2.4K views Aug 2009
Quentin Tarantino clashes with a TV interviewer over Kill Bill's graphic violence, whether children should see it, and its portrayal of women as warriors.
0:00 Sorry. Anyway, audiences worldwide were first introduced to Quentin Tarantino with Reservoir Dogs. 0:07 Let me see if he's on the line, but it was Pulp Fiction that won him an Oscar and launched him into s- this A-list status he's in. 0:14 Some people say he's all about style over substance, some people say he's glamorized violence, some people say he's a genius. 0:20 His latest movie, Kill Bill, is a tale of a former assassin's quest for revenge. 0:25 It stars Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu. Now Quentin joins us. There he is, baby. 0:29 How are you, Quentin? 0:30 I am here, Jen. How you doing? 0:31 Live from New York. All right, all right. I haven't seen you since Pulp Fiction. 0:36 Now- 0:36 Here I am. Do I look just as handsome? 0:38 Uh, yeah. Okay, I think they used that colored gel, though, that they used for Lucille Ball on Mame. 0:44 Oh, really, huh? Okay, well, you're lucky I can't see you right now. 0:47 Oh, I look darling, I look bad. Okay, speaking of Mame, okay, I'm going to do a little segue here. 0:53 Mame into violence in Kill Bill. This movie's doing very well, by the way, Quentin. 0:57 Why are you with us? Why did you decide to do this? 1:00 Why am I with you? 1:00 Yeah, I mean, did you decide to- 1:02 So it can keep doing good 1:03 I see. 1:04 and to spread the Kill Bill word, 1:05 I see. 1:06 especially to the San Francisco Bay Area. 1:08 But one of the things you said recently, is this true or were you misquoted, that children should see Kill Bill, advising kids to see it? 1:15 Did you actually say that, or is that a misquote, Quentin? 1:18 No, no, no, I, it's like, uh, uh, if, if it's an R-rated movie, if their parents will take them to go see it, they'll have a blast. 1:25 I actually think from 12 up, 1:27 Really? 1:27 all right, you know, is a really good audience that they will love Kill Bill. 1:30 Girls will love it because they'll be empowered by 1:33 How are they empowered exactly? 1:35 They'll go home 1:36 Uh-huh. 1:37 Quentin 1:37 Quentin 1:37 poster on their wall and 1:39 Quentin 1:39 parents got to take them to see it, but if they're cool parents, 1:41 Yeah. 1:41 you will do it. 1:42 Cool parents, really. Quentin, would you say this movie teaches girls to be empowered by being violent and vicious, just like boys in the movie? 1:50 Would you say that's the empowerment? 1:51 It, it, it empowers women by, it empowers girls by the fact that Uma Thurman is a female warrior. 1:58 Uh-huh. 1:58 She's a female avenger. 2:00 Right. 2:00 Right, revenge is like one of the classic staples in drama. 2:03 I see a lot of innocent people. I've seen the film, Quentin. 2:06 And to have girls not be the, the, uh, uh, not only the girlfriends in movies, 2:10 Mm-hmm. 2:11 but, you know, this is a movie about women. They're not about cute girls 2:14 No, it's about killer women. 2:16 All right, with their butts 2:17 It's about killer women. 2:18 and their, uh, uh, t-shirts that stop before 2:20 Mm-hmm. 2:20 below their, uh, b- uh, before their belly button, 2:22 Mm-hmm. 2:23 asking permission to kick ass. These girls just kick ass. 2:26 Right. 2:26 They're warriors, they live by a code of honor, and they die by that code of honor too. 2:29 And they, and innocent people die along the way. It's about that kind of thing. 2:33 Now, tell me this. 2:34 You know, innocent people die along the way because that's, unfortunately, that's the story of revenge. 2:38 Revenge is messy. It never works out the way you want it to. 2:41 Why the need for so much gruesome, graphic violence? Why not let us imagine a little? 2:46 Because it's so much fun, Jan. Get it. 2:48 Really? Oh, really? Okay, I'd like to see you walk down the street and get attacked by some kids who've just seen your movie. 2:53 Oh, but you thought, but see, Jan, you're all messed up because you're talking about real life. 2:58 Oh, I see. 2:58 And I'm talking about the movie. 3:00 Kids at 12. 3:00 You got to get it straight. 3:01 Now, if you want to talk about the movies, we'll talk about the movies. 3:03 Okay, and kids at 12 3:04 You want to talk about real life, we'll talk about real life. 3:06 Kids at 12 can tell the difference. You tell their parents that, Quentin. 3:10 I, I 3:10 It was great to talk to you. 3:11 I saw movies when I was a kid, all right? I saw the, all the movies that I'm basing my movies on 3:15 Yes, and look how wonderful you 3:16 are movies I saw as a kid, and yes, 3:18 Mm-hmm. 3:18 kids go to a movie theater, they can tell the difference. Maybe you couldn't when you were a kid, but I could. 3:23 Okay, honey. We're getting the hook. You're doing well, obviously. 3:27 You're laughing all the way to the bank, and I know 3:29 I'm having a great time making a terrific movie that people are having fun seeing. 3:34 Maybe not you, but you know what, Jan? I don't think I made it for you. 3:37 I bet you didn't, and I'm glad you didn't. Uh, I'm just sorry. 3:40 Well, don't worry about that, baby. 3:41 We'll move on. You're doing great. What do you care about me? 3:44 All right, Quinta, well, look, it's your genre, you own it. It's your genre, and you own it, and that's why he's, uh, Quentin Tarantino doing so well, and this is a movie that he thinks kids should see, 3:56 and I'm on the record saying I do not think kids should see it. 3:59 I think adults who see it should be warned. It's very violent, incredibly violent, and soulless. 4:05 There's no soul in it, and I wonder how he sees women being empowered when there's no soul. 4:10 All right. Thanks, Jen. 4:11 Okay. 4:11 Thank you. We'll be right back. Stay with us. 
