PULP FICTION – The Blu Review

pulp /p lp/ n.
1. A soft, moist, shapeless mass of matter.
2. A magazine or book containing lurid subject matter and being characteristically printed on rough, unfinished paper.

Called “one of the most wanted Blu-ray titles of all time” (IGN) and ranked as such on numerous critics’ lists, Pulp Fiction is “nothing less than a cultural phenomenon” (Moviemaker Magazine). The film was honored with an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay (1994) and earned seven total nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Quentin Tarantino.

A pair of low-rent hit men, Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), are sent out to collect a stolen briefcase for their mob boss employer, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames).  Having proven himself worthy, Wallace then entrusts Vincent to entertain his wife, Mia (Uma Thurman), while he is out of town.  Meanwhile, Wallace has paid off aging boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) to throw his next fight.  The lives of these wildly entertaining characters intertwine with unexpected and violent consequences.

I don’t really think I need to tell you how outstanding this film is. I mean, if you don’t know the beauty that is PULP FICTION… we can’t be friends! So, let’s just jump into the meat and potatoes of the Blu-Ray.

VIDEO:

Holy moly! They did this 1080p transfer  to 2.35:1 film right! This film looks flawless from start to finish! When the film was released on DVD in 2002 there were some issues, but no more. This film is stunning on blu-ray… A real treat for the eyes!

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1

AUDIO:

Mind blowing! This audio will take you on journey! Crisp, clear, directional… everything from the channel separation to the LFE are impressive. Add the already stellar soundtrack and your eardrums are about to have an eargasm!

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

2 New Features:

• “NOT THE USUAL MINDLESS BORING GETTING TO KNOW YOU CHIT CHAT” Interviews With The Cast (43 min): Newly recorded interviews with John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Patricia Arquette and Eric Stoltz. These interviews were really fun to watch. You can really tell that the cast appreciates being apart of such a historic film. The interviews are fun and energetic!
• “HERE ARE SOME FACTS ON THE FICTION” Critics’ Retrospective on the Movie’s Place in Film History (20 min): Roundtables with film critics Elivis Mitchell, Scott Foundas, Stephanie Zacharek, Tim Lucas, and Andy Klein. I really enjoyed the honesty in this piece. Rather than blowing smoke up the viewers… well, you know… these five critics have a frank discussion on the films strengths and weaknesses.

Features Previously Released:

• 2 Behind-The-Scenes Montages “JACK RABBIT SLIMS” and “BUTCH HITS MARSELLUS”
• “PULP FICTION: THE FACTS” Featurette: Although the video quality is terrible, this featurette is worth watching. It contains some interesting stuff, so be patient.
• Production Design Featurette: features Production Designer David Wasco and Set Decorator Sandy Reynolds-Wasco.
• Siskel & Ebert “AT THE MOVIES” – “THE TARANTINO GENERATION” : If you are a Tarantino fan, you will enjoy this episode.
• Independent Spirit Awards Footage: Tarantino being interviewed by a young Michael Moore.
• Cannes Film Festival Footage: The Palme D’Or Acceptance Speech… I’m a fan of Tarantino’s response to the angry woman in the balcony. I don’t know what she is so angry about, but her outburst has been captured on video and re-released for her own embarrassment.
• “THE CHARLIE ROSE SHOW” Tarantino Interview
• Still Galleries, Trailer and TV Spots
• Trivia Track
• 5 Deleted Scenes With Intro’s by Quentin Tarantino: Quick and to the point, Tarantino gives a brief intro to each of the five deleted scenes. I mean, who doesn’t want to hear why these scenes were cut from the man himself?

The one thing missing is an audio commentary, which would have been nice. I can understand why they wouldn’t include it though. Adding commentary now, after all that has been said about this film, would be sort of pointless. Still, it would be an interesting addition for fans. PULP FICTION on Blu-Ray gives viewers a bountiful selection of extras and features. This film has stood the test of time. It’s wit, narrative crime story, and beautiful cinematography are just as relevant and appealing today as it was in 1994, when the film was first released. This is a great addition to any Blu-Ray library!

OVERALL RATING: 4.75 out of 5 stars