Movies have changed because of Pulp Fiction

Rating: 9/10 (24 February 2004)

*****Spoilers*****
This is one of the greatest movies of the 90's, if not the greatest. The direction and editing are bar none above almost anything else that was put out at that time. The script circles a lot around F bombs but that's ok because it gets it's point across. The 3 stories this movie goes around are hilarious, action packed, and drama filled. It has everything you want in a movie, all though there is no real love story sorry ladies.

This is the movie that launched Samuel L. Jackson's now amazing career, and to think it may have never happened as he almost lost the part. John Travolta also came back completely because of this movie. Ving Rhames has gone on to be just a bad man (in a good way) because of this movie. It opened a lot of peoples eyes to Uma Turman as well, even though it was almost 10 years later in another Tarantino movie before she really got back to the "mainstream". Harvey Keitel, who is an underrated actor in a great role. Tim Roth, one of Tarantino's favorites, is good in the small role he has. Plus Bruce coming in on a very un Bruce like low key role. Now I know a lot of people reading this would disagree but this is also the movie that opened everyone up to Tarantino, I know Reservoir Dogs is highly considered a better movie but this brought him into the lime light. So we have Pulp Fiction to thank for all of the above, some are upset about the Travolta part but hey in the right role he's an amazing actor.
The way the movie just jumps around w/the end being in the middle and the middle being in the end was genious. At the time I couldn't say I'd ever seen anything like it befor. The fact that the movie is more about the dialogue than anything else is what separates PF from a lot of other movies of this type of genre. While the action in the movie is very entertaining it's what is coming out of the charaters mouths that drives the movie. To quickly introduce some of the characters. You have Jules/Jackson quoting from the Bible. Vincent/Travolta with his now infamous Royal with Cheese conversation. Wallace/Rhames being just a bad dude and delivering his lines a smooth as anyone. Mia/Thurman and her quirky character. The Wolf/Keitel just coming in and smoothing everything over as only the Wolf can. I know i'm being vague w/details but if you haven't seen this movie stop reading the review and go watch it, if you have seen it your hopefully getting my point. Spoilers below.
The action should not be dismissed, it is very well done. You have the very well put together way of Butch/Wills not throwing his fight but you don't see it all you see is him running out of the building. Then him meeting up w/Wallce later and running him over in a his car. The following part at the pawn shop is both disturbing and funny. The whole part of when we see Vincent and Jules going to collect from the kids who stole from Wallace is brilliant. Right down to the kid coming out of the bathroom with, as Vincent puts it, a "Hand cannon". Then there is my favorite part of the movie. The Vincent and Mia date. This is just so well put together the dialogue between the two of them is great, plus the sexual tension between them adds a little drama too it. Then the drug overdose that happens at the end is gut renching and is what makes it my favorite part of the movie. There is the "Bonnie Situation" which as sad as it is that someone dies in the beginning of that part of the story that it is one of the funniest parts of PF. This is where we meet Tarantino, a good role for him to play even if he's not the best actor in the world. Heck you can stand him in it because everyone else is so great. The Wolf is also in this part of the story as a basic Mr. fix it guy who comes in and saves Vincent and Jules after what they did to the poor kid in the car. The last one is, I know I went out of order and if I forgot anything I appologize, the robbery at the coffee shop. This is what made Jackson in my opinion, his banter with Travolta in this sceen is once again great. BUT what makes it is when Jules/Jackson won't let Roth's character take the brief case. When he has Roth at gun point and starts to talk that is some of the best acted and spoken dialogue you'll see maybe ever.
In closing I appologize for the review being jumpy and not well put together, when I think about this movie so many things come to mind as it is non stop from beginning to end with no slow parts. For 2 1/2 hours your just sitting on the edge of your seat because you have no idea what is going to happen next. That's how I felt watching it in '94. Now movies have changed a lot from back then, in part I think, because of this movie so you may not feel the same way as I did watching it then. It holds the test of time as well now 10 years later. So if you read this review and haven't seen the movie, I appologize if I gave too much away but go and watch it now and let us know what you think. I would give this movie 3 1/2 out of 4 stars (I don't give a lot of 4 stars btw)