Intertextuality - Kill Bill Vol.2 and The Good, Bad, Ugly

Tarantino's use of Intertextuality in "Kill Bill Vol.2" with

"The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly"

Intertextuality:

Intertextuality in films is used to enhance a meaning and purpose within a clip and to communicate with the audience about possible upcoming events. The intertextual reference can reference almost anything from a media production such as film, T.V show, drama production, musicals, books and even comic books!

An intertextual reference could be the film itself aswell. For example, "Donnie Darko (2001)" was filmed within 28 days. The amount of time is important as it is an intertextual reference to what Frank - The Bunny Rabbit tells Donnie within the film. Frank tell's Donnie that he only has 28 days until a doomsday event.

An example of a 'comic book' reference can be names of character's. In comic books, the names of characters often use the same initials for their first and second names, a technique used by writers to make sure you remember a character. For example: "Donnie Darko", "Joanie James", and "Sean Smith". Resemble much likeness of the names "Peter Parker", "Black Blot" and "Madame Masque". By using the same initials the character(s) are being represented as superhero-like individuals.

Intertextual references can often include:

• Similar scenes 
• Representation of a character
• Sound
• Same soundtrack
• Iconic camera angles - such as Quinton Tarantino's "low angle car boot shots"
• Plot
• Dialogue
• Costume
• Location   

Quentin Tarantino:

Quentin Tarantino for example uses many intertextual references in his films. He frequently references to cult movies and television, such as the Spaghetti Western and part of the "The Dollar's Trilogy" - "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966)" which is directed by Sergio Leone. Tarantino also refers to films which he has directed himself. He often includes a low angle shot which feature main characters looking down directly at the camera. These characters tend to be looking into a car boot or suitcase. This is Tarantino's iconic shot which he tries to use in all films he directs - the shot then communicates with the audience to tell them that the film is decided by Tarantino. This type of shot is his 'trademark'.

Examples of Tarantino's low angle shot:

Death Proof (2007)

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Jackie Brown (1997)



Pulp Fiction (1994)

Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003)

Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003) 

Quentin Tarantino also tries to include a "Mexican Standoff" in each of this films. Thus referring to the ending of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966)" when it was introduced into films. The "Mexican Standoff" is when three or more individuals engage in a confrontation where each participant holds power over an opponent, yet is at mercy with another opponent. Below are examples of Tarantino's reference:




Reservoir Dogs (1992)



True Romance (1993)



Pulp Fiction (1994)

 



Graveyard Scene in Kill Bill Vol.2:

Tarantino's most recognizable intertextual reference to Sergio Leone's films is the use of the soundtracks from "The Dollar's Trilogy". The first soundtrack is used in the opening sequence of the "Graveyard" scene in Kill Bill Vol.2 when The Bride confronts Bud. The soundtrack is called "A Fistful of Dollars" which is from the first film in the trilogy. It's very powerful and heroic. It represents The Bride's entrance being associated with the heroic-ness of "The Good" (Blondie), but then being kicked back down to a low hierarchy statues by Bud because he is seen towering above her while she is laying on the ground.

Tarantino uses a graveyard to establish the surrounding area as being lifeless, barren-like and desolate just like a desert. By doing this, the character The Bride is represented as if she has no chance of being rescued. She is at the mercy of a character called Bud (Bill's brother) whose archetype is represented as being "The Ugly". Just like how Tuco captures Blondie, and then forces him to walk across the desert - which is lifeless, barren and desloated, just like the graveyard.

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The title of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" explains the three main character-archetype of Sergio Leone's western:

"The Good" - Blondie. Blondie is the main hero of the film. In Kill Bill Vol.2, The Bride is the hero and thus being represented as "The Good". This archetype is the 'good guy'.

"The Bad" - Sentenza (aka "Angle Eyes"). Sentenza is the main villain of the film and emery to Blondie. In Kill Bill Vol.2, Bill is represented as being "The Bad". He is emery to The Bride. This  archetype is the 'bad guy'.

"The Ugly" - Tuco. "The Ugly" is full of greed and is found between "The Good" and "The Bad". This is Bill's brother Bud.  

The location of the graveyard in Kill Bill Vol.2 can be seen as an intertextual reference because the scene then cuts to a graveyard in the 'middle of nowhere' - a barren-like area. This could also be seen as an intertextual referecne to "Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (2007).

'Jesse James' is mainly set in fields and barren-like locations, much like "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" aswell as in the graveyard scene of "Kill Bill Vol.2". It is an intertextual reference because of the use of a descent-like area as a location.

The costume in 'Jesse James' is also very similar to the type of Western costume used in "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly", perhaps it inspired the costume for 'Jesse James' and many other westerns.

The costume which The Bride wears during the graveyard scene in "Kill Bill Vol.2" is a slight intertextual reference to Blondies' costume. The close up shot of the 'cowboy' boots The Bride wears this is intertextual reference, which 'film-buffs' look out for within Tarantio's films. By wearing these boots, the reference is to portray the heroic statues of Blondie - the 'shoes which The Bride is trying to fill. The non-deigetic soundtrack is very heroic and powerful, this too also represents the states of Blondie.

Tarantion's second most recognizable intertextual reference to Sergio Leone's "The Dollar's Trilogy" is by using a second soundtrack from the trilogy. This non-deigetic soundtrack is called "Ecstasy of Gold", and is from the ending scene of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" during the Mexican standoff. The soundtrack, "Ecstasy of Gold" is very musically rondo. The rondo within the soundtrack could possibly represent the constant battle between the three main characters during the Mexican standoff - the soundtrack will not change until one of them 'makes a move' on another.


In terms of relating the non-degetic soundtrack to the graveyard scene in "Kill Bill Vol.2", the battle is between The Bride and Bud as The Bride has no dialogue which is spoken towards Bud throughout the entire film. This resemples much likeness of the silence during the ending scene of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". "Ecstasy of Gold" is often used within the Western genre as a tribute to "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". For example, Adam Oxsen's film is named after the soundtrack - "Esctasy of Gold" (2009) and includes very simliar scenes from "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly".