Pulp Fiction (30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition): 4K UHD Review
Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film Pulp Fiction is arguably one of the most impactful releases of the decade. It remains one of my favorite titles in the director’s filmography. In December 2022, Paramount debuted the classic film on 4K UHD (My review here). Now for its’ 30th anniversary, we get a limited-edition collector’s release.
Tarantino skillfully weaves through connected storylines that revolve around hitmen Vincent (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson), a boxer named Butch (Bruce Willis) and Marsellus (Ving Rhames) a gangster that he has gotten himself in trouble with. There is also Marsellus’ wife Mia (Uma Thurman) who has a night with Vincent that nearly takes her life. While all these characters are important to the story, Pulp Fiction has always felt to me like Vincent and Jules story. Tarantino also put together an incredible supporting cast that included Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Rosanna Arquette, Eric Stoltz, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken and Harvey Keitel.
While there is probably no such thing as a “perfect movie”, I will say Pulp Fiction comes very close. Nearly three decades later, Tarantino’s masterpiece is just as spellbinding now as it was up its’ theatrical release. Paramount Pictures gives us a new 2160p presentation with Dolby Vision. This is a huge improvement over the Blu-ray that was included in my 2012 Tarantino XX Collection. While that set has been an important piece in my collection, the new 4K presentation is quite superior. A perfect example would be the fictitious Jackrabbit Slim’s 50’s style restaurant where Vincent and Mia enjoy a milkshake, vanilla Coke and a dance competition. The colorful set simply pops off the screen. As for the audio, we get the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 from the Blu-ray. If you loved how the Blu-ray sounded (I know I did), then you should be fine with it here as well.
In all honesty, if you already own the 2022 4K release, I can’t really recommend going for this new edition. However, for the hardcore Tarantino fans, this makes for a wonderful gift this holiday season. While you do get the same 4K and Blu-ray disks included in the prior release with no additional bonus features, there are some cool additions included in the packaging, like a new slipcover with pop-up artwork, lobby card reproductions, photography select sheet, and decals. The pop-up artwork being one of my favorite additions.
4K Ultra HD Bonus Features:
- Not the Usual Mindless Boring Getting to Know You Chit Chat
- Here are Some Facts on the Fiction
- Enhanced Trivia Track (subtitle file)
Blu-ray Bonus Features:
- Not the Usual Mindless Boring Getting to Know You Chit Chat
- Here Are Some Facts on the Fiction
- Pulp Fiction: The Facts – Documentary
- Deleted Scenes
- Behind the Scenes Montages
- Production Design Featurette
- Siskel & Ebert “At the Movies”- The Tarantino Generation
- Independent Spirit Awards
- Cannes Film Festival – Palme d’Or Acceptance Speech
- Charlie Rose Show
- Marketing Gallery
- Still Galleries
- Enhanced Trivia Track (text on feature)
- Soundtrack Chapters (index points in feature)
By: Marc Ferman
