Pulp Fiction

Pulp Fiction movie poster

I have heard a lot about the movie Pulp Fiction, but have never watched it. For this blog, I figured that would be the obvious option, as I have wanted to see it for a long time.
Going into it knowing absolutely nothing about the movie, it proved to be extremely interesting. I guess maybe I'm more accustomed to the action genres, and that is why I found it a bit odd. In terms of a summary of this movie, I can honestly say that I am not quite sure where to begin an explanation. Bear with me here, folks.

The movie opens with a couple talking in a diner. Eventually, they just decide to rob the diner and terrorize everyone there eating, what I am sure, was a delicious breakfast. It then cuts to two hitmen, Jules and Vincent, talking in a car on their way to retrieve a br

iefcase from someone named Brett, at the request of their boss Marsellus Wallace. Jules and Vincent arrive at Brett's home and confront him and two other men about the briefcase. After a lot of dialogue about hamburgers between the five men, Jules goes into a long-winded speech about the Bible. He even goes as far to quote a popular verse from Ezekiel, before finally shooting Brett and escaping with Vincent with the briefcase in hand.

Vincent and Jules, doing what they do best. 

The scene cuts to a boxer, named Butch, and Marsellus discussing Butch's upcoming boxing match. Marsellus offers Butch a great deal of money to throw the match, and Butch accepts. Vincent and Jules show up and deliver the briefcase to their boss. After the exchange, Marsellus asks Vincent to distract his wife and take her out during the night of the boxing match, so Vincent, ever loyal to his boss, goes and does just that. But not before purchasing some heroin and shooting it up.
Once I saw the following scene, I realized this is the scene. The scene where Uma Thurman (who plays Marsellus' wife, Mia) and John Travolta (Vincent) have a dance off in a neat 50's diner. That's basically all that's notable in this scene. I mean, there's literally a song called "Uma Thurman" with the lyrics "she wants to dance like Uma Thurman...". Oh, and after Vincent and Mia eat and dance at the diner, Mia finds Vincent's heroin, mistakes it for cocaine, and snorts it. And almost dies. THEN Vincent revives her by stabbing her in the heart with a shot of adrenaline.
WOW. I can say with ease that I wasn't expecting that one.

The scene

After these intense few scenes, the audience has the opportunity to take a breath. Next up, we see a man approaching a young Butch and talking to him about a gold watch that has been in his family for generations. The man gives Butch the watch to keep. We then cut to the boxing arena, where Butch is fleeing from the fight. He goes back to a motel where he and his girlfriend are staying to hide out, they spend some time together, and all is well. Until Butch realizes that his girlfriend forgot the watch. He becomes enraged, throws the motel TV across the room, and then apologizes profusely for his actions. Good man. He goes to his apartment to retrieve the watch, and realizes that there's someone in his apartment. It's Vincent. Naturally, he shoots him. Because that's just how this movie is.
Butch is leaving his apartment and is stopped at a light, where he sees Marsellus. Marsellus recognizes him and follows Butch, shooting at him all the while, until Butch reaches a sketchy Pawn Shop where he seeks refuge. Marsellus follows him there, and the Pawn Shop owner and a security guard take them hostage and a lot of disgusting actions take place. Butch ends up getting free, saves Marsellus, and they both leave, agreeing to never speak of what just occurred at the shop. Butch picks up his girlfriend and they flee town.
Confusingly, it cuts to Vincent and Jules after they kill Brett. Another man pops out of the bathroom and shoots at both of them, missing every time. On the way back, Vincent 'accidentally' shoots one of Brett's associates in the face (how do you accidentally shoot someone?), and they call in some extra help to cover the murder.
Vincent and Jules then go to a coffee shop for breakfast, seemingly the same one at the very beginning of the movie, and discuss the events that just took place. Jules takes this opportunity to tell Vincent that he wants to retire. Vincent is upset by this and goes off to the bathroom. Our two friends from the beginning of the movie who decide to shoot everyone in the diner appear, making the sequence of events in this movie even more confusing. The male confronts Jules, takes his wallet, and questions him about the briefcase he has with him, showing obvious interest in it. Jules, his gun pointed to the robber, shows him the inside of the briefcase, and orders him to sit down while Jules rambles for ten minutes. Vincent comes back at some point to help back up Jules. Jules decides to give the man $1,500 and walks away with Vincent with the briefcase in hand.

A quote from the song "Uma Thurman" by Fall Out Boy

This movie was crazy. It was extremely difficult to follow the chain of events, but I got the hang of it around halfway through that it was not in chronological order. This movie is different from any other I have ever seen and I enjoyed the change of sequence of events. It made the movie have a fresh feel and had you paying attention to everything that was going on. If the plot unfolded any other way, it would have had a very different effect. It may have actually been a bit boring. Personally, on a scale I would give this movie about a B+. I really liked the way the story unfolded, but it made it just a bit confusing at times to understand precisely what was going on.
Overall, though, I'm glad I chose Pulp Fiction to watch. It was interesting and, while a bit odd at times, an entertaining movie to watch. I will definitely be viewing it again to really appreciate the full story.