Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Hype: Deserved

Pulp Fiction


Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Written by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary
★ John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson

            


 Pulp Fiction is an english description for "dirty" literature - this I just found out, and it makes me appreciate the movie even more.

What else is Pulp Fiction?
It was, to me, one of the biggest cult films, one of the 1001+ movies, one of the highest rated movies on IMDB - to put it shortly; one of the greatest blemishes on my List of Shame (which exists in my head only). Things like that kind of raise the expectations.
Many movies, ones I loved and ones I hated, have made me lower my expectations for movies to see - especially highly acclaimed ones. But whenever one of those cultural-heritage-movies crosses my path, all these precautions are wiped out of my head. And then there's only one thought left: "I've gotta love this movie, I simply must".

All this introductory rambling is supposed to build up to this important statement:
"I actually do love Pulp Fiction - STRIKE!"

Now I could say something like "Well, how can one not love Pulp Fiction?", but I won't because I actually know someone (ahem, not personally, it's a blogger) who didn't love this movie. And I'm sure there are many more. Why? Because Pulp Fiction is not a movie for everyone, it's just not a second Shawshank Redemption.
Surely, most people of our generation will love this movie, if only for the soundtrack and sudden outbursts of we're-so-cool-we-don't-even-care-we-look-stupid-being-it. But many I know, especially people that are less into intellectual films or art, will probably be confused by the non-linear narrative, the awkward characters and so on.
By the way, don't let me get started on parents - I tried watching The Graduate with my mom once. Although there must be movie-interested parents somewhere out there.

There is, however, one reason to watch Pulp Fiction, no matter who you are, and that I have already mentioned: cultural heritage.
If you haven't seen Pulp Fiction, you won't sound convincing quoting it nor will you be able to dance convincingly to the magnificent soundtrack. You won't understand many references in newer films, perhaps not even recognize them (I'm sure I've already unawarely passed hundreds)... you will have what we call a "Bildungslücke" in German - a gap in education. And not only if you're a movie buff, if only you just "like" movies, you will have this Bildungslücke.

Hopefully,  I have convinced you to want to watch or re-watch Pulp Fiction as soon as possible. For those who have already seen the movie, I guess I didn't make you wallow in sweet memories of its amazingness - the reviewer's classics-doubt has caught me. I simply feel that I have nothing interesting to say about Pulp Fiction that hasn't been said yet.
Hopefully this video will suffice to re-aflame the feeling of the strawberry explosion.

FINAL FRAME


10 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, Pulp Fiction is also on my 'list of shame' - but, I just bought the DVD cheap yesterday! Now I have it, I'm hoping to watch it really soon!! *fingers crossed* I'm glad you think the hype was deserved, it gives me hope I'll love it too!

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    1. I bought it real cheap too, and great quality!
      Pulp Fiction is perhaps one of the most common list-of-shame-movies, it seems it has been on so many people's.
      Hope you'll like or love it.

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  2. I felt the same way when I reviewed it, there's really nothing I can add to what's been already said. It's just good all around, and I love it.

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    1. That's the only bad thing about watching these big classics, isn't it?

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  3. Nice write-up here! Pulp is my second favorite film of all time, I love it to death.

    But because I'm so close to it, I really appreciate getting fresh opinions on it, so thanks!

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    1. Thanks, Alex.
      It's great to hear that this is your second favourite movie - I have the feeling many people appreciate it, but not many call it their favourite or almost favourite film.
      I'm glad you appreciated reading this.

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  4. So glad you saw and liked it! I rewatch it at least once a year, in fact I just saw it last Tuesday. Love this movie to death. Such influential, great and timeless picture with shocking amount of brave and unconvetional scenes and many laughs - that whole watch on the kangaroo thing always makes me laugh.

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    1. It's a very funny movie indeed. Should be listed in the IMDB comedies genre.

      I guess I'll rewatch this one once a year too from now on.

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  5. This is a fantastic movie! Your comment about watching movies with parents cracked me up. My teens could definitely tell some stories about some of the movies I've gotten them to watch, that were meaningful in my generation for one reason or another. And yes, one must watch Pulp Fiction to quote it -- a favorite pastime in this house -- or to dance convincingly to the soundtrack.

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    1. Hi Stephanie, welcome to this blog!
      I was exaggerating a little, my mother has brought me some fantastic movies such as Dirty Dancing for example, and we go to the movies together a lot, it's just that she does't have this extreme passion especially for more quirky movies, like me.

      Thanks for your comment.

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Let the discussion begin!