Supervised by Quentin Tarantino (so who are we to argue?), Pulp Fiction looks about as flawless as fans should be hoping for. The 1080p transfer of this 2.35:1 film is excellent from start to finish...and as expected, it provides a substantial upgrade from the 2002 Collector's Edition DVD. A number of digital problems are no longer an issue, thanks to more efficient compression and the format's beefy storage capacity. The film's natural color palette is rendered beautifully, from the cartoonish interior of Jackrabbit Slim's to the warm tones of Christopher Walken's "Gold Watch" scene. Pulp Fiction was shot on low-speed film stock that doesn't produce a lot of grain...but rest assured, it doesn't look like any DNR has been applied here. Simply put, this is a fantastic presentation of a good-looking film.

Even more impressive is the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which brings the soundtrack and dialogue to new heights. Channel separation is strong, directionality is impressive and LFE is substantial on many occasions. This is still a dialogue-driven film at heart, but Pulp Fiction's sporadic bursts of action and music envelop the listener. In short, this is a reference-quality presentation and your neighbors will probably hate you for it. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are offered during the main feature.

Seen below, the animated menu screens are simply designed and easy to navigate. This 154-minute film has been divided into a modest 16 chapters, no obvious layer change was detected and the disc is apparently locked for Region "A" players only. The one-disc set is housed in a stupid "eco-friendly" keepcase, but at least we get a nice (and appropriately worn-looking) slipcover. No inserts are included, and the DVD's "Jackrabbit Slim's" replica menu doesn't fit inside. Believe me, I tried. :(

On a related note is "Here Are Some Facts on the Fiction" (21 minutes), a sit-down discussion with five prominent film critics including Tim Lucas (Video Watchdog), Stephanie Zacharek (Salon) and Elvis Mitchell (The Treatment). This is an interesting roundtable, as the participants are on both sides of the fence (OK, one isn't completely enamored with it) and they do a great job of articulating their thoughts. Since Pulp Fiction's success was largely fueled by critical acclaim, this feature doesn't seem gratuitous.

Everything else returns from the previous release, which includes an Enhanced Trivia Track during the film; the documentary "Pulp Fiction: The Facts" below left); 25 minutes' worth of Deleted Scenes with a director introduction; two short Behind-the-Scenes Montages (below right); a rather interesting Production Design Featurette; a Tarantino-focused episode of "Siskel & Ebert at the Movies"; a curious Interview from the 1994 Independent Spirit Awards; the infamous Palm D'or Acceptance Speech at Cannes from the same year; a lengthy "Charlie Rose" interview with the director; an extensive collection of Marketing & Promotional Materials and a Still Gallery of behind-the-scenes photos.

True, an audio commentary would've been icing on the cake, but it's almost superfluous at this point: Pulp Fiction has almost been discussed to death by now, and Tarantino even refused to record one for Criterion's laserdisc back in 1996. Either way, this is a catalog release done right: all previous DVD extras have been accounted for and we get a pair of great new ones for good measure.

Considered a classic almost immediately after its 1994 release, Pulp Fiction hasn't aged a day in almost 20 years. The film's razor-sharp wit, sporadic bursts of violence and flawless soundtrack are a perfect match for its cast of misfits, while the complex narrative remains as fresh and energetic as ever. Overall, it's easy to see why Tarantino's film spawned a legion of imitators: Pulp Fiction is accessible, dynamic and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. Lionsgate's long-awaited Blu-Ray release gets just about everything right, from its top-notch technical presentation to a generous assortment of old and new bonus features. Combine this with a rock-bottom retail price, and Pulp Fiction earns a title that I haven't handed out in almost three years: DVD Talk Collector's Series. Enjoy this one!

NOTE: The above screen captures were obtained from the Collector's Edition DVD and do not represent Blu-Ray image quality.