MovieChat Forums > Pulp Fiction (1994) Discussion > Were we supposed to take this movie LITE...

Were we supposed to take this movie LITERALLY and SERIOUSLY?

posted 8 months ago by TheMan18 (12675)
16 replies | jump to latest

Or, even in its occasional flashes of dark macabre (even if still - black comedy), most notably the notorious store scene, were we meant to treat it all as dark satire and black comedy and at times just an adult or otherwise comedy, in general?

Particularly with, besides the aforementioned scene (and how it seemingly came out of nowhere etc) and its results, scenes of drug taking, loads of foul language, saving Uma Thurman from a drug overdose in a somewhat questionable manner, shooting that man accidentally in a car and other things here and there.

What do we think, thanks.

[–] blindfolded (1562) 7 months ago

Honest to God don't understand your question.

[–] davodikum (6000) 7 months ago

It's rambling 'disguised' as a question. I feel like the emcee in Billy Madison after reading that.

[–] blindfolded (1562) 7 months ago

🤣

[–] stickman38 (3026) 7 months ago

There is nothing in this film that would indicate it's a comedy. That being said, you can still find humor in many films, I recently re-watched that Matt Damon film, Downsizing and although it's not a comedy, I find it to be one of the funniest films to come out between 2010 and 2020.

I like to call it unintentional humor. Some scenes are just funny, but I don't find this in Pulp Fiction. It's a pretty serious film and one of the best crime dramas I've ever seen. Very good piece of film here... I would highly recommend it to anyone that likes gangster films or just good crime films.

[–] Ranb (7790) 7 months ago

I think much of a dialog was written to be intentionally hilarious. Just about everything that comes out of Winston Wolf's mouth is very funny. The repartee between Jules and Vincent before they murder Brett is just as funny. But your mileage may vary.

[–] stickman38 (3026) 6 months ago

I can see what you mean by the dialogue being humorous, Ranb. But technically speaking, the movie is not a comedy, not even black comedy.

I do think the film is supposed to be taken seriously. But you are right, some of the dialogue is funny.

[–] KingBob (559) 5 months ago

You do know there's a difference between having comic relief and being a comedy?

[–] Ranb (7790) 5 months ago

Yes I do. This would be a violent comedy film. It follows two incompetent hitmen who work for a man that is a poor judge of character and allows an over the hill boxer to take advantage of him.

[–] KingBob (559) 5 months ago

Ok just making sure you knew the difference.

[–] AP (5260) 7 months ago

I’m not sure how a movie is taken literally. We are supposed to take it seriously just like any other movie, regardless of his humor.

[–] Seperatrix (1096) 7 months ago

" . . . the notorious store scene . . . and how it seemingly came out of nowhere . . . its results . . . [the] scenes of drug taking, loads of foul language, saving Uma Thurman from a drug overdose in a somewhat questionable manner, shooting that man accidentally in a car and other things here and there."

Why . . . you just gave a great example of what the term "pulp fiction" refers to in storytelling.

Come to think of it, the film gives a definition in the beginning.

There's your answer.

[–] BKB (6979) 5 months ago

I think the movie was meant to be over the top and it was and it was definitely an adult dark comedy. I'd say that's an accurate assumption..

[–] Saenzwa9 (471) 5 months ago

I couldn't take the pawnshop scene seriously at all. Two rednecks decide to rape the black dude while leaving Bruce Willis in the hands of some kind of retarded sex slave gimp then Willis kills the one redneck with a samurai sword while the other one is pegging Ving Rhames up the butt. Ving gets up and shoots the other dude in the nuts with a shotgun. They make peace, so to speak, and Bruce drives a chopper away. The first time I saw it, I was like, what the hell did I watch!?

[–] Mortificator (20) 5 months ago

It goes to show you never can tell.

[–] Tongue (449) 4 months ago

Yeah I’m honestly confused as to why people think this movie is so amazing …? Don’t get me wrong it’s an entertaining movie but grossly overhyped . An 8.9?! Really?

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7488) 5 months ago

You lost all credibility when you said the store scene came out of nowhere. If you actually watched it, it'd make sense.