# "Do they speak English in What?" - Pulp Fiction, 30 years old today (10/14/1994 - 10/14/2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [October 14, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798 "2024-10-14T23:32:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/41 "2024-10-16T00:08:28Z")
First time I saw it I was in my early 20s. During the first scene I thought, “Interesting. Quirky. Oddly funny.” About ten minutes in I realized I was seeing something very special and unusual. My observations then and in hindsight: **It was an incredible risk to have John Travolta dance.** That scene could have come off as really stupid and pandering, but somehow it worked. And became iconic. Tarrantino had some _balls_. **I loved loved loved Christopher Walken’s scene.** The way he drew you into the story of the watch, only to have it take a hilarious left turn. It’s beautifully written, and his deadpan delivery was classic. It’s wonderful being dared to laugh at something tragic. **Winston Wolf was a fascinating character.** The scene where he gives a short lecture to Travolta and politely, but firmly, puts him in his place is absolutely priceless. The whole lead up starting with Marvin being shot and Jimmy using the N word to Jules was unlike anything I’d ever seen. So many movies are hopelessly formulaic. What I remember most about my first viewing of Pulp Fiction was being constantly surprised. It was wonderful and rare. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/42 "2024-10-16T02:49:21Z")
I thought Maria de Medairos had some beautiful scenes with Bruce Willis. She is great when she talks about ordering blueberry pancakes. I also liked Bruce’s scene with her where he gets out of the shower, touches his ribs and jokes about cracking a rib in the boxing match. He seemed like he might have been acting that way in an early take. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/43 "2024-10-16T04:48:15Z")
I remember the first time I saw _ **Pulp Fiction** _. It was playing at the cinema in the Radisson near the Kievskaya metro station in Moscow. On the way out, I met a cute Ukrainian hooker who was working the hotel that night. She hadn’t eaten a thing all day, so I treated her to a Big Mac and a large hot tea at Mickey D’s across the street. It seemed appropriate somehow. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/44 "2024-10-16T05:07:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The shocked disbelief over a milkshake costing five dollars hasn’t aged well. The standard milkshake at McDonalds is just under 5 bucks today. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/45 "2024-10-16T10:45:57Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > [@silenus](#): > > > > gonna get medieval on his arse.’ > > Ah, now I remember the parody (from where I know not) called “Gump Fiction” where Forrest was Vincent and he proclaimed “We are going to get medieval on your buttocks.” I wanna say _MadTV_. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/46 "2024-10-16T13:27:01Z")
No relation to [Plump Fiction](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plump_Fiction). ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/47 "2024-10-16T14:10:17Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > But you did say _Six Rooms_, when I think you meant _Four Rooms_. (note to self: only post when you’re juggling just five or six other things at work and have had more than four hours sleep) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/48 "2024-10-16T14:32:02Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > > Ah, now I remember the parody (from where I know not) called “Gump Fiction” where Forrest was Vincent and he proclaimed “We are going to get medieval on your buttocks.” > > I wanna say _MadTV_. Yeah. The very first episode. Phil LaMarr (Marvin) was a cast member. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wHJ8tz_aNZU/hqdefault.jpg "MADtv - S01E01 - Gump Fiction (Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump Parody)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHJ8tz_aNZU) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/49 "2024-10-16T21:13:02Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, I did not like that film, terribly unrealistic and impossible. QT movies are essentially his wish fulfillment fantasies, so, if his fantasies mesh with yours, you’ll probably like him. He’s stylish, true, but I don’t think any of his movies were completely successful for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/50 "2024-10-16T21:24:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What does that mean? Flock of Seagulls was what Jules called the guy laying on the couch when he shot him for no real reason. It was a reference to his haircut, which was like the breifly popular English band. Flock of Seagulls. A lot of people do not get the reference. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/51 "2024-10-16T21:33:59Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > No, I did not like that film, terribly unrealistic and impossible. > > QT movies are essentially his wish fulfillment fantasies I don’t see that. I feel Tarantino’s movies are homages to movie genres; crime movies, westerns, kung fu movies, blaxploitation, war movies, revenge movies, etc. Being as he’s making movies about movies, the stories are inherently unrealistic. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/52 "2024-10-16T21:37:29Z")
It’s just the way they strike me. But, yes, they’re essentially fairy tales. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/53 "2024-10-16T22:20:31Z")
YouTube is full of compilations of movie reactors watching various movie scenes. The _Pulp Fiction_ reactions (specifically, the “Say What Again” and “Oh, man, I shot Marvin in the face”) are some of the best ones. [Here’s](https://youtu.be/TFTmcEYcB3A?si=_QIvKxo0qFfdzTlI) an example. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/54 "2024-10-16T23:28:36Z")
Thanks for linking that. This is why I want to see all my favorite movies again in a packed theater. Half the fun is the reaction of the audience. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/55 "2024-10-17T01:35:27Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > This is why I want to see all my favorite movies again in a packed theater. Half the fun is the reaction of the audience. If you are in Los Angeles for any reason, check out Tarantino’s theater, The New Beverly. He often programs showings of his films. I saw a restoration of Jacki Brown there a while back and you’re right, the audience makes the experience richer. > **[New Beverly Cinema](https://thenewbev.com/)** > > New Beverly Theater ---
**Author:** ![epbrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@epbrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/56 "2024-10-17T14:22:01Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > [Here’s](https://youtu.be/TFTmcEYcB3A?si=_QIvKxo0qFfdzTlI) an example. I knew this would be the YoureMrLebowski clip - it’s one of the best reaction compilations I’ve seen; He’s no Johnny O’Dell (J2O), but his work is solid. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/57 "2024-10-18T15:46:52Z")
Ive seen Pulp at least 3 times. The extreme violence bothers me more in my older age. I never understood how Tarantino, who loves and studies classic films, insists on extreme language and violence in his films. I know Tarantino is very successful. He doesn’t need criticism from me. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/58 "2024-10-18T15:50:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > He doesn’t need criticism from me. Well, he does from somebody. Someone he’ll listen to. Being successful isn’t the same as being good. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/59 "2024-10-18T15:51:13Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Someone he’ll listen to. You know, like Caine, in _Kung Fu._ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798/60 "2024-10-18T17:47:36Z")
I first saw Pulp Fiction towards the end of its original release, in a sparsely attended midweek afternoon showing. I hadn’t seen Reservoir Dogs and I didn’t know what to expect. I was the only one who laughed out loud during the Walken speech - I think everyone else thought it was meant to be solemn and serious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-speak-english-in-what-pulp-fiction-30-years-old-today-10-14-1994-10-14-2024/1008798.md?page=4)