What did I think of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction? Well let me tell you… but just wait two seconds while I piece my words together, because just wow!
When I watched this masterpiece, I knew very little about the world of film, but after watching Shawshank Redemption, I made it my goal to watch as many of the top rated movies as possible from the IMDb list.
I had briefly heard about Pulp Fiction from others, but I had never heard of the story-line, just that it was a GREAT movie- so I took their word for it. On the other hand, I had heard a lot about the director, Quentin Tarantino. From fellow movie watchers, I had heard that he was, “One of the greatest directors of all time.” So seeing as I was newly into the film world, it seemed relevant that I watched the film in order to widen my knowledge. Thirdly, it was actually on Netflix. So, with all these signs urging me to watch the movie, I did so.
Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction (1994). Credit: IMDb
I don’t know why, but I always like a movie that starts off with a definition. It almost foreshadows the events of a film without actually doing so- It gives you a small taster of the events that are about to occur…
Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer in Pulp Fiction (1994). Credit: IMDb
I was pretty much lured in by the fact that the opening scene is a robbery/shooting, followed by a black fade in scene with a big font of “PULP FICTION,” and the song Misirlou by Dick Dale and His Del-Tones. This then follows with the “official” opening scene of the two well-known actors, John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.
Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction (1994). Credit: IMDb
Can I just say, Tarantino movies always have such amazing music. It’s one of my favorite things as it’s so unique- like the rest of the movie- and sets the vibe perfectly!
Uma Thurman and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction (1994). Credit: IMDb
Now let’s not forget the iconic dance scene, where the characters Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega do the Twist to the song, ‘You Never Can Tell’ by Chuck Berry, in order to win the dance competition. Honestly, I think this is one of the most notable things about this movie, I see it in posters, pictures, etc.
Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction (1994). Source: Quora
Talking about notable scenes, I think everyone who has watched or heard of Pulp Fiction is well aware of this particular picture above, where Mia Wallace has blood dripping down from her nose due to a *SPOILER* drug overdose.
Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction (1994). Credit: IMDb
Last, but not least, one of my favorite things about nearly all Quentin Tarantino movies, is his cameos.!! In pretty much all the movies you will watch by him, he is likely to be in it. Whether it’s as an extra in Kill Bill, an American soldier in Inglorious Bastards, a mining employee in Django Unchained or Jimmie in Pulp Fiction… The only reason I came to know this, was after watching Pulp Fiction, i pursued my usual binge search of everything about the movie via IMDb and found that the character Jimmie is Quentin Tarantino himself!!! Then after watching Inglorious Bastards, I didn’t see him, but I had to check if he actually was in it and I had missed it, and he was!! So it has now become a trend during every one of his movies I watch, I search eagerly to spot him (almost like a game of ‘Where’s Wally’).
Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction (1994). Credit: IMDb. © 1994 Miramax
This movie is a work of art. It delves deep into every feature of a movie, including an amazing screenplay, a great director, astounding actors, perfect music, a unique story-line and a mass of iconic moments. There’s no wonder why it has reached #8 on IMDb’s top rated movies with an 8.9/10, and Oscar-winner for best screenplay, plus 6 other Oscar nominations. Pulp fiction is a ‘one of its kind’, that sets the basis of all other Tarantino movies. If they don’t have a structure split into ‘chapters’, iconic scenes and a Tarantino cameo, is it really a Tarantino movie? I think not!
