I’ve read a lot of debate over the relative merits of David Carradine’s presence in the movie, but Uma’s role has pretty much gone unquestioned. Is she going to be able to do this role justice? Her acting ability is perhaps pretty much established these days, but how is she going to handle all the action? As far as I know she has no martial arts history. Insight from people who have read the script, and especially those who know something about martial arts training for movies would be especially appreciated.
Hi Honey Bunny,
Welcome to the board.  I have my two cents about the casting.  I do know some about martial arts film work too.
Carradine was the only one for this role.  He has an understanding of martial arts and motion picture martial arts in general.  This will make him more capable of accepting and absorbing the wisdom of Woo Ping and Chiba.  He’s also a bad-ass and a wild card and in need of massive career surgery.  Who better to operate then QT?  He will do well.
As for Uma, she has been training like mad and is doing extremely well.  QT is taking his time with the action scenes, so he is definately making sure he gets what he wants from the actors and the fight sequences.  That is a very important important thing when filming martial arts sequences. ÂÂ
In terms of the “movie martial arts.”  Yuen Woo Ping and Sonny Chiba are the TOTAL MASTERS OF MOVIE MARTIAL ARTS!  I mean, for God sake, Woo Ping even makes Keanu Reeves look capable.  I can’t imagine what he’s going to do with Carradine and Thurman.  And Sonny Chiba, he’s Mr. Sword.  That’s it.
I’ve worked as 1st AD on a couple of sets where martial arts sequences were being shot.  On one set, the actors were REAL martial artists, not actors.  The thing is, the scenes looked faker than anything I’ve ever seen on film before, even including Lee Van Cleef in “The Master.”  It was because the fight choreographer was a total inept moron and the director rushed too fast through the shooting and didn’t get the right shots.
So, even with real martial artists the scenes can suck.  It’s the fight choreographer, trainer, and director that make it all work.  With the crew QT’s got, Freakin’ Don Knotts could be Bill, and Roseanne Barr could be the Bride and it would still probably look really good.
In the end, I see all casting “shit-talkers” eating their words when this hits the screen.  The bigger question is whether the film can retain its violent, gory edge and still get an “R” rating from the MPNAA (Motion Piture Nazi Association of America)
Peace out,
Bill out of Burbank, CA 8)
I know Uma can handle this role. Uma is every bit as capable as Carrie Anne Moss. Shes tall and lithe, and with the guidance and training of Woo Ping, QT and Sonny Chiba, she will become a walking samurai/kung fu master. Kung fu is something anyone of any size or shape can do. Picturing Uma with a samurai sword slicing and dicing people up is just awesome. And I cant wait to see her doing animal style kung fu.
Welcome to the forum Honey Bunny!
Uma’s casting is basically two things.
- QT and Uma have wanted to work w/ each other since Pulp Fiction.
- For actresses out there Uma has a very unique tall slender body. This will basically help her to achieve some complex moves that only Uma could pull off. So QT basically has envisioned some bad ass moves capitalizing on the unique slender, tall, etc., of Uma. Which is one of the main reasons when she got pregnant QT didn’t just go off and hire another actress.
As for David C… I saw them interact last summer… and him and QT just have an amazing interaction between themselves… QT brings out the best in David.
Of course add to this mix Yuen Woo Ping and Sonny Chiba… who have been training with the actors/actresses… that in and of itself is just badass. Months before the filming even began… they were out there becoming total badasses from Yuen and Sonny. So you can only imagine what a day of filming must be like months after the fact… and QT there directing. I would like to be a fly on the wall to see that!
ok now, since i deleted your posts from the RZA/Ullrich discussion let’s roll in here.
Some people (including me) had doubts about Uma Thurman. I mean, she is not what you could call a legend of an acress. she’s a decent actress, she didnt have any scandals but she’s not that famous either.
where i have my doubts is just, there could have been better choices for The Bride i guess…
well anyway. best thing, you again post that stuff you posted in that other topic, so you know, i dont want a mess in here, there are allready so many topics, they should fit the content 
[quote]
I’ve worked as 1st AD on a couple of sets where martial arts sequences were being shot.  On one set, the actors were REAL martial artists, not actors.  The thing is, the scenes looked faker than anything I’ve ever seen on film before, even including Lee Van Cleef in “The Master.”  It was because the fight choreographer was a total inept moron and the director rushed too fast through the shooting and didn’t get the right shots.
Peace out,
Bill out of Burbank, CA 8)
[/quote]
The Master was one of my favorite shows as a kid! That was probably my first introduction to Lee Van Cleef as well. I dont think I’d seen Sergio Leone’s movies yet. The Master was an awesome show man. After I watched that show I wanted to be a ninja really bad too!! I’d make my own throwing stars (for some reason they never worked), nunchukus, Sais, all the Ninja weaponry. The Master, wow, that brings back memories 
You are correct Bill. Yuen Woo-Ping made that bow-legged bastard halfway capable. The only problem is he didn’t make Carrie-Anne Moss do much with exception of that slow-mo crap kick (which was phat at the time). He definitly made Zhang Ziyi look capable in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon but she is so fucking hot that I could care less if she can play with swords. Uma is not that hot or as small or (possibly) as athletic as Ziyi.
Just a speculation but do you think Yuen Woo-Ping and QT were fighting over Uma’s action sequences. It’s not at all that improbable… I really hope Uma is capable of pulling this shit off b/c 1.) just listening to QT and KB doubters give me a fucking headache and 2.) I am going to be pissed when I pay my 5.50 to 8.00 bones watching this movie every day for the rest of my life.
BTW if KB is going to look like bulletproof monk then please kill me right fucking now. I am going to see BM and like it but the trailers is making me nervous about that shit. I also think that Jason Biggs might have been X-ed from the movie b/c Seann William Scott is in BM. We don’t need 2 American Pie Ninjas. ;D 
[quote]You are correct Bill. Yuen Woo-Ping made that bow-legged bastard halfway capable. The only problem is he didn’t make Carrie-Anne Moss do much with exception of that slow-mo crap kick (which was phat at the time). He definitly made ÊZhang Ziyi look capable in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon but she is so fucking hot that I could care less if she can play with swords. Uma is not that hot or as small or (possibly) as athletic as Ziyi.
Just a speculation but do you think Yuen Woo-Ping Êand QT were fighting over Uma’s action sequences. It’s not at all that improbable… I really hope Uma is capable of pulling this shit off b/c 1.) just listening to QT and KB doubters give me a fucking headache and 2.) I am going to be pissed when I pay my 5.50 to 8.00 bones watching this movie every day for the rest of my life.
BTW if KB is going to look like bulletproof monk then please kill me right fucking now. I am going to see BM and like it but the trailers is making me nervous about that shit. I also think that Jason Biggs might have been X-ed from the movie b/c Seann William Scott is in BM. We don’t need 2 American Pie Ninjas. Ê;D [/quote]
QT is making Kill Bill for himself and hardcore Exploitation film geeks. KB is the film HE always wanted to see. Just like he made Dogs, Pulp, Jackie for himself, HE's the audience for his movies, not other faceless people he doesnt know. That means if each take is up to HIS standards as a film geek, they stay in the film, if not, say buh bye to that celluloid. QT is a kung fu film expert. He probably knows those movies shot for shot as well as the other information about them. So, in that context, he knows exactly what he wants from his actors when those fight scenes are being shot. Those rumors about QT and Woo Ping fighting were false. QT said it in Harrys Set Reports. Woo Ping was pissed that those rumors were given to the fans because they werent true.
What does Bulletproof Monk have to do with Kill Bill? QT is a fuckin movie guru madman, have no doubt, he WILL deliver some Lucio Fulci inspired gore mixed with OLD SCHOOL ( i.e. not the stuff we see in today's kung fu films by Jackie Chan and Jet Li or the wire fu of The Matrix) Shaw Brothers animal style kung fu/Japanese samurai action. Just make sure when you see Kill Bill, you bring a couple pairs of Depends for when you shit your pants.
Vic,
I dug “The Master” too. Lee Van Cleef with that big ass medallion. It was always funny too that whenever he was dressed as the ninja, he lost about 25 pounds. Wonderful stunt double casting. Although cheesy, I loved that show. The pilot is on dvd too.
Blackstar,
I really think Kill Bill will absolutely destroy “Bulletproof Monk.” You’re right that Carrie Anne Moss didn’t do much in The Matrix. I’m hoping that since Uma is the MAIN star of Kill Bill, that she will have had the full benefit of more focused and concentrated training. I mean it’s pretty much all focused on her. She’s the star. Carrie Anne wan’t really a main fighting character in The Matrix and there were Fishburne, Reeves, and all the other main characters that were more featured and probably took up more of Ping’s time.
I guess in the end, we’ll see. I’m not worried though.
Bill
I think her career will get a major push-up
I’m obsessed with Uma! She can do anything, did you seen her in Histerical Blindness? She was fantastic-the movie was average tho! She won a Golden Globe for that. I can name a dozen or more of her great performances (dangerous liaisons, gattaca, jennifer eight, mad dog and glory etc etc) Despite that not every movie she makes is good, she always manage to stand out of the movies’ ‘‘mediocrity’’.
Uma and especially Mia is the woman of my dreams! lol
The most interesting thing regarding Uma and “Kill Bill” is that this is probably her first movie in which she is gonna have the leading role. Her previous movies always saw her as a supporting character; so “Kill Bill” may well turn out to be a potential career highlight for her.
Yah she haven’t got a leading role recently (except from histerical blindness). After Kill Bill she’ll will have 4 times more scripts under on her desk!
Can’t wait to see her again in ‘‘coolness’’ in the new John Woo movie after kill Bill!!
And then in the new Terry Gilliam movie!
The world is yours Uma!
(I’m yours too you can call me anytime you want at…210… 
)
Which Movies form Uma Thurman Do yall recommend to check out?
besides the tarantino movies
The only other Uma movies I’ve seen beside Pulp are:
- Dangerous Liasions (great)
- Tape (good)
- Batman & Robin (bad)
Also stay away from “The Avengers” which I hear it’s horrid. You won’t find Uma in many leading roles though; she always seems to have starred as a supporting actress, at least from the movies I have seen.
[quote]The only other Uma movies I’ve seen beside Pulp are:
- Dangerous Liasions (great)
- Tape (good)
- Batman & Robin (bad)
Also stay away from “The Avengers” which I hear it’s horrid. You won’t find Uma in many leading roles though; she always seems to have starred as a supporting actress, at least from the movies I have seen.[/quote]
any good uma nude scenes in Dangerous Liasons? i think she’s got some in Henry and June
I’ve always loved Les Miserables.
[quote]
any good uma nude scenes in Dangerous Liasons? i think she’s got some in Henry and June[/quote]
Yep, I believe you can see her nice titties  8). I've watched that movie when I was like 13 or something. It's a real great movie to watch when you  begin to hit puberty. That's the closest you can get to a porno at the time  :)
Paycheck
I think Paycheck was a good movie, Uma and Ben worked pretty well in it together. Woo is back on track now it seems.
[quote]It’s a real great movie to watch when you  begin to hit puberty. That’s the closest you can get to a porno at the time  [/quote]
Fuck that shit dude. I’ve been watching/looking at porn since…fuck. I think I discovered the shit when I was 5, hasn’t left me since. ;D