I have had a post in my drafts for like two years for my favorite QT scenes. Not sure why I never got around to finishing the post, it was during that year when I was doing top ten lists of different movie things. Quentin Tarantino is probably my favorite filmmaker, and over the years I have ranked his movies (and I think each time I come up with a different ranking). So for this ranking, I am going to do my favorite scenes, but with the caveat that I can only use one scene from a movie. Or it would probably be a top five of just Pulp Fiction scenes. 

Before we get to the top five, I have two scenes that just missed the cut. The ear cutting scene from Reservoir Dogs is probably an all-time classic scene. You can never hear “Stuck in the Middle With You” and not think of Michael Madsen dancing and slicing.

The other scene is from Jackie Brown, the money hand-off scene. Although, it is hard to focus on a precise part of that entire piece of the movie. I think the pinnacle of that entire sequence is Louis shooting Melanie for constantly berating him. 

Okay, now to the top five…some of these videos are probably NSFW. And some of them may have really offensive language.

FIVE

Inglourious Basterds–The Tavern Scene
Sorry for the poor quality, and the fact that it is like twenty minutes, but the scene is so good. QT builds tension (you can watch multiple videos breaking down this scene), and does everything perfectly in regard to the camera and lighting. Michael Fassbender and August Diehl are perfect during the questioning of Hilcox’s accent.

FOUR

Django Unchained–Calvin Candie Goes Crazy
Another incredibly tense scene. QT does it so well, throws in a scene that makes us sweat after a bunch of scenes that are somewhat funny or full of action. Then you get something like this, where you start to sweat because you honestly have no idea what QT has in store. It is even better when you learn that Leo actually cut his hand and just kept going. 

THREE

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood–Cliff vs. Bruce Lee
This scene is a bit controversial since people get upset over the way Bruce Lee is portrayed, but I love it. It has the usual QT humor, with Cliff mocking Bruce (the line at the beginning about manslaughter cracks me up every time I see it). It is also another great way of QT using a flashback to tell the story.

TWO

Kill Bill Vol. 1–The Bride vs. The Crazy-88 Gang
I think you could have ended the scene after the Bride’s battle with Gogo, and had her fight O-Ren, and it would have still been an epic fight scene. But then you get the fight with the Crazy-88s, and it is everything a Japanese samurai movie should be. It has crazy stunts, incredible action, humor, and plenty of blood. 

ONE

 

Pulp Fiction–Big Kahuna Burger
“Check out the big brain on Brett!” I can pretty much quote the entire scene. Hell, I think I have used some form of Samuel L. Jackson’s dialogue as a GIF for every occasion. But what I love about the scene is the way QT frames Jules (the camera is a little lower and at an angle so Jules feels imposing). The way Jules walks around casually, but then shoots the guy on the couch. There is this weird calmness, while things are getting out of control. The same with the questioning. What does Marcellus Wallace look like? Brett says what, then Jules flips the table. I just love everything about the scene. The other scene that competes with this one is later in the movie when Jules and Vincent meet the Wolf.