289 of 1001 Movies: Pulp Fiction (1994)

Filmed in Los Angles, this movie is an epic, long, dark, and comedic ride. With a lower budget than one might expect, Tarantino took this film and wired into his dream. This movie seems like Reservoir Dogs 2.0. I do like Pulp Fiction though, and while a controversial director, I think Tarantino ranks as one of my favorites officially now, since I can't think of a movie I've disliked from him. I've so far loved them.

Summary: Three stories are featured that are all connected. The first follows Vincent, a hit man for the mobster Marsellus. After fulfilling a hit, he is asked to take Marsellus' wife out, Mia. An accidental drug overdose sends their evening into a tail spin though.
The next story is about Butch. who has accepted a large sum of money from Marsellus to take a dive in his next match. After he wins though he takes off with the money that he has won. The getaway for Butch is filled with chaos, and unexpected violent events.
The last part of the movie is about Jules, who does hits with Vincent for Marsellus. The hit that the movie begins and ends with changes Jules life after he believes a miracle has happened.

This is one of the most ambitious movies I've seen. I enjoyed it, but it doesn't place above some of my other favorite Tarantino movies like Inglorious Basterds or Kill Bill Vol. 1. The movie has great direction, but I love the directness of the others better.

The most memorable aspect of the movie is the interaction between Vincent and Jules. John Travolta has one of his most memorable and signature performance as Vincent. I haven't seen Travolta in a lot, but this showed his range. There is also Samuel L. Jackson as Jules. Between these two a lot of awkward and dark comedy ensues. I don't know how I feel about laughing out loud at some of their scenes together.

If only Uma Thurman could always score roles as she does in Tarantino movies. Tarantino always writes unique and catchy female roles. Thurman brings to life the mysterious nature of the females' he writes, and it sets them apart from many feminine roles in movies I've seen. Thurman's character Mia is no different, and I don't think anyone else could have brought this character to life.

I wish there would have been more of her character in the movie. It would have been extended by another hour, but it might have been worth it. I was so curious about the life she led as the life of a wife of a mobster in this setting. There are other noticeable faces though like Bruce Willis as Butch. This is one of the few Willis roles I've enjoyed. I'm still not sold on Willis, because it was more so the writing that carried it, but he brought it to life well in a suiting character for him.

Pulp Fiction is a classic and a stand out for the time of 1994. It doesn't scream that it's a 90's movie, and it intentionally looks ahead of it's time. It throws in random elements like the 50's restaurant and dance scene with 70's inspired music to transform the time into one that transcends over generations.

232 of 1001 Movies: Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Quentin Tarantino has created some classics in Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds, and Django Unchained is destined to be one as well. One of his other popular movies is Reservoir Dogs, which is basically the beginning of Tarantino movies as we know it. There is plenty of gore, foul language, and oddly dark humor thrown into the surrounding death at the moment. It's also quite short at around an hour and a thirty minute run. It builds though with good character development, and a lot of twists by the end.

Summary: Six criminals are chosen for a heist, and they are assigned undercover names that are colors to go by. Joe Cabot doesn't want them to grow attached to each other, and feels hiding their identities will help. He wants them to complete a jewelry heist, but things go really bad when the police are there upon their arrival. now the remaining guys who have survived are trying to figure out who set them up to get caught, and they determine that the guy who did was probably working with them the entire time.

Saturday Movies: Django Unchained (2012)

The only two movies I have seen so far from Quentin Tarantino, and it has made me very excited about seeing future movies from him as well. Django Unchained though follows much in the footsteps of Inglorious Basterds though as far as seeking revenge and featuring lots of gore. There is something not only visually stunning about his movies though, but he also features really likable characters. There are shots of the settings in the movie that are breathtaking.

Dr. King Schultz is looking for Django and when he finds him he enlist his help to find three brothers that he has a bounty on. This pulls Django into the bounty hunter business. Django though wants to find his wife, and Schutlz gets to know Django he wants to help him. The search for Django's wife, Broomhilda, leads them to the plantation of Calvin Candie. He own one of the biggest plantations in Mississippi, and runs it ruthlessly. After arriving there though they still have to find the location of her on a huge plantation and think of a way to get her out.