and what, pray tell, is this great work of art that will underscore the simple-minded short cuts of tarantino’s inferior worthlessness?
I like tarantino. Death Proof was fun. A great movie no but fun as hell. IGB sometimes i think it will be a blast and othertimes i think it will be stupid. Who knows. But i am looking forword to it. If it bombs imagine the damage it will do to Pitt.. That in its self is worth it.
I realize that there is now so many dissenting opinions about what makes art worthwhile that many fans simply throw up their hands and decide they like everything. I am trying to be true to my own feelings about what has value and I think debate, both with others and with ourselves, about what we like and why we like it is important. It is easy to be impressed with a cool style and not really think about whether you are seeing anything new or worthwhile or just the same old cliches dressed up in new clothing. I am suggesting that this is what someone is doing when they say “yeah, Tokyo Story is cool, and so’s Pulp Fiction.” Both films are kinda cool so let’s just throw them together and not consider what their about.
I don’t know anyone here personally, but It also strikes me as funny that while many fans of Pulp Fiction would argue endlessly about it’s inherent superiority to Michael Bay films if someone suggested that he and QT were artistic equals, they start throwing around the pretentious label when someone suggests that the their is an equivalent disparity in the level of achievement reached by QT and the greatest cinematic masterpieces.
I’ve always found it difficult to admit liking him. He’s so self-satisfied that the last thing on earth he needs is the audience’s approval, let alone fan-cultdom. But hell, Jackie Brown? Pulp? Who can deny.
For a long time now he’s been doing nothing but making films about “sassy women.” At least we won’t be seeing any of those this time around (though we will have to stomach an eternally smug Eli Roth).
(and I use the word “Tarantino” meaning – a film derived from the passionate “being” of Quentin Tarantino and his love for movies)
But why is Tarantino’s love of movies so worthy of note? Has he done anything with it?
What great director doesn’t love movies? Hell, some of them, like say Truffaut and Godard, actually liked them enough to go out and make great original films.
Maybe if Tarantino wrote a script with a well developed character you could care about. He almost did it in Jackie Brown but then at the end when his skill as a script writer and director was demanded he let it all slip away.
I agree, while seriously flawed, Jackie Brown is a film that underscores the simple minded short cuts of his other films by having a good character who didn’t come across as a cool variant on hollywood cliches. The ending did allow it to slip away as he went into Tarantinoland either to satisfy the needs of his typical fans or because he didn’t have any good ideas. As for his love of movies, I’m sure he’d be a hell of a lot of fun to hang out with but, as you say, that doesn’t have anything to d with the quality of his films.
whatever your definition of a “cool style” would be, my only question is, what would be inherently wrong with liking it, whatever it is?
i dont disparage someone for wanting to like a film without considering deeply what its about. just because we like that sort of analysis, and thats what we’re all about on this site, it doesnt mean its good for everyone.
isnt it a good thing that tarantino prioritizes “sassy women” in his films? he loves women, and creates strong roles for them. i’d be curious to read some feminist writings on “jackie brown”, “kill bill”, and “death proof”. if anyone has good links, send them.
his love of movies is worthy of note because we all sit here on this site and pat each others backs for loving movies. why not do the same for tarantino?
jackie brown is a well-developed character (actually, everyone in that movie is). so is beatrix kiddo. so is o-ren. so is jules. so is mr white and mr pink.
Mike Spence – I guess I don’t care much what your basic opinion on Quentin Tarantino is. However, I’m failing to understand what you are driving at when you talk about the type of person who would find both “Pulp Fiction” and “Tokyo Story” to be “cool”. I have loved and appreciated both films for some time, and for completely different reasons. Does this mean that I don’t pay attention to what I’m watching? Do I lack something in my abilities to process a film, or to formulate my own tastes?
of course you do. anyone that likes tarantino is only buying into the hype, right? fools at heart. tarantino is pulling some large prank on the world, and he deserves to go to hell for doing so. those that fall for his prank are deserving of a fate worse than death.
Can somebody please tell me how many WW2 movies come out every year? Because I’d honestly like to know. It seems like at least 1 or 2 always make it to the Oscars.
I feel kind of bad for the other wars (WWI, War of 1812, Korean War, Civil War, etc.) – I mean, yeah, you get one about them every 10 years or so. But WW2 really gets all the love.
I just think it’s become too easy to not have strong opinions these days. That’s not an accusation. I personally relish the idea of someone writing a strong endorsement of Pulp Fiction that would make me reconsider my opinion of it. I don’t really feel that my condemnation is final. All works of art are subject to constant reevaluation. Too often, great works are derided or neglected for years before some brave folks champion their worth enough that the rest of us take notice. I think it is also true, however, that shallow, slick retreads impress many of us, including myself, on first viewing and that we never do any further evaluation. I think sometimes we see so many films that we just lump them all together as “enjoyable” and never the time to carefully consider which ones are truly worthy of revisiting or recommending. I certainly don’t begrudge anyone having Pulp Fiction be one of their favorite films but when it gets called a masterpiece I cringe a bit. I get having different reasons for appreciating different films, my main point of contention is with the level of appreciation. I have my guilty pleasure level of appreciation for Blind Fury (Rutger Hauer as a blind swordsman is awesome!) and my humbled awe after watching Tokyo Story. My earlier Michael Bay reference may have been over the top, but I think if you truly think about Pulp Fiction it falls a lot closer in achievement to Blind Fury than to Tokyo Story. I’d also wager that QT knows that himself.
Bobby, that’s ridiculous bordering on insane.
i was being stupidly sarcastic. hard to express tone when typing!
fine. you cringe when people call “pulp” a masterpiece, i cringe when people call it a gulity pleasure. i dont disagree that its a pleasure, but i dont find any guilt in liking it. guilty pleasure implies a faulty film that one shouldnt like, but does. certainly not a work of art.
my contention is with that conception of “pulp”.
Ok, gotchya. That’s a point I find myself making all the time (about tone).
I’m sure their are many people who cringe when I tell them about some films I think are great as well. To each his own, in the end. As far as IB, I will see it and wish for the best but the trailers don’t indicate to me that it will turn me around on QT. I could be wrong but, from the trailer alone, it looks like he still may be in the Death Proof mode of ironically deconstructing a movie genre instead of adding insight to a well trodden subject. I think he had potential once, with Jackie Brown, but he should probably stop hanging out with Robert Rodriguez. He’s a bad influence for any filmmaker.
just read the script for “basterds”. i’m as big a tarantino supporter as anyone, and i’ll always defend him. but i have to admit, this script is bad. and tarantino’s a great writer. but this one feels completely phoned in. lazy approach to character, lazy approach to story. of course i’m interested to see the film, but based on the script, i cant imagine that it has much promise, other than the normal amount of promise i give to any tarantino film just based on his personal creativity.
I’m a little late, but how can I get my hand on that script?
Pretty sure I saw it in Barnes & Noble the other day, so I reckon “easily.”
Can’t wait until next Friday. This has been the most anticipated movie of the year for me.
i’ll be there opening night. wednesday in my city.
The Southern accent Pitt’s doing for the film is comical.
Anyone seen the recent T.V. spots? I sense ‘Bond homage’.
’Tarantino’s style and the camera is revolutionary even Inglorious looks like some parody, the film again, but maybe chambers talent and character Tarantino scenarios viva la Tarantino
NEONBEAR
i’ll always love tarantino, no matter how many upright noses i see on here. i’m just glad my tastes in movies stretch broader than many others.
especially directed at you mike spence, i like how you think it’s impossible for someone to appreciate the things you do if someone also likes quentin tarantino. you’re just pretentious in the most ugly way.