Friendships have been lost over it. Expensive collectibles have been smashed to pieces because of it. Forums have erupted thanks to the oroboros that is the eternal question: Is the KILL BILL experience one movie or two?
Recently, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD director Quentin Tarantino was a guest on CinemaBlend's ReelBlend podcast, and gave his definitive answer as to whether KILL BILL is one story told over two movies, or if fans should consider "The Whole Bloody Affair" to be a singular epic of betrayal, slick moves, and revenge.
"Technically, you are correct," Tarantino told ReelBlend co-hosts Kevin McCarthy and Jake Hamilton, who both think that KILL BILL is a meant to be viewed as a singular feature. "Because we released it as two movies, alright. And there is a closing and an opening credits. But since I made it as one movie, and I wrote it as one movie, that’s just some chicanery that I did in editing."
Tarantino then continued, "Now it works really good that way. And frankly, the truth of the matter is, I don't think it would've been a popular as a four hour movie. I literally had a guy say that to me. It was one of those diamond bullets. Every once in a while, somebody says something to you that, ‘Okay, I can't unhear that.’ And he goes, ‘Look, Quentin, here's the thing, man. My uncle Artie would love this movie. I mean, he would love it. He wouldn't love it at four hours."
Personally, I've always seen KILL BILL as one story told across two films, because that's how I experienced it in theaters. The idea of not watching both chapters back-to-back baffles me, as the story remains incomplete without both parts.
For now, it appears as if Tarantino has waved a white flag for the argument, and we can all go back to yelling at the clouds about something else. While he agrees that KILL BILL is two films, it's only because each chapter has its own set of end credits. It was all conceived as one presentation, but ultimately he'd decided that KILL BILL wouldn't work quite as well if it were a four-hour excursion. That being said, Tarantino's New Beverly theater in Los Angeles does screen a seamless version of the film every now and again, so maybe it's time to plan a road trip?
As for me, I'll just sit in the comfort of my own home and pop KILL BILL Vol. 1 and KILL BILL Vol. 2 into the DVD player like a fiscally responsible cinephile. To each their own, I suppose.
What do you think of the KILL BILL Conundrum? Is "The Whole Bloody Affair" one film or two? Sound off in the comments section below.