Pulp Fiction Review: The Movie is Fiction, the Hype is Real.

Pulp Fiction is easily one of the most recognizable and infamous films, especially of the last decade or so. But why? So many times I've been asked "What makes Pulp Fiction so fantastic?"

I'll tell you what.

Pulp Fiction features such an array of genre-blending moments and set pieces to keep you interested, simply on the brink of delving into its real prowess. It's all too easy to remember "that one scene," and anyone and everyone will recognize it and join in your reminiscing. From Jackrabbit Slim's to Dead Nigger Storage, Pulp Fiction relies heavily on quirkiness and offbeat, dark and satirical comedy and does so masterfully. He creates his own universe, as he does with most of his works, giving him free reign to do things as he pleases. One of the reasons people even watch movies is to escape the reality of our world, and placing a story in a totally fictional environment yet still believable is just what most people will love in any movie, especially this one. Thurman, Travolta, Walken, Jackson and Willis all give lasting, memorable performances in the film; it also created possible career-making roles for Thurman and Jackson. Travolta's career was completely revamped due to this masterpiece (on the list of the American Film Institute's top 100 American films of all time), and had it not been for this Fiction of the Pulp variation, we may not see him around as much.

Good or bad as that may be, Pulp Fiction still sets itself as the iconic 90's noir film. It takes elements from several different cinematic sources and blends them ever so perfectly, creating a visceral experience not by sight, not by sound, but by involvement. The tangled web the plot weaves seems to go in circles at times, which you would think would be a negative aspect of it, but toward the end, everything is wrapped nice and neat with a bloody Tarantino bow on top. In essence, Pulp Fiction sets in all this uneasiness and mystery with the story as a whole, and the pay off at the end is so gratifying, playing off itself. Yes, by the time Pulp Fiction reaches its end, it has enough material to play off itself. Simply put, that's genius, and leave it to a masterful director such as Tarantino to pull it off exquisitely.

Pulp Fiction is half comedy, half noir-gangster drama, but all clever. Each character is easily up for a "favorite" from the film itself (or Tarantino's repertoire) just because they're so damn interesting and leveled. The dialogue, although pointless at times, is spot-on hilarious. When you can make a cheeseburger sound infinitely more interesting than murder, you've got a real gem on your hands. This is also just one of those films that is impossible to overrate; too many times have I ranted and raved about a film I thought was nearly flawless, only to show someone and have them say "it wasn't THAT good." That's quite the bullet to the chest for a reviewer or any real film person, for that matter. But Pulp Fiction stands the test of time itself and is still such a fun experience, no amount of reverence can offshoot someone's personal expectations for it.

Those who don't enjoy Pulp Fiction will probably just not get it. It's like telling a multi-layered joke to someone who smirks just because the rest of the group is hysterically bursting out in laughter. Pulp Fiction retains elements of drama, self-reflection, revenge, physical comedy, involving dialogue, memorable set pieces and a fantastic overall performance by the entire cast. Why Pulp Fiction didn't win Best Picture in 1994 is beyond me. If it hadn't at least been nominated, there would probably have been a heavy revolt and retaliation against the Academy.

To this day, there's nary a film to match Pulp Fiction's level of sophisticated comedy and plot machinations. There's simply been too many copies are cash-ins due to Pulp's success, and mockery is the most sincere form of flattery. Pulp Fiction is, to this day, Quentin Tarantino's tour de force of filmmaking. Yes, all of his directed films are par for the course, but it is this shining, early brilliance that established him as one of Hollywood's highest ranking directors.

The rare 10/10.

-Kyle Shelton