WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

“Seeing this movie once is not enough. The first time is for the visceral experience, the second time is for the meaning.” Roger Ebert, Chicago Tribune

Natural Born Killers
Debuts on Blu-ray™ Hi Def June 10
Oliver Stone’s Cult Film includes Bonus 42-Page Book


Burbank, Calif., April 14, 2008 – Natural Born Killers, one of the most controversial motion pictures of the ‘90s -- will be released on Blu-ray™ Hi-Def by Warner Home Video June 10 with bonus 42-page book that includes never-before-available photos, plus director Oliver Stone’s all-new, thought-provoking essay on the film, made expressly for this release.

Starring Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis as husband/wife serial killers involved in a cross country killing spree, Natural Born Killers is a powerful, gut-grabbing look at how violence and crime are sensationalized and glamorized in the media. As Mickey and Mallory cut their swath of terror, they are regarded more like celebrities than fugitives. Oliver Stone is one of American cinema's most prolific innovators and the recipient of three Academy Awards®. Among his memorable films are Platoon, Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July, JFK, The Doors, Nixon, Any Given Sunday, Alexander and his most recent, the moving drama World Trade Center.

Blu-ray™ Hi-Def Special Features
Commentary with Oliver Stone
Deleted Scenes
Alternate Ending
Charlie Rose interview with Oliver Stone
Theatrical Trailer
Exclusive packaging with 42-page book featuring rare photos and press materials plus Oliver Stone’s all-new thought-provoking essay on the film

NATURAL BORN KILLERS
BLU-RAY HI-DEF
Street Date: June 10
Pricing: $34.99 SRP
Feature Running Time: 118 minutes -- Rated: R

Note: All enhanced content listed above is subject to change.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

One can only assume from the 118 minute running time that this is not the director's cut. What a shame.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

i think warner no longer has the rights for d.c. of nbk and that's why we wont see it.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

Also from the "R" rating. In any case, I believe Warner relinquished the rights to the director's cut so that Stone could release it himself.

M.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

Enrico, Michael,

Thanks for the additional information, I was not aware of that. I've actually never seen this film, believe it or not. It should make an interesting companion piece to Bonnie and Clyde.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

No DC, no sale!

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

I probably have to agree..

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

Warner never did have the rights to the DC of NBK. NBK was produced by Regency Pictures (owned by Arnon Milchan) and distributed by WB to theatres and on video. When Oliver Stone expressed a desire to release a DC, Warner wanted no part of it and left Regency free to shop around the DC to other distributors. It was eventually released by Vidmark (later Trimark) on video and DVD and most recently was released by Lionsgate on DVD. Whether or not the DC shows up on BD is entirely in the hands of of Regency and Lionsgate (so long as Lionsgate's licence has not expired).

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

It's more complicated than that, but it's been so long that I'd have to spend a fair amount of time with the LD box set to recall all the detail. I do recall that Warner was prepared, at one point, to release the DC (this was pre-DVD), but pulled back when the film became too much of a hot potato. Stone refers to this in either the commentary or one of the supplements on the LD (not all of which were ported over to the Trimark DVD).

M.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

My recollection from reading the book "Killer Instinct" was that Warner backed down from releasing the DC of the film. Stone's contract required that it be released on video if an "R" couldn't be achieved for the theatrical release. Therefore Warner agreed to license it to Vidmark in the U.S for home video. I don't know how long this license was for.

I'm pretty sure Warner still owns the rights, it's just a matter of how long the license is with Trimark. Warner has released the uncut version on DVD in other regions under the "Warner Home Video" label, so maybe it'll be released overseas.

If I have anything incorrect here, feel free to correct me. It's been many years since I read the book.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

Looks like I was wrong. Warner didn't release the DC overseas on DVD. I thought for sure the UK and Dutch editions were put out by Warner, but that is incorrect.

Surely, someone will put it out overseas if Lions Gate doesn't get around to it. The DC DVD is currently OOP, so I wonder if the license is still in effect?

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

I would prefer the Lionsgate DC on Blu-Ray at some point, since the original DVD was non-anamorphic, but this will still do for now. Some people are very divided on the Coffee Table Book format, but I'm indifferent as long as the content is worthwhile.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

I'm a little surprised that this title was chosen for one of Warner's "book editions". If it was destined to be an Oliver Stone film, I would have expected something more epic...perhaps JFK.

For the difference in run-time between the two cuts (what is it, 4 minutes?), we're not going to be deprived of very much. I can't remember the actual content.

Let's just say that with the DC, we would have maximum Stone-ification, and ultimate Stone-ocity. We deserve no less. But I'll probably buy it anyway.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

Four minutes doesn't sound like much, but, in fact, it accounts for about a hundred and fifty scenes changed or extended.

These change the tone of the film considerably, and make the film far more satirical. The Director's Cut is, IMO, one of the best movies of the 90s. The theatrical cut isn't in the same league, and sends out confusing messages.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

Yeah, when alot of movies need to delete a couple of shots to get an R rating, 150 cuts seems much more substantial.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

I didn't like this film the first time I saw it in film school a few years back but I'll pick this up anyway because...

1.) I'm sure it'll look and sound stunning in HD.
2.) I want to give the film a second chance.
3.) I like the Warner "book" packaging so I want to collect these releases.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

The directors cut desperately needs a rerelease. I'd be all over the blu ray if it was the DC but its not so I'll skip it.

Re: WHV Press Release: Natural Born Killers (Blu-ray)

One thing that has always bugged me about the post-Director's Cut video releases of NBK is that there is a music cue that has been changed. As theatrically released and in NBK's original LaserDisc release, after the nightly news montage of OJ Simpson, Tonya Harding, etc. near the end of the film, the Nine Inch Nails song "Burn" closes out the movie. In the director's cut, that song was replaced with a tribal drum beat. When the theatrical cut finally appeared on DVD, it had been modified to include the revised cue.

I'm wondering if this change was a licensing issue or if it was an artistic choice by Oliver Stone. If it was a licensing issue, that seems very strange because the DC LaserDisc box-set included the music video for "Burn" and Trent Reznor produced the movie's soundtrack album, which features "Burn" plus two other NIN tracks, both of which are still featured in the movie. I mean, I know music licencing is a tangled web but c'mon!

I suspect the change was an artistic choice because, at that point in the movie, Mickey and Mallory have supposedly overcome their demons and they no longer wish to "burn this whole world down," as the song's lyrics suggest. I suppose I can accept that rationale but the revised music cue alters the tone of the ending from "really, really angry and bitter" to "pretty mad." I personally like the NIN ending much better and hope it will eventually be restored.

Anyone know the official reason behind the change?