# Lucy Liu in Kill Bill (No spoilers from OP) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102 "2003-10-23T13:10:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/41 "2003-10-27T10:18:09Z")
I have to say, I saw Kill Bill last night, and yes, Lucy Liu looked stunning. Maybe it was the kick-ass attitude as well, but blimey, she was HOT. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/42 "2003-10-27T10:21:17Z")
**[hijack]** Well, hel-lo **dangergene**! I too had no idea there was another Singaporean on the boards, and that too a Singaporean who thinks like me! Hooray for this TPLAC\*! Iā€™m almost tempted to let loose with a barrage of lahs and mahs. šŸ™‚ As for TV in Singapore, the less said the better. TVMobile was the final nail in the coffin. RIP, Singapore Broadcasting. By the way, if you donā€™t mind my asking, are you a local? **[/hijack]** To all the people who felt the same way as me about Lucy Liu, thank you for speaking up! I feel less of a freak now. No one I know IRL felt she was anything great. Idiots! What do they know? - With apologies to Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/43 "2003-10-27T10:30:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Big Bad Voodoo Lou \* > \*\*I thought Julie Dreyfus (Sofie Fatale) was more attractive by far. \*\* Her beauty was very disarming, too ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/44 "2003-10-27T10:33:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*Her beauty was very disarming, too \*\* Ack! Gasp! Wheeze! _chokes over ghastliness of pun_ šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/45 "2003-10-27T11:01:29Z")
_splutter snigger_ slight hijack now - the soundtrack - wasnā€™t it fantastic? I commented when I got out of the cinema that I must find that soundtrack if its the last thing I do. It rocks! ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/46 "2003-10-27T11:11:33Z")
The soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, no doubt about that. But, imho, I think the main reason it _really_ sticks to us is the opening with Nancy Sinatraā€™s _Bang Bang - My Baby Shot Me Down_. The starkness of that song makes you sit up and really take note of the music that comes later. For me, it created this atmosphere of barren desolation that almost forced me to follow the background music even as I followed the on-screen shenanigans of Thurman and co. It was a supremely understated, yet very, very powerful opening to the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/47 "2003-10-27T12:29:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aasna \* > \*\*The soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, no doubt about that. But, imho, I think the main reason it _really_ sticks to us is the opening with Nancy Sinatraā€™s _Bang Bang - My Baby Shot Me Down_. > > The starkness of that song makes you sit up and really take note of the music that comes later. For me, it created this atmosphere of barren desolation that almost forced me to follow the background music even as I followed the on-screen shenanigans of Thurman and co. > > It was a supremely understated, yet very, very powerful opening to the movie. \*\* Yes, I think it is that. I remember that it was the opening song that made me sit up and think ā€œhey, this soundtrack rulesā€. It was the shear desolation of that song that did it for me. Iā€™ve found it on Amazon, so I shall be buying it soon. The mindless kick-ass violence was pretty good as well šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/48 "2003-10-27T12:31:41Z")
> [@](#): > > On a similar note as a OP, even as a straight male I thought Hugh Jackman in ā€œX-Menā€ looked very handsome. There. I said it. I agree. And I thought that Sophie Fatale should have been smart enough never to goā€¦ _unarmed_ in that sort of company. Aw, ā€œEFF it!ā€ She gets her arm cut off!!! Her freakinā€™ arm gets cut off!!! Hacked-off limbs, limbs, more limbs everywhere!!! ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/49 "2003-10-27T16:07:09Z")
Wasnā€™t the soundtrack _Kick Ass_? If you wanted a textbook for ā€œHow to use music in moviesā€, you couldnā€™t do any better. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/50 "2003-10-27T16:11:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by smiling bandit \* > \*\*She gets her arm cut off!!! Her freakinā€™ arm gets cut off!!! Hacked-off limbs, limbs, more limbs everywhere!!! \*\* My film professor after seeing _Kill Bill_: ā€œI thought I loved blood beforeā€¦but man, now I really love blood. Itā€™s just everywhere. I love it.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![dangergene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@dangergene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangergene)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/51 "2003-10-28T00:59:07Z")
Hijack/- Aasna, sorry, Iā€™m not local, but my wifey is. Iā€™ve been here for nigh-on eight years now, so also can lah. Tida apah, etc etc etc. And indeed, TV mobile is the curse of the bus lines! Blah blah, yackety yack! Why canā€™t they turn the volume DOWN?!? -/hijack! further, milder highjack/-I actually bought the soundtrack based on the Tomoyasu Hotei piece that plays over the teaser trailer. I must say, Iā€™ve been playing the soundtrack non-stop for many days! My son loves it, not so sure my wife still loves it!-/light on the highjack, so you can slam it down fast! (Aasna, I got my soundtrack at Sembawang Records). Sweet Sophie. Sheā€™ll need a hands-free unit for her mobile now! _chish boom!_ And GMRyujin, Iā€™m normally one of those ā€˜shy away from bloodā€™ types, but goddamn, I say GODDAMN!!! The foutains of pain in Kill Bill were so poetic, so delightful! (and please donā€™t EVER let me live through something like that! _EEK!_). And further to the whole straight-but-deeply-attracted-to-godly-fimstar, I was another of those men whoā€™s never had a homoerotic thought until I ssaw Johnny Depp as Capt Jack! Hoo-wee! Pity my poor colleagues couldnā€™t appreciate the divine beauty that is Johnny! (I know Iā€™m not alone here!). ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/52 "2003-10-28T08:54:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dangergene \* > \*\* > > And GMRyujin, Iā€™m normally one of those ā€˜shy away from bloodā€™ types, but goddamn, I say GODDAMN!!! The foutains of pain in Kill Bill were so poetic, so delightful! > \*\* Oh yes! The blood was amazing! Now, Iā€™m not normally a blood, guts and gore kind of person, but the fountains of blood everywhere was amazing. I loved it. And the feeling halfway through that Iā€™d accidentally bought a ticket for a Japanese anime film rather than Kill Bill. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/53 "2003-10-28T10:37:57Z")
I found the anime sequence rather disturbing, to tell you the truth. > [@](#): > > _dangergene_: > Hijack/- Aasna, sorry, Iā€™m not local, but my wifey is. Nothing to be sorry about. Iā€™m not local either. (Wouldnā€™t be anything to be sorry about even if I was, for that matter!) ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/54 "2003-10-28T10:37:57Z")
I found the anime sequence rather disturbing, to tell you the truth. > [@](#): > > _dangergene_: > Hijack/- Aasna, sorry, Iā€™m not local, but my wifey is. Nothing to be sorry about. Iā€™m not local either. (Wouldnā€™t be anything to be sorry about even if I was, for that matter!) ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/55 "2003-10-28T10:39:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aasna \* > \*\*I found the anime sequence rather disturbing, to tell you the truth. > \*\* Yeah, I thought it was disturbing, I couldnā€™t watch a fair chunk of it, but I also thought it was so totally surreal. Which in my books is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/56 "2003-10-28T10:52:24Z")
Those of you who saw the movie, what do you think of this review? [http://comments.imdb.com/title/tt0266697/usercomments-692](http://comments.imdb.com/title/tt0266697/usercomments-692) I didnā€™t realize that was Nancy-freakin-Sinatra doing that ā€œBang Bangā€ song! Most outstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/57 "2003-10-28T11:07:00Z")
Did you write the review, **dan**? šŸ™‚ In any case, I disagree with the reviewer in some ways. One point of dissent is that he says about Lucy Liuā€™s role: > [@](#): > > but this is easily her best work. Heavily layered, very finely characterized work. I havenā€™t seen anything else by Lucy Liu, so I donā€™t know about it being her best work, but heavily layered? From what angle was it heavily layered?! Her entire role was carried off by her look and her fightsā€¦I didnā€™t notice any significant acting skills on display! The depth given to her character was provided by the anime short. All that _Lucy Liu_ really needed to do was look regal and glacial. As regards the violence, well, we have 1. The opening scene with the bride. 2. All the scenes where the bride gets beaten up. 3. The hospital orderly and the door. 4. The anime sequence. The rest was fairly cartoonish; it really ought not count as gore. So, yes, it _was_ far more violent than your average movie, but the fountains of blood ought not, IMHO, be considered violence, per se. ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/58 "2003-10-28T11:10:08Z")
I am in complete agreement with this, though. > [@](#): > > Now, as you may have guessed, this is not a movie for children. Itā€™s also not a movie for pregnant women, people with bad backs (the sudden moves you make when you jump out of your seat might make you slip a disc or two), people with weak hearts, the elderly, and Nervous Nellies. Itā€™s for everyone else, though. Boy, is it ever for everyone else! Itā€™s a potpourri of balletic swordsmanship, a feast for the eyes (thereā€™s that word again). Forget about the violence for a minute - this movie just plain rocks. Bingo! ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/59 "2003-10-28T11:19:18Z")
You left out the entire scene in the club, **aasna** , which took a considerable amount of time to play out - bride fights henchmen, bride fights Sofie Fatale (sort of), bride fights Gogo, and bride fights O-Ren. Cartoonish or not, it was still violence - and if you donā€™t think dismemberments, beheadings, and other slayings **arenā€™t** gory, then we just have different definitions. (And ā€œfountains of blood ought not ā€¦ be considered violenceā€? Eh? Wha? Huh? What do you consider violence, if not the presence of fountains of blood?) Other stuff by her - well, letā€™s see. There was **Playing It to the Bone** , **Payback** , **Shanghai Noon** , and **Charlieā€™s Angels**. Lucy Liu can be very expressive in her eyes and movements, and she simply didnā€™t do so in any of the above movies - none of them played off her as an actress but as window dressing (in particular, **Play It to the Bone** had her as a major slut and a real bitch, too). Every time I saw her on screen in **Kill Bill** , to me she _commanded_ that scene. And _thatā€™s_ a heavily layered performance. Itā€™s easy to dismiss acting in movies like **Kill Bill** that appear at first glance to be more about violence than about actual nuance, but I think itā€™d be a mistake to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102/60 "2003-10-28T11:35:42Z")
Oh, Iā€™m not arguing with you about the violence. Really, Iā€™m not. It _was_ majorly violent. Itā€™s just that the spurting blood scenes were more stylistic than ferocious. I hate, I abhor, I detest, I deplore violence in movies, and this just didnā€™t pass the cut. There was lots of blood, but it did not result in terror, revulsion or queasiness. I guess what iā€™m trying to say is, there were buckets of blood all around, but those sequences were not disturbing. The sequences that I thought were really disturbing were the ones in my spoiler box, and the Gogo thing which I forgot about. About Lucy Liuā€™s acting in this movie, though, weā€™ll just have to agree to disagree. If you read the OP, youā€™ll know how obsessively I followed her through the movie ;), and Iā€™m afraid I wasnā€™t struck to any great degree by her histrionic abilities. She acted, she filled the role competently, but I didnā€™t see any ā€œlayersā€ to her performance. Maybe the fault lay in the characterization, rather than the actor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lucy-liu-in-kill-bill-no-spoilers-from-op/209102.md?page=4)