Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)

Half a movie. Kill Bill: Volume 1 builds to one massive fight, wins it, and then hands you the bill for part two. You get the revenge setup and almost none of the answers, and the movie knows it. Still, the swagger is unreal. Uma Thurman’s yellow tracksuit is one of the best costume calls in movie history. The anime chapter about O-Ren’s past comes out of nowhere and somehow fits like it was always supposed to be there. The House of Blue Leaves fight runs so long it switches to black and white, then to silhouettes, like the movie got tired of counting. Lucy Liu barely raises her voice and owns every scene she’s in. It’s R for a reason, mostly sword work, so maybe not one for the little cousins. 1.33 million IMDb ratings land at an 8.2. An 8.1 because the style is untouchable and the story is only half here. $957 says you whistle that creepy hospital tune the next time you walk down a quiet hallway.

What works: The yellow tracksuit, the anime chapter, and the House of Blue Leaves fight, pure style from the first sword to the snowy garden.

What doesn’t: It’s literally half a story, so the characters barely get to talk and the ending is a setup for the next movie.

Who it’s for: People who care more about how a fight looks than why it started.