directed
by Quentin Tarantino
USA 1994
Quentin Tarantino's second feature, Pulp Fiction, is at once immensely entertaining and remarkably weightless. The film's quintessential scene takes place outside the Jack Rabbit Slim's restaurant when Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) tells Vincent Vega (John Travolta) not to be a "square." Forget the irony (after a ten year acting rut that included three Look Who's Talking films, Pulp Fiction's success made Travolta reputable again), Mia's line could be the film's mantra. Samuel L. Jackson's Jules Winnfield is still Tarantino's most fascinating creation. More than a repository of disposable trivia and smart-alecky responses, Jules embodies the film's surface concern with righteousness and redemption. Tarantino giddily incorporates countless texts (Kiss Me Deadly, Saturday Night Fever and so on) into this farcical noir Frankenstein that, not unlike Shelly's legendary monster, turns on itself by film's end. More important than the film's elegant structure is what the creation represents. Jonathan Rosenbaum summed the film up quite nicely as "a couch potato's paradise." No one in the film can access reality unless they are engaging the many ghosts of noir's past. Godard and countless others did this kind of thing way before Tarantino but Pulp Fiction had such a profound effect on older Gen Xers because it spoke to a newer generation's shared consciousness. This consciousness embodied many things: a fear of penetration (if anything, the film's infamous rape sequence is a frightening reminder of just how subconsciously afraid Tarantino and his heterosexual male fanbase are of their inner-queer) but, more specifically, an infatuation with the movies. When the Wolf (Harvey Keitel) makes Vincent and Jules change clothes, Jimmie (Tarantino) calls them dorks for wearing lame sports t-shirts. By pointing out the articles belong to Jimmie, Tarantino acknowledges his own dorkdom. In turn, it makes him "cool" (not enough though to permit his liberal use of the word "nigger") and a hero to his media-savvy generation. In the end, it's not that Tarantino has no life, it's that his life is the movies. Much like his characters, the director can only live by engaging cinema. Excerpt from Ed Gonzales review in Slant magazine located HERE |
Posters
Theatrical Release: October 14, 1994
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Recommended "Tarantino" Reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
Quentin Tarantino: The Man and His Movies by Jami Bernard |
Quentin Tarantino: Interviews
(Conversations With Filmmakers Series) by Quentin Tarantino, Gerald Peary |
Quentin Tarantino: The Cinema of Cool by Jeff Dawson |
Quentin Tarantino (The Pocket Essentials
Series) by D. K. Holm |
Quentin Tarantino: Shooting from the Hip:
The Biography by Wensley Clarkson |
Tarantino A to Zed: The Films of Quentin
Tarantino by Alan Barnes, Marcus Hearn |
King Pulp: The Wild World of Quentin
Tarantino by Paul A. Woods |
Reservoir Dogs by Quentin Tarantino |
Comparison:
Wild Side Video (France) 3-disc - Region 2 - PAL vs. UFA (Germany) - Region 2- PAL vs. Miramax (2-disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Alliance Atlantis (Canada) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. RCV (Netherlands) - Region 2 - PAL vs. TFI - Region 'B'-locked- Blu-ray vs. Panorama - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Big thanks to Pavel Borodin, Guillaume
and especially Geert Jan Alsem for all the DVD Screen Caps!(Wild Side Video (France) - Region 2- PAL LEFT vs. UFA (Germany) - Region 2- PAL MIDDLE vs. Miramax (Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT)
DVD Box Covers |
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Distribution |
Wild Side Video Region 2 - PAL |
UFA Region 2 - PAL |
Miramax Region 1 - NTSC |
Runtime | 2:28:00 (4% PAL Speedup) | 2:27:50 (4% PAL Speedup) | 2:34:13 |
Video |
2.28:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
2.21:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate:
Wild Side
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Bitrate:
UFA
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Bitrate:
Miramax (Collector's Edition) |
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Audio |
English DTS 5.1, English Dolby Digital 5.1, DUB: French
Dolby Digital 5.1
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English DD 5.1, DUB: German DD 5.1 | English DTS & DD 5.1, DUB: French DD 2.0 Surround |
Subtitles | French (FORCED with English audio) | Forced German with English audio, Turkish, none | English (HoH), Spanish, None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Wild Side Video
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DISC ONE
• The Film
• "Plus De Pulp"
(Explanations & Anecdotes, Feature Film
long - in French only)
• DVD-ROM Features:
• Weblinks
• Jack Rabbit Slim's
Trivia Twist
• Screenplay Viewer
• Open Mic Commentary (in
English only)
• Reviews And Articles
DISC TWO
"Making-Of" (10mins) (in English with FORCED French
Subtitles)
Picture & Poster Galleries
5 Deleted Scenes: (20mins) (in English with FORCED
French Subtitles)
• Quentin Tarantino
Introduction (2mins)
• "The Drug Deal
Monologue" (3mins)
• "Mia Interviewing
Vincent" (5mins)
• "The Esmerelda Cab
Scene" (6mins)
• "Monster Joe's Truck
And Tow" (4mins)
Interviews with the Designer/Decorator (7mins) (in
English with FORCED French Subtitles)
4 Theatrical Trailers
Bonus Trailer:
• "Kill Bill"
Cannes Film Festival - "Palm d'Or Acceptance Speech"
(5mins (in English and French)
"The Tarantino Connection" (Scenes of The Film with
Commentary - in French only)
Charlie Rose Show (55mins) (in English with FORCED
French Subtitles)
"Filming" documentary (31mins) (in English with FORCED
French Subtitles)
Cast And Crew Filmographies (in French only)
TV Spots (in English with FORCED French Subtitles)
DVD-ROM Features:
• Screenplay
• Screensavers
• Wallpapers
• Weblinks (in English
only)
DISC THREE
Audio CD - 5 tracks:
• Al Green
• Kool & The Gang
• Chuck Berry
• Dusty Springfield
• Brothers Johnson
40-Page Collector's Booklet (in French)
Easter eggs:
*DVD Credits: On DISC TWO, select "Autour Du Film",
then press [Up], then [Enter].
*Scene Parody: On DISC TWO, go to the second page of
the filmographies section, then all the way down until
you select the gun and press [Enter].
Chapters 24 |
Release Information: Studio: UFA Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: July 17th, 2000 Chapters 27 |
Release Information: Studio: Miramax Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 26 |
(Alliance Atlantis (Canada) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. RCV (Netherlands) - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND vs. TFI - Region 'B'-locked - Blu-ray - 3rd vs. Panorama - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT
DVD Box Covers |
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Thinking of buying from YesAsia? CLICK HERE and use THIS UPDATED BEAVER PAGE to source their very best... |
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Distribution |
Alliance Atlantis Region 1 - NTSC |
RCV Region 2 - PAL |
TFI Region 'B'-locked - Blu-ray |
Panorama Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 2:34:14 | 2:28:03 (4% PAL speedup) | 2:34:24.088 | 2:34:24.088 |
Video |
2.35:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,749,470,384 bytes Feature: 38,332,047,360 bytesVideo Bitrate: 26.95 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 36,687,833,738 bytesFeature: 36,288,460,800 bytes Video Bitrate: 26.95 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
Bitrate:
Alliance Atlantis (Canada) |
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Bitrate:
RCV (Netherlands) |
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Bitrate:
TFI Blu-ray |
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Bitrate:
Panorama Blu-ray |
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Audio |
English DD 5.1, DUB: French DD 2.0 Surround |
English DTS & DD 5.1 |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1985 kbps 5.1 / 48
kHz / 1985 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) -
forces French subtitles |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1985 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1985
kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB |
Subtitles |
English (HoH), None | Dutch, None | French (mandatory for English dialogue), None | English, Traditional Chinese, None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Alliance Atlantis Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: July 1, 2001 Chapters 26 |
Release Information: Studio: RCV Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: October 16, 2002 Chapters 16 |
Release Information: Studio: TF1 k 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,749,470,384 bytes Feature: 38,332,047,360 bytesVideo Bitrate: 26.95 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Pulp Fiction: The Facts (30:29)
• Siskel and Ebert (15:59)
DVD
Release Date: March 19th, 2009 Chapters 24 |
Release Information: Studio: Panorama k 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 36,687,833,738 bytesFeature: 36,288,460,800 bytes Video Bitrate: 26.95 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
DVD Release Date: February 12th, 2010 Chapters 12 |
Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Panorama Region FREE Blu-ray March 10': Region 'A' again seems to be dragging it's heels on this title in HD. This Hong Kong disc seems to be, a direct port of the French Blu-ray BUT it is region FREE and does not have forced subtitles. It has the exact same video bitrate and exact same kilo bits per second on the DTS-HD track. This can hardly be a coincidence. The feature size differs slightly probably due to the different subtitle options. There are no extras on this Hong Kong Blu-ray but IS region FREE, progressive and looks quite strong. I suggest fans of the film pick this up before it is, potentially, removed from sales distribution. NOTE: There is an Australian Blu-ray available but it is interlaced.
NOTE: Any slight color variance in the two
Blu-ray
captures is probably due to us using a more accurate method than we were
a year ago.
****
ADDITION: TF1 Blu-ray June 09': I'll be brief - great image, great audio, great case - but mandatory French subtitles when English language is chosen. It rules this Blu-ray out for anyone but French people who can't, or don't want to, follow the original English track without the impediment of subtitles. NOTE: Those with some form of macro-blocking device or those who use HTPC may very well be able to avoid the forced French subs. There are some good English extras though with a lot on Tarantino - including an hour of Charlie Rose, a featurette: Pulp Fiction - The Facts and Siskel and Ebert spending 15 minutes on the director and his achievements. I love this case - it's tin that opens like a book but is the same size as a standard Blu-ray case. When my Momitsu couldn't play this when set to region A (meaning it is not region FREE) - I got some hope that it, possibly, wouldn't have forced French subtitles. Unfortunately, not only is it region 'B'-locked - it's also English-unfriendly. There are some other European editions but at present I don't know there language or region code status. Let's just hope that the AV-transfer (dual-layered with the feature taking up almost 40 Gig) is this strong when it finally arrived in Region 'A' (what's the delay?) Gary W. Tooze ****
ON THE DVDs (written in 2004): A quick glance will assure you that the French Wild Side Video release has the best image, but like The Piano, the pristine French release has non-removable French subtitles. It is the sharpest and has strong color balance but has been cropped on both sides... a shade. What a shame! It is in a 3-disc (2 DVDs, 1 CD) Boxset as well - overflowing with extras (some in English). In fact the Wild Side Video edition wins in every category. Audio - the optional French DUB is in 5.1 (as well as DTS and 5.1 English tracks), the menus are inspired and the Extras complete! Of the other releases: The German edition has contrast boosting but has still managed to remain quite sharp, but the manipulation has messed the colors badly... and I notice some edge enhancement.
The Alliance Atlantis is an
old release with inferior video and audio, and is also censored according
to dvdcompare.net. It truly is a shame about the non-removable subs on the Wild Side Video DVD edition, but it has the most effort and expense put into it. For DVD I would get the Dutch edition and 3rd - the Miramax (CE). - Geert Jan Alsem + Gary W. Tooze |
DVD Menus
(Wild Side Video
(France) - Region 2- PAL LEFT vs. UFA (Germany) - Region 2- PAL
MIDDLE vs. Miramax (Collector's Edition) -
Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT)
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(Alliance Atlantis (Canada) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. RCV (Netherlands) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
Apologies - couldn't nab a subtitle screen in the Wild Side or Blu-ray edition!
1) Wild Side Video (France) - Region 2- PAL TOP 2) UFA (Germany) - Region 2- PAL 2nd 3) Miramax (Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd 4) Alliance Atlantis (Canada) - Region 1 - NTSC - 4th 5) RCV (Netherlands) - Region 2 - PAL - 5th 6) TFI - Region 'B'-locked - Blu-ray - 6th7) Panorama - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Screen Captures
1) Wild Side Video (France) - Region 2- PAL TOP 2) UFA (Germany) - Region 2- PAL 2nd 3) Miramax (Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd 4) Alliance Atlantis (Canada) - Region 1 - NTSC - 4th 5) RCV (Netherlands) - Region 2 - PAL - 5th 6) TFI - Region 'B'-locked - Blu-ray - 6th7) Panorama - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Wild Side Video (France) - Region 2- PAL TOP 2) UFA (Germany) - Region 2- PAL 2nd 3) Miramax (Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd 4) Alliance Atlantis (Canada) - Region 1 - NTSC - 4th 5) RCV (Netherlands) - Region 2 - PAL - 5th 6) TFI - Region 'B'-locked - Blu-ray - 6th7) Panorama - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Wild Side Video (France) - Region 2- PAL TOP 2) UFA (Germany) - Region 2- PAL 2nd 3) Miramax (Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd 4) Alliance Atlantis (Canada) - Region 1 - NTSC - 4th 5) RCV (Netherlands) - Region 2 - PAL - 5th 6) TFI - Region 'B'-locked - Blu-ray - 6th7) Panorama - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Wild Side Video (France) - Region 2- PAL TOP 2) UFA (Germany) - Region 2- PAL 2nd 3) Miramax (Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd 4) Alliance Atlantis (Canada) - Region 1 - NTSC - 4th 5) RCV (Netherlands) - Region 2 - PAL - 5th 6) TFI - Region 'B'-locked - Blu-ray - 6th7) Panorama - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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More Panorama
Blu-ray captures
Report Card:
DVD Box Covers |
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Thinking of buying from YesAsia? CLICK HERE and use THIS UPDATED BEAVER PAGE to source their very best... |
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Distribution |
Alliance Atlantis Region 1 - NTSC |
RCV Region 2 - PAL |
TFI Region 'B'-locked - Blu-ray |
Panorama Region FREE - Blu-ray |
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Gary Tooze
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Many Thanks...