Does Taylor Swift's Bad Blood Video Live Up To The Hype?

After a week of teasers, sneaks and tweets from pop megastar Taylor Swift, the highly anticipated (and expensive) video for her new single Bad Blood was released today.

So, does it live up to the hype? 

Well, that is a very loaded question. 

We knew this was going to be a big deal. Swift's poster releases were clearly embracing the theme of a Quentin Tarantino grindhouse film and there appeared to be more star cameos lined up for the clip than from an episode of Entourage. 

Fans of Swift and this song will know it is supposedly about her ongoing fued with fellow pop princess, Katy Perry so for us to transition the theme of being mean and bitchy to the underground world of assassins and nuclear warfare already feels like...a stretch. 

Don't get me wrong — I like Taylor Swift. I probably wouldn't call myself a Swiftie as her fans like to be known as, but hey, 1989 was a damn good pop album. So there. But this video is, well, it's something else. 

The clip begins with the songstress, who stars as 'Catastrophe' engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a bunch of goons in an office space alongside her colleague, Selena Gomez. (First cameo appearance — 11 seconds in.)

A promising start.

But shock horror — our heroine is betrayed by Gomez and is kicked out of a window and plunges, quite gracefully even by Batman's standards, on to a nearby car.

From there, the song finally kicks off and we are immediately treated to an altered, grungier version of the song, complete with two verses from rapper Kendrick Lamar who stars as Swift's sidekick? Boss? Assistant?

Anyway, the time taken and effort (slash money) spent on this is admirable and it is obviously new territory for Swift — it didn't seem that long ago that this kick boxing, motorcycle riding, gun toting badass was simply pondering through the forests in an oversized formal gown. 

But here in lies the problem — considering how much has gone in to this and the talent used (barely) in this clip, four minutes is simply just not enough time to tell the story. 

Here are just a few of the names we see in such a short time aside from the already mentioned: *Takes deep breath* Lena Dunham, Ellie Goulding, Gigi Hadid, Hayley Williams of Paramore, Lily Alridge, Cara Delevigne, Jessica Alba, Ellen Pompeo and Mariska Hargitay. Yep, Olivia Benson from Law & Order.

Oh yeah, and Cindy Crawford. *Breathe out*

Besides the odd second where you get a good look at the cast and get to ask yourself: "Can Hayley Williams really do double front flips through flying daggers?" their "scene" is already over.

And some of the names given to Swift's all female posse just seem weak to say the least. 

The Crimson Curse? How about Cut Throat? Frostbyte hangs out in the snow, go figure. And guess what Mother Chucker's skill is? Hint: She can throw things. 

There's no denying it is a fun watch, if for nothing else but a good laugh — the final scene of Swift and friends walking side by side is really the only time you get to appreciate the talent used.

Not to mention the cast are all looking unscathed out of a city that is literally up in flames, because, well why not? Steven Seagal coudn't have done it better.

Swift's efforts must be applauded though — at least it's fun and it's something different. Take note Flo Rida and or Nicki Minaj. 

Check the video out and judge it for yourself — the final verdict? Imagine if the Spice Girls were still together and teamed with Michael Bay to make a cool film clip. I'll leave that with you to take it however you like.