Back in October, we got to see Quentin Tarantino’s first film in five years. From the shocking, “Do you find me sadistic?” to the Pussy Wagon, to slicing through a horde of Japanese Green Hornet fans and then giving Lucy Liu a new haircut, Tarantino had us captivated. And then, we’re left with the great cliffhanger line, “Does she [she being Uma Thurman’s Bill-killer, The Bride] know her daughter is alive?” before the credits roll. Now, a long six months later, it’s time for the conclusion.

What’s so striking about Volume Two is how different it is from Volume One. In the first part of this revenge tale, it seemed like Tarantino was just out to pay homage to his favorite kung-fu and grindhouse films. The massive violence was entertaining, but the film itself didn’t leave much to chew on in terms of themes or character development. Volume Two is a totally different animal. First off, don’t go in expecting the massive violence of the first film. While there are still a couple of brutal fight scenes, there’s nothing on par with “Showdown at House of Blue Leaves.”

In place of massive bloodshed is Tarantino’s rapid-fire, musical and instantly-quotable dialogue. Volume Two moves in a far more linear fashion than the first film as it takes its time to develop the remaining major characters. Thurman continues her magnificent performance as The Bride, Daryl Hannah is deliciously sinister in her expanded time on screen and Michael Madsen gives a quizzical and subtle performance as Budd, the only male member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. And then there’s David Carradine as the titular Bill, an incredibly imposing figure in the first film without being in it. This time, he owns the film.

It’s the little touches that make Volume Two more enjoyable than Volume One. The soundtrack is better. Granted, the soundtrack to the first volume is fantastic; this one surpasses it mainly because most of the tracks are by Ennio Morricone, a composer who doesn’t even need a film to enrapture you in his score. There’s a sense of humor throughout that was less present in the first film. Sure, there was Hattori Hanzo, but being a more dialogue-based film, there’s more time for jokes and catchy lines and Kill Bill: Volume Two has both in large supply.

If you didn’t care for Volume One, don’t bother with the finale. While the films may differ in content, they work together and you’ll still be spending two hours in a Tarantino film with characters from the first film that you disliked. For those who loved Volume One, expect to enjoy Volume Two at least as much as the first, if not more. What you shouldn’t expect is the insane violence of the first film. Instead, you should expect incredible performances, excellent dialogue, an awesome soundtrack and the knowledge that those six months were well worth the wait.