I have another theory about Butch. He saved Marcellus because on the slim chance he survives, he’d be hunted wherever he went. He’s a big gangster who probably has people stationed everywhere, and by saving him, Butch suddenly is owed a favor by Marcellus, meaning he would almost 100% be promised safe passage out, and not get a ”kill on sight”.
And if Marcellus wasn’t ok with it Butch could have just killed him right then and there. However i do think that Butch did it because of the I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy thing. I think he does have a moral compass and the reason he doesn’t seem to care that he killed that other boxer is a coping mechanism for him, like when he says that it was the other boxers fault and if he had just been a better boxer he would still be alive.
Marsellus was present near Butch's apartment because staking out the apartment was a two-man job (look at what happened when Vincent was there by himself), and Jules had quit. So Marsellus and Vincent were staking out the apartment together when Marsellus went out to get donuts and coffee for breakfast. Marsellus wasn't there because he didn't trust Vincent. He was there because he was short-handed.
This is the genius of the movie's structure. Vincent dies as a direct, though unintended, consequence of Jules' decision to quit, but this is not revealed to the audience until the last scene when Jules tells Vincent about it.
@@deadeyedave444 This could be that two men witnessed a miracle. One chose to acknowledge it and chose a different path, one of righteousness, the other chose to ignore it and stayed on the path of destruction and died days later.
Or he was looking for a reason to off Vincent and he knew there was a high probability that Vincent would do something stupid. Which he DID, but got away with it.
A gangster doesn't risk his own wife's safety to generate an unnecessary "reason" to kill someone. Mia Wallace almost turned up dead so Marcellus could justify killing Vincent?! Justify it to WHO?! If Marcellus wanted him dead, he'd be dead. No reasons needed.@@WalterDiamond
@@WalterDiamond Funny I actually think he handled it well. I maintain it was Mia's fault she OD'd. He didn't give her smack she stole it while he was away and used it without asking. Even in a moment of panic he still acted which ultimately saved her life. If not for Mia's actions it would have just been an uneventful night at a 50s diner with a little dancing.
I thought something similar. Kinda figured he saved him because 1 of 2 things would happen, if Marcellus found a way out, he'd chase him down or he'd have the chance to kill him, if he still wanted to chase him down. Win/win for butch. Reward was much higher than the risk.
@@seriouslee6741exactly, besides, if you deep it Butch was to blame for Marcellus’ rape seeing that he wouldn’t have ended up in that situation if not for Butch. Even more reason to kill him. Butch knows that game respects game though, so saving him saves him in the long run.
Nah. I think everyone's just reading too much into the situation. He saved him because he actually has an ounce of morality left in him, and wouldn't wish the fate that Marcellus was facing on anyone. Plain and simple.
That's true. Marcellus knows Butch could tell people what Really happened to him in the Basement. Better both men walk away. Butch is going to Mexico, anyway.
Marcellus wasn't going to make it out alive, both him and butch would have been been repeatedly raped until zed got bored with them and than killed them.
The gun in the apartment more than likely belonged to Marcellus, who was also probably the reason he didn't question the sounds, as he expected him back
Likely. Marcellus left the gun to get the donuts (obviously you're not gonna carry a smg to a donut shop) and Vincent expected him to come back with the donuts. Not questioning the slow and steady movement of Butch is still a mistake on vincents part, but it could be answered because Vincent always reads a book (he was shown holding one before he died) when he shits, and his mind was most likely too preocupied with the book to give any significant thought to the movements of Butch.
Nice catch, I wondered why he didn't react when Butch came into the apartment. He must have heard something, the guy made pop tarts in the toaster. Which is such a stupid reckless move itself when you know the apartment is probably being watched. But it nice ties the story of Vincent together, because he shot Marvin on accident (or not) and Butch might have shot Vincent on accident because he was startled by the toaster. It's genius how ambigous the movie is. We never know what's in the briefcase etc.
No one commented on the fact that all the bad things happened to Vincent right after and because he uses the bathroom and each event gets worse as the movie progresses. The first time is the coffee shop scene which ironically is the pivotal flashback. Then Marcelis's wife at the house and finally at Butches' apartment. Each time he has to relive himself it leads to a problem.
I read something once that said this is intentional by QT because heroin makes you have to shit all the time or something. Idk about that, and idk about heroin either, but cool attention to detail if true.
@@ExtendedJet8 I thought it was that narcotics like heroin make you constipated but with that he could have been using laxatives that worked at unexpected times.
Marcellus was so happy that he actually allowed Butch back to L.A. ( getting rid of Vince was like cleaning up that top shelve full of bottles that you know you must do it but you keep postponing) Butch done Marcellus a huge favour killing that fatso big mouthed
And, with Marcellus's machine gun. Most people assume the machine gun was Vincent's, but it was left there by Marcellus earlier. So Vincent getting killed was partly Marcellus's fault.
His understanding of Vincent Vega is completely wrong. If you listen to the dialogue, it’s pretty plain that Vega probably spent time in Amsterdam in hiding from a hit that he did for Marcellus in Los Angeles. He was sent there and recalled once things had died down. Marsellus Wallace doesn’t give Vincent menial jobs. He is assigned to accompany Mia Wallace, likely more as a bodyguard than a date. He is also sent to kill Butch. And in the beginning of the film, he and Jules are sent to retrieve what was stolen. You can say that Vincent might not be the sharpest tool in the box, but he wasn’t given menial jobs and he is very close with Marsellus Wallace.
these two things can be true Vincent was a junkie and kinda stupid, so why was he given such important jobs by Wallace? I believe it was nepotism thanks to his brother
you are absolutely correct. Vincent has been hiding out in Amsterdam after clearly killing somebody very high profile. When he comes back and Marsellus Wallace sees him for the first time, he's extremely happy to see him. And the fact that he trusts Vincent so much that he would have him take his wife out on a date speaks to the fact that Vincent did Marcellus and his organization a solid. it's also worth noting that Vincent's last name is Vega. Some theorize that he is the brother of Vic Vega from Reservoir dogs. In that movie, Vic has just done a stint in prison for the organization he works for, and did not snitch anybody out. weather Quentin Tarantino considers Vincent and Vic to be brothers or if he just likes using "Vega" last name for loyal but crazy hitmen, both Vega characters are deeply trusted by their mob bosses.
@@DrillForAbsentee They are brothers. Quentin has confirmed it in interviews. He was planning on doing a Vega Brothers movie, likely to take place in Amsterdam, but too much time went by, and the two actors, Michael Madsen and John Travolta, would be incredibly difficult to made to look as they did in Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.
Also Vincent was a heroin addict, which explains why he's always going to the bathroom. I've heard heroin addicts are always constipated. In a way his own addiction was his downfall.
Vincent's "big mistake." In the script, He was suppose to kill Marvin but Travolta said to Tarantino that the audience would hate him for it, so they changed it to a accident. Vincent didn't mean to kill him.
That's not entirely true. It was an accident. But the first shot was gonna be in the throat. Marvin would be dying/suffering and then Vincent would shoot him again in the head.
I hate it when actors try to write. Or even when directors come back later and make Greedo shoot first 🙄 I’d rather see realistic portrayals of characters… Vince is a hit man… and JT is worried we won’t like him for killing someone?! 🤦♂️
Firstly I don't know exactly what you seem to know about the changes (what has been said etc). But it seems to me that they could have just changed Marvin's death to _seem_ like an accident to keep the audience on Vincent's side. But upon closer examination it is reasonable that it was a murder.
6:14 Wait, wait, wait a minute, there's another insight! Vince's death also became a mystery. Vince ended up just like the guy who is believed to have been nearly killed by mr. Wallace for giving mrs. Wallace a foot massage. By that, I mean the fact that people knew that 1) Vincent was seen having fun with Mia, and to onlookers, they looked like a couple. 2) The last man who was seen with Vince was Marcellus. 3) Vincent was shot to death. And Marcellus will never tell people that Butch did it because his meeting with Butch became a secret. Thus, another bunch of gangsters will make up rumors that Vince messed around with Mia and that’s why Marcellus killed him. But the fact is that no one knows why Vince died besides Marcellus and Butch.
@@stevenfagaly3810 negative. 1) Vincent did Not end up "just like" Tony Rocky Horror. Riddled dead with bullets vs speech impediment. 2) Wallace, Mia, Jewels, Paul the barkeeper dude... safe to say the whole crew knew how the big man Requested the Mia "date"... No secret. Pretty obvious the killer was Butch (it was Butch's apartment, Butch skips town and there was Fabienne's car crash, witnesses, etc.) The mystery will be *Why* Wallace no longer seems to want Butch hunted down anymore 😉😬🤭🤐
1. Butch could be killed that day, before anyone learns of Marcellus disappearance. 2. Whoever would've taken over in Marcellus' absence would probably have maintained the contract on Butch, especially as Butch would've been a prime suspect in Marcellus' case. @@keithmarlowe5569
Not how that works, they are criminals, they don't care about anything or anyone outside themselves. Once Marcellus died his entire operation either would have scattered, or an underling would have taken over. Either way they would have had more important things to do than find and kill some clown on the lamb.
Look, none of these are really theories, none of this is incredible, and all this shit is really very old, but still I love to talk about this movie approaching it’s 30ty anniversary so, WOOOO still discovering new pulp fiction stuff! I just found out that Keitel’s Reservour dogs character and his pulp fiction characters are, like the Vegas, brothers! Like 20 years ago. Wow! It’s the 90s again, back when the script that said Vega killed Marvin on purpose was originally read by John Travolta. None of this is new
I am in NO way a religious person- however, one thing I clearly see as a thread in QT’s scripts is that “there is a right thing to do”, and I believe wholeheartedly that PF displays where Tarantino and Avery think this moral compass comes from- “god” for lack of a better term. We know that Vega ignores the “miracle” and that Jules acknowledges it. Subsequently, Jules escapes death and Vincent is destroyed. Jules Winfield evolves and finds a higher calling. We find QT destroying evil men in history- Nazis, anti-female predators, Southern Slavers, Mansonoid murders… he clearly appreciates truth and humanity and if I’m not mistaken, he does find this as emanating from a positive force opposed to evil in the universe.
I like your idea. What I like even more is the idea that Jules knows that Vincent killed Marvin on purpose, and is lying about leaving so that he can "walk the earth". Jules knows that as long as he's in contact with Vincent, trouble will follow him, so he makes up the Caine from Kung Fu thing so they can end the partnership amicably, with no harm coming to Vince as a direct consequence (indirect, yes).
Highly enjoyable! But I do think the gun on the counter is Marcellus' for he went out to get some Coffee and couldn't wear it in public. Vincent uses his pistol when he kills as we saw throughout the movie.
Marcellus had his pistol on him when Butch ran him over, which he used to shoot the bystander and continued to spray pot shots down the street, all the way to the pawn shop
@@csaenz1328 That's true! But it doesn't mean that the gun on the counter isn't his weapon. My main argument is: We see Vincent using his pistol when it comes to kill someone. Therefore I assume that Marcellus goes with that heavy gun for intimidation or maybe even pleasure and has his pistol as a backup. But your point is absolutely fair.
I think its Marcellus who supplied Vincent with the gun he probably that since Vincents had a few ”accidents” and that the person they are trying to kill is a boxer he would have given it to Vincent so that theres a smaller chance that Vincent dosent miss.
Whichever one of them brought the big gun, Marcellus couldn't have taken it with him when he went out for burgers. Vincent still left it on the counter when he went into the can, Marcellus wouldn't have left with him in there. Vincent was careless.
It is kind of strange that Vincent doesn't seem to know anything about the job they're pulling at Marvin's. I call that sloppy partner work by Jules. That's some stuff a guy your life could depend on should know.
C'mon man...The horn sound in the background outside of butch's apartment was La Cucaracha not the reveille call...😅 This is one of the worst theory videos I've ever seen on the film...
Pretty good. Fair conclusions. I tend to think that Vincent's addiction made him careless and less observant rather than deliberate with Marvin, and that the sense of duty you discussed with Butch is also a moral code.
Except one thing, guns don't just go off. Especially the gun he was holding. You need to apply a significate amount of leveraged pressure to the trigger to shoot.
Notice the light fixture on the wall in the appartment where the divine intervention occured... there is only a light bulb on the left (Jules' side) Vincent's side is... darkness
Here’s my theory, Jules leaves at the end of pulp fiction, and walks the earth like he said he would. Rescuing people from evil. He settles down and plays piano in a little low key church out in the desert, when he’s finally killed by the deadly viper assassination squad, in kill bill.
I agree with your assessment of Vincent. I always figured he was in Amsterdam for 3 1/2 yrs due to getting in trouble in the states and was waiting out the statute of limitations in a none extraditable country. Probably involved in Wallace's drug trafficking ring and didn't really have much to do in Amsterdam so he got hooked on heroin.
Except the US has and has had an extradition treaty with the Netherlands for over 50 years. I doubt Vincent did anything to warrant a 10 most wanted poster, but enough for him to lay low for a bit as you mentioned. Whatever he did I doubt it rose to the level that Interpol or the Feds gave a single shit about.
Theory: Fabienne left the watch so Butch would be killed whilst retrieving it, letting her escape his domestic violence. PS. The Wolf saved the Shepherd from tyranny in the valley.
Of these 3 theories, the only 1 that i buy is the 2nd one. As even though its never implied why Vince was in Amsterdam for 3 years, it can be said that he likely screwed up on a job, and Marcelous and him being great friends, had him hide out there until the heat died down. And it's a inside joke throughout the Movie that Vince and even Jules to a lesser extent, aren't good at their jobs. And this is bought full circle with the contrast w/ the Wolf. A sharp "Fixer" who is, calm, smart, fast thinking and moving, full attention to detail and no nonsence. The Butch theory is half hearted. Even though the Koons/Butch's father idea is interesting, on top of whatever honor Butch may have to rescue Wallace of being the next gimp, the reality is even if he left, he still has a contract on his head. And Wallace seems well connected world-wide and Butch got greenlighted prior to the 2 of them bumping into those hillbillies. He would still be a hunted man if he left him there and would eventually be killed. The 3rd theory makes no sense. Why would he intentionally kill Marvin at that moment? In a car and the middle of nowhere suburbia where both him and Jules are unfamiliar with in broad daylight? Him "accidentally" killing Marvin was played for Dark Comedy, and to once again reaffirm that Vincent isnt good at his job. Nothing more
I believe Vincent shoots marvin on purpose. He even adjusts the angle of his gun before he shoots. He was mad at Marvin for not warning them and he should be dead for the kid’s mistake. Perhaps Marvin was too afraid of Jules who shouted him to shut up right before and couldn’t pull himself to warn them. Anyway it was clear Vincent was mad with Marvin and he probably wouldn’t have another shot at him since he obviously would not be called for a next job. Either he would do it there or he would never do it.
On the other hand, why would he have the gun in his hand with his finger on the trigger at that moment? In a car and the middle of nowhere suburbia in broad daylight, having a theological debate about bullets and miracles?
Not neccessarily. If he told them about the visit, they probably wouldn't have been at the apartment. Why risk getting shot at all? Then they would also know he was a mole
@@MDCxThePG Doubtful as it would have been four against two. The four having complete familiarity with the apt. would know where to hide. You have Mr. Whaley open the door and invite them in. He then goes into the kitchen to "retrieve" the briefcase at which point the other three rise from their hidden positions and blast the living shit outta Vincent & Jules. Easy peasey.
Vincent didn’t leave the gun on the counter. That was actually Marcella’s gun Because he went out for coffee and didn’t think Butch would come back And the whole bathroom thing comes full circle with that too
Regardless it goes to Vincent's constant sloppiness. The whole point is that they think Butch might show up. He can damn well hold it til Marsellus gets back.
On the plus side, I watched the whole thing. Probably a Pulp Fiction thing. On the negative side: Butch did what he did because no self respecting man is gonna walk away from that horror show. He knew M wanted him dead,and in the world they lived in, figured it was exactly what he had coming. I won’t say Butch wasn’t unaware of gaining favor for his deed, as he brought it up almost immediately. As for Vincent, M obviously trusted him and his abilities, or he wouldn’t be babysitting his wife. I mean, c’mon. Hypotheses rejected.
If I was Butch I would have rescued Marcellus even though he was my ebnemy he didn't deserve that.I wonde if it ws racially motivated wityh hthem being southern nhillbilies wee they modern day buckbreaking?Butch was being honourable.
Autocorrect had an absolute field day with you, or you just cannot fucking spell at all. Autocorrect even made you spell honorable all regarded like-to-buy-a-vowel style like you are British or something. If you are then autocorrect really fucked you, it left out all the other superfluous vowels that Brits use! Damn, I imagine “superfluous” in British, how many more vowels can they cram into that word? I bet six ir so…
Marcellus is with Vincent on the stakeout because Jules quit. It's the boss taking a job personally when they're down a man. This also means that by walking away and redeeming himself, Jules also avoids the fated of Vincent and Marcellus, just like Butch.
The one man that was trusted with his wife is the guy that couldn't be trusted? Doesn't make a lot of sense. Vince is a hitman. If he was in Amsterdam, he wasn't there on vacation sightseeing. He was eating in crappy fast food restaurants looking for someone. There's no way he would shoot the informant in the car with that caliber of bullet on purpose. He would have know what a mess that would have made. I completely agree with the butch theory. But I don't think that was supposed to be a hidden message. I feel like that's what the writer wanted you to take away from the story. He wasn't a soldier but he was fighting his own war in life. He did what every man would do/thinks they would do. And let's not forget that Butch had the drop on him in that scene. He could have cut him up with that sword at anytime and he would have if marcellus's answer was different.
Vince is picked to go with Marcellus wife because she wanted to win that Twist Trophy. Marcellus can't dance. What in the case? It's an Academy award. An Oscar for Mira.
I had a paperback of a pre-shooting draft of the script. In it Vincent shoots Marvin in the throat, and Marvin is still alive. THEN he shoots him in the face and his head explodes.
Really liked your conclusions. Logical as far as I can see. No worries on the blurring. You gotta do what you gotta do for UA-cam censorship. Most of us have seen this movie so many times it doesn't matter. You did a great cut right before Marvin shuffles off the mortal coil thanks to Vincent BTW. Thank you!
Jules explains to Ringo that when he gets nervous he gets scared. And when he gets scared that's when people accidentally get shot. Vincent was scared because he knew it actually was a miracle and that's why he accidentally killed Marvin.
I just remembered the events of Pulp Fiction are supposed to take place on the same day or shortly after the events of Reservoir Dogs. The diamonds are in the briefcase. When Vic is introduced in RD, he's just gotten out of jail...during the same time period as Vince was in Amsterdam. I think the two "exiles" might be related. I wish QT would make the Vega brothers sequel he always talked about.
Despite a couple of 'oversights' I think you did a nice job on this! As to the blur - - "it is what it is" - gotta' keep the YT algorithm happy to pay the rent!
Miraculously dodged a bullet Accident shoots Marvin Almost dies/ gets robbed at the diner Almost gets his friends arrested and kills his friends wife He had every chance to walk away……instead gets shot and killed in a bathroom.
And thats why Vincent got killed. He rejected the miracle and continued a life of crime and evil and he died two days later at the hands of Butch. Whereas Jules respected God’s miracle and left the life of crime that same morning.
I love how videos like this help me enjoy something like this even more. I first saw this movie when it in THEATERS! I had no idea what it was about, but it was starting when we got there.
4:30 The reason he picked up a sword was an homage to Kurasawa movies. This has been analyzed in other videos. In fact, Tarantino pays homage to several other films in this scene where Butch chooses his weapon. Initial choice is a baseball bat (Walking Tall) then a Chainsaw (Evil Dead) and finally he spies the sword (So every movie in which the hero uses a sword - but my money is on Kurasawa films).
Seen this movie many times. Every character does something stupid at some point or another…except the Wolf of course. But until you put it all together just now do I realize how big of a clusterfuck Vincent actually was. He literally could not do anything right. Thanks for the video
Vincent and Jules were supposed to kill Marvin at the apartment, but after Jules thought he was saved by divine intervention, Jules no longer went through on their pre-decided plan, and Vincent didn't feel he could bring it up and remind Jules what they were supposed to do considering Jules' new state of mind, especially since he was talking about giving up killing people all together. However, Vincent knew he had to still kill Marvin, or there would be repercussions with Marcellus, so instead of arguing with Jules about whether they should spare Marvin or kill him per Marcellus' order, Vincent decided that the best course of action would be to shoot Marvin in the face and act like it was an accident.
I think you’re missing a major point that would add a lot of weight to your final theory, and would also explain why Marcellus is with Vince at Butch’s apartment. Jules doesn’t only let Pumpkin and Honey Bunny go in an attempt to “become the shepherd”, he actually takes it one step further and quits the hitman life all together. He tells Marcellus he was retiring when they dropped off the brief case. This is why Marcellus has to go on the stakeout with Vincent. And, because Jules recognized the divine intervention, he was spared the “great vengeance and furious anger” that god reigned down on Vincent who remained “the tyranny of evil men.”
Vincent totally did that on purpose. He was still pissed off about the guy in the bathroom. He had no reason to still have the gun out and definitely no reason to have his finger on the trigger. That was a deliberate act of a heroin, addicted, psychopath, hitman. As far as Butch goes, that's a pretty good theory.
Everything points to Vincent doing it intentionally. First off, he was on the verge of shooting in the apartment for crying on the floor, but found out Marvin was a friend of Jewel's. Secondly, Vincent was just in a Tombstone kind of disposition at the time...minutes later he was wanting to kill Jimmy, after that, he was trying to creat a beer with The Wolf, after that, he was intimating that he might kill his friend Jewells and then, later in the bar with Butch.
Interesting take im slow ive seen reservoir dogs and pulp fiction plenty of times and never picked up on the vick/Vincent Vega connection thank you better late than never
How about Travolta shares the name in this movie with another famous character, Vinnie Barbarino. Is this a an imagined future for that character? Could he really make good outside of High School?
I felt like Marcelus was with Vincent in the stake out because Jules had retired with Marcelus blessing and he was teaming up with Vincent till he could find someone else to show Vincent the ropes so to speak (like a mentor).
I feel like butch could have drove that Honda for ten minutes or so through the LA area in between leaving the apartment and encountering Marcellus on the crosswalk for all we know. Why is it presumed that he’s anywhere near the apartment? If he wanted to sit on the watch so bad to en why he at the donut shop? And is it situational irony that when butch goes to get the uncomfortable hunk of lead that so many people kept up their butt while dying of dysentery that the guy guarding it was instead on the toilet? And you ever notice that you never see butch and Jules at the same time? What if they’re the same person, and Fabianne is like Jules’s relaxer bottle that he likes to talk to all sweet like? And blueberry is a metaphor for self betterment? They didn’t have walk-the-earth blueberry, I had to get badmotherfucker
The moral of Marvin getting shot is not having an opinion either way. Him being a double agent as you said. Jules sees the divine. the bullets' did pass right threw him. Vincent seen a freak occurrence no holes behind him. Both are correct from their own perspective, and wrong to the others. They are firm on what they believe. Marvin died because he did not pick a side, he was smitted for being a coward. I don't think Vince meant to shoot Marvin. It also advances Vincent's is a tale of ignorance. How many times was he in messed up situations unable to see the patterns, freak occurrence or not. Its fitting he gets shot at justifiably but was missed, but when he came out of the bathroom unarmed was up popped by every shot. When the time's up you're toast
My belief is that when Vincent and Jules are not hit by any of the bullets in the apartment it was a sign for BOTH Jules and Vincent to change their ways and stop being hitmen and find another path for their lives. Also the fact that he almost allowed the bosses wife to die of an drug overdose could have been another sign that maybe he should change the way he lives his life. Since nether events where able to make him realize that his luck as a criminal/hitman was about to run out it isn't such a surprise that he got killed soon afterward by being shot with his own gun.
Your belief sucks! I’m glad I disagree, because the lense through you view the world is really just a sphincter doling out turds on all that I think looks and smells beautiful. So you better fucking enjoy it! Enjoy your perspective, because every minute you look upon beauty the person behind you has to stare at your stupid mullet
Jules wasn’t talking about Marvin with his divine intervention theory lol. I do think it’s possible that Vincent shot Marvin on purpose for not telling them about the guy in the bathroom.
LOL! That wasn't the Revelry playing in the background while Butch was leaving the apartment complex. That was a famous segment of horn music from a Mexican tune called La Cucaracha. And if you lived in Los Angeles in the 70's and 80's...you heard it blaring from the horn of every lowrider in the city at some point. It was used in that segment to hammer home the point that Butch and his girl did not live in the "affluent" part of town.
I always felt that Vincent shooting Marvin in the face was intentional. Basically a Vince is a total psychopath who finally meets his maker at the hands of Butch.
First off, I just wanna' say that your take on Butch's odyssey is really intriguing, man. I guess I'd never really put that much thought into it before… 🤔 …But the concept of his having saved Marcellus Wallace being something more akin to a sort of paternally-inherited sense of honorーor better yet, *duty*ーas opposed to a purely righteous (ugh… 🤢 *seriously*, no pun intended) act. . . Not only would that ultimately make more sense, but conceptually, it's just a *WAY* better angle. And it all really does fit together quite nicely when you start paying attention to all of the analogues between his and his father's stories (which, in retrospect, I can't I'd never noticed before 😮). …That being said, while I agree with all of that, as well as most of your conjectures about Vincent, I don't feel that a lot of "his mistakes" were actually *HIS* mistakes… not entirely, anyway xD For instance, aside from his driving her around while he was ****ed up on heroin, he didn't actually do anything to endanger Mia. She was a dumb ass and she did it herself… There are so many things about that whole scene that prove this, but I'll try to keep it as brief as possible xD First and foremost, what kind of an asshole would just go digging around in someone else's pockets like that? That's just rude. But it's what happened afterward that could easily win her a Darwin Award. 1. So, she finds a huge baggie full of some mysterious, white powder, which for all she knew, could've been f***in' poisonーhowever unlikely that may be... But then again, he's allegedly a hitman, so who realsly knows? Then she has the brilliant idea to bust out a huge rail of it without even "testing the water" with a modest bump, just assuming it, for whatever reason, to be cocaine. 2. She didn't even taste it first... I'm ashamed to admit that I know for a fact that the two drugs taste very different, but more importantly, cocaine numbs your mouth when you take even the tiniest taste. Smack doesn't. If she'd just tasted it, it probably wouldn't have been enough to kill her; but even if it had been, she could've just spit it out and/or induced vomiting. 3. Lastly, even if you're a hardcore addict, you don't just throw caution to the wind, snorting up a finger-sized rail like that ‐.‐ Even if that had been coke, it *still* could've killed her, depending on the purity of her usual fare. 4. (Possibly) And worse still, considering that her husband was clearly a successful crime bossーmeaning that it's more than likely that she'd pretty much have an infinite supply of anything she could ever wantーit's very unlikely that she'd have any need to get into his shit in the first place =Þ
This... Her going straight to hitting that line is in no way Vincent's fault... I've never done either, but even I know you don't just snort random shit out of someone else's pocket...
Vincent knew he was responsible for keeping her safe. And he knew that he didn't know anything about her (Jules laughs when Vincent confirms that he's never met her). So why -- WHY?? -- would he bring a baggie of his powerful new heroin, nicknamed "The Madman," with him on the date? That it's only the third dumbest thing he does in the movie -- after leaving the gun on the counter at Butch's and pointing the gun at Marvin in the car -- is a testament to what a dumbass he is.
The automatic gun left on counter at Butch’s place wasn’t Vincent’s though, it was Marcellus’s. Marcellus came on the mission to find and hunt down Butch because he was short staffed, as Jules had quit the day before. He probably brought the gun as added insurance as he probably didn’t put in work by himself anymore and obviously couldn’t bring it with him when he went out to go get coffee for them (what a nice guy 😊). That’s why Vincent wasn’t surprised or shocked when he heard somebody in the kitchen while he was in the bathroom, he thought it was Marcellus coming back with coffee. So the gun on the counter wasn’t really his fault, just complacency and short sightedness on Marcellus’s part.
Marsellus was with Vincent at Butch's apartment because Jules had already left on his spiritual journey. Vincent needed backup and Marsellus most likely wanted to be there when Butch showed up.
This is pretty much like when your literature teacher wanted you to believe random stuff written on books meant lots stuff that the writer never meant. You know the directors didnt meant any of this things.
something i have never heard anyone else mention: in the opening apartment scene, vincent and jules's guns can be seen to lock open when they killed brett. they don't have time (or the inclination) to reload before bathroom guy comes out firing. the real miracle was the bullets they shot him with.
I've always maintained that Vincent killed Marvin intentionally, but not because he thought he was a double agent or whatever, but because if it wasn't for the "miracle", Little Jerry Seinfeld with the goddamned hand cannon would've killed them.
Yes! Little jerry Seinfeld with the hand cannon! I thought I was the only person who ever said that! I think he accidentally shot him on purpose just bc he failed to mention the Seinfeld with the hand cannon, but it could have been that they played those seven up commercials in Amsterdam more than they did in America and Vince could just not take anymore of that guy’s 7up hawking bullshit!
Vincent is in fact the younger brother of Vic Vega, also known as Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. In the Tarantino-verse, Marcellus Wallace and Joe are business associates and Vincent was given a job as a favour to Joe and Vic - they know he's a bit useless, so just give him the menial work because they figure he cant mess that up.
Maybe Vincent is so numb to guns that he points it like pointing a finger, and he’s so numb that he puts down his gun in Butch’s apartment. the same way a normal person might point an accusing finger or clench their fists. And he put it down in butchs apartment because he was relaxed and didn’t think he’d need it so he carelessly put it aside. Maybe he’s used guns so many times that he’s complacent about them, or maybe he’s just an impulsive idiot.
The gun scene with Brent and Flock of Seagulls is a MIRACLE!!! Tell me how the bullet holes got on the wall BEFORE any shots were fired by the man in the restroom??? Divine intervention for sure!!! Watch the scene carefully, it's only a few frames.
Vincent was sent to Amsterdam to wait for things to cool off after a hit (says so in the script I think). Also, as we all know from Trainspotting, heroin makes you constipated: hence the long time he spends in the toilet. He makes an enemy of Butch because he was in a foul mood after almost being shot, the blown-head incident and the restaurant thing! Quite the morning! Plus Butch was looking at him as he was dressed weirdly, that definitely pissed him off. Remember all this happens BEFORE he retrieves Mia and shoots heroin (hence he was not strung out).
There's a hole in the miracle story. Those with sharp eyes noticed the bullet holes were already in the wall BEFORE any shots were fired! Famous blooper. If not a blooper, the gun was loaded with blanks, so no miracle.
I think the gun vincent got shot with is M. Wallace's. M. Wallace went to get coffee and left his gun at Butch's house. M. Wallace was with Vincent at Butch's b/c Samuel Jackson's character gave up the life the day before.
Crap - Now I know that Vincent was Marcellus's wife's, cousin's, former room mate's husband. Not long after the movies' release, I lost a 13 year position to someone of similar pedigree. This video drew a parallel I have been missing for years.
One thing I love about Tarantino’s movies, a reference is always made to my hometown (and Tarantino’s one-time home), Knoxville TN, or East Tennessee …once I was visiting a friend in Maynardville, TN, and we started watching “Inglorious Basterds”, and when Brad Pitt’s character came on screen and introduced himself, he gave his birthplace as Maynardville, TN!! We just looked at each other and burst into a cheer?
I always wondered why Vincent had his pistol drawn in the car. There'd been over 40 shots fired in the flophouse regaining the briefcase, Jules & Vincent needed to bail quickly AND unobtrusively. It stands to reason they'd holster their guns before their departure (leaving the briefcase in the kitchen by the way). After a safe getaway in Jules's car why would Vincent still be waving his gun around four or five minutes later?
"...as the Reveille can be heard in the background."
...as a car horn can be heard blasting La Cucaracha.
🤣
Yea 20 years in the military never heard that for reveille. Growing up in California I heard that on 5 out of ten low riders.
Either a low rider horn or a Roach Coach (food truck) pulling up to a construction site.
I was thinking the same
Yeah…that was a big stretch
I have another theory about Butch. He saved Marcellus because on the slim chance he survives, he’d be hunted wherever he went. He’s a big gangster who probably has people stationed everywhere, and by saving him, Butch suddenly is owed a favor by Marcellus, meaning he would almost 100% be promised safe passage out, and not get a ”kill on sight”.
And if Marcellus wasn’t ok with it Butch could have just killed him right then and there. However i do think that Butch did it because of the I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy thing. I think he does have a moral compass and the reason he doesn’t seem to care that he killed that other boxer is a coping mechanism for him, like when he says that it was the other boxers fault and if he had just been a better boxer he would still be alive.
@@albinwallen634 oh yes, I think there is to take away from both theories.
@@michaeloakleaf yeah
Marsellus did want a killer in a rice bowl if for some reason Butch went to Indochina...which is now known as Vietnam.
I agree with you theory.
Marsellus was present near Butch's apartment because staking out the apartment was a two-man job (look at what happened when Vincent was there by himself), and Jules had quit. So Marsellus and Vincent were staking out the apartment together when Marsellus went out to get donuts and coffee for breakfast. Marsellus wasn't there because he didn't trust Vincent. He was there because he was short-handed.
This is the genius of the movie's structure. Vincent dies as a direct, though unintended, consequence of Jules' decision to quit, but this is not revealed to the audience until the last scene when Jules tells Vincent about it.
@mleone77 Agreed. And it makes us ask the question: was Jules right that it was a sign from God to get out when he did? Or cause and effect?
But we expect Marsellus to be able to put a ninja in his bowl of rice? Man’s unlikely to be short staffed with his resources
@@Dudeguymansir well that's a great point, but even those flush with resources need time to shift them about when a sudden vacancy occurs.
@@deadeyedave444 This could be that two men witnessed a miracle. One chose to acknowledge it and chose a different path, one of righteousness, the other chose to ignore it and stayed on the path of destruction and died days later.
A big time player like Wallace giving Vincent the job to look after his wife is the ultimate form of trust, come on.
Or he was looking for a reason to off Vincent and he knew there was a high probability that Vincent would do something stupid. Which he DID, but got away with it.
@@WalterDiamond you think if he wanted to off him he’d need a reason?
The reason that Vincent was still employed was because he was 100% loyal.
A gangster doesn't risk his own wife's safety to generate an unnecessary "reason" to kill someone. Mia Wallace almost turned up dead so Marcellus could justify killing Vincent?! Justify it to WHO?! If Marcellus wanted him dead, he'd be dead. No reasons needed.@@WalterDiamond
@@WalterDiamond Funny I actually think he handled it well. I maintain it was Mia's fault she OD'd. He didn't give her smack she stole it while he was away and used it without asking. Even in a moment of panic he still acted which ultimately saved her life. If not for Mia's actions it would have just been an uneventful night at a 50s diner with a little dancing.
Butch saved him because, he knew if he saves him, the slate is clean and Marcellus would let him go instead of getting killed.
I thought something similar. Kinda figured he saved him because 1 of 2 things would happen, if Marcellus found a way out, he'd chase him down or he'd have the chance to kill him, if he still wanted to chase him down. Win/win for butch. Reward was much higher than the risk.
@@seriouslee6741exactly, besides, if you deep it Butch was to blame for Marcellus’ rape seeing that he wouldn’t have ended up in that situation if not for Butch. Even more reason to kill him. Butch knows that game respects game though, so saving him saves him in the long run.
Nah. I think everyone's just reading too much into the situation. He saved him because he actually has an ounce of morality left in him, and wouldn't wish the fate that Marcellus was facing on anyone. Plain and simple.
That's true. Marcellus knows Butch could tell people what Really happened to him in the Basement. Better both men walk away. Butch is going to Mexico, anyway.
Marcellus wasn't going to make it out alive, both him and butch would have been been repeatedly raped until zed got bored with them and than killed them.
The gun in the apartment more than likely belonged to Marcellus, who was also probably the reason he didn't question the sounds, as he expected him back
Likely. Marcellus left the gun to get the donuts (obviously you're not gonna carry a smg to a donut shop) and Vincent expected him to come back with the donuts. Not questioning the slow and steady movement of Butch is still a mistake on vincents part, but it could be answered because Vincent always reads a book (he was shown holding one before he died) when he shits, and his mind was most likely too preocupied with the book to give any significant thought to the movements of Butch.
Nice catch, I wondered why he didn't react when Butch came into the apartment. He must have heard something, the guy made pop tarts in the toaster. Which is such a stupid reckless move itself when you know the apartment is probably being watched. But it nice ties the story of Vincent together, because he shot Marvin on accident (or not) and Butch might have shot Vincent on accident because he was startled by the toaster. It's genius how ambigous the movie is. We never know what's in the briefcase etc.
The real question is:
Why is there a toilet next to the kitchen?
@@JasonJrake It's a small apartment.
. . . quick response time ;) lol! @@JasonJrake
No one commented on the fact that all the bad things happened to Vincent right after and because he uses the bathroom and each event gets worse as the movie progresses. The first time is the coffee shop scene which ironically is the pivotal flashback. Then Marcelis's wife at the house and finally at Butches' apartment. Each time he has to relive himself it leads to a problem.
Lol I never thought about that. Always a #2
Damn. Good point!
I read something once that said this is intentional by QT because heroin makes you have to shit all the time or something. Idk about that, and idk about heroin either, but cool attention to detail if true.
@@ExtendedJet8 I thought it was that narcotics like heroin make you constipated but with that he could have been using laxatives that worked at unexpected times.
He is a heroine junky, and heroine is known to make you constipated.
I always wonder what Marsellus’s reaction was when he later found out that Butch had also killed Vincent.
Marcellus was so happy that he actually allowed Butch back to L.A. ( getting rid of Vince was like cleaning up that top shelve full of bottles that you know you must do it but you keep postponing) Butch done Marcellus a huge favour killing that fatso big mouthed
@@chocodiledundee1"Fatso bigmouth" made me laugh.
He can't go back on his word to Butch. His men know the risks
Awesome!
And, with Marcellus's machine gun. Most people assume the machine gun was Vincent's, but it was left there by Marcellus earlier. So Vincent getting killed was partly Marcellus's fault.
His understanding of Vincent Vega is completely wrong. If you listen to the dialogue, it’s pretty plain that Vega probably spent time in Amsterdam in hiding from a hit that he did for Marcellus in Los Angeles. He was sent there and recalled once things had died down.
Marsellus Wallace doesn’t give Vincent menial jobs. He is assigned to accompany Mia Wallace, likely more as a bodyguard than a date. He is also sent to kill Butch. And in the beginning of the film, he and Jules are sent to retrieve what was stolen.
You can say that Vincent might not be the sharpest tool in the box, but he wasn’t given menial jobs and he is very close with Marsellus Wallace.
these two things can be true
Vincent was a junkie and kinda stupid, so why was he given such important jobs by Wallace?
I believe it was nepotism thanks to his brother
you are absolutely correct. Vincent has been hiding out in Amsterdam after clearly killing somebody very high profile. When he comes back and Marsellus Wallace sees him for the first time, he's extremely happy to see him. And the fact that he trusts Vincent so much that he would have him take his wife out on a date speaks to the fact that Vincent did Marcellus and his organization a solid.
it's also worth noting that Vincent's last name is Vega. Some theorize that he is the brother of Vic Vega from Reservoir dogs. In that movie, Vic has just done a stint in prison for the organization he works for, and did not snitch anybody out.
weather Quentin Tarantino considers Vincent and Vic to be brothers or if he just likes using "Vega" last name for loyal but crazy hitmen, both Vega characters are deeply trusted by their mob bosses.
Honestly, there's a lot of guys that don't like dancing. It's not unheard of to have someone you trust take your wife out to dance.
@@DrillForAbsentee They are brothers. Quentin has confirmed it in interviews. He was planning on doing a Vega Brothers movie, likely to take place in Amsterdam, but too much time went by, and the two actors, Michael Madsen and John Travolta, would be incredibly difficult to made to look as they did in Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.
Also Vincent was a heroin addict, which explains why he's always going to the bathroom. I've heard heroin addicts are always constipated. In a way his own addiction was his downfall.
Vincent's "big mistake." In the script, He was suppose to kill Marvin but Travolta said to Tarantino that the audience would hate him for it, so they changed it to a accident. Vincent didn't mean to kill him.
That's not entirely true. It was an accident. But the first shot was gonna be in the throat. Marvin would be dying/suffering and then Vincent would shoot him again in the head.
@@camejko thank you for clarifying to him
You're wrong and I'm going to explain that later in a long form. For, now, let's say that Marvin is there for a very precise reason.
I hate it when actors try to write. Or even when directors come back later and make Greedo shoot first 🙄 I’d rather see realistic portrayals of characters… Vince is a hit man… and JT is worried we won’t like him for killing someone?! 🤦♂️
Firstly I don't know exactly what you seem to know about the changes (what has been said etc). But it seems to me that they could have just changed Marvin's death to _seem_ like an accident to keep the audience on Vincent's side. But upon closer examination it is reasonable that it was a murder.
6:14 Wait, wait, wait a minute, there's another insight! Vince's death also became a mystery. Vince ended up just like the guy who is believed to have been nearly killed by mr. Wallace for giving mrs. Wallace a foot massage. By that, I mean the fact that people knew that
1) Vincent was seen having fun with Mia, and to onlookers, they looked like a couple.
2) The last man who was seen with Vince was Marcellus.
3) Vincent was shot to death. And Marcellus will never tell people that Butch did it because his meeting with Butch became a secret.
Thus, another bunch of gangsters will make up rumors that Vince messed around with Mia and that’s why Marcellus killed him. But the fact is that no one knows why Vince died besides Marcellus and Butch.
they talk a lot dont they
@@nunchuckerzworse than a quilting bee!
Wow, that's great stuff.
@@stevenfagaly3810 negative. 1) Vincent did Not end up "just like" Tony Rocky Horror. Riddled dead with bullets vs speech impediment. 2) Wallace, Mia, Jewels, Paul the barkeeper dude... safe to say the whole crew knew how the big man Requested the Mia "date"... No secret.
Pretty obvious the killer was Butch (it was Butch's apartment, Butch skips town and there was Fabienne's car crash, witnesses, etc.)
The mystery will be *Why* Wallace no longer seems to want Butch hunted down anymore 😉😬🤭🤐
Excellent summation! I was prepared to believe that Mia was cursed, but this is MUCH more rational.
3:23 Wallace was the only one that could cancel the hit on butch. if Wallace dies Butch will have to run forever.
1. Butch could be killed that day, before anyone learns of Marcellus disappearance. 2. Whoever would've taken over in Marcellus' absence would probably have maintained the contract on Butch, especially as Butch would've been a prime suspect in Marcellus' case. @@keithmarlowe5569
*That is an excellent point! (Especially if his foot soldiers are very loyal!)* 😮🤯
Not how that works, they are criminals, they don't care about anything or anyone outside themselves. Once Marcellus died his entire operation either would have scattered, or an underling would have taken over. Either way they would have had more important things to do than find and kill some clown on the lamb.
@@keithmarlowe5569that’s what I was thinking. That was Wallace’s money, not anyone else’s.
CAC = Captain Coombes?
i reject your hypothesis
@@Iamallthesith66eho da Punta. ...
What do you propose?
i propose you google what i said@@bjmombo
Would not have shot him in the open like that.
La cucaracha is not revelry.
At 3:27, that's not "reveille" being played, but "La Cucaracha," just placing it within hearing of a Mexico-loving low-rider.
lol that sweet sweet patriotic Mexican song we all know
This narrator is clearly naive 😂😂😂😂
@@mosesfriedman2357🫡🪇
The fact that incredible theories are still being discovered about Pulp Fiction, shows how much of a masterpiece it really is
Look, none of these are really theories, none of this is incredible, and all this shit is really very old, but still I love to talk about this movie approaching it’s 30ty anniversary so, WOOOO still discovering new pulp fiction stuff! I just found out that Keitel’s Reservour dogs character and his pulp fiction characters are, like the Vegas, brothers! Like 20 years ago. Wow! It’s the 90s again, back when the script that said Vega killed Marvin on purpose was originally read by John Travolta. None of this is new
he stole all these from reddit from years ago.
*Yes!*
the face he cant tell the difference between "reveille" and "la cucaracha" is all you need to know.
Yeah...and after 30 + years
I am in NO way a religious person- however, one thing I clearly see as a thread in QT’s scripts is that “there is a right thing to do”, and I believe wholeheartedly that PF displays where Tarantino and Avery think this moral compass comes from- “god” for lack of a better term.
We know that Vega ignores the “miracle” and that Jules acknowledges it. Subsequently, Jules escapes death and Vincent is destroyed. Jules Winfield evolves and finds a higher calling.
We find QT destroying evil men in history- Nazis, anti-female predators, Southern Slavers, Mansonoid murders… he clearly appreciates truth and humanity and if I’m not mistaken, he does find this as emanating from a positive force opposed to evil in the universe.
I like your idea. What I like even more is the idea that Jules knows that Vincent killed Marvin on purpose, and is lying about leaving so that he can "walk the earth". Jules knows that as long as he's in contact with Vincent, trouble will follow him, so he makes up the Caine from Kung Fu thing so they can end the partnership amicably, with no harm coming to Vince as a direct consequence (indirect, yes).
Absolutely right you can't just abandon crazy people
@@wtfsamusidk7574you are right. You should put them in an asylum.
Highly enjoyable! But I do think the gun on the counter is Marcellus' for he went out to get some Coffee and couldn't wear it in public. Vincent uses his pistol when he kills as we saw throughout the movie.
Does Marcellus Wallace look like a bitch of course he would have wore it in public lol
Marcellus had his pistol on him when Butch ran him over, which he used to shoot the bystander and continued to spray pot shots down the street, all the way to the pawn shop
@@csaenz1328 That's true! But it doesn't mean that the gun on the counter isn't his weapon. My main argument is: We see Vincent using his pistol when it comes to kill someone. Therefore I assume that Marcellus goes with that heavy gun for intimidation or maybe even pleasure and has his pistol as a backup. But your point is absolutely fair.
I think its Marcellus who supplied Vincent with the gun he probably that since Vincents had a few ”accidents” and that the person they are trying to kill is a boxer he would have given it to Vincent so that theres a smaller chance that Vincent dosent miss.
Whichever one of them brought the big gun, Marcellus couldn't have taken it with him when he went out for burgers. Vincent still left it on the counter when he went into the can, Marcellus wouldn't have left with him in there.
Vincent was careless.
It is kind of strange that Vincent doesn't seem to know anything about the job they're pulling at Marvin's. I call that sloppy partner work by Jules. That's some stuff a guy your life could depend on should know.
C'mon man...The horn sound in the background outside of butch's apartment was La Cucaracha not the reveille call...😅 This is one of the worst theory videos I've ever seen on the film...
I have to agree your right on that one
I said the same thing
Vincent and Jules are errand boys.
@@kurtkyre "sent by grocery clerks to collect a bill"
@@earlmyers2874 I honestly have to go back and look to remember what I was commenting on...🤣
It wasn't Vincent's gun on the counter - it wssMarcellus'. He left it there when he went out to fetch a snack.
Pretty good. Fair conclusions. I tend to think that Vincent's addiction made him careless and less observant rather than deliberate with Marvin, and that the sense of duty you discussed with Butch is also a moral code.
Except one thing, guns don't just go off. Especially the gun he was holding. You need to apply a significate amount of leveraged pressure to the trigger to shoot.
@@jackbits6397People accidentally shoot themselves and others with guns all the time
I know someone who accidentally shot himself with a pistol.
Notice the light fixture on the wall in the appartment where the divine intervention occured... there is only a light bulb on the left (Jules' side) Vincent's side is... darkness
I've never noticed that, really good observation!!
😳
Wow. Nice observation
Here’s my theory, Jules leaves at the end of pulp fiction, and walks the earth like he said he would. Rescuing people from evil.
He settles down and plays piano in a little low key church out in the desert, when he’s finally killed by the deadly viper assassination squad, in kill bill.
I agree with your assessment of Vincent. I always figured he was in Amsterdam for 3 1/2 yrs due to getting in trouble in the states and was waiting out the statute of limitations in a none extraditable country. Probably involved in Wallace's drug trafficking ring and didn't really have much to do in Amsterdam so he got hooked on heroin.
Except the US has and has had an extradition treaty with the Netherlands for over 50 years. I doubt Vincent did anything to warrant a 10 most wanted poster, but enough for him to lay low for a bit as you mentioned. Whatever he did I doubt it rose to the level that Interpol or the Feds gave a single shit about.
Theory: Fabienne left the watch so Butch would be killed whilst retrieving it, letting her escape his domestic violence. PS. The Wolf saved the Shepherd from tyranny in the valley.
Vincent’s gun firing was a miracle
Maybe Marvin had to die as a sacrifice for the miracle of those bullets missing Vince and Jules.
@@p.d.l7023yeah definitely, I think that the bullets were kinda bounced on to Marvin
I think watching the boss’s girl actually shows Wallace trust Vincent
Of these 3 theories, the only 1 that i buy is the 2nd one. As even though its never implied why Vince was in Amsterdam for 3 years, it can be said that he likely screwed up on a job, and Marcelous and him being great friends, had him hide out there until the heat died down. And it's a inside joke throughout the Movie that Vince and even Jules to a lesser extent, aren't good at their jobs. And this is bought full circle with the contrast w/ the Wolf. A sharp "Fixer" who is, calm, smart, fast thinking and moving, full attention to detail and no nonsence. The Butch theory is half hearted. Even though the Koons/Butch's father idea is interesting, on top of whatever honor Butch may have to rescue Wallace of being the next gimp, the reality is even if he left, he still has a contract on his head. And Wallace seems well connected world-wide and Butch got greenlighted prior to the 2 of them bumping into those hillbillies. He would still be a hunted man if he left him there and would eventually be killed. The 3rd theory makes no sense. Why would he intentionally kill Marvin at that moment? In a car and the middle of nowhere suburbia where both him and Jules are unfamiliar with in broad daylight? Him "accidentally" killing Marvin was played for Dark Comedy, and to once again reaffirm that Vincent isnt good at his job. Nothing more
I believe Vincent shoots marvin on purpose. He even adjusts the angle of his gun before he shoots. He was mad at Marvin for not warning them and he should be dead for the kid’s mistake. Perhaps Marvin was too afraid of Jules who shouted him to shut up right before and couldn’t pull himself to warn them. Anyway it was clear Vincent was mad with Marvin and he probably wouldn’t have another shot at him since he obviously would not be called for a next job. Either he would do it there or he would never do it.
On the other hand, why would he have the gun in his hand with his finger on the trigger at that moment? In a car and the middle of nowhere suburbia in broad daylight, having a theological debate about bullets and miracles?
I believed it was intentional for years until I saw an interview with QT who said it was an accident. He wrote it so that's that
If Marvin were a double agent, they all could have been armed and waiting for Jules and Vincent
Not neccessarily. If he told them about the visit, they probably wouldn't have been at the apartment. Why risk getting shot at all? Then they would also know he was a mole
@@MDCxThePG Doubtful as it would have been four against two. The four having complete familiarity with the apt. would know where to hide. You have Mr. Whaley open the door and invite them in. He then goes into the kitchen to "retrieve" the briefcase at which point the other three rise from their hidden positions and blast the living shit outta Vincent & Jules. Easy peasey.
Vincent didn’t leave the gun on the counter.
That was actually Marcella’s gun
Because he went out for coffee and didn’t think Butch would come back
And the whole bathroom thing comes full circle with that too
possible, but he did pull a sidearm on butch during his doughnut run
Regardless it goes to Vincent's constant sloppiness. The whole point is that they think Butch might show up. He can damn well hold it til Marsellus gets back.
On the plus side, I watched the whole thing. Probably a Pulp Fiction thing.
On the negative side:
Butch did what he did because no self respecting man is gonna walk away from that horror show.
He knew M wanted him dead,and in the world they lived in, figured it was exactly what he had coming. I won’t say Butch wasn’t unaware of gaining favor for his deed, as he brought it up almost immediately.
As for Vincent, M obviously trusted him and his abilities, or he wouldn’t be babysitting his wife. I mean, c’mon.
Hypotheses rejected.
If I was Butch I would have rescued Marcellus even though he was my ebnemy he didn't deserve that.I wonde if it ws racially motivated wityh hthem being southern nhillbilies wee they modern day buckbreaking?Butch was being honourable.
Autocorrect had an absolute field day with you, or you just cannot fucking spell at all. Autocorrect even made you spell honorable all regarded like-to-buy-a-vowel style like you are British or something. If you are then autocorrect really fucked you, it left out all the other superfluous vowels that Brits use! Damn, I imagine “superfluous” in British, how many more vowels can they cram into that word? I bet six ir so…
Soupaeflououse?
Marcellus is with Vincent on the stakeout because Jules quit. It's the boss taking a job personally when they're down a man. This also means that by walking away and redeeming himself, Jules also avoids the fated of Vincent and Marcellus, just like Butch.
The one man that was trusted with his wife is the guy that couldn't be trusted? Doesn't make a lot of sense. Vince is a hitman. If he was in Amsterdam, he wasn't there on vacation sightseeing. He was eating in crappy fast food restaurants looking for someone. There's no way he would shoot the informant in the car with that caliber of bullet on purpose. He would have know what a mess that would have made. I completely agree with the butch theory. But I don't think that was supposed to be a hidden message. I feel like that's what the writer wanted you to take away from the story. He wasn't a soldier but he was fighting his own war in life. He did what every man would do/thinks they would do. And let's not forget that Butch had the drop on him in that scene. He could have cut him up with that sword at anytime and he would have if marcellus's answer was different.
It would make a lot of sense why Vincent would want to kill Marvin if he believed he was a rat. As his brother, Vic Vega, was killed by one.
Vince is picked to go with Marcellus wife because she wanted to win that Twist Trophy. Marcellus can't dance. What in the case? It's an Academy award. An Oscar for Mira.
I had a paperback of a pre-shooting draft of the script. In it Vincent shoots Marvin in the throat, and Marvin is still alive. THEN he shoots him in the face and his head explodes.
1. It Was a Hatori Hanzo samurai sword. 2. Butch scratches Vincent's car. 3. Marvin was definitely a double agent, to steal Marcelis Wallace's soul.
Really liked your conclusions. Logical as far as I can see. No worries on the blurring. You gotta do what you gotta do for UA-cam censorship. Most of us have seen this movie so many times it doesn't matter. You did a great cut right before Marvin shuffles off the mortal coil thanks to Vincent BTW.
Thank you!
Jules explains to Ringo that when he gets nervous he gets scared. And when he gets scared that's when people accidentally get shot. Vincent was scared because he knew it actually was a miracle and that's why he accidentally killed Marvin.
I just remembered the events of Pulp Fiction are supposed to take place on the same day or shortly after the events of Reservoir Dogs. The diamonds are in the briefcase.
When Vic is introduced in RD, he's just gotten out of jail...during the same time period as Vince was in Amsterdam. I think the two "exiles" might be related. I wish QT would make the Vega brothers sequel he always talked about.
Zed slamming the basement door and Butch considering a chainsaw before settling on the katana is a nod to Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Despite a couple of 'oversights' I think you did a nice job on this!
As to the blur - - "it is what it is" - gotta' keep the YT algorithm happy to pay the rent!
Miraculously dodged a bullet
Accident shoots Marvin
Almost dies/ gets robbed at the diner
Almost gets his friends arrested and kills his friends wife
He had every chance to walk away……instead gets shot and killed in a bathroom.
And thats why Vincent got killed. He rejected the miracle and continued a life of crime and evil and he died two days later at the hands of Butch. Whereas Jules respected God’s miracle and left the life of crime that same morning.
I love how videos like this help me enjoy something like this even more. I first saw this movie when it in THEATERS! I had no idea what it was about, but it was starting when we got there.
4:30 The reason he picked up a sword was an homage to Kurasawa movies. This has been analyzed in other videos. In fact, Tarantino pays homage to several other films in this scene where Butch chooses his weapon. Initial choice is a baseball bat (Walking Tall) then a Chainsaw (Evil Dead) and finally he spies the sword (So every movie in which the hero uses a sword - but my money is on Kurasawa films).
Adding Tarantino's Kill Bill Volumes I think gives your idea credence.
Not to mention the STAR pistols Vincent and Jules use have manual safeties. Vincent would've had to deliberately deactivate the safety.
An enjoyable video buuuuuuuuut... That wasn't reville playing as Butch goes back for his watch. That was a La Cucaracha car horn. LOL
Seen this movie many times. Every character does something stupid at some point or another…except the Wolf of course. But until you put it all together just now do I realize how big of a clusterfuck Vincent actually was. He literally could not do anything right. Thanks for the video
Vincent and Jules were supposed to kill Marvin at the apartment, but after Jules thought he was saved by divine intervention, Jules no longer went through on their pre-decided plan, and Vincent didn't feel he could bring it up and remind Jules what they were supposed to do considering Jules' new state of mind, especially since he was talking about giving up killing people all together. However, Vincent knew he had to still kill Marvin, or there would be repercussions with Marcellus, so instead of arguing with Jules about whether they should spare Marvin or kill him per Marcellus' order, Vincent decided that the best course of action would be to shoot Marvin in the face and act like it was an accident.
From where did you take that they were supposed to kill Marvin at the end of the job?
I think you’re missing a major point that would add a lot of weight to your final theory, and would also explain why Marcellus is with Vince at Butch’s apartment. Jules doesn’t only let Pumpkin and Honey Bunny go in an attempt to “become the shepherd”, he actually takes it one step further and quits the hitman life all together. He tells Marcellus he was retiring when they dropped off the brief case. This is why Marcellus has to go on the stakeout with Vincent. And, because Jules recognized the divine intervention, he was spared the “great vengeance and furious anger” that god reigned down on Vincent who remained “the tyranny of evil men.”
Vincent totally did that on purpose. He was still pissed off about the guy in the bathroom. He had no reason to still have the gun out and definitely no reason to have his finger on the trigger. That was a deliberate act of a heroin, addicted, psychopath, hitman.
As far as Butch goes, that's a pretty good theory.
Everything points to Vincent doing it intentionally. First off, he was on the verge of shooting in the apartment for crying on the floor, but found out Marvin was a friend of Jewel's. Secondly, Vincent was just in a Tombstone kind of disposition at the time...minutes later he was wanting to kill Jimmy, after that, he was trying to creat a beer with The Wolf, after that, he was intimating that he might kill his friend Jewells and then, later in the bar with Butch.
As an owner of a fire arm. It pisses me off how they always keep their finger on the trigger.
Interesting take im slow ive seen reservoir dogs and pulp fiction plenty of times and never picked up on the vick/Vincent Vega connection thank you better late than never
How about Travolta shares the name in this movie with another famous character, Vinnie Barbarino. Is this a an imagined future for that character? Could he really make good outside of High School?
@@weldsj8847- 😆 *Hey, who knows.*
My #1 movie. Came out in 1994 and the theories and movie keep getting better, every time I watch it.
I felt like Marcelus was with Vincent in the stake out because Jules had retired with Marcelus blessing and he was teaming up with Vincent till he could find someone else to show Vincent the ropes so to speak (like a mentor).
I feel like butch could have drove that Honda for ten minutes or so through the LA area in between leaving the apartment and encountering Marcellus on the crosswalk for all we know. Why is it presumed that he’s anywhere near the apartment? If he wanted to sit on the watch so bad to en why he at the donut shop? And is it situational irony that when butch goes to get the uncomfortable hunk of lead that so many people kept up their butt while dying of dysentery that the guy guarding it was instead on the toilet? And you ever notice that you never see butch and Jules at the same time? What if they’re the same person, and Fabianne is like Jules’s relaxer bottle that he likes to talk to all sweet like? And blueberry is a metaphor for self betterment? They didn’t have walk-the-earth blueberry, I had to get badmotherfucker
The moral of Marvin getting shot is not having an opinion either way. Him being a double agent as you said. Jules sees the divine. the bullets' did pass right threw him. Vincent seen a freak occurrence no holes behind him. Both are correct from their own perspective, and wrong to the others. They are firm on what they believe. Marvin died because he did not pick a side, he was smitted for being a coward. I don't think Vince meant to shoot Marvin. It also advances Vincent's is a tale of ignorance. How many times was he in messed up situations unable to see the patterns, freak occurrence or not. Its fitting he gets shot at justifiably but was missed, but when he came out of the bathroom unarmed was up popped by every shot. When the time's up you're toast
Yup. The gun goes off after Marvin says, "Man, I don't even have an opinion." Divine retribution.
My belief is that when Vincent and Jules are not hit by any of the bullets in the apartment it was a sign for BOTH Jules and Vincent to change their ways and stop being hitmen and find another path for their lives. Also the fact that he almost allowed the bosses wife to die of an drug overdose could have been another sign that maybe he should change the way he lives his life. Since nether events where able to make him realize that his luck as a criminal/hitman was about to run out it isn't such a surprise that he got killed soon afterward by being shot with his own gun.
Your belief sucks! I’m glad I disagree, because the lense through you view the world is really just a sphincter doling out turds on all that I think looks and smells beautiful. So you better fucking enjoy it! Enjoy your perspective, because every minute you look upon beauty the person behind you has to stare at your stupid mullet
I agree! Your (perceptional) mullet is horrid and it went our 30 years ago
..."I'm tryin real hard, to be the shepherd."...
That makes sense why Butch would say, "It's not a motorcycle, it's a chopper." He sees it as a helicopter "chopper" taking him out of war.
I’m actually sure Vincent was tipping the scales and made Butch make up his mind not to be a punchy…. So he messed with Marcellus plans one more time
Jules wasn’t talking about Marvin with his divine intervention theory lol. I do think it’s possible that Vincent shot Marvin on purpose for not telling them about the guy in the bathroom.
Is Christopher Walken doing the narration on this video, or why the weird phrasing and pronunciation?
LOL! That wasn't the Revelry playing in the background while Butch was leaving the apartment complex. That was a famous segment of horn music from a Mexican tune called La Cucaracha. And if you lived in Los Angeles in the 70's and 80's...you heard it blaring from the horn of every lowrider in the city at some point. It was used in that segment to hammer home the point that Butch and his girl did not live in the "affluent" part of town.
I always felt that Vincent shooting Marvin in the face was intentional. Basically a Vince is a total psychopath who finally meets his maker at the hands of Butch.
First off, I just wanna' say that your take on Butch's odyssey is really intriguing, man. I guess I'd never really put that much thought into it before… 🤔 …But the concept of his having saved Marcellus Wallace being something more akin to a sort of paternally-inherited sense of honorーor better yet, *duty*ーas opposed to a purely righteous (ugh… 🤢 *seriously*, no pun intended) act. . . Not only would that ultimately make more sense, but conceptually, it's just a *WAY* better angle. And it all really does fit together quite nicely when you start paying attention to all of the analogues between his and his father's stories (which, in retrospect, I can't I'd never noticed before 😮).
…That being said, while I agree with all of that, as well as most of your conjectures about Vincent, I don't feel that a lot of "his mistakes" were actually *HIS* mistakes… not entirely, anyway xD
For instance, aside from his driving her around while he was ****ed up on heroin, he didn't actually do anything to endanger Mia. She was a dumb ass and she did it herself… There are so many things about that whole scene that prove this, but I'll try to keep it as brief as possible xD
First and foremost, what kind of an asshole would just go digging around in someone else's pockets like that? That's just rude. But it's what happened afterward that could easily win her a Darwin Award.
1. So, she finds a huge baggie full of some mysterious, white powder, which for all she knew, could've been f***in' poisonーhowever unlikely that may be... But then again, he's allegedly a hitman, so who realsly knows? Then she has the brilliant idea to bust out a huge rail of it without even "testing the water" with a modest bump, just assuming it, for whatever reason, to be cocaine.
2. She didn't even taste it first... I'm ashamed to admit that I know for a fact that the two drugs taste very different, but more importantly, cocaine numbs your mouth when you take even the tiniest taste. Smack doesn't. If she'd just tasted it, it probably wouldn't have been enough to kill her; but even if it had been, she could've just spit it out and/or induced vomiting.
3. Lastly, even if you're a hardcore addict, you don't just throw caution to the wind, snorting up a finger-sized rail like that ‐.‐ Even if that had been coke, it *still* could've killed her, depending on the purity of her usual fare.
4. (Possibly) And worse still, considering that her husband was clearly a successful crime bossーmeaning that it's more than likely that she'd pretty much have an infinite supply of anything she could ever wantーit's very unlikely that she'd have any need to get into his shit in the first place =Þ
This... Her going straight to hitting that line is in no way Vincent's fault...
I've never done either, but even I know you don't just snort random shit out of someone else's pocket...
Vincent knew he was responsible for keeping her safe. And he knew that he didn't know anything about her (Jules laughs when Vincent confirms that he's never met her). So why -- WHY?? -- would he bring a baggie of his powerful new heroin, nicknamed "The Madman," with him on the date? That it's only the third dumbest thing he does in the movie -- after leaving the gun on the counter at Butch's and pointing the gun at Marvin in the car -- is a testament to what a dumbass he is.
That trumpet wasn't reveille, it was "La Cucarache"
Having spent most of my professional life on military bases, I have never heard La Cucaracha played at reveille.
3:27 That’s not a reveille. That’s “ la cucaracha” 😂
The automatic gun left on counter at Butch’s place wasn’t Vincent’s though, it was Marcellus’s.
Marcellus came on the mission to find and hunt down Butch because he was short staffed, as Jules had quit the day before. He probably brought the gun as added insurance as he probably didn’t put in work by himself anymore and obviously couldn’t bring it with him when he went out to go get coffee for them (what a nice guy 😊). That’s why Vincent wasn’t surprised or shocked when he heard somebody in the kitchen while he was in the bathroom, he thought it was Marcellus coming back with coffee.
So the gun on the counter wasn’t really his fault, just complacency and short sightedness on Marcellus’s part.
Marsellus was with Vincent at Butch's apartment because Jules had already left on his spiritual journey. Vincent needed backup and Marsellus most likely wanted to be there when Butch showed up.
This is pretty much like when your literature teacher wanted you to believe random stuff written on books meant lots stuff that the writer never meant. You know the directors didnt meant any of this things.
Not to mention, none of it matters.
something i have never heard anyone else mention:
in the opening apartment scene, vincent and jules's guns can be seen to lock open when they killed brett.
they don't have time (or the inclination) to reload before bathroom guy comes out firing. the real miracle was the bullets they shot him with.
You thought la cucaracha was revely?
Some great theories and I do like the ideas so I hit the subscribe button, thank you and you have a nice day or night
I've always maintained that Vincent killed Marvin intentionally, but not because he thought he was a double agent or whatever, but because if it wasn't for the "miracle", Little Jerry Seinfeld with the goddamned hand cannon would've killed them.
Yes! Little jerry Seinfeld with the hand cannon! I thought I was the only person who ever said that! I think he accidentally shot him on purpose just bc he failed to mention the Seinfeld with the hand cannon, but it could have been that they played those seven up commercials in Amsterdam more than they did in America and Vince could just not take anymore of that guy’s 7up hawking bullshit!
Masterpieces are like this. The embody meaning and symbolism that goes way, way down, layer upon layer, interdependent and significant.
Vincent is in fact the younger brother of Vic Vega, also known as Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. In the Tarantino-verse, Marcellus Wallace and Joe are business associates and Vincent was given a job as a favour to Joe and Vic - they know he's a bit useless, so just give him the menial work because they figure he cant mess that up.
Mind Blown! Great Video and great job explaining with visuals and giving credit to those who deserve it. A++ video.
That was La Rocha in the background LOL Its a horn sound associated with low riders.
Maybe Vincent is so numb to guns that he points it like pointing a finger, and he’s so numb that he puts down his gun in Butch’s apartment. the same way a normal person might point an accusing finger or clench their fists. And he put it down in butchs apartment because he was relaxed and didn’t think he’d need it so he carelessly put it aside. Maybe he’s used guns so many times that he’s complacent about them, or maybe he’s just an impulsive idiot.
"The dialogue is some of the best that you'll ever see" WHAT??
The gun scene with Brent and Flock of Seagulls is a MIRACLE!!! Tell me how the bullet holes got on the wall BEFORE any shots were fired by the man in the restroom??? Divine intervention for sure!!! Watch the scene carefully, it's only a few frames.
Vincent was sent to Amsterdam to wait for things to cool off after a hit (says so in the script I think).
Also, as we all know from Trainspotting, heroin makes you constipated: hence the long time he spends in the toilet.
He makes an enemy of Butch because he was in a foul mood after almost being shot, the blown-head incident and the restaurant thing! Quite the morning! Plus Butch was looking at him as he was dressed weirdly, that definitely pissed him off.
Remember all this happens BEFORE he retrieves Mia and shoots heroin (hence he was not strung out).
There's a hole in the miracle story. Those with sharp eyes noticed the bullet holes were already in the wall BEFORE any shots were fired! Famous blooper.
If not a blooper, the gun was loaded with blanks, so no miracle.
I think the gun vincent got shot with is M. Wallace's. M. Wallace went to get coffee and left his gun at Butch's house. M. Wallace was with Vincent at Butch's b/c Samuel Jackson's character gave up the life the day before.
Good a33 break down bro! I love it!
9:45 if you notice, Vincent pulls the trigger slowly. Shows that it was intentional
Great video man! I really enjoyed hearing your interpretations. You brought some new perspective to a classic movie. Thank you for sharing
Was Marselus leaving the same restaurant with coffee and donuts, where honey bunny and also Vincent and Jules were?
Crap - Now I know that Vincent was Marcellus's wife's, cousin's, former room mate's husband. Not long after the movies' release, I lost a 13 year position to someone of similar pedigree. This video drew a parallel I have been missing for years.
Good stuff man, some real stuff to think about 🤓
One thing I love about Tarantino’s movies, a reference is always made to my hometown (and Tarantino’s one-time home), Knoxville TN, or East Tennessee …once I was visiting a friend in Maynardville, TN, and we started watching “Inglorious Basterds”, and when Brad Pitt’s character came on screen and introduced himself, he gave his birthplace as Maynardville, TN!! We just looked at each other and burst into a cheer?
Never new Vincent and Vick veiger are brothers that's crazy
Would have been so much cooler if Butch picked up a Hattori Hanzo sword.
He saved Marcellus because if Marcellus passed away, the hit will still be out on Butch. The only way to get out of it was to save him.
3:21 That's not Reville. LOL That's fuckin' La Cucaracha on a car horn. You can't just make shit up to fit your theory.
I always wondered why Vincent had his pistol drawn in the car. There'd been over 40 shots fired in the flophouse regaining the briefcase, Jules & Vincent needed to bail
quickly AND unobtrusively. It stands to reason they'd holster their guns before their departure (leaving the briefcase in the kitchen by the way). After a safe getaway in
Jules's car why would Vincent still be waving his gun around four or five minutes later?
That was great! Cheers my dude! 🍰🌻