KB1 rocked, KB2 rocked more
I see lots of movies, enjoy most of them, but some are true "works of art." And, as art, are to be valued for different reasons. Sometimes I admire the filmmaking, sometimes the script, sometimes the acting, sometimes just the emotional impact of watching. Some movies are more limited in focus than others, and actually I would consider both KB2 and Passion to fit that category. Unfortunately, I think most people had already made up their mind (good or bad) before seeing Passion, so its tough to be an unbiased critic. I do find it interesting how much it has affected people -- in a thread about KB2, its getting almost as much discussion...
Uma Thurman is great, I really liked Budd, I liked the interaction between Bill and the Bride (both at the chapel and at the end)... The cinematography was excellent... As for redemption/transformation, etc, I view the Bride as sort of a force of nature -- doomed to inflict great pain on the world due to the impossible contradictions in her life. Eliminating her oppponents removed the contradictions, so now she is free to move on in peace (ie, she no longer needs to be a killer) -- at least until the kids grow up and start it all over again...
other movies I liked in the last couple years:
A Beautiful Mind
Training Day
The Hours
Underworld
Thirteen
The Passion
Usual Suspects and Pulp Fiction were great...
All-time best movie: Schindler's List