[AS PUBLISHED IN MALAY MAIL AFTERNOON]
BRING OUT THE PULP FICTION
Words: Jordan Barnes
Let’s make it clear.
If you have never seen Pulp Fiction:
> You are missing out on three hours of the best, unadulterated cinematography in recent history.
It was on this day at Cannes Film Festival, 1994:
> Pulp Fiction was unleashed “with great vengeance and fuh-yurious anger” unto the film world.
At roughly 8:30am, critics witnessed one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time.
> A reputation that would grow into a timeless, cult classic in years to come.
For a measure of just how good Pulp Fiction is...
> Ranks seventh on Internet Movie Database (IMDb) top ranked greatest films.
Not bad for a showpiece where the flawless direction of Quentin Tarantino eclipsed any surrounding controversy.
Timeless?
You can say that.
Critics reaction at the time was majority plaudits for the still fresh-faced Tarantino, an immediate hit two years prior with Reservoir Dogs at Sundance Film Festival.
Follow-up from mostly self-taught filmmaker was masterpiece of “such depth, wit and blazing originality” it pitted him among Hollywood's best.
"Nothing is predictable or familiar within this irresistibly bizarre world." — New York Times
> Starring John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson as pair of deep-thinking mobsters Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield.
> Bruce Willis as boxer and stooge turned on-the-run murderer Butch Coolidge.
> Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace, wife of Vincent and Jules’ boss Marsellus.
> Diner thieves known only as Pumpkin and Honey Bunny.
What made it so ridiculously good?
Reinvented the gangster genre with humour, punchy dialogue and a title inspired from 1950’s neo-noir crime novels.
It struck a force that had an immeasurable impact on pop culture.
The characters:
> Positioned as philosophical gunmen, thugs and criminals.
Lines, scenes, quotes:
> Classic after classic after classic.
Example:
Iconic dance between skagged-up Vince and Mia.
Here’s Tarantino’s explanation:
Try also:
"Zed’s dead, baby." — Butch
'What do they call a quarter pounder (burger) in Paris?'
Soundtrack:
> Classic, unbeatable.
Be it:
Opening credits theme song Misirlou by Dick Dale.
Or:
Urge Overkill’s Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon.
Experience watching the film?
Likened to “going down a rabbit hole”.
Controversy?
> Accused of glorifying violence and bloodshed.
> A whopping 429 profanities.
But after all…
> This is Tarantino!
Lines from the film are among:
> Greatest movie insults and threats of all time.
Did you know?
The famous oft-repeated biblical verse recited by Jules was almost entirely invented by Tarantino and Jackson. Only last two lines from Ezequiel 25:17 actually feature.
Above all else, Pulp Fiction is purely top marks for…
ORIGINALITY.
Something often void in Hollywood’s current overwhelming gamut of sequels, prequels and revived storylines milked excessively by Uncle Sam’s so-called leading “creatives”.
Is Pulp Fiction Tarantino’s best?
It has to be seen to be believed.
https://stories.woodwing.com/malaymail-1/4DdDIn9ka47AC6MbtPUiEk
BRING OUT THE PULP FICTION
Words: Jordan Barnes
Let’s make it clear.
If you have never seen Pulp Fiction:
> You are missing out on three hours of the best, unadulterated cinematography in recent history.
It was on this day at Cannes Film Festival, 1994:
> Pulp Fiction was unleashed “with great vengeance and fuh-yurious anger” unto the film world.
At roughly 8:30am, critics witnessed one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time.
> A reputation that would grow into a timeless, cult classic in years to come.
For a measure of just how good Pulp Fiction is...
> Ranks seventh on Internet Movie Database (IMDb) top ranked greatest films.
Not bad for a showpiece where the flawless direction of Quentin Tarantino eclipsed any surrounding controversy.
Timeless?
You can say that.
Critics reaction at the time was majority plaudits for the still fresh-faced Tarantino, an immediate hit two years prior with Reservoir Dogs at Sundance Film Festival.
Follow-up from mostly self-taught filmmaker was masterpiece of “such depth, wit and blazing originality” it pitted him among Hollywood's best.
"Nothing is predictable or familiar within this irresistibly bizarre world." — New York Times
> Starring John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson as pair of deep-thinking mobsters Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield.
> Bruce Willis as boxer and stooge turned on-the-run murderer Butch Coolidge.
> Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace, wife of Vincent and Jules’ boss Marsellus.
> Diner thieves known only as Pumpkin and Honey Bunny.
What made it so ridiculously good?
Reinvented the gangster genre with humour, punchy dialogue and a title inspired from 1950’s neo-noir crime novels.
It struck a force that had an immeasurable impact on pop culture.
The characters:
> Positioned as philosophical gunmen, thugs and criminals.
Lines, scenes, quotes:
> Classic after classic after classic.
Example:
Iconic dance between skagged-up Vince and Mia.
Here’s Tarantino’s explanation:
Try also:
"Zed’s dead, baby." — Butch
'What do they call a quarter pounder (burger) in Paris?'
Soundtrack:
> Classic, unbeatable.
Be it:
Opening credits theme song Misirlou by Dick Dale.
Or:
Urge Overkill’s Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon.
Experience watching the film?
Likened to “going down a rabbit hole”.
Controversy?
> Accused of glorifying violence and bloodshed.
> A whopping 429 profanities.
But after all…
> This is Tarantino!
Lines from the film are among:
> Greatest movie insults and threats of all time.
Did you know?
The famous oft-repeated biblical verse recited by Jules was almost entirely invented by Tarantino and Jackson. Only last two lines from Ezequiel 25:17 actually feature.
Above all else, Pulp Fiction is purely top marks for…
ORIGINALITY.
Something often void in Hollywood’s current overwhelming gamut of sequels, prequels and revived storylines milked excessively by Uncle Sam’s so-called leading “creatives”.
Is Pulp Fiction Tarantino’s best?
It has to be seen to be believed.
https://stories.woodwing.com/malaymail-1/4DdDIn9ka47AC6MbtPUiEk
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