Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (R, 2003)

common sense media says

Visually striking, but also very violent.


parents & educators say
  • 36% say violence is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that they should exercise the strongest caution before allowing their kids to see this film. They should know that the movie has the most intense, graphic, brutal, and destructive violence imaginable (at least until Tarantino thinks up something new). Body parts are sliced off and blood gushes and spurts like a geyser. Many characters are maimed and many more are killed. A mother is murdered in front of her young child. A man's head is sliced off and tossed around. A character is repeatedly raped while she is unconscious. Characters drink and smoke and use very strong language.

Positive role models: The main character is a powerful woman, but her every action is driven by revenge.
Violence: Constant, extreme graphic violence with gallons of spurting blood, characters maimed and killed. Nightmare material.
Sex: A character is repeatedly raped while she is unconscious.
Language: Exceptionally strong language.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Drinking and smoking.

More on Kill Bill: Vol. 1

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the sources of inspiration Tarantino drew from.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Uma Thurman plays someone we just know as "The Bride" (her name is bleeped out). On her wedding day, the entire wedding party was killed by her former associates, the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (DiVAS). The pregnant Bride was beaten and shot in the head, but did not die. She lost her baby and was in a coma for four years. When she wakes up, she seeks revenge from each of the DiVAS and their leader, Bill.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
This is a stylish and visually striking movie, but it is also a very violent movie, possibly the most violent movie ever released by a major American movie studio. The carnage is so completely and outrageously over the top that it could trigger laughs, but some may find the endless slicing off of body parts and gallons of fake spurting blood overwhelming or even numbing. Much of the movie is one fight scene after another, yet the revenge provides a motive and a hero, giving the fight scenes enough forward momentum to feel like a story.

Fans of this genre will find it sensationally entertaining. The action scenes are brilliantly staged, and Tarantino's other trademarks -- cool music, playing around with time, and brilliant dialogue are all there in full force. Uma Thurman , Viveca A. Fox, and Lucy Liu hold their own in fight scenes with eye-popping visuals that would overwhelm most performers.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Miramax
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Lucy Liu, Uma Thurman, Vivica A. Fox
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release: October 9, 2003
DVD release: April 13, 2004
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong bloody violence, language and some sexual content

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

15
Based on 25 parent & educator reviews:
  • 36% say violence is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

modernmother
parent of 14 , and 15 , 17 year old
 
Too much violence for the impressionable.
Yes the movie is violent, but it is presented in such an outrageous way that any mature viewer knows that it is not acceptable behavior.

DKR725
adult
 
Ya so this movie is very bloody. It's insanely violent, but a great movie it is. Not really for young ones though. It is completely based on a woman's want for revenge who will stop at nothing to "kill bill" If you want to actually understand the movie, you have to watch part 2

antoineisthebest
teen, 15 years old
 
NOT FOR KIDS
gory NOT FOR KIDS under the age of 15\ alot of blood and care come with it

 
ok, if you are a fan of Tarintino, then this is your film. if you are looking for family film bull crap, go see something else. this is a hard core action film that has one of the best acton set pieces of the last decade. its a fun over-the-top film that deserves to be seen by anyone who is interested in film.

rockchick101
teen, 16 years old
 
perfect for young adults and old kids
If you are a 20 year old violence addict then you will like this film. Not appropriate for kids under 18.

Mr. Boxbox
parent of 16 year old
 
oh come on. this movie is not mature at all. its very bloody but completly cartoonish and comic which most tweens will probably understand. a very silly movie but the outstanding visually striking cinematography is the main reason to watch this.

michaelc
teen, 14 years old
 
11+
I would have out too violent as a concern, but that is what the film is about. It is however done in a chic animated way. I would let a mature 11/12 year old view this.

 
This is the most violent film I have ever seen, and this is not for people who dislike violence. However the film is excellent, and I was satisfied at the end. Only for older audiences though!

IronZombie75
teen, 16 years old
 
Ultra-Bloody action flick is great for older teens.
I love this movie! It's an absolute classic and i've seen both. A warning to parents though: This movie is one of the bloodiest movies i have ever seen, period. Literally gallons of blood spraying and spurting everywhere, especially in the scene where she fights the crazy 88 (88 japanese soldiers) Also has some language, and the main character who's goal is to kill Bill, and the four other assassin's that betrayed her and her child.

 
Tarantino's Fourth Film
This is the fourth film by Quentin Tarantino. You might automatically assume that the movie has unnecessary violence, harsh language and drug use because its a Quentin film. However Kill Bill is not your average revenge story. The amount of violence makes Kill Bill unique and gives the audience a sense of what old school kung fu movies were like. Its a fun blood bath of vengeance that action movie lovers can enjoy!

ashowiscool
teen, 14 years old
 
This movie was amazing. Beautiful in action and a nice throwback to the old 30's samuri flicks. This movie is extremely violent and the point of it is revenge. There's plenty of cursing and the main character is raped while in a coma. But the coma scene wasn't too graphic, only in what the guy says (Ex: My name's Buck and I like to f--k), kid's hear and say this sort of language all the time and, as I say thousands of times, the violence is nothing new. Maybe back in the 80's this movie or any other I comment on would not stand, but today kids are alot more open to these things and become adults alot faster.

mariosuperslug ...
kid, 12 years old
 

Brando804
teen, 16 years old
 
Comic action-violence caper!
I love everything Tarintino! the action and violence is too comic to create any bad thoughts or emotions.

Blackswan
kid, 13 years old
 
Perfect for any REALLY mature person more an adult moview
I LOVE this movie!!! Its amazing and great!! Nothing can beat it but it is VERY violent, has rape, Languege I'm not aloud to use! But more kids these days are very mature I'm 12 and I didnt find it that bad. Only some people found it really disturbing.

SuperParent
parent of 12 and 15 year old
 
Perfect for kids 13 and up!
We love the action, but i must say something about the way you rated the sex! she is about to get raped, she is never fully raped, and you don't see any other people rape her. So i suggest you guys bring it down to one!

Poison Ivey
teen, 17 years old
 
Grossly underated tarantino movie!
REALLY good movie! Anyone 14 and up who can handle violence SHOULD see it! So, it isn't another "pulp fiction", but it's still good!

PapaRater798
teen, 14 years old
 
Not for children under the age of 17!!!!
Long story short, a girl gets her baby, who is unborn, taken away from her while she is in a coma for four years and wants revenge on bill, who is technically a shaman when it comes to martial arts and assassination. She kills sooooo many people in such little time, which includes limbs, heads, arms, and blood literally spurting out like a garden hose extremely unrealistically and violently, eyeballs ripped out, and just bad language throughout. She gets raped a few times but you don't see it, but it is still disturbing to even be implied.

Seminolefreak
teen, 14 years old
 
Great movie!!! Very violent
My MPAA Rating, R: Graphic bloody violence, A scene of rape, strong language,

lopez3486
teen, 16 years old
 
BLOODY AMAZING ACTION MOVIE
If your into anime or ultra violent movies. THIS IS FOR YOU. If hate blood and gore this in NOT for you. But any fan on anime should watch this NOW1!! (I put good role model for the lulz)

PubumPro
teen, 13 years old
 
Amazing movie
I LOVE this movie. I'm a little young for it, but its very good. It kinda made me gag at the eyeball part. I feel vey bad for the japanese schoollooking girl though. OUCH that mist have hurt! I rccoment it to very mature people, but not for people uner 10.

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