Kill Bill vol. 2 is just as good (or bad) as the first volume. Ignoring the all-too-probable fact that this release strategy is pure marketing, the second installment actually stands fairly well on its own. The value of that statement is somewhat dubious, as I have, in fact, seen vol.1 and however hard I try, I cannot place myself in the frame of mind of someone who is watching vol. 2 without having seen vol. 1.

But I digress. Yes, everything you have read about vol. 2 is true. There is not nearly as much action, but there is MUCH more dialog, and yes, some of it is so infused with Tarantino's own style of verbiage that it removes the viewer from the film every now and then; but the rest of the film is pure grindhouse beef, and that is a good thing. There is a very effective buried-alive sequence, an entertaining fight between two blondes, a great homage to the classic Shaw Brothers kung-fu training sequences featuring Gordon Liu and a fairly satisfying ending.

There is also a gag after the credits that is not worth waiting for, unless you just like listening to the music during the credits, which is pretty good.

Rating: 3.5