a dark ambiance to its fight scenes. Tarantino was so eager to pay homage to his beloved film thathe bought the rights to the song for theKill Billmovies. It plays during the House of Blue Leaves fight sequence.
2The House Of Blue Leaves Fight Matches Choreography in Fist Of Fury
Both Films Contain Memorable One-Versus-Many Fight Sequences
Another Bruce Lee classic,Fists Of Fury,inspires the fight scene choreography inKill Bill’sHouse of Blue Leaves sequence.At one memorable moment in the film, Bruce Lee’s character takes on a room full of opponents at once and defeats them spectacularly.Kill Bill’sone-against-many fight sees The Bride battle through a crowd of O-Ren Ishii’s sword-wielding henchmen, the Crazy 88.
The fight sequences share visual similarities.Both show a solo-fighter trapped in the center of a ring of assailants; both depict the fear of the surrounding mob when the protagonist adopts their fighting stance; and both characters eventually prevail by diving to the floor to attack their opponents’ legs.
1The Chinese Boxer Also Influenced Kill Bill’s House Of Blue Leaves Sequence
The Jimmy Wang Yu Film Features Another Iconic Solo Battle
Another major influence on the House Of Blue Leaves sequence is the Hong Kong kung fu film,The Chinese Boxer.Widely credited as the first true kung fu movie, the film was directed by Jimmy Wang Yu, who starred as its title character, Lei Ming. His quest to defeat the gang of karate thugs who destroyed his martial arts schoolsees Lei Ming fight 100 enemies at once.The Chinese Boxerhad a direct influence onFists Of Fury,and Wang Yu’s international fame predated that of Bruce Lee.
Having one solo fighter prevail against such a hoard of enemies may be unrealistic. The point of the sequence, however, isto demonstrate the protagonists' sheer force of will. That’s the effect it produces in Wang Yu’s film: Lei Ming will stop at nothing to achieve his revenge, and his unwavering determination is symbolized by his superhuman stamina. The Bride’s battle against the Crazy 88 similarlycomes at a crucial mid-way point in her narrative. By the end ofKill Bill 1, Beatrix has ticked two names from her hit list and is prepared to see her task to fruition.
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.
