Sunday, August 28, 2005

"Oh Man, I shot Marvin in the face."

Pulp Fiction, is one of my all time favorite movies & the scene where Vincent accidentally blows Marvin's face off is my favorite. I also like when Jules' says, "This IS a tasty burger!" I've probably watched Pulp Fiction more than any other movie. Aside from being hilarious, I always find something I missed before.

If you like Pulp Fiction like I do, you'll enjoy this. If you don't like the movie, there is a remote possibility you may enjoy this post (minute possibility). If you're just curious, at the bottom is a test to see which character you'd play on Pulp Fiction. I've also listed all of the credit links at the bottom.

BRIEFCASE-One of the things that has me the most enthralled is the briefcase & the what makes it glow from within. Below I've listed various theories I've come across & then, finally, Tarentino gives his 2 cents.

1) Much has to do with the famous briefcase which belongs to Marcellus Wallace, and which Jules and Vincent capture in the apartment. We never see its contents, which emits a golden glow. There have been countless theories about what's in it but we'll never know. What we can notice is that the combination is "666" -- the sign of Satan. That's led to speculation that the Band-Aid on the back of Marcellus' neck conceals the number "666." Is Marcellus the devil? (Yeah and I'm Beyonce's identical twin)

2) The most persistent theory is that it is Marcellus Wallace's soul. The story goes that when the Devil takes a person's soul, it is removed through the back of the head (this isn't part of any known religion, but this is what the message board posters say). When we see the back of Marcellus's head he has a Band-Aid covering the precise spot indicated by tradition for soul removal. Perhaps Marcellus sold his soul to the devil which would also explain why the combination to open the briefcase is 666. (This is what I vote for)

*Quentin Tarantino has said that the band-aid on the back of Marsellus Wallace's neck had nothing to do with an allusion to the Devil stealing Marsellus's soul... but that the actor Ving Rhames had a scar on the back of his neck he wanted to cover up. (Right Quentin)

-In a radio interview with Howard Stern in late 2003, Quentin Tarantino was asked by a caller the contents of the briefcase, and he answered, "It's whatever the viewer wants it to be." (Oh Blah friggidy Blah)

JULES THE BIBLICAL SCHOLAR: Jules' says he's quoting Ezekiel 25:17, which says: "And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them."

But what Jules' is actually quoting is part Psalms 23, and then the rest from the Book of Jules: "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides with the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and good will shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon those with great vengeance and with furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers." (You tell 'em Jules!)

TRIVIA:
On the films less significant side, there are also many secrets to discover:
-In Jack Rabbit Slim's, for example, the waiter playing Buddy Holly (Steve Buscemi) was Mr. Pink in QT's "Reservoir Dogs."
-Three other cast members from "RD" (Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel and Tarantino) are also in "PF."
-There is a Vic Vega in "RD," perhaps related to Vincent Vega
-The innocent bystander shot by Marsellus Wallace is the same actor pulled out of her car by Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs (1992).
-The Big Kahuna burger was also eaten in the movie From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) and first appeared in Reservoir Dogs (1992).
-Butch smokes "Red Apple" cigarettes. The same brand is smoked by Tim Roth's character in Four Rooms (1995).
-The book that Vincent reads is "Modesty Blaise", by 'Peter O'Donnell (I)' . In that book, a killer indulges in a Biblical rant very similar to that of Samuel L. Jackson's character
-Butch smokes "Red Apple" cigarettes. The same brand is smoked by Tim Roth's character in Four Rooms (1995).
-The word "fuck" is used 271 times
-When Vincent and Lance are attempting to give Mia the adrenaline injection, the board games "Operation" and "Life" are visible in the background
-Every time Vincent goes to the bathroom, something "bad" happens. (A Freudian slip?)

http://www.pyrrha.org/pulp/
http://www.moviemistakes.com/film1025 << 47 mistakes in the movie
http://www.godamongdirectors.com/tarantino/faq/secrets.html << Secrets of 'Pulp Fiction' (5/95) by Roger Ebert
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/trivia << trivia

Please come back & leave a comment about what Pulp Fiction Character you are. In case you're wondering, I'm

It has to be YOUR way. When it isn't, you panic, but hold your ground. You keep your gun pointed and trigger finger ready, but you'd never really hurt anyone. Though you like being tough, feeling control, you often enjoy blending in and being part of the ordinary human race.

Take the What Pulp Fiction Character Are You? quiz.

posted by jane at 2:45 AM