The story of a husband and wife who are serial killers involved in a cross country killing spree that elevates them from fugitives into media celebrities.DVD Features: — Alternate endings:(4:42) — Audio Commentary:Director's... more » Commentary
This had alot of potential and I'm a big fan of Woody Harrelson but it seems to just fizzle out...
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Movie Reviews
Violence as a media event
JLind555 | 02/19/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Natural Born Killers" is not about glorifying violence; it's a chilling parody of the American fascination with violence. The quick changes from color to black and white and back again, interspersed with animated sequences, point up the satiric nature of the movie. Mickey and Mallory, very well played by Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis, are two killing machines without heart or soul or conscience; their only redeeming virtues are their love for each other. They aren't meant to be sympathetic characters and they're not, but Oliver Stone's direction makes them pale in depravity besides some of the other characters -- the sadistic warden, the despicable detective and his morbid fascination with Mallory, Mallory's nauseating, sexually abusive father, and above all, Robert Downey's superb characterization of the media pimp who feeds off blood and gore. The last scene in the movie, of Mickey and Mallory on the road with their two children, and Mallory about to deliver a third at any minute, underscores the whole message of the film; violence feeds on itself and begets yet more violence. Those viewers who were most upset by the movie missed its message. "Natural Born Killers" is a brilliant, disturbing depiction of the shallowness of American culture at the end of the 20th century."
Degradation of American Culture on Display!
Bruce Lee Pullen | Butler, IN USA | 02/11/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers is one of the most unique artistic visions in the last ten years. Some call it short-sighted, narrow, sensory overload, a bomabstic explosion of useless gas, or a pathetic exuse of a movie. Those who describe Natural Born Killers as such are missing the point or are perfect examples of it. The film is the most accurate film account of the 90's American culture. Mickey ( Woody Harrelson ) and Malory's ( Julliete Lewis ) dis-allusionment with the media, conservatism, morality, and life and death are all a primal revolution from the material enslavement of society. Watch the opening sequence with the dramatic and purposesly hallow transitions between color and black -and-white and violence and romance to see Stone's observations on 90's culture and the 80's influence upon it. The Rodney Dangerfield Sitcom section ( Roseanne anyone! ), sexually graphic animation, sexual abuse of children, Rodney King style beatings, Mickey and Mallory's sexual revolution, and the media's romanticism of crime (Heraldo, Montel, Jerry Springer)are all magnificentally satrized on this film. The 90's as a decade was in a nutshell short-sighted, narrow, sensory overloaded , a bomabstic explosion of useless gas, and a pathetic decade. The great films reflect the decades from which they were made and Natural Born Killers is no exception. In the fantastically edited last 30 minutes of NBK, this film will either totally repulse you or change your opinion of modern society. That is the power of this hyper-kinetic minagerie of the 90's. Oliver Stone's director's cut adds only about three minutes of extra footage which includes Tommy Lee Jone's decapitated head and some other disturbing material. This addition just adds more ferocity to Stone's vision. Also available on the DVD version are about 45 minutes of deleted scenes that Stone beleived would have hampered or slowed down NBK's narrative. The footage is also very provocative in its own right. A must-see."
A Masterpiece. Brilliantly Nightmarish And Thought-Provoking
Mr. Fellini | El Paso, Texas United States | 10/19/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers" is not just a movie, it is an experience. It is a wild, dark ride that serves as a study of today's culture and it's fascination with violence. This movie is not so much about the killers, but about how the killers capture the public. The screenplay is masterfully structured with moments of vicious rage, deepness, dark comedy and powerful visual images. The film is hypnotically watchable due to the great mixing of different film formats, camera angles, colors and the breathtaking cinematography of Robert Richardson. "Natural Born Killers" is a great study of where our culture is going. Stone is a genius of cinema, one of the greatest directors there has ever been. This movie is effective, provocative, feverish and driven. It's electrifying. In fact, it's not as violent as you may think it is. It's the break neck speed it goes at and it's intense feeling. "Natural Born Killers" is both intense and brilliantly nightmarish. It's disturbing, as it should be. This serves as a slap on America's face, to wake it up. "Natural Born Killers" is a masterpiece, as Roger Ebert said: "Seeing this movie once is not enough.""
Greatest Movie of the Nineties
eric graves | 12/02/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Natural Born Killers is easily the best movie to come out of this decade. It is surreal, highly intelligent, sarcastic, and like the Exorcist, seems to have some kind of power beneath the simple plot. The actors and actresses all perform perfectly as their characters, Tommy Lee Jones rightly over-the-top, and Woody Harrelson a subtle, evil Mickey Knox. The cinematography is simply amazing, pure amped beauty, the psychological screens behind the action, the desert, and my god, the violence of the riot... perfect.There's something going on in every sceen of the movie, like Owen at the beginning in the diner, or pictures of Mallory's father when she's with the gas station attendant. The movie was deep (sorry about the cliche) like in the whole Native American sceen where the word "demon" and "too much t.v." flash on the muderers chests. Later in the movie we hear more explictily about the demon in Mickey's amazing television interview with Wayne Gayle.But the main reason about why is movie is what it is and somehow more, is its message. It isn't subtle about it either. The media has gotten way too important, fed itself fat on society's rich blood, and yet we scream for more, we want our blood sucked. Every day our lives are permeated with violence, violence in movies, television, the news, and we crave it. Natural Born Killers was a wake up call, and a choatic brilliant one at that, turning a warped mirror around and pointing it at the audience. You see those people worshipping Mickey and Mallory at the outside the court sceen, that is us, that is who we are, and this movie tries to get us to wake up and see that."
Oliver Shows Quentin How to do IT!
Sean Price | S. Wales (GB) | 06/29/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This, along with Q. Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction'once again lit the blue touch paper in the 'Violence in the Movies' debate. Is this film worth all the hype? - YES it is, but not for it's violence but for the sheer audacious movie making that Oliver Stone had once again shown. Out has gone a lot of Quentin's snappy and witty dialogue, although the QT trademark is there, but the showmanship of OS is at the forefront. This is what Q. Tarantino would and could not have acheived - a mad, bad and altogether out of body movie which debates that society and the media should be more accountable for their actions in the depiction of violence that is all around us. This is a complete cop out and should be ignored at the outset. Take this movie with a large pinch of salt and sit back and marvel at the splicing of different filmstocks 35mm Super 8 and also the fusing of cartoons in some areas. Plot, there is no plot, Mickey & Malory Knox ( Woody Harrelson / Juliette Lewis) kill and they enjoy it they have no morals, scruples and no compunction in doing what they do! Superb performances from all concerned above and also Robert Downey Jnr., Tommy Lee Jones and Tom Sizemore. This disc is nothing short of brilliant as it has superb missing/deleted scenes, alternative ending and one of the best audio commentaries fom Mr. Stone himself into the sights and insights of the film. Good / Bad? You decide, although it's not easy watching... you have been warned."