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| Pulp Fiction (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The first time I went to see Pulp Fiction (1994) in the theater I left at the end feeling confused and even a bit angry. I had heard so much about this film prior to seeing it that I was expecting to be blown away by it. As the days passed I kept thinking about the film. This is always a sign to me that the film was better than I thought and it needed repeated viewings for me to fully understand. So I went back to the theater to see it again. There are not many films that I am willing to go to the theater more than once to see.
I have seen this film many times since and have gained a great appreciation for what Tarantino did with the film. The story is presented in an unorthodox timeline that is confusing on first viewing. There are a series of vignettes and interconnected stories that at times seem to be unconnected. The film is multilayered with an array of interesting characters. The end result is a film that is almost dreamlike in a sense. There is a certain surrealism and absurdity to much of the movie.
Tarantino's clever manipulation of time and story is considered gimmicky by some, but I think it has an element of creative genius. Pulp Fiction has been highly influential while Tarantino has established himself as a screenwriter and director of great significance in the world of film entertainment. Violent? Yes, but in a crazy sort of way not unlike the violence in the films of David Lynch.
This is not a film for everyone, but those who can deal with a bit of roughness in a film can handle this one easily. There are far more violent and gruesome films out there. It's mature entertainment, but not particularly offensive by general standards. For those who can deal with the thematic material in this film, this is a film that can bear repeated viewings.
Have you seen Pulp Fiction? If so, did the film confuse you? Do you like movies where events are presented out of the sequence of the actual story timeline?
