Natural Born Killers Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Natural Born Killers" showcases an ambitious 1080p High Definition transfer that remains true to Oliver Stone's eclectic cinematic vision, despite the inherent challenges posed by the film's original production techniques. The movie, originally shot on a mixture of 35mm, 16mm, and 8mm film stocks in both color and black & white, uses live action and animation, resulting in a texture-rich tapestry that fluctuates in quality by design. Warner’s BD transfer admirably enhances the color palette, bringing a vividness to the garish hues and rendering black and white sequences with a film-like authenticity previously unseen. While skin and earth tones diverge from naturalistic portrayal, this is attributable more to the directorial choice than to limitations in the transfer process. Despite not achieving the peak detail and definition observed in the finest BD renditions, this release marks a significant improvement over all NTSC versions, rendering it the definitive visual experience for fans.

However, the presentation is not without its drawbacks. Oliver Stone's intentional use of low-grade footage, exaggerated grain, and color manipulation introduces a level of visual inconsistency that some might find jarring. High-resolution scenes shine with detail, clarity, and vibrant contrast, showcasing significantly deeper black levels and improved shadow detail over DVD editions. Yet, segments shot with standard definition equipment or styled to emulate degraded film stock only partially benefit from the high-definition treatment, revealing limitations in resolution and fine detail. Additionally, encoding choices seem tailored to accommodate Stone’s diverse visual strategies without introducing unintended artifacts; even so, discerning viewers will note occurrences of white levels pushing too hot, aggressive delineation, and occasional crush, albeit these may stylistically align with the film's aesthetic aims.

Ultimately, "Natural Born Killers" on Blu-ray offers an assertive restoration that breathes new life into Stone's controversial masterpiece. It respects the filmmaker’s original vision by providing a faithful, albeit uneven, visual presentation that mirrors the film's chaotic narrative structure. Fans prepared for its variegated quality will find much to appreciate in this high-definition upgrade, arguably making it the best version of the film to date for home viewing. However, those expecting a showcase for their high-definition setups should temper their expectations, acknowledging that the artistic intent here prioritizes expressive vibrancy over pristine clarity.

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track accompanying "Natural Born Killers" on Blu-ray impressively elevates the film's chaotic essence, delivering a sound experience that is as unapologetically bold and immersive as the movie itself. Dialogue clarity is consistently maintained across a variety of scenes - from whispers to frenzied shouts, primarily emanating from the center and front channels. This ensures every word resonates with the intended impact, despite occasional tinniness in scenes shot on lower-quality 8 mm film. The sound effects, ranging from the subtle ambient to the explosively dynamic, are masterfully distributed across the surround sound field, creating an atmosphere that is both arresting and deeply atmospheric. Bullets whizzing, cars roaring, and the occasional unsettling rattle of a snake are rendered with precise spatial accuracy, enveloping the viewer in the film's intense world.

However, some limitations in the audio presentation are noted, particularly in the handling of bass and midrange frequencies. While gunfire and low-end effects demonstrate a potent use of LFE, creating a palpable sense of danger and raw power, the audio occasionally suffers from poorly defined bass and a muddled midrange, especially noticeable in dialogue from scenes filmed with less sophisticated equipment. This issue detracts from the overall clarity and can leave the sound feeling somewhat detached and less impactful than possible.

Despite these minor shortcomings, the soundtrack—a wildly varied mix from artists like Leonard Cohen to Dr. Dre—thrives in this aural landscape, well-engineered to complement the film’s erratic mood swings. The rear channels are effectively utilized to immerse the viewer in music and atmospheric sound cues alike, enhancing the film's gripping narrative and stylistic flair. In comparison to its DVD counterpart, the Blu-ray's Dolby TrueHD track offers a significantly superior listening experience, proving itself as the definitive way to experience the auditory chaos of "Natural Born Killers." This upgrade will undoubtedly satisfy fans, asserting the film's presence with an audacity that matches its visual spectacle.

The Blu-ray extra presentation of "Natural Born Killers" packs a punch for enthusiasts and collectors alike, featuring a medley of intriguing extras despite missing the notable documentary "Chaos Rising: The Storm Around Natural Born Killers." The hardcover book edition is particularly appealing, adding substantial value with its 44-page booklet filled with photographs, director's notes, actor bios, and trivia, making it a collectible gem. Oliver Stone's involvement in the supplementary material—through an audio commentary and a Charlie Rose Show interview—offers a deep dive into the film's production, controversies, and Stone’s unwavering justifications of his artistic choices. Despite his ego, Stone’s commentary provides insightful and candid perspectives on the movie's criticism and societal impact. The inclusion of standard definition deleted scenes, including an alternate ending, and the original theatrical trailer, rounds off the extras with additional content for completists, though the absence of the documentary slightly dims the overall allure of the Blu-ray’s extras.

Extras included in this disc:

• Director’s Commentary: Oliver Stone offers critiques and insights into the production and reception.
• Charlie Rose Show Interview (SD, 12 minutes): An engaging interview tackling the film's controversies.
• Deleted Scenes and Alternate Ending (SD, 27 minutes): A series of cuts appealing to completists, with a brief director's introduction for each scene.
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes): Original trailer of the film.
• Collectible Booklet: A 44-page booklet housed in a hardcover “Book” case with production notes, cast bios, photographs, and interviews.

Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers," a film as controversial and dialogue-provoking today as it was upon its release, encapsulates a frenetic visual and thematic assault on media culture and violence, which, despite its bravado, fails to consistently hit the mark. Through the journey of Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (Juliette Lewis) - serial killers turned media sensations - the film weaves a chaotic tapestry of American culture's darkest facets, employing a mélange of film formats (35mm, 16mm, 8mm, and SD video) and editing styles that range from the jarringly garish to the outright bizarre. This aesthetic choice, while undeniably bold, often threatens to overshadow the narrative itself, rendering Stone's critique as somewhat incoherent beneath layers of aggressive visual and narrative experimentation.

Technically, the Blu-ray presentation of "Natural Born Killers" does commendable justice to Stone's original vision, offering an uncompromised transfer that faithfully captures the intended graininess and perfection of certain scenes with equal dexterity. The audio track packs a punch, ensuring the film's eclectic soundtrack and punchy dialogue are delivered with clarity and impact. Despite its technical merits, including a selection of extras that will intrigue fans, the omission of the Director’s Cut stands out as a missed opportunity to provide an even richer context to Stone's divisive work.

The film, for all its technical and stylistic ingenuity, polarizes with its heavy-handed satire and overbearing depiction of violence - elements that have sparked debates around its influence on real-world violence. While defenders may liken Stone’s aggressive approach to the boundary-pushing works of Kubrick or Eisenstein, critics argue that its relentless cynicism and confusion dilute any potent commentary on society's voyeuristic tendencies. As such, "Natural Born Killers" emerges as an experiential piece, challenging yet flawed in execution, leaving viewers mired in the spectacle rather than enlightened by its message.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Natural Born Killers" offers a technically sound experience, with a vibrant and faithful video transfer that does justice to Oliver Stone's visually arresting film. The addition of a strong TrueHD audio track enhances the auditory aspects, ensuring that every bit of dialogue and sound effect is crisply conveyed to the viewer. Accompanying these technical merits is an adequate collection of supplements, though some might find the content, especially director Oliver Stone's notes, as controversial as the film itself. Stone's remarks in the director's notes section are particularly telling, revealing a filmmaker deeply engaged with societal critiques yet paradoxically entrenched within the very establishment he seems to criticize. His observations, which suggest an anti-establishment stance, provoke thought but also raise questions about his own role in perpetuating media violence.

The film itself continues to provoke debate regarding its portrayal of violence and media culture. Stone's vision, encapsulated within a challenging cinematic framework, invites broad interpretation rather than straightforward analysis, mirroring the complex dialogues around responsibility, violence, and fame in society. However, this divisive nature means that 'Natural Born Killers' may not be universally appealing, underscored by the notion that potential viewers should rent before deciding to purchase this Blu-ray release.

In conclusion, while the Blu-ray edition of 'Natural Born Killers' boasts remarkable technical quality and sparks important conversations about media and violence, it remains a polarizing piece that reflects Oliver Stone's contentious position within Hollywood and societal discourse. The combination of a superb audio-visual presentation with thought-provoking, albeit controversial, supplementary material makes this release a noteworthy, if not essential, addition for those intrigued by cinema that challenges and polarizes in equal measure.