Advantages: Looks nice, final chapter is impressive. Disadvantages: Lack of originality, entirely dull for most of running time.
Does Quentin Tarantino actually serve any kind of purpose? This question has been bothering me for a while, largely after the first Kill Bill, a film that annoyed me in a big way. I went into it expecting to enjoy it, and came out bored stupid after seeing two hours and what felt like badly assembled clips from other films. Looking back on his career, his trend is hardly a new one for him. Jackie Brown resembles a ton of 70s crime films. Reservoir Dogs is just a remake of Long hu feng yun, a 1987 Hong Kong film. Pulp Fiction appears to be his only original works, and deserves all of the praise that it gets. It's a stunning film. This aside though, there seems to be little point in what he does. Kill Bill Vol2 is no exception to this rule.
This is the point where I'd usually write a paragraph detailing the plot ...
Advantages: Amazing music, sharp script Disadvantages: Last third drags on a bit
Kill Bill Vol. 2 is the concluding installment of the Kill Bill saga. In this one the Bride (Uma Thurman) continues her vengeance against her ex-boss, Bill, and the two remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad; his younger brother Budd, and Bill's latest flame Elle.
The first one had more of an eastern feel, this one is more like a western. So it's dusty, dirty and sweaty. Again Tarantino enlists the help of Ennio Morricone, the man who can take an ordinary western and make it legendary. His music is masterful, the lone trumpets in his compositions invoking a sense of isolation and the wild west, which is exactly the tone this film needs.
The acting is good again, helped by a sharp script. The action scenes are fewer and far between than the first one but equally as impressive. Again during the fight scenes ...
Advantages: entertains the kids Disadvantages: not brilliant, not that funny, more cute than funny
. However this defeats the object of the Beanmeister. He was supposed to be old fashioned and quirky, living in the ignorance of modern advances of technology and updated fashion trends.
Saying this, the kids appear to love it. Why I ask it really is not funny, and he talks too much. The old mr bean got in trouble incidently, this cartoon version appears to go looking for it.
The DVD consists of one disc and features eight animated episodes each lasting abou 15 - 20 minutes in length, including: 'No Pets', 'Ray Of Sunshine', 'Birthday Bear', 'The Mole', 'Roadworks', 'The Sofa', 'Treasure' and 'Homeless'. In these episodes we see a cartoon version of the classic Mr Bean go about his daily chores, celebrate his teddy's birthday, get in trouble with the police and even manages to loose possesion of his home.
Overall I'm awarding a 3 star ...
Product Information for "Kirsten Flagstad - Vol.2 (Live perfs, 1935-48)" »
Product details
Title
Kirsten Flagstad - Vol.2 (Live perfs, 1935-48)
Composer
(Wilhelm) Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883); Gioachino (Antonio) Rossini (1792 - 1868); Carl Maria (Friedrich Ernst) von Weber (1786 - 1826); Traditional; Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Main Performer
Kirsten Flagstad (Soprano); Paul Althouse (Tenor); Lauritz Melchior (Baritone); Lauritz Melchior (Tenor); Karin Branzell (Contralto (Female alto))
Orchestra / Ensemble(s)
New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Royal Opera House Chorus, Covent Garden Choir
Date of Release
12/1995
Label / Distributor
Simax / New Note
Pieces in Set
2
Running Time
2 hours 13 minutes
Genre(s)
Stage works, Vocal and choral
Stereo
Mono
SPAR Code
ADD
EAN
7025560182228
Work 1
Work Title
(Der) Ring des Nibelungen: Part 2, '(Die) Walküre'
Excerpt(s)
1. Wes Herd dies auch sei 2. Schläfst du, Gast? 3. Der Männer Sippe 4. Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond 5. Du bist der Lenz
