I don’t rent from Blockbuster for the simple reason that they edit their movies and don’t inform you. Try renting Doom Generation from BB and comparing it to a copy rented from less judgemental video store.
They edit the movies? Doubt that. Last I checked, several video stores that have actually edited the movies have been sued, though I don’t know the result of that, or if it has been resolved yet.
It’s much more likely that the company that owns the movie made an edited version, which is the one that blockbuster caries. It’s not BB’s fault that they didn’t put “this movie is edited for content” or something like that at the beginning or on the box.
It’s not intended to be original-- it’s one of the many nods in the direction of French auteur Francois Truffaut. The contrasting of the jokey personal relationship of the fellas with the brutal thuggery of their work was original in Shoot The Piano Player. Also, the conversation that Jules and Vinnie have in the hallway pertains to a gangster with the unusual sobriquet of “Momo”, which is also the name of one of the jovial gangsters in Shoot The Piano Player. Other Truffaut references abound-- for instance, Tarantino’s character James’ pissy line “Don’t ‘Jimmy’ me, Jules!” references Jules and Jim.
One of the things that makes Pulp Fiction a great movie is that it’s saturated with film references to an impossible degree, but it’s so artfully and subtly done that it’s very easy to overlook, and it still holds up as a great piece of entertainment even if you aren’t paying attention to all that. The obsessive level of tiny, obscenely-clever details in Pulp Fiction make it a movie that you can watch over and over, each time noticing things that slipped by before.
Mikahw, the films aren’t edited in-house, but Blockbuster is notoriously particular, and what sets them apart is that they demand versions with editorial changes from distributors. When faced with the choice of specially creating an altered (read, hacked,) movie, and having your film dropped by the largest single outlet in america, the distributors generally cave in-- Money talks. People who rent from Blockbuster lose out. (BB has gone so far as to alter the titles of films because they consider them prurient. Seriously fucked up.)
In short, it is Blockbuster’s fault-- the edited films that they carry are made-to-order for them, and they really should mark them as SANITIZED FOR YOUR PROTECTION, so that people aren’t deceived into thinking that they’re paying for the movie as the filmmakers intended it to be seen.
The independents who hack the movies up themselves, like CleanFlicks, are at least honest with their customers, and someone who rented from them knew that they were getting a bowdlerized version - it’s what they wanted.
Blockbuster. Feh. They should collapse in on themselves, the bastards.
Wow-if she was down on Pulp, it’s a sure bet the she wouldn’t like Reservoir Dogs. Like other posters, Pulp continues to give me something new with each watching.
Does that Blockbuster rent films like Caligula, or Cook, Thief, Wife, Lover? How about Fellini movies such as Juliet of the Spirits or Satyricon? Or 9 1/2 weeks, maybe even Lolita!
Tips hat to the OP that didn’t tell Blockheadbuster clerk to get in tough with the arts and literature. Doubtful she’d even like Mel Brooks work.
Actually, that’s one of my fav scenes. Simpson creators must have loved it too seeing they did a pretty long spoof on it… comparing the McDonalds in Shelbyville to Krusty Burger.
“McDonalds? What’s a McDonalds?”
“Yeah, I know. I never heard of them either.”
Hmmm,Well Blame Siskel and Ebert then,for it was their review which gushed and enthused over this “WONDERFUL” cinematic departure (their words, not mine).
They must have gone ON about that damn conversation for a decade,
And I’m sorry, but the “le big mac” segment played on Leno,just pretty much clinched it for me.
It wasn’t even REMOTELY “funny” as they were trying to tout it. It WAS what it looked like, two dual digit IQ goons trying to sound sophisticated.
We rarely rent, so I guess I was sorta “off topic” regarding Blockbuster (sorry, hehe). The boyfriend is an adorable techno geek, and has over 350 movies on DVD,including that one…
Never fear,SOMEDAY,when I’m SUPREMELY bored,I will attempt to watch it.
I know it’s unfair to base my objections on reviews and previews.
ReeeAAALLY? You sound so intelligent though!!!
Okay,Pulp Fiction was produced when? 94, 95?? earlier?
So,yeah,it’s been a while since I saw the scene that they replayed on Leno…
But I remember it as SUFFOCATINGLY stupid…
AS in two, BARELY able to put to words together in a sentence, let ALONE enunciate it, Neanderthals, who think they are being sophisticated,
I mean, can you say “yo Adrianne”? THAT’S what it brought to mind for me,
And NO,I’m not all goody two shoes, in case y’all are wondering. It was the stupidity that I saw in the previews etc,NOT the “R” rating stuff that turned me off.
The other thing that bugged me was the glorification of two hitmen,I was thinking,“Okay,this stuff happens in REAL life,it SUCKS, is depressing, etc, so to GLORIFY it?? As if it’s all fine and dandy for hitmen to be ‘herolike’”???
Is your comma key stuck? ,
Ivylass, I’m with you.
[True analogous exchange in restaurant]
Me: How’s the haddock?
Waitress: Don’t get it. Oh, my god, I can hardly stand the smell when they cook it. Ucch! It makes me want to vomit! I don’t understand why anybody would freaking want to eat fish! People are such freaks!
Me: I’ll have two orders of the haddock, please.
[/True analogous exchange in restaurant]
CanvasShoes– Watch the movie. Seriously. There is no glorification of violence. The crucial event in the movie is one character realizing that he’s on the wrong path and opting out. Compare his fate to that of those in the movie who choose violence.
All of the concurrent plots revolve around people presented with important moral choices. The folks who make the wrong choices may look badass and “cool” for the moment… but who walks away when the last reel is done?
Making sure this is BBQ Pit… YUP!
CanvasShoes, exactly how old are you,? ,
For one thing, I wouldn’t judge the McDonald’s scene until you watch the movie. If the few blips you’ve seen of the movie didn’t entice you to watch to movie, that’s fine, but it puts you at a great disadvantage when you’re trying to speak ill of the feature. Saying it glorifies the business of hitman, and not understanding how someone could like a scene in the movie you disliked when saw on Leno… YEARS ago, out of it’s full context, makes you sound pretty ignorant. I think, IMHO, the scene was supposed to be gibberish. How two people can casually talk about unimportant things right before they make a hit, probably because they do it so much that they are desensitized of the horror of it all. In a dark way, it was also funny. The conversation was funny, and so was the timing. It was one of those scenes where some people who can’t see more than one layer of meaning to a movie wouldn’t understand. I’m not saying my interpretation is the “right” one, (if their is a right interpretation), but at least I got something out of it by questioning what the filmmaker was doing.
If the commercials and the clips didn’t do their job in making you eager to see the movie, then fine. Just say they didn’t and leave it at that.
,ok?
,good, ,
From IMDB:
Vincent: And you know what they call a… a… a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?
Jules: They don’t call it a Quarter Pounder with cheese?
Vincent: No man, they got the metric system. They wouldn’t know what the fuck a Quarter Pounder is.
Jules: Then what do they call it?
Vincent: They call it a “Royale” with cheese.
Jules: A “Royale” with cheese! What do they call a Big Mac?
Vincent: A Big Mac’s a Big Mac, but they call it “le Big-Mac”.
Jules: “Le Big-Mac”! Ha ha ha ha! What do they call a Whopper?
Vincent: I dunno, I didn’t go into Burger King.
And…
Jules: We’re all gonna be three little Fonzies - and what was Fonzie?!
Yolanda: Cool?
Jules: Correct-a-mundo!
Who ME??
No, I’m just a SERIOUSLY enthusiastic talker,
I find type an extremely difficult medium in which to express myself,
Several commas are (in turn)
long pauses,
a smile,
other facial or hand gestures etc
Plus, I learned my “chat” habits several years ago on other boards and chat rooms.
Many of the ones I frequented didn’t have the cutesy little smilies, etc…
so my “…s” and “,s” and “!!!” are merely habit from years of posting/chatting in other online communities, that and my natural enthusiasm and boisterousness (I KNOW, not a real word!!).
Why??? Is there a “,” shortage that we didn’t hear about way up here in the great white north?
um, yup, boisterousness actually is a word. Stupendous choice!
Actually, if you’d read my entire post, you’d have seen that I admitted that my view COULD be skewed due to the factors you mention above. In particular the fact that it WAS years ago that I saw these bits and pieces. And, if you’d read my follow up posts you’d have seen that I’m working myself up to actually watching it, so that I CAN in fact see for myself.
How old am I? Why (looks around and checks for her ID), is there an age limit here?
Mostly I refer to myself as OTD (older than dirt). I’m 43.
I agree with Kirkland.
:eek:
I DEFINITELY agree with the “Gump vs. Shawshank Redemption” statement!!!
ps, tried to watch Pulp last night, the BF was playing some Star Wars game.
Not that you all are dying to know if I might like it or not,LOL. Just thought I’d mention I DO plan on seeing it sometime!!
I worked at an independantly owned video store for a year and half, and came to the conclusion that Blockbuster, like most huge corporations, is evil. They edit movies, (specific “Blockbuster” versions) have monopolies on certain movies (The Boondock Saints and The Croupier come to mind…), and charge credit cards for the smallest late fee. Plus, it’s a simple video store courtesy that if someone returns Store A’s tape to Store B, Store B should call Store A and say “Hey, some monkey returned Navy Seals to our store. Silly monkies.” That way, Store A can figure out who rented it, and have them return it to the right store. Not only would Blockbuster NOT do this, they would LIE when we called them and asked them if any of our movies had been returned to them. Evil.
I had a friend who worked with me at the Indie store. His brother worked at Blockbuster. His brother made him a Blockbuster ID tag. But he put “Indie Video” over the part that said “Blockbuster” and under the name tag part, had “We Rent Porn” written. It was wonderful.
They do. And the reason they get away with it is because they’re so big that if they refuse to carry a movie, it’s rental revenues go down so much that the studio usually agrees to let them butcher the movies. Bastards.
Ooooh, more reasons to hate Blockbuster. This one time, at the video store… ( 
) I had the following conversation with a customer.
Guy: Do you have Citizen Kane?
Swiddles: Letterboxed or non? We also have documentary on Welles you might like…
Guy: THANK GOD. I just came from Blockbuster. Not only do they NOT carry it, but when I asked for it, the girl started typing into the computer, saying “S-I-T…”
Swiddles: Don’t worry, sir. You’re in a safe place now.