SmarksDVD
new logo coming soon...we promise

[ A-M ] [ N -Z ] [ SmarkForum]

Why do Americans find Canada so freakin’ appealing? Is it the phenomenal currency exchange rate? The European flair without the pretentious overtones? Or the wonder that is Canadian Violence ( (C) Scott Keith)? Maybe, just maybe, it’s the sweet DVD releases that we here in the states need to sell our souls to Ebay to get.

Before I rant, let’s get done with the introductory stuff:

Synopsis:

Honestly, if you don’t know the plot synopsis to Pulp Fiction, you should probably just bludgeon yourself to death now. Or, if a messy death isn’t your cup of tea, you can read on.

When we get to the opening shot, there are two low-lifes, Pumpkin (Tim Roth), and Honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer). They sit talking about the pros and cons about robbing liquor and convenience stores. Then, in a flash of inspiration, they rob the diner that they’ve just finished having breakfast in

After the credits (and Dick Dale’s sweet “Miserlou.”) we go to Jules (Samuel L. Jackson, the mother of all bad-ass muthafuckas everywhere) and Vincent (an extremely doughy John Travolta). Their conversation revolves around the hash bars of Amsterdam, and what they call Quarter Pounder hamburgers in Parisian McDonald’s. (If you haven’t heard this dialogue exchange, then you REALLY need to get out of the house more!). We learn that they are on their way to a hit, and we hear more remarks about foot massages and a half black/half Samoan (who’s name isn’t Duane Johnson). They then bust into the targeted apartment, Jules makes more conversation about hamburgers before whipping out the most cold-blooded statement this side of “Once again we learn that there is nothing you can possess that I cannot take away,” a passage from Ezhekiel 3:16 (

“The path of the righteous….”).

I just want to take a minute to mention that, by this point in the movie, I was won over as director Quentin Tarantino’s biggest fan. There is a certain coolness to his dialogue (the pop culture references, the snappy answers to straight forward questions) as well as a need for the characters on the screen feel the need to present themselves in a proper fashion. There is a moment, before Jules and Vincent bust into the apartment where they realize that they are a little early for the hit. They go off into the hallway to “get into character” and further discuss the intricacies of massaging a woman’s feet.

We then cut to Butch, (Bruce Willis) a boxer who has just agreed to throw a fight to mob boss Marsallis Wallace (Ving Rahmes). Again, more classy dialogue about the sting of pride. At the same time, Vincent is prepping to take Marsallis’ wife Mia (Uma Thurman) out while the boss is away on business. Needless to say, the date goes from good (winning a dance contest and drinking five dollar milkshakes) to bad (Mia almost dying of a heroin overdose). Without saying too much (this review IS supposed to make you want to go get this movie, remember?), the whole thing ends in one of the single most nerve-racking scene ever to appear on film.

Does Butch throw the fight? Do Pumpkin and Honey Bunny live like fat pigs in Mexico with the spoils from the diner? Does Vincent go into a Dutch Burger King? BUY THE DVD BITCHES!!!!

What makes this movie great is that it’s the death of the Three Act Structure. The movie’s timeline does not start with beginning, middle, and end, but from the end, into the beginning, and back to the middle. Mind you, it’s not for the easily offended, nor for the folks who can’t follow a story without everything being drawn out for you.

With that said, what makes the Canadian release of Pulp Fiction so much better than the US release? You need not look any further than the Special Features on the back of the case. The crappy Miramax US release offers “French Audio” as it’s sole Special Feature (why anybody would put Widescreen as a feature when it’s pretty much standard on all disks is beyond me!). The US Sell-Through VHS version has more features, including 2 cut scenes. The Canadian version has not only the French Audio, but Spanish as well, 4 Cut scenes (which were cut for a reason, mind you!) with introductions from Quentin Tarantino. About 6 trailers (check out the Japanese trailer!), and, as always, is in the Widescreen format. And not to worry, because it is a Region 1 disk and is compatible with all North American players. I’m already looking for a cooler edition of Swingers now, since the American release of that sucks more ass than Pulp Fiction.

Where can you get this disk? Well, if you’re living in the land of the Maple Leaf, your finer video retailers should have it. Otherwise, start combing Ebay, baby! There are a lot of Dutch auctions (where there is no bid, just a certain quantity of the title with a set price) that should be offering it.

I highly recommend the disk, the movie, the whole F’n show! Let me know what you think about my review or if you want to compare notes at aldesisto322@yahoo.com!