JULY WATCH PARTY - Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003), Steve Jobs (2015), The Hate U Give (2018)
"After waking from a four-year coma, a former assassin wreaks vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her."
- IMDB
At this point, I’ve seen maybe half of Tarantino’s films going into Kill Bill. That being said, I felt that I was going to see something special when the very intense black-and-white flashback was followed by the intro credits rolling, with Bang Bang playing in the background.
So this is definitely a standard Tarantino film: good and unique shots, music, dialogue, and an amazing cast as well. All the pieces to make this a significant addition to the director’s repertoire.
The internet definitely loves this movie. There are still many relevant memes and sounds—some I didn’t even know were from this movie. I think this is another Tarantino trope; it’s not a Tarantino movie unless you can get at least one meme out of it.
The Japanese elements were a highlight here. The anime segment was a pretty dope way of giving an origin story. Honestly, Uma’s entire time in Japan as a whole—just that whole third of the film—is great. The iconic fight in the jumpsuit, Uma Thurman vs. Lucy Liu, is just great content. This film is also obviously paying homage to old Japanese action films. The fights are so hilarious but also epic, and there’s probably a long list of tropes and inspirations drawn from those older films.
After a movie full of crazy fight sequences and satisfying revenge, we get a good cliffhanger leading us into the second part… the daughter is alive… now it’s time… to Kill. Bill.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆
"Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution, to paint a portrait of the man at its epicenter. The story unfolds backstage at three iconic product launches, ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac."
- IMDB
This was a movie full of arguments and I loved it.
This was 3 big set pieces taking place immediately before 3 different conferences in 3 different years. This was such a brilliant way to really deep dive the different aspects of Steve Jobs' life between his role as a father and his role as a CEO visionary. It showcases how flawed he is but also celebrated his career and the impact he's made. The film honors Steve Jobs while also not sugarcoating who he was as a person & I respect that. "It's not binary, you can be decent and gifted at the same time." But with some of the greatest people in history, sometimes it is binary like that. Greatness doesn't guarantee good.
Michael Fassbender himself was a great scene partner for everyone. He shared intense and fast dialogue with Kate Winslet, Seth Rogan, Jeff Daniels, Katherine Waterston, and the various Lisa actors. The individual acting was obviously great but I was particularly drawn with how each actor moved through the scenes with each other. I can only describe it as a wave or pendulum - but that's what I felt emotionally when watching all these different interactions. I'd love to see a play version of this and that means a lot because when do I ever say that?
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆
"Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what's right."
- IMDB
In terms of films that I've seen with solid anti-racism messages - The Hate U Give is one of the best I've seen. It's not just a story about one tragic incident—it’s a layered exploration of identity as Starr feels stuck in between 2 worlds. BLM is at the center as we see how systemic injustice affects not just individuals, but entire communities. What really stands out is how it doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths, like how performative people claim to support the movement when it’s popular but don't actually care when it matters most.
The contrast between Starr’s life in her white privilege private school and her home in a Black neighborhood is handled with honesty. It highlights the pressure Black kids face to be “acceptable” in polite society while staying authentic to where they come from. Amandla Stenberg gives an emotional and convincing performance, absolutely carrying the film from start to finish. The cast as a whole elevates the message, making The Hate U Give not just impactful, but necessary viewing that sparks reflection and conversation.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆