Pulp Fiction: 30th Anniversary - Amazon Exclusive 4K UHD Collector's Edition

Do I really need to review this film? I mean, it’s Pulp Fiction - it’s awesome! An iconic piece of ‘90s cinema, it’s the film that defined a generation of filmmakers and then some. Thanks to a friend of a friend who knew a guy who also had a friend, we had a high-quality (for its time) VHS copy of the film long before the film left theaters. I wasn’t lucky enough to see this in theaters during its initial run, but that bootleg was in the player running as long and as often as I had the time. 30 years later, this film has not diminished one iota in my estimation. From one format to the next (legitimately purchased, I assure you), it’s maintained a place in the collection. Including on 4K SteelBook. So where does that leave this new 30th Anniversary Limited Edition? 

Before we get into that, let’s roll back the clock two years ago when Paramount released Pulp Fiction on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in a standard two-disc 4K UHD with Blu-ray and digital set. Cool! It was a beautiful, great-looking transfer and there were plenty of bonus features. Paramount also issued a pretty damn stylish SteelBook for fans to pay a little extra coin for. But that was two years ago. Two years before the film’s 30th Anniversary. Flash forward to the present day and here we are, the proper 30th Anniversary of Pulp Fiction and what does Paramount have in store? Well… pretty much everything we got before but with a packaging switcheroo. 

You get the same film. You get the same excellent video transfer. You get the same great audio that’s carried us through for a few discs. You get the same bonus features and content too. So what’s new? For that answer, scroll down to the “Vital Disc Stats” section for all the gory details. In the meantime, check out these links to previous reviews for our thoughts and feelings about Tarantino’s iconic opus. 

Nate Boss’ Danish Import Blu-ray Review

Aaron Peck’s Blu-ray Review

Bryan Kluger’s 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review 

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Paramount Home Entertainment rolls into Jack Rabbit Slim’s to celebrate the two-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Pulp Fiction: 30th Anniversary Limited Edition. The same BD100 and BD50 discs return in a standard two-disc black case with the black and white art version of Mia Wallace on the cover. The slipcover is the classic full-color version of the poster art and opens up to a pop-up book display of the Jack Rabbit Slim’s twist contest. Also included is a packet of art cards and sticker sheet. The whole package is held together with a simple stylish black paper slipcase with the definition of “pulp” on the back.

The same excellent transfer also returns. Rather than restating what's already been said, here's what Bryan thought of the 2160p Dolby Vision presentation.  

Pulp Fiction comes with a wonderful 2160p UHD 4K image with Dolby Vision that upgrades the picture quality from the previously released Blu-ray. This is one of the best films ever made and so should the video presentation that comes with it. While it has a great uptick in color output and detail, this isn't exactly a demo-worthy 4K release that would be used to show newcomers the format or to show off a new system.

Clarity and depth have big improvements this time around with this new transfer. The detail is vivid and sharp even in the warmer-tinted lighting conditions such as the diner and inside the club where Marcellus hangs out. Textures in those famous black suits now reveal their stitching and patterns that weren't quite noticeable before. The individual facial hairs and beads of sweat come through better as well. Metallic guns, vehicles, and other background items look amazing with the right amount of detail for each object. At Jack Rabbit Slims, the detail in the food and bubbles in the five-dollar milkshake are excellent. The new clarity brings a more complex palette to the screen.

The colors are bolder and richer whereas the opening scene at the diner gives way to those more neutral and warmer colors between Pumpkin and Honey Bunny. This contrasts perfectly later in the film when Vincent and Jules are wearing bright neon shorts and shirts. Jack Rabbit Slims showcases all of the primary and neon colors that bring a rainbow of boldness to the screen. Those amber-tinted sequences bring forth some great detail and other warmer colors to light that had been missing before. Black levels are inky and rich that never bleed or look murky. Again, the black suits look amazing here against the bright white walls of the apartment. Skin tones are natural as well. The film grain is intact and never looks heavy or swarms. This is a great looking new 4K transfer, but it never goes over that hill into perfection like the movie itself. There are no problems with banding, aliasing, or heavy noise.

And because the video is the same, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix is also the same track dating back to 2011. Which is just fine for this film. From our 2011 Blu-ray review:

Now here's where you'll get an upgrade from the Danish import version. Frankly, Lionsgate's new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is every bit as demo-worthy as any of the modern action and adventure movies that have come out on Blu-ray in the past few months. This is a very fun, very energetic mix that uses every channel with purpose.

The rears are alive much of the time, especially during the dance scene and the scenes in the diner. Dialogue is perfectly intelligible, even during Bruce Willis' whispered lines. Gunshots sound a bit tinny, but they've always sounded that way. Actually, the gunshots in 'Pulp Fiction' sound much more realistic than they do in other movies. When Jules lays into his Biblical verses the entire soundstage quakes. The crescendo of his prophetic voice fills the room. LFE has its moments, and when called upon offers a resonate force of bass.

I loved every minute of this engrossing audio mix. It reminded me of the movie's theatrical presentation. Audiophiles and fans alike will find this one a pure treat.

Again, the same extra features also make their way back. 

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE EXTRAS IN DETAIL

4K Disc

• Not the Usual Mindless Boring Getting To know You Chit Chat
• Here Are Some Facts On The Fiction
• Enhanced Trivia Track

Blu-ray Disc

• Not the Usual Mindless Boring Getting To know You Chit Chat
• Here Are Some Facts On The Fiction
• Pulp Fiction: The Facts – Documentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Behind the Scenes Montages
• Production Design Featurette
• Siskel & Ebert At the Movies: The Tarantino Generation
• Independent Spirit Awards
• Cannes Film Festival – Palme D'Or Acceptance Speech
• Charlie Rose Show
• Marketing Gallery
• Still Gallery
• Enhanced Trivia Track

So what is there to celebrate with Paramount’s Pulp Fiction: 30th Anniversary Limited Edition? Well if you break it down on paper, not a whole lot to be frank. The key issue is that the same discs have been recycled for service without any new improvements. But, I’m not altogether surprised there’s nothing new for bonus features because it’s only been two years between releases. And then, this film has enjoyed such a rich life on Laserdisc, DVD, and Blu-ray that there’s probably not a whole lot more bonus content to add after three decades. Sure, maybe a commentary could have been thrown in there but by whom of any importance? Maybe they could have done a cast retrospective, but then those are usually just puff pieces anyway.

It could be accused that those in charge took the easy path for a simple repackage with extraneous printed swag, and that accusation would be sound. There’s nothing “new” or worthwhile here that’d warrant another purchase on 4K UHD disc. Yes, the packaging is cool, but it’s not $60 (at the time of this writing) worth of cool. To that end, as cool as this set is, I can’t fully recommend it either. The film is phenomenal, the A/V is excellent, the on-disc extras are informative - but you can get all of that on the standard two-disc set for a third of the price (or less). If you don’t own this film on 4K already, it’s certainly a fun piece for the collection, but I’d still suggest you seek out the regular 2-disc edition before going for this big set. At the end of the day I can really only call this one For Fans Only - not terrible or something to avoid, but for what you’re getting at the current price point isn’t enough for such a hefty expense.