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Kill Bill Volume II

In Quentin Tarantino's film Kill Bill Volume 2, chapter 9, scene 11 displayed a variety of camera movements in order to convey the emotions of the characters, and to provoke a specific emotion from the audience. However, prior to discussing this scene, I need to give those of you whom haven't seen the movie a little background information.
Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) was an assassin for Bill, but decided to leave her life when she found out that she was pregnant. She was pregnant with Bill's baby but she never told Bill. She decided to leave her life as an assassin, and not have the baby grow up with Bill as a father. In the meantime, she found a man who wanted to marry her. However, when she was at her wedding rehearsal, Bill found her and was very upset. He spoke with Beatrix Kiddo and convinced her that he was o.k. with her marrying another man. He also agreed that he would come to the wedding. On the day of the wedding, Bill and his cohort of assassins attacked the wedding and killed everyone. While Beatrix Kiddo lay on the floor dying, Bill pulled out a gun and shot her in the head. Her last words were the baby is yours.
Beatrix Kiddo woke up from her coma, and believed that she had lost part of her life and her baby. She decided to go on a mission of revenge and kill all who tried to end her life, with Bill being the final target. In chapter 9, scene eleven, we see the attack on Ellie (Darryl Hannah) and exquisite camera shots that display anger, battles of power and the intensity of the fight.
Ellie was in the process of leaving the trailer of Buddy (Bill's brother), after having killed him. The first shot was an extreme close-up of Ellie's face. Tarantino did this so the audience could see the fear and shock in Ellie's eyes. After all, she thought that Buddy had already killed Beatrix Kiddo. However, Beatrix Kiddo was not dead, because she had gotten out of being buried alive, because of her training in martial arts. The next camera shot is a medium long shot where the audience is focused on the middle of Ellie's torso and the feet of Beatrix Kiddo flying toward her. The medium long shot captures Ellie being thrown toward the wall of the trailer. Beatrix Kiddo and Ellie battle it out with the camera being focused on both characters. However, when the characters used extreme force toward each other, the director switched to a close-up shot. In the close-up shot Tarantino focused on the eyes of Ellie and Beatrix Kiddo. Tarantino also used high-key lighting in order to put focus on the sword. When one character began to win the fight a low angle shot would convey the power of the character. Back lighting would also emphasize the powerful character and visually represent their position in the fight. If the character were losing power in the fight, Tarantino would use a high angle shot that would put the character in the submissive position. The use of angles and lighting was interesting because most of the background in this scene consisted of low-key lighting in order to emphasize the dark world of murder in which the characters' lived. At two points within this scene Tarantino manipulates time. The first time he did this was when Ellie got knocked into a counter. As she got up, the camera used slow-motion to exaggerate the cut on her face and the pain of her injury. The second manipulation of time was when Ellie was in a medium long shot flying toward Beatrix Kiddo in a martial arts motion. As she approached Beatrix Kiddo the camera switched back to normal speed and she went threw a wall. This manipulation of time was interesting, because it built a climax toward Ellie being thrown into a wall. In order to emphasize the motion of flying in the air, Tarantino incorporated cartoon-like music to emphasize the fall that was supposed to crush Beatrix Kiddo.
Filmmakers use many techniques to emphasize power, characters' emotions, and movement. By incorporating appropriate camera angles and sound the frame is enhanced. A well-done scene would portray meaning, representation, relationships and be well developed. I hope that filmmakers are inspired to imitate the artistic stylings of Quentin Tarantino, and I hope to see more films from him in the future.

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I am checking to see if you are automatically recieving this post. Just let me know Katie jayne speaks out. thank you. I may have made a mistake on the computer, and may need assistance. I transferrred everything to blogger beta and now I am afraid that you will not be able to comment. If you get this, will you check to see if you can comment?
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Sarah Staples
North High School
Minneapolis, Minnesota
September 14, 2006

Current Curriculum:
I volunteered at North High School in 2003, and the school does not have many computers. Students need to have more access to computers, so they are better prepared for life outside of high school. Many students had trouble completing their required assignments because they didn't have computers at home. Students at North High School have an excellent and knowledgeable staff who are ready to incorporate more media into their curriculum. However, the teachers are being handicapped by not having as many computers as they need for their students. It is obvious that North High school values media studies, and more access to computers would bolster student learning. I have enclosed a letter on how I could foster student learning through having access to computers.

Dear Principal Skinner,

Being a language arts instructor, it is vital that I utilize my knowledge to foster student learning. Having more acessibility to computers would improve the student literacy levels in our high school. It is imperative that educators recognize that "81% of students in grades 7-12 have e-mail accounts, 75% have have at least one Instant Messanger screen name, and that 97% believe strongly that technology use is important in education" (Richardson, 6). It is imperative that we look at these statistics and incorporate more media into the language arts program at our school.

Computers would aid in student learning in language arts, because students would have better access to primary sources which our library may not have. Students would beable to conduct better research for their required essays. It is vital that students' learn how to search for these sources online, and this skill is necessary for academic success. Students need to have the opportunity of a hands-on experience so they are not passive recipients of knowledge.

I would like my students to have the opportunity to create a blog. Blogging gives students the opportunity to share their ideas with peers, teachers and even parents. This would be especially helpful for those students who reluctant toshare their ideas in class. Blogging would give me the opportunity to post their assignments, reminders and quicker feedback on their work. Having a blog space would allow students the opportunity to participate in conversations that would foster critical thinking skills. Computers would give students the opportunity to share their ideas with people from around the world. Multicultural literature could be enhanced through establishing contact with a schools from around the world.

I recognize that school budgets often don't accomodate us with the latest technology. However, the program that I mentioned is free and would enhance my success with students. I wonder if we could start a fundraiser or seek out donations from the community. I believe that we owe our students the opportunity to work with computers, and that their learning would be enhanced. I look forward to discussing this letter with you in the near future.

Sarah Staples

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