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Pulp Fiction 4K Steelbook Review

“Pulp Fiction” is simply one of the best films.

Having reviewed movies for a long, long time now, there aren’t many movies that turn the movie industry on its head or indeed upend your cinematic world. “Pulp Fiction” is one of those movies. It’s the kind of special cinematic experience you chase but rarely find. Not only did “Pulp Fiction” firmly usher in a new filmmaking legend with Quentin Tarantino (who has already wowed with “Reservoir Dogs” previously), but it played with narrative structure in unique ways. It’s anthological and contains interconnected stories about 2 hitmen (Jules and Vincent), Vincent and Marsellus Wallace’s wife Mia, a boxer (Butch) on the run from a crime boss (Marsellus Wallace) and a couple (Pumpkin and Honey Bunny) robbing a restaurant where Jules and Vincent are at, but it jumps around in time depending on whose story we’re seeing. “Pulp Fiction” is nothing if not about perspective.

Noted cinema expert Tarantino also breathed life into the neo-noir genre by giving viewers a criminal underworld story unlike any other (with the help of story co-creator Roger Avary). Whether hitmen are discussing fast food or Jules is talking about divine intervention, there’s a wide range of ideas and discussions here. There are no standard stock characters or crime character tropes here. That is a testament to Tarantino’s writing. He also happens to write dialogue unlike anyone else. He can be in love with his own words a bit too much at times in other works, but in my humble opinion, he was at his best here with a script that has become endlessly quotable since its release in 1994. He can make you laugh and he can shock you with violence at the drop of a hat. You just never know where his story will go. 

The cast here is also perfection. It’s no secret that John Travolta’s career was resurrected with his Vincent Vega performance. He gives one of his all-time best performances. Samuel L. Jackson is an acting legend through and through but he also is at the top of his game here as Jules Winnfield. His chemistry with Travolta couldn’t be better. Outside of that, there’s so many memorable roles here by the likes of Uma Thurman (Mia Wallace), Tim Roth (Pumpkin) and Amanda Plummer (Honey Bunny), Ving Rhames (Marsellus Wallace) and, of course, Bruce Willis as Butch. It’s the type of movie where everyone gets to shine. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.35:1 2160p With HDR-10 and Dolby Vision. How does it look? It’s an upgrade over the Blu-ray but not the type of archival release that will blow you away like “Singin’ In The Rain” or “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? There’s no audio update here from the Blu-ray but the 5.1 track is very clean.

Extras (On the Blu-ray unless otherwise noted):
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* Enhanced trivia track (on the Blu-ray and 4K)
* “Here Are Some Facts On The Fiction” (on the Blu-ray 4K)- An archival round table discussion about “Pulp Fiction” hosted by Elvis Mitchell.
* “Not The Usual Mindless Boring Getting To Know You Chit Chat” (on the Blu-ray 4K)- A collection of interviews with the cast talking about meeting Tarantino.
* 5 deleted scenes with a Tarantino intro.
* Production design featurette
* Behind the scenes photos, special photo shoots, production stills and location scouting and set construction, production design and logos, and props and memorabilia still galleries.
* Soundtrack chapters
* “Jackie Brown” and “Reservoir Dogs” trailers and US, UK, German, Japanese and French theatrical trailers for “Pulp Fiction” along with 13 TV spots for ‘Pulp.’
* “Pulp Fiction” posters and Academy Award campaign and trade ads.
* Tarantino’s appearance on “The Charlie Rose Show” and Independent Spirit Awards and his acceptance speech at the Cannes Film Festival Palme D’Or ceremony.
* “Siskel And Ebert At The Movies- The Tarantino Generation” show.
* Behind the scenes montages for Jack Rabbit Slim’s and Butch Hits Marsellus.
* “Pulp Fiction: The Facts- Documentary”- A half-hour special on how the film got made along with behind-the-scenes stories. 

December 3, 2022 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Pulp Fiction, Pulp Fiction 4K Review, Pulp Fiction 4K Steelbook Review, Quentin Tarantino, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman