After more than two decades of anticipation, Quentin Tarantino's definitive vision for his revenge saga has finally arrived. 'Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair', a mammoth four-and-a-half-hour single-feature edit of the two original volumes, debuted this weekend across over 1,000 screens in North America. This marks the first wide release for a cut originally assembled in 2006 but previously confined to festival and limited theatrical showings.
What's New in the Definitive Cut?
This supersized version is not merely the two films spliced together. Tarantino has made several key alterations, some of which involve removing material added for the two-part structure. Most notably, a major spoiler involving the Bride's daughter, which was used as a cliffhanger at the end of Volume One, has been excised. This allows the audience to discover the revelation alongside the protagonist in the film's final act, restoring Tarantino's original narrative flow.
Conversely, some of the most iconic action set pieces have been expanded. The legendary 'House of Blue Leaves' sequence, where Uma Thurman's Bride battles dozens of assassins, now plays entirely in vivid colour. The Volume One release switched to black-and-white to avoid an NC-17 rating, trimming some of the goriest moments. The restored version unleashes the full, bloody spectacle of Robert Richardson's cinematography, highlighting the yellow of the Bride's tracksuit and the crimson arterial spray.
Furthermore, the animated origin story of O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) features an additional battle, and a brief fourth-wall-breaking introduction from Volume Two has been removed. However, a deleted scene showing Bill in action remains on the cutting room floor.
A Long-Awaited Cinematic Event
The journey to this release began when the original film, ballooning in budget and runtime, was split into two parts on the suggestion of producer Harvey Weinstein. The gamble paid off, with the combined films grossing $330 million worldwide. Yet, fans have clamoured for the unified version ever since its first screening at Cannes nearly 20 years ago.
The new cut underscores the film's digressive, novelistic nature. While the core revenge plot could be told succinctly, Tarantino's sprawling tribute to kung fu, exploitation, and samurai cinema is enriched by its tangents—from a sword-maker's idiosyncrasies to Bill's musings on Superman. Viewed as one continuous epic, Thurman's powerhouse performance as the Bride shines even brighter, seamlessly moving from balletic violence to raw emotional depth.
Bonus Content and Final Verdict
The release includes a curious, non-canonical bonus: an animated 'lost' chapter created for the video game Fortnite. This segment, showing the twin sister of assassin Gogo seeking revenge, plays after the credits. While an odd addition for a cinematic presentation, it oddly fits the film's eclectic spirit.
Ultimately, 'The Whole Bloody Affair' is a treat for dedicated fans and cinephiles, particularly those able to experience the visually stunning 70mm presentations. It solidifies 'Kill Bill' not just as a series of spectacular fights, but as a unique, genre-blending epic where style, homage, and Uma Thurman's commanding presence coalesce into something truly singular. You don't need this version to appreciate the saga, but it offers the most complete and colourful immersion into Tarantino's bloody, brilliant world.
