Pulp Fiction's "gimp scene" is actually deep

[@StoneyKenobi212]

Zeds dead baby. Zeds dead.

[@Jjrmtv]

but what happened to the gimp?

[@billielachatte4841]

@@Jjrmtv The Gimp's probably dead, too.😅

[@joshuaparrott2458]

Chronology. The last line of the movie.

[@ege_x3rt187]

Zeds dead is also an electronic music duo.

[@eggfinallap]

My favorite line in the movie.

[@Whookieee]

"Nah man. I'm pretty fuckin far from OK." Indeed.

[@mackychloe]

He's just butthurt.

[@billielachatte4841]

@@mackychloe

[@gumandcoffee]

Prime example of men learning to talk about their feelings

[@T1Oracle]

Diddy stutter? He will not take that take that no more! 😂

[@debrh.b]

I think. they literally picked the wrong guy to F@(k!

[@arminoleg1624]

I was 13 when I watched this movie and even than I knew there was something powerful about Butch coming back. No matter how much animosity and hatred there might be between 2 men even thieves and criminals, they will stand together against these types of sick bastards.

[@fromthescreen123]

@@arminoleg1624 100%

[@josedorsaith5261]

His slow return back was a good way of showing how he was reluctant but determined.

[@Jaecht88]

13 is definitely too early to watch this movie. It sure build some unintended trauma in you

[@haveaday1812]

No. This is a perversion of morality. It’s an attempt to subvert the actual moral and ethical truth that there is no honor amongst thieves. Once you have grown and wised up totally the ways of the world you will realize this. Honor only truly exists amongst rational and truthful people.

[@themattparks]

@@Jaecht88 If you get traumatized by movies in your teens bro touch grass lol

[@BigTimStrange]

One thing I'm surprised everyone misses is that after Marcellus is free, the audience sees that what Jules said earlier in the film is true: that Marcellus Wallace does NOT like to be fucked by anyone but Mrs. Wallace.

[@skeletonmakesgood]

BRAVO!!!

[@pennsylvaniapatriot22]

Hahaha I never caught that either. Good catch!

[@andrewgremba1450]

You win the internet

[@its_rick_james_bich2575]

I noticed that the 2nd time I watched pulp fiction back in 95! It will be easily missed on the first watch. But it’s actually a pretty common joke people would make regarding pulp fiction..so wouldn’t say “everyone” missies it!

[@couchoperator561]

One thing people often miss is the motorcycle is named "Grace". By grace he was saved.

[@mackychloe]

Nice.

[@SlickNik94]

Also, Tarantino had a girlfriend named Grace. ;-)

[@jdamommio]

It's not a motorcycle, baby, it's a chopper

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

@@jdamommio And I'm sorry, babe. He had to crash that Honda.

[@jimgeary]

The whole movie is about grace.

[@gijoey5912]

I always liked to think it was a Hattori Hanzo sword that Butch uses in this scene.

[@williamhermann6635]

Thats awesome lol

[@sterkriger2572]

Since it’s Tarantino there’s a big possibility that it actually is

[@williamhermann6635]

@@sterkriger2572 Someone would have to ask QT himself if he was already developing the Kill Bill saga at the time he made Pulp Fiction.

[@AgiHammerthief]

@@williamhermann6635 doesn’t matter if he had planned it here or if he remembered this scene and dropped the reference later.

[@Xenaisthebusiness]

I think it was referenced when bills brother said he pawned it

[@mambi74]

In case you don't know or thought about it - @07:39, the "zed's dead" scene is the last scene, chronologically, in the movie.

[@ridethelapras]

I would really like to have a (VERY WELL MADE) fan edit that shows everything in chronological order. The shot of Bruce and Fabienne riding off into the sunset would really make a really great close to the film, and to see the credits rolling here would be the icing on the cake.

[@TiltBrook]

Ty! What’s the first scene chronologically?

[@Matthew-pf7sb]

@@TiltBrook The first scene chronological would be the first scene in the movie.

[@ridethelapras]

@@TiltBrook Haha, a trick question! The first scene chronologically is the talk Captain Koons (Walken) gives to the young Butch about his father’s watch. 😉

[@ridethelapras]

@@TiltBrook In the film, it is the dream he has just before the fight (that he refuses to go down on); however if it was the very first scene, you could frame it as establishing Butch’s character (you know he’s a boxer) in a random fight-sort of as a teaser, before we move into the ‘proper’ part of the film (Jules and Vince). Also remembering now, the Honey Bunny and..(Ringo?) scene has now been displaced, and is actually INTERCUT(!!! I’m just thinking about this as I go along…) with the scene of Jules and Vince in the diner. But you’d go straight from the Walken intro to the Vince and Jules action; you’d recap with Butch; etc.; the Bonnie situation happens, Vince DIES; and the film starts and ends with Butch and it was his story all along. Only a masterfully skilful film craftsman could make it convincing.

[@happyninja42]

I remember seeing this in the theater when it released, and thinking 2 things during this scene. 1, the shot of him deciding to close the door and go help Marselles, was probably the best visual example of the old adage "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy." And 2. When Butch is searching for a weapon my brain instantly said "He's going to find a katana, it's a pawn shop, there's always one damn katana lying around in a pawn shop." And when the camera cut to the katana POV, I smiled to myself like "...yep, there it is. Only a katana would evoke that kind of stunned reverence in a dude like Butch" I also love how when they are talking about "So what now?" Marselles doesn't even really register he meant "what now?" regarding Butch. It had completely slipped his mind.

[@happyninja42]

@@Empty-Mask the bit about the katana, i just forgot to mark it as 2. corrected with an edit now though.

[@happyninja42]

@@Empty-Mask yeah i think i wrote that up while i was at work, where I am frequently pulled away from my computer. so i will often lose track of what point I was making, or what sequence i'm at, in a list of points. happens to me all the time, and gets annoying when I post and then reread it and am like "...shit, that's a jumbled piece of ass right there!" 🤣

[@crash-testproductions9341]

For me and my friends, the best part was we all saw ourselves in Butch search for weapons. Baseball Bat : +5 ATT, durability low. Too fragile, next. Chainsaw : +25 ATT, high durability, 10% chance of the motor stalling at each strike. Too unreliable, next. Katana : screw the stats we're taking the katana !

[@ironmonkey1512]

They weren't enemies really it was just business.

[@happyninja42]

@@ironmonkey1512 nah, they make it pretty apparent during the various interactions they have, that it was personal. Butch took it personally when he was told to ignore his pride for the money. And Marcelles took it personally for being betrayed. When Butch is punching him in the face, repeating back his line of "feel that sting? that's pride fucking with you!" as he keeps punching him. that's the kind of thing you say/do when it's personal. Not just business. And Marcelles saying a line like "If that motherfucka goes to indo-china I want a brother in a bowl of rice to put a cap in his ass" "Scour the earth for that motherfucker." That sounds way more than just business to me.

[@chriswilson3126]

The "watch monologue" makes so much sense when in context with these otherwise bizarre and quite horrifying scenes.

[@fromthescreen123]

@@chriswilson3126 Yeah when I was in my teens I literally thought it was just a cool monologue but it has so much meaning to Butch’s story and arc

[@Juggler1525]

​@fromthescreen123 On top of that, Butch's whole day in reclaiming that watch is just another story for it. So if Butch has a kid, they'll not only learn of the Coolidge army service, but of Butch risking life and limb for it, and saving an enemy from a perverse end.

[@Steve.From_Saturn1]

when vincent died i was mad. i thought i wouldt like the gold watch chapter. but when you watch the last scene where jules retires an vincent is mad and says to be continued. then it all makes sence and you see this chapter diffrently.

[@doct0rnic]

Vincent should have listened to Jules

[@jadedandbitter]

They were given a second chance, a choice. Jules took it; Vincent did not. The wages of sin is death.

[@NR-rv8rz]

The phrase 'Pair of plyers and a blow torch' is taken from the 70's mafia movie 'Charlie Varick' staring Walter Matthau.

[@seanwieland9763]

Cool!

[@tPsychedelic]

You did not disappoint with the scene breakdown. You’ve even touched on some things I missed after seeing all these years. Love your videos and keep them coming.

[@fromthescreen123]

@@tPsychedelic thanks :) Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dsvd4727]

In this shot 2:54 you can also see the number plate with "Tennessee" on it, the state where his great grandfather's watch came from, he is definitely thinking about the watch monologue at this moment

[@nazfrde]

When you said something about Butch refusing to leave a man behind, it suddenly occurs to me that Butch might be a veteran, and that's why the war movie on the TV that wakes him up in the hotel room is so traumatic.

[@darthcheeseburger]

I saw this for the first time on the big screen in 1994 when it was released. I was 12 or 13 and we got dropped off at the mall and bought tickets for some horrible Sinbad comedy but my shit disturber best friend snuck us into Pulp Fiction. My mind was blown forever. I'll never forget him whispering to me a moment before Butch pushes the door open saying "what do you think is going on?!". I got to brag for weeks to everyone after about sneaking into it. Classic film...a masterpiece for sure. Over the years I've come to realize it's likely the most important film of the 90s.

[@didamnesia3575]

Important? No. Great? Yes.

[@anothergamingchannel2656]

Hey, "House Guest wasn't great, but it wasn't THAT bad. Phil Hartman was in it, lol Na jk. It's got an 18% on rotten tomatoes 😂 but even that's a little harsh imo. But I was little when I saw it so maybe it is worse than I remember

[@paulrippcord506]

The way I look at is if you pay for a movie ticket, you’re not paying to see a specific film, you’re paying for a seat in a theater and what you watch is arbitrary.

[@drewcampbell6894]

@@anothergamingchannel2656House Guest!! Hahah that was it

[@benjaminforman8901]

A stellar scene in a movie absolutely chock full of them. When I saw this movie, I remember feeling like I was watching something special, like something that would go down in history.

[@kedabreandavis9229]

So I seen the training day one first and then this. Im like I’m bout to spend all day watching this. This amazing!! You’re just starting 😢 omggfg

[@fromthescreen123]

@@kedabreandavis9229 haha thank you! Come along for the ride! plenty more on the way :)

[@nurselex2487]

Same

[@JohnnyJetwash316]

I'm literally just about to do the same!!

[@alexandrebeaudry8377]

Butch's decision to go back might have been pragmatic. If Marcellus survived and see Butch he would pusue him till death with torture. And in counterpart, it open a door to Marcellus's forgiveness. It was a risk because Marcellus could still get rid of Butch to have no witness of his shame.

[@johntaylorson7769]

yeah, obviously QT worked his directorial magic and that can't be underplayed... but Roger Avery wrote this whole sequence (and the whole Butch storyline). He may not have been a perfect guy, but he never gets any credit for Pulp Fiction.

[@marmantole]

Marcellus said their beef was over, but he didn’t know that Butch killed Vincent. I always wondered if that would change his mind later when he found out.

[@kidomniman8635]

I never considered that but I feel like Marcellus would still honor his word to the man that saved him from that horrifying fate.

[@theoneandonlyoni]

You hit it right on the money! Iv been saying for years that Butch reflects on the Watch, and the struggle his fathers went through to get it to him. Also the strength of Brotherhood, and how a stranger brought him his father’s watch, and how much that means to him. This is Butches POW camp moment, and he can’t leave a brother in arms to suffer. And there it can’t be understated how Walken hid the watch up his A$&, and the SA taking place to Marcellus, there’s a parallel of abuse of the weak by evil, Marcellus is weakened, and is being taken advantage of by an evil person.. which in turn harkens to Jules’ crisis of faith... You don’t know how happy it makes that someone finally agrees with me!👍🏽👍🏽

[@MrBitviper]

you've said it elegantly. one of the best scenes in the movie it speaks volumes about the character and how shared trauma can change people

[@TheBonVivant_]

Tarrintino has never gotten credit for an undercurrent of sacrifice and empathy in a lot of his movies.

[@krampus7520]

I’ll be real baby i never EVER thought about where the gimp came from or why he was there, i just sort of assumed he was part of their ring…

[@ekathe85]

4:30 There's a neon sign in the upper right corner spelling "kill ed". I guess the keychain with the Z is the last piece of that puzzle

[@afgoooey]

Your channel is a gem. Keep the analysis coming ....would love to see more 90s movies like Schneiders list, fight club, usual suspects etc.

[@fromthescreen123]

@@afgoooey thanks :) Schindler’s list is on my list, expect a video about it in the coming weeks :)

[@anothergamingchannel2656]

Man shout out to From the Screen. I highly doubt he got to monetize this video but he still made it for us. It's content creators like this who are keeping youtube alive. Thank you for showing us the scenes, even when they're graphic, and keeping the music in, and not referring to people dying as "game overed" or some other phrase that would've ruined the tone of the video.

[@fromthescreen123]

@@anothergamingchannel2656 hey thanks for the comment :) Glad you appreciate what I’m doing!

[@MarcusHalverstram]

Never noticed how angrily Marcellus racks that shotgun. My eyes were always on Butch reactions. Nice touch Vingh 👌

[@EvantheEvolve]

Please keep these kind of videos coming, i see you’re quite new. I love the breakdowns!

[@fromthescreen123]

@@EvantheEvolve Glad you’re enjoying them :) Plenty more on the way rest assured!

[@gregorpetri5575]

Great review, man. I love the mix of interpretation and description of filming techniques!

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

Good review. You didn't mention that the chopper being named "Grace". Since I first saw this movie I knew it was going to be a timeless classic, on a level with Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, The Sound of Music, and Doctor Zhivago. Given the subject matter, that's always been kind of troubling.

[@funkkymonkey6924]

The music blaring and Zed still being heard screaming really sells the barbarity in a way I don’t think I’ve ever seen matched.

[@ridethelapras]

The music is non-diegetic (i.e. it is only in the soundtrack, it is not being ‘heard’ in the world of the film), hence in ‘reality’ there was no music playing, and nothing drowning out the rape sounds. Hence Butch still had to be super quiet. Maybe that was the music playing in his own head as a coping mechanism?

[@Fekalmatta]

Nice critique 👍. Enjoyed the insight about Walken. I watched the movie a dozen times and didn't put these two things together. Well done.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

It came out of nowhere, and yet it was absolutely riveting. And when you think of it from a storytelling perspective, it permits the whole Butch & Marcellus story arc to transcend from one having to "win" while the other one loses, and instead... something ELSE can transpire.

[@tylerdurden4080]

Something I noticed for the first time about this scene. As Butch is about to leave the pawn shop, framed behind him is a Confederate flag and an American flag. Slavery and freedom. Or it could just be a couple of flags.

[@brittbella6573]

Your analysis is so interesting, that I feel disappointed when I haven't watched one of the movies that you breakdown. Luckily, I'd seen Pulp Fiction so I got to enjoy this one. Great job! Please keep them coming.

[@fromthescreen123]

@@brittbella6573 Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed this one :)

[@nakatash1977]

I enjoy watching movie analysis videos from people who were probably born years after I watched this movie many times.

[@bigpictureguys8415]

Appreciate you making the content you do. Can’t imagine spending a ton of time to produce something thoughtful for free then catch a ton of people being argumentative for funzies

[@fromthescreen123]

@@bigpictureguys8415 thank you :) It takes a good three 3-5 days with watching the movie, watching the scene repeatedly, making notes, doing research, writing the essay, doing the recording and then editing it. Comments like this are nice :)

[@ashleyphotog]

Being gone from LA wasn’t a punishment for Butch, it was protection, for him and Marcellus. If he had been seen again in LA, Marcellus would have lost a degree of respect and fear attached to his reputation of a man not to be crossed.

[@edpliskin4088]

Great analysis of a great scene

[@fromthescreen123]

@@edpliskin4088 glad you enjoyed it :)

[@jailbreakoverlander]

Epic I can’t believe how much you included in under 8 minutes

[@RejectReality97]

No matter what beef you and another man have between you, never leave him in a situation like this. That's what it boils down to in my opinion. "I wouldn't wish that on my own worst enemy" kind of thing. It's just human decency in it's barest form.

[@RejectReality97]

That and the fact that, as a man, you can't just let people like Zed stay around 😂 They gotta go

[@evansgate]

I'm annoyed at these asinine video essays that over intellectualize obvious things and pontificate endlessly. But YT eats it up so keep at it!!!

[@fromthescreen123]

It’s not KZbin that eats it up, it’s the people who do. What seems obvious to you might not be to others. Take a breath, and don’t let something as minor as a KZbin video disrupt your peace of mind.

[@evansgate]

@@fromthescreen123 I'm allowed to be annoyed sir. And by KZbin I meant the people, Mr Semantics... Even reading your bio gives me the idea that you have pretentious delusions about yourself

[@TheRealMycanthrope]

The irony of this comment, which looks like it was written with a thesaurus 🙄

[@mysubscriptions5619]

GREAT VIDEO!! !I just enjoyed listening, would love to see more like this

[@fromthescreen123]

@@mysubscriptions5619 check out my channel :)

[@artistsodyssey]

The gimp screaming for help will always be hilarious 😂

[@jamesconsiglio2709]

Just the way he slams the door was just amazing this movie and Goodfellows best 2 movies of the 90s

[@CyndiLarper]

1:34 makes you wonder what it would have felt like if he could have used his first song choice, My Sharona

[@SamOakes7]

That was a great analysis! Learned a bunch

[@natethegreat2769]

I love these types of breakdowns, please do the 2007 Halloween

[@jonjosenna5581]

Music in the scene, is just perfect.

[@dr.mark.b.hubble]

Great breakdown!

[@mackychloe]

Right up until I watched this video I always thought that Marsellus should of blasted Butch for getting him into that situation, but you're explanation made so much sense that I've now changed my mind. In one of his trillion audio bites Quentin describes why in Res Dogs that Mr Orange tells Mr White that he's a cop even though he'll probably get shot. Quentin describes it in one word: "Jingy" from Japanese dialect, I think? It simply means Honour or respect. P.s "Z pulls out to turn around" 😮😮😮😮

[@macleunin]

Good analysis on the Katana!

[@jackdaniels2905]

Scariest thing about this is the fact that the gimp is actually on his captors side.

[@joebeast15]

He got turned out and into a sex slave. Horrifying indeed but it DOES happen

[@EatRick]

He got dicked down on some gangsta shieet

[@sophiabynico]

Wow... um incredible timing! I actually just finished a video I had been working on for release on thanksgiving for the scene where Butch is about to leave the shop. This however is also a great analysis! Great to see another creator cover the scene!

[@elcabezon2222]

Awesome analysis. Thank you for uploading this!

[@fromthescreen123]

@@elcabezon2222 Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@JohnnyJetwash316]

This channels going to be massive!!

[@fromthescreen123]

@@JohnnyJetwash316 haha thank you! I hope so, I’m enjoying making these videos 🙂

[@JohnnyJetwash316]

@fromthescreen123 The training day video was awesome. Gave me a new sense of appreciation for a film that I already thought was brilliant.

[@fromthescreen123]

@ glad you enjoyed it :)

[@IIIhenriqueIII]

I mean, Marcellus did not mention to Butch there was someone inside his house ready to kill him. At this point, Marcellus did not know that Vincent was killed by Butch. Did he forget about it or was it on porpoise?

[@fromthescreen123]

@@IIIhenriqueIII yeah I always wondered about this. Did he expect Butch to go home and get some things before he left town? In which case Vincent would kill him…

[@jajajadechile]

One of the greatest scenes of cinema. I remember watching this for the first time. It blew my mind. So many questions. The scene drives the imagination. The things we don´t see are so intriguing.

[@judsongaiden9878]

Great scene, but I have to levy one gripe... 6:04 ...spot the continuity error. Notice how he cycles the shotgun there, but then at [ 6:11 ], he has the forearm pulled back and the bolt open for no reason, clearly showing the audience that the gun's empty. Actors do this with pump shotguns a lot, especially side-ejectors, as if they're trying to show the audience that they don't know what they're doing.

[@tonerios3732]

Yeah guns in cinema rarely do justice to the details. Like when they rack a semi auto pistol as if to ready a shot or grab a freshly fired bullet casing like it wouldn’t burn your fingers. Only thing imo that gets fucked up more blatantly is when actors fake playing instruments.

[@judsongaiden9878]

@@tonerios3732 And typewriters too. They're always pecking on those keys their their index fingers, even if the character is someone who would know how to type due to their profession. It's insulting!

[@Asidchild]

Okay, the cut with the slow-mo cycling shot ends with the slide open, sure, but it’s closed again when Marcellus points the gun at Zed. It’s honestly not that glaring of a detail. It just means that there wasn’t a round in the chamber beforehand because no one had fired it

[@jamesconsiglio2709]

This is right up there with taxi driver scene 👏 👌

[@desr421]

This movie was a cinematic masterpiece... In the time line of the movie this he killed Vincent which means Jewels has left the life behind... Kinda makes you think Vincent should've retired too

[@drewdonald6260]

Is it me, or do I remember 'the gimp' pointing his finger into his hand for a way longer period of time! I could be wrong... but I don't think that I am 🤔 It was way more suggestive...

[@drewdonald6260]

The "slow down" (with the ropes tied behind his back) is a dead giveaway. The question is: 'Why did they take it out?' 🤔

[@nicks4802]

It's not that Marcellus Wallace wouldn't turn to look at Butch after what happened, It's that we simply see him from "the other side" from that point on, as opposed to previously in the film before they had begun fighting you would've only seen him from behind...... You know, iconic band-aid and all... He still faces the other way, but we as the audience know what's on the other side now as opposed to only knowing him from the back of his head as a mob boss only..... Now he's been exposed in a way. So the mystique is gone. That camera angle is symbolic. Just as much as Butch's selection of weaponry.

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

6:43 I like how Butch copies Marcellus lowering of the weapon in hand.

[@matthews7805]

Butch was the real hero of the movie all along.

[@GwynLewis-d5h]

Superb analysis!

[@whoaitstiger]

The idea that gimp is some drifter they picked up years ago adds so much horror to this scene. He's probably watched them murder many recalcitrant victims and takes pride in his own survival.

[@ricogodfatha8573]

After the watch story, Butch led his life just like his father, live with honor. Butch messed up by taking the money to throw the fight and it was killing him inside despite screwing him over. He knew his honor was stained and just leaving him there would make it worse. Even if Butch knew if he will be killed after saving Marseilles, his honor was more important than his life. Marseilles had his reputation to protect on the street thus telling him not to show his face around LA. Plus, don’t want Butch telling people about what happened either. Both men were on different spectrums of life but both had honor.

[@Yelahrecneps]

I really appreciate that you didn't edit out the dialogue

[@Fullyautomagic]

You don’t need much skill in punching to knock a guy out bareknuckles.

[@moseshamlett3887]

Its not. Deep. Deep implies there is alot beyond what is right there on the surface. Which there is not. Its all right there bro.

[@fromthescreen123]

@@moseshamlett3887 haha forget this scene, there’s SO much beyond the surface in all QT movies

[@chadboltzpro8808]

Notice in the close-up on Butch's face at the door--the shadow is on the right side (from our perspective). The left side of his face is lit. This shows strength. In the close-up where Butch is taking the deal to throw the fight, the left side is dark. This shows weakness. --From a Roger Ebert Pulp Fiction Interruptus

[@lucasrunge8792]

Pointing out the gimp equalizing Butch w/ himself is a good pickup.

[@VonJay]

Rather complex statement: the entire movie is a critique of "postmodernism." To critique postmodernism Tarantino sort of invented "self-reflexive postmodernism." He then said that he spawned a generation of films and filmmakers that got the wrong idea about what he made, because they all became postmodern artists, missing the entire point of the film. The way this is relevant to your video is that the entire movie subverts postmodern toolsets of anti heroed, blurred lines, morally grey characters, subjective truths. He does this by making movie non-linear, and saving someone by the end of each scene or chapter, saved in every sense of the word from Mia being stabbed in the heart, to wallace being saved by Butch, to Jules being saved by divine intervention. Whereas, if the movie was linear, it would be more of a postmodern film without the self reflexive qualities, yet the qualities of the characters would serve as self reflexive vehicles that critique the postmodern artform/toolset. For instance, the Wolf was played by Henry Keitel and he played a similar character the year prior in a movie called "point of no return" as the Cleaner. Basically an assassin meant to go and clean up other assassins that made a mistake. In Pulp Fiction, he's called to literally help clean up the scene and not off the other assassins. In that entire routine, we see a code or sense of honor amongst criminals. And Tarantino further pokes fun at postmodernism and postmodern writers by having the wolf say to the camera (and to the hitmen and his gf) "just because you are a character, doesn't mean that you have character."

[@fromthescreen123]

@@VonJay beautifully put and I agree with everything you say regarding the movie except that Tarantino invented self-reflexive postmodernism. It’s something that evolved organically during the 1900s well before he made pulp fiction. Authors, filmmakers etc were playing with the technique well before him; characters questioning their own existence, fourth wall breaks, stories with non-linear structures etc all existed before Tarantino. He’s a great filmmaker no doubt but he is also someone who masterfully reinterprets and pays homage to cinematic influences, weaving them into his work… he always has.

[@VonJay]

@ “sort of invented self reflexive postmodernism” in the sense that I haven’t seen a critical toolset of postmodernism before that so to say. Roddenberry was credited as creating hyper modernism and thought to be a rebuttal to postmodernism without it needing to use or utilize extreme focus on any of the modern or postmodern tools. i’ve searched through literature and films and haven’t found any self reflexive pm narratives, not saying that they don’t exist but rebuttals to pm definitely do exist they just don’t seem to critique from within the pm waters. I just did a google lookup and even a chat gpt one where the chat says something to the likes of gravity’s rainbow being self reflexive pm but it also states that the novel does this by challenging grand narratives though grand narratives aren’t attributes of postmodernism. i’ve watched a myriad of films on both of those chat and google lists and I don’t think it captures sr-pm like tarantino did, hence the “sort of” invented self reflexive pm.

[@GenjiHarada]

Your video made me notice how he put his hand up to butch as he leaves 7:16.

[@flankspeed]

Oh, that is an awesome point about the katana 👍👍

[@DTL0VER]

Would love to knew what they did with Z…

[@PrimarchX]

I remember seeing this scene for the first time in the theater when it came out and saying, "Oh, no. Ball gags." to myself.

[@TauntersTongue]

This particular scene reminds me of the movie deliverance. A lot of what sets this scene apart can be felt in the scene in deliverance where similar acts are committed.

[@kawamikazecheant]

This scene is like a redemption for Butch, the one who first accepted a fake match, and then ran away from the same match, now like a samurai he's going to show honor in saving the man who wants him dead, and who is responsible for his fall ( along with himself ). Marsellus Wallace appeared like a strong demon who ordered to torture Butch's staff, while they obviously knew nothing about the situation. But Butch is not him. Marsellus would have probably came back in the same situation, but for different reasons: get revenge on them, and torture and kill Butch by himself. By being good while knowing the opposite would have not been true, he acts like a true hero, someone who deserves his golden watch. While ironically, the watch made him encounter Marsellus. You can look it from whatever angle, this movie is brilliantly written.

[@willgold9989]

Damn good breakdown 👍

[@julianhughes4395]

Lol it's deep alright. Balls deep

[@fromthescreen123]

@@julianhughes4395 😂

[@jedward635]

I was hoping to be the one that added it. Good job.

[@riffraffrichard]

When butch chose not to forfeit the fight there was a moral code in that decision. He obviously didn’t respect the idea of a rigged fight and couldn’t follow through at the last minute as it was messing with his sense of self respect.

[@LiamODev]

When I first watched this at the cinema, unfortunately, everyone laughed at "I ain't through witchu by a damn sight" and we didn't get to hear possibly the best line of the film: "I'm gonna get medieval on your ass". But that was a gem waiting for when I got to watch it again.

[@richie_williams]

I always thought Butch went back to help Marcellus because saving him would mean he wouldn’t have to forever look over his shoulder, as Marcellus would forgive his previous wrongdoing. If this is correct, then he maintained his stance of self preservation to the very end, thus being true to himself rather than having gone ‘full circle’.

[@fromthescreen123]

@@richie_williamsHe had already planned to disappear, I doubt he cared about spending the rest of his life looking over his shoulder. Considering his story is literally titled “The Gold Watch,” his choice to go back and save Marsellus seems more deeply connected to the tale he was told about his father as a child. If the moral of the gold watch story had been about living without fear of what’s behind you, I’d agree with you, but that’s not the message it conveys.

[@fromthescreen123]

@@richie_williams but hey, everything is open to interpretation 🤷‍♂️

[@richie_williams]

@@fromthescreen123 I totally agree, he had planned to disappear and not care about looking over his shoulder; that’s my point. He realised when he was at the crossroads of the doorway, I can still escape but if I go back and help him, I won’t HAVE to look over my shoulder. I’ll be ‘free’. Fantastic video man, absolutely loved the breakdown. Subscribed this evening 👍

[@richie_williams]

@@fromthescreen123I’ll be honest, I’d never associated Butch’s decision with his father’s speech, the watch, and what it represented. I always assumed it was more superficial than that and was about self preservation. Then again, I didn’t study film at college or university so I don’t make these sensible and deeper connections.

[@fromthescreen123]

@@richie_williams neither of us is wrong or right :) Just like art is open to interpretation so are movies!

[@kidomniman8635]

Butch had already killed Vincent, hit Marcellus with a car, and was probably willing to beat Marcellus to death to get away. Murdering his enemies was an option for Butch but leaving someone to a fate like his father's, being captive and tortured while having to either a watch or Zed up his ass, was not something he could do to his literal worst enemy. It might have also been Butch's only way to hurt sadistic people like the ones that killed his father.

[@QuasiMonkey]

I always wondered if the gimp has like a day job or does he live in the basement in a box all the time... lol

[@n.e.g.u.s]

Considering how Walken describe the way in which that gold watch remained hidden for so long, this scene really holds much more weight.

[@VeXeDZERO]

Alternatively, the Gimps gesturing could be as simple as "You belong to me" It aint that deep lol

[@rickDArula]

I’m not sure where I read this, but I think Tarantino mentioned in an interview, that Zed had the gimp in the cage for years after he found a hitch hiker or something like that

[@fromthescreen123]

@@rickDArula Yeah you’re correct, he says that I believe whilst he’s on the carpet for a movie premiere - I saw the clip when doing research for this video :)

[@jojojojojojojo-vh6my]

From the screen to the ring to the pen to the king

[@Zalman1337]

It's so fucking deep

[@GhostOfMJ-HeHe]

They certainly went *deep* in that scene.

[@manifestgtr]

Dude, I don’t care if you and I were about to claw each other’s eyes out in rage. There’s no way you doom your enemy to a life of hillbilly butt stuff…that’s a flagrant violation of bro code…

[@kellenlean2076]

I think the American and confederate flag in the back also applies. His family were warriors who fought for what they believed was right. Leaving that shop without helping would’ve essentially killed everything his forefathers fought for. True freedom for all. The dude getting brutally violated in the basement sure as hell doesn’t have freedom. Even if he was trying to kill butch. A warrior never turns his back when someone needs help.

[@TheSuirad]

It's crazy how the TV version edited the whole scene and I'm just now seeing the real version after all these years. 😮

[@Dumah36]

bro didnt have to save him. He knew that he didnt. Knew it wouldve likely worked out better for him if he just left. He still saved him. Like yeah whatever bad blood is there its gone now.

[@theterminaldave]

Crazy glint in Butch's eyes when he's at the door, almost looks like a replicant.

[@n.e.g.u.s]

Reptilian?

[@TheMoose126]

I couldn’t leave someone to that fate either