Quentin Tarantino’s tales of stylized violence and carnage have always thrived in Hollywood. Whether it’s the depiction of the underbelly of crime in L.A. in Pulp Fiction (1994) or a war drama jam-packed with action like Inglorious Basterds (2009), his films have crystallized into certified cult classics over the years. And Kill Bill is no exception.
Speaking of which, Uma Thurman’s character, The Bride, a protagonist that would come to become a particular fan-favorite, was heavily inspired by Michelle Yeoh’s character from her 1992 film with Jackie Chan. For the longest time, the Malaysian actress couldn’t help but dwell on why Tarantino didn’t cast her in the epic revenge flick. And well, the latter’s reasoning isn’t entirely wrong.
Why Michelle Yeoh Wasn’t Cast in Kill Bill & Its Sequel
Michelle Yeoh and Quentin Tarantino‘s friendship goes way back and the 60-year-old filmmaker has never hidden the fact that he’s a huge fan of the former’s work. In fact, the vengeful assassin in Kill Bill was directly influenced by Yeoh’s character in Stanely Tong’s action/comedy, Police Story 3: Super Cop. So, why didn’t he cast her in one of his most marvelous action films? Yeoh too, had the same question blooming in her mind for a long time.
In a Town & Country cover story, the Everything Everywhere All at Once star revealed that she’d always wondered why Tarantino didn’t cast her in Kill Bill or its 2004 sequel. And turns out, it’s because the Oscar winner knew Yeoh could kick The Bride’s a*s a little too easily.
“He’s very smart. He said, ‘Who would believe that Uma Thurman could kick your ass?'”
Just like Tarantino has always admired Yeoh, the latter also happens to harbor the same sentiment toward him. It was, after all, the Jackie Brown director who encouraged her to continue acting after a brutal accident in 1996’s The Stunt Woman nearly left Yeoh paralyzed. “I thought, ‘Maybe I’m not ready to give up on this,'” Yeoh, 60, realized after talking to Tarantino.
Kill Bill – One of Quentin Tarantino’s Best Films
A gripping story of bloodshed and vendetta, the 2003 crime film is a timeless piece of art. But perhaps what makes the Uma Thurman-led venture stand out from Tarantino’s other works is the lack of visually appealing elements that the director generally utilizes to balance, or even shroud the gore. Kill Bill, on the other hand, though consists of aesthetically pleasing sequences, is a goldmine of unbridled violence and iconic action scenes, which is essentially the reason why it’s a cinematic masterpiece.
Starring Uma Thurman along with Lucy Liu, David Carradine, and Michael Madsen, the revenge flick went on to perform beautifully at the box office and found itself on the receiving end of incredible critical reception. While many found the savagery of the film a little too excessive for their taste, the majority took an instant penchant toward the thrilling action. Besides, Tarantino is known to have that effect on his audience, rendering people divided on their opinions of his work.
Kill Bill: Vol 1 can be streamed on Amazon Instant Video.
Source: Town & Country
