Pulp Fiction: Collector's Edition

Writing in VL-9/95, I said: "Bad boy auteur Quentin Tarantino (who, for my money, still displays more cleverness than art) hit a $107 million grand slam at the box office in this violent comic book story of three interwoven tales. John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson steal the show as Elmore Leonard-type dumb hit men who keep a running banter of funny small talk going throughout the film, with a laconic Bruce Willis as a boxer paid to throw a fight (who--surprise--comes up with a better idea), and Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer as small-time armed robbery psychopups." Since writing this some seven years ago, Pulp Fiction went on to become not just one of the most important films of the '90s, but--in many respects--the iconic film of the '90s; Walt Whitman's barbaric yawp writ large on the big screen indie scene. Miramax's double-disc set features a solid transfer and Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 sound options on the film itself, as well as a slew of extras, including: the 30-minute documentary "Pulp Fiction: The Facts," an insightful 55-minute interview with Tarantino on The Charlie Rose Show, five deleted scenes, a 16-minute special Siskel & Ebert episode devoted to Tarantino, and more, including text reviews and articles. A dynamite extras package coupled with a landmark film, Pulp Fiction: Collector's Edition is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Oct. 11, 2011—Lionsgate, 154 min., R, $19.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1994's Pulp Fiction sports a great transfer and features a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Blu-ray extras include an episode from The Charlie Rose Show with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino (56 min.), “Not the Usual Mindless Boring Getting to Know You Chit Chat” retrospective interviews with cast and crew including John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Tim Roth (43 min.), a vintage production featurette (30 min.), deleted scenes (25 min.), the critics' roundtable “Here Are Some Facts on the Fiction” (21 min.), the Siskel & Ebert: At the Movies segment “The Tarantino Generation” (16 min.), an interview with Tarantino at the Independent Spirit Awards (11 min.), two behind-the-scenes montages (11 min.), a production design featurette (6 min.), Tarantino's acceptance speech from the Cannes Film Festival (6 min.), a trivia track, and a stills and marketing gallery. Bottom line: a contemporary classic makes a winning debut on Blu-ray.]