Favorite Tarantino Film

[Nightscape]

What is your favorite Tarantino film?  If possible, please explain.

[prometheus]

Ying Xiong 


(For some reason he was credited on this movie in the west, probably in an promotion attempt. But he actually has nothing to do with the creation of the movie.)

[xvimbi]

It's a pity you didn't invite any comments as to why one would think Tarantino is a sicko who should be locked up in a psychiatric institution

Frankly, I think anyone who must express himself through depicting violence in such a graphic, absurd, and nonchalant way has a serious problem (and so do those who like his movies )

[stevie]

pulp fiction

incredible movie. richness, coolness, hilariousness.

ya it rox

[leahcim]

Frankly, I think anyone who must express himself through depicting violence in such a graphic, absurd, and nonchalant way has a serious problem (and so do those who like his movies )

Most of his films are comedies as far as I'm concerned, tomato sauce with superb dialogue.

The only critisism I'd have his own poor acting in Pulp Fiction.

All of his films are good though - at least what I've seen, I wouldn't want to pick one.

[Waldszenen]

My favourite is Pulp Fiction - one of the finest films ever, in my opinion.


Then Kill Bill Vol. 1, then Vol. 2, then Reservoir Dogs. Haven't seen Jackie Brown.

[xaos]

Yeah, hes amazing. I gotta go with Pulp Fiction, it was brutally hilarious. Specially all that stuff with Travolta and Sam Jackson. Jackie Brown was a shitty movie though.

[hazypurple21]

If you ask me, he hasn't made a bad movie yet. Pulp Fiction is my favorite movie of all time. As for his other films, I'd go with Kill Bill (as one movie), Reservoir Dogs, then Jackie Brown.

[xvimbi]

Most of his films are comedies as far as I'm concerned, tomato sauce with superb dialogue.

The only critisism I'd have his own poor acting in Pulp Fiction.

All of his films are good though - at least what I've seen, I wouldn't want to pick one.

The problem I have with Tarantino's, and similar, movies, is that IMO, the graphic, nonchalant display of violence is way over the top. I am always asking whether it is really necessesary to go to such extremes. If the story is strong enough, there really is no need. One can simply hint at the violence, or at least not pass a certain threshold. In such cases, the (unnecessary) display of extreme violence only satisfies the directors obsession, and the obsessions of the audience that these movies cater too. I do not regard these movies highly. The farthest I'd want to go is "Snatch" or "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels", which I find absolutely hilarious. Whatever happened to the art of directors like Hitchcock who never used violence in a graphic way and were still able to build up unbearable suspense.

On the other hand, if the violence is really necessary to convey the message, then IMO, the movie/story is not really worthwhile. It again fulfills only certain obsessions, but this time only these obsessions, because the story is not strong enough to hould up on its own. I'd like to spend my time with less gruesome pictures. The ironic thing is that 99.99% of those who like Tarantino's movies would spray the contents of their stomachs, bladders and colons all over the place if they had to witness somebody getting his face sliced off in little pieces. Yet, from the comfort of the sofa, all this is regarded comedy. This, I find rather disturbing.

[hazypurple21]

If you watch closely, you'll see that much of Tarantino's "violence" is done off screen. For example, Marvin Nash's ear loss in Reservoir Dogs.  Besides, violence in movies is violence in movies. Just because the characters he creates are violent people who do violent things, doesn't make him violent. It's just part of the story. And it's tough to deny Pulp Fiction's very strong story line.

[Bouter Boogie]

I'd go for Pulp Fiction then

[xvimbi]

If you watch closely, you'll see that much of Tarantino's "violence" is done off screen. For example, Marvin Nash's ear loss in Reservoir Dogs.  Besides, violence in movies is violence in movies. Just because the characters he creates are violent people who do violent things, doesn't make him violent. It's just part of the story. And it's tough to deny Pulp Fiction's very strong story line.

I did watch closely, and for my taste, there is still way too much graphic violence on screen. I didn't say Tarantino was violent (I wouldn't know), but he is clearly obsessed with violence and depicting violence. My argument is that a movie like Pulp Fiction, which indeed has an interesting plot, does really not require that violence. One could tone it down without losing anything and actually winning a few more viewers along the way. The funny thing is that, when I was young (up to 25), I did like those movies a lot. But now that I have seen more of the World, I find myself reacting very strongly towards the nonchalant way of depicting extremes. I don't even want to get into the debate of (moral) standards and discuss what is more acceptable to show on screen: a boob or somebody getting his brains blown out. That's something for another thread

[bernhard]

Pulp Fiction, definitely. The scene with Bruce Willis and the samurai sword is just brilliant. Perhaps the most alluring characteristic of this movie is how unpredictable the plot is.

xvimbi: try “Ichi the killer” by Japanese director Takashi Miike, I am sure you will love it.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000CABGW/104-9758979-4882351?v=glance


Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[xvimbi]

Pulp Fiction, definitely. The scene with Bruce Willis and the samurai sword is just brilliant. Perhaps the most alluring characteristic of this movie is how unpredictable the plot is.

xvimbi: try “Ichi the killer” by Japanese director Takashi Miike, I am sure you will love it.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000CABGW/104-9758979-4882351?v=glance

Thanks, I am aware of these movies. As I said, there were times, where I did enjoy such pictures, but certain events have changed my attitude.

[stevie]

interestingly, i feel similar to xvimbi, i used to enjoy violent movies and think nothing of the violence within them.

now i appreciate the reality of violence, and even when portrayed in a cartoonish manner it is still disturbing.

however, tarantino's movies often push black humour to interesting limits...
for example, i did laugh when the black kid in the back of the car got his head blown off.

knowing the movie isnt reality allows things like this to be funny, even if it reveals a slightly disturbing element to our human nature.

[prometheus]

I can't watch movies that glorify violence. Or that make fun of the hero killing someone.

[leahcim]

The problem I have with Tarantino's, and similar, movies, is that....

Ah, with all the smileys following the first post, I didn't think your statement was serious.

TBH, I don't particularly find the violence is what makes the films humerous - Monty python have done it in the series and in the black knight sketch in one of the films.

But it's not real though [in any sense of the word real when applied to film w.r.t the fact it's a film and the fact that it's not realistic either]

Often in films of a lesser rating you see someone shot [or shot at] and they aren't hit, killed or injured. Or 2+ people kicking and punching with extreme force, and they don't get hurt. Which is the other extreme and far worse imo w.r.t any issues people have with the effects of watching violence [although I think those issues are overstated]

OTOH, I'm not as sure as you seem to be what violence is - at least from the pov of, say Hitchcock, stabbing a woman to death without showing much as less violent than kill bill or pulp fiction.

For e.g On Channel 4 recently there was a man cutting real people into pieces, with the full intent, no other plot or story, being to show everything in graphic detail. I enjoyed watching from my sofa. The man is rather infamous and not without taboo, although similar work is routine, and is often observed and taught. Surely this is the most gratiously violent thing in the world if the actual gooey bits are violent.

'Cept they were already dead perhaps...

But, there are documentaries showing people paying to have parts of them cut / removed / added to - often the people doing the cutting are nonchalently laughing and chatting during the process. Again, the documentaries show in graphic detail the process.

Compared with the films, what do they not have? Pain mebbe? Nope, I saw the woman giving birth film at school and there was pain, blood, snot and tears and no 18 rating. Shouting perhaps? That makes a lot of things violent. Death? But lots of films have killings that have been examples of how you don't need to be explicit. Something else?

[Waldszenen]

I can't watch movies that glorify violence. Or that make fun of the hero killing someone.

In my opinion he's not "glorifying" violence or killing, but merely making a joke out of it (and simultaneously entertaining people).

[prometheus]

Surgery is violence? Giving birth is violence? Huh?


Making a joke out of violdence can be acceptable as long as the violence itself unrealistic. For example Hot Shots or something like that.

[leahcim]

Surgery is violence? Giving birth is violence? Huh?

I'd say not, but see above w.r.t comparing Tarantino films with others based on comments about colons, people having their faces sliced off IRL and the "toning down" of violence by other directors that would make it OK.

The main difference seems to be what you get if you watch surgery or Gunther von Hagens at work - so if they aren't violent then it's probably not violence that's the issue.