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- Natural Born Killers: The Tarantino Cut
Natural Born Killers: The Tarantino Cut
Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1994
Original Running Time:
118 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
56 minutes
Time Cut:
58 minutes
Time Added:
6 minutes
Available in HD:
Additional Links:
Synopsis:
This is Natural Born Killers edited as closely as possible to Quentin Tarantino's script. All of the music has been replaced with pieces from previous Tarantino films.
Intention:
To remove as much over-the-top heavy handed Oliver Stone stuff. The lighting shifts, wildlife shots, random cuts to demons and cartoons, his infatuation with drugs and Native American culture, etc. Then I wanted to reorder things and remove everything to follow QT's script as much as possible. I chose music from other Tarantino films to give the raw pop culture feel to it.
Additional Notes:
Two deleted scenes added back in as they were scripted (Hun Brothers interview and Mickey's trial in court). They are SD so there is a quality dropoff but the intent was to follow the script.
Other Sources:
Title cards were pulled from Kill Bill Vol. 1
Soundtrack is from Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof, Inglorious Basterds and Jackie Brown.
Soundtrack is from Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof, Inglorious Basterds and Jackie Brown.
Special Thanks:
The fanedit.org community
Release Information:
- DVD
- Blu-ray
- Digital
Editing Details:
I followed the script scene by scene, which worked surprisingly well. Most of the scripted scenes were in the movie, along with an additional hour of Oliver Stone making sure we really understand that the media is bad and it's our fault. The only real deviation to the strategy was that in the script, M&M's arrest plays on Wayne Gale's show and there is no footage of that. So I created a montage with the opening credits so that I could have snippets of that scene. Since the movie is now sorta non-linear, it works fine I think.
Cuts and Additions:
- Added new title sequence and credits (music is “Stuck in the Middle with You”, used some title cards from Kill Bill)
- Removed original intro with wildlife shots
- Removed black and white shot of guy reading “666 death newspaper” and disappearing (guardian angel)
- Changed music Mallory puts on to Joe Tex – I Got Ya
- Cut scorpion getting run over
- Cut all of the punches after the first
- Changed record change to “Misirlou”
- Cut bullet hanging in mid-air before hitting cook in the face
- Cut end dancing scene and lighting change
- REORDER – moved Scagnetti/Warden meeting to right here
- Changed music during Scagnetti/Warden meeting to “Down in Mexico”
- Added flashbacks to Mickey and Mallory killing her family after Warden mentions it (added Quincy Jones’ Ironside Excerpt as music for it)
- Removed part about Scagnetti hating the media – we get the theme already
- Removed bits of Mickey/Wayne Gale pre-interview to more closely match the script and changed music to Ennio Morricone – “Paranoia Prima”
- REORDER – moved Mickey letter scene right after pre-interview (changed music to Link Wray and his Wraymen – Rumble)
- REORDER – moved Wayne going through 1st American Maniacs episode with crew to take the place of scripted scene where Wayne tells them to cut up the 1st episode to make the 2nd
Removed lines about how stupid the viewing public is and that this is junk for the brains ( we get it)
- REORDER – moved all of the 1st show and footage from the 2nd show intercut with Wayne talking to crew. Changed theme song to Billy Preston “Slaughter”
- ADDED – Hun Bros scene, trimmed a couple lines to match script
- ADDED – Courtroom scene – regrettably had to cut some of it. It’s all as scripted but that damn circus music is embedded DEEP on the audio track of this deleted scene. I rebuilt the audio for the stabbing scene completely and trimmed some of the build up because of the music. I hate that circus music and it doesn't feel like the rest of the film now at all. The best bits are still there in my opinion, though.
- REORDER – moved pre-interview Mickey and Wayne getting ready to after they’re looking at footage for the show. Changed music to Charles Bernstein/RZA “Crane/White Lightning”
Cut Wayne hugging prisoner – too over the top and not in the script
- REORDER – moved Scagnetti talking to Mallory in private to after pre-interview stuff. Cut him bribing guards but left the rest of the conversation intact as it more or less captures the essence of the script (changed music to Bernard Hermann – “Twisted Nerve” and then the Green Hornet theme once the fighting starts.
- Cut a lot from the beginning of the Mickey/Wayne interview. The stuff about god, demons and the Indian. What’s left is the best parts and best exemplify the tone of the interview in the script (IMO)
- Changed music to Ennio Morricone – “A Silhouette of Doom” – pretty radical departure but I love how the crescendos and decrescendos play behind what Mickey is saying.
- Changed music under warden getting riot call and Mickey telling a joke. It’s now Louis Bacalov – “The Grand Duel” which turns into Hotei Tomoyasu – “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” when Mickey finishes his joke
- Changed music under beginning of riot as Mickey and co. make their way through the hall to David Bowie “Cat People”
- Changed music for scene where Mickey and Mallory reunite to Elliot Easton’s Tiki Gods – “Monte Carlo Nights”
- Changed music when Warden realizes full scope of riot to Bullwinkle Pt. 2
- Changed green lighting to black and white for scene where they prepare to break out of prison. I hate that obnoxious green lighting so much.
- Changed music for final standoff in front of the door to George Baker “Little Green Bag”
- Cut a lot of dialogue from the final scene, to remove references to the Indian, demon and - Oliver Stone trying to really let us know that we are the media and it is our fault for obsessing with them. I think that’s clear already. Changed music to Ennio Morricone “Il Tramonto”
- End credits are April March “Chick Habit” and Smith “Baby It’s You” which are separated by the knob turning sound effect from the Misirlou/Jungle Boogie transition from Pulp Fiction
- REMOVED COMPLETELY – Mickey and Mallory sitcom style scenes with parents, Mickey and Mallory meeting, all of the stuff with the Indian, Mickey and Mallory wedding scene, Mickey proposing a threesome, Mallory cheating on Mickey, Scagnetti murdering a hooker, as many of the weird black and white slo-mo cuts as possible, all of the demon and cartoon shots, the guardian angel and more probably.
- Removed original intro with wildlife shots
- Removed black and white shot of guy reading “666 death newspaper” and disappearing (guardian angel)
- Changed music Mallory puts on to Joe Tex – I Got Ya
- Cut scorpion getting run over
- Cut all of the punches after the first
- Changed record change to “Misirlou”
- Cut bullet hanging in mid-air before hitting cook in the face
- Cut end dancing scene and lighting change
- REORDER – moved Scagnetti/Warden meeting to right here
- Changed music during Scagnetti/Warden meeting to “Down in Mexico”
- Added flashbacks to Mickey and Mallory killing her family after Warden mentions it (added Quincy Jones’ Ironside Excerpt as music for it)
- Removed part about Scagnetti hating the media – we get the theme already
- Removed bits of Mickey/Wayne Gale pre-interview to more closely match the script and changed music to Ennio Morricone – “Paranoia Prima”
- REORDER – moved Mickey letter scene right after pre-interview (changed music to Link Wray and his Wraymen – Rumble)
- REORDER – moved Wayne going through 1st American Maniacs episode with crew to take the place of scripted scene where Wayne tells them to cut up the 1st episode to make the 2nd
Removed lines about how stupid the viewing public is and that this is junk for the brains ( we get it)
- REORDER – moved all of the 1st show and footage from the 2nd show intercut with Wayne talking to crew. Changed theme song to Billy Preston “Slaughter”
- ADDED – Hun Bros scene, trimmed a couple lines to match script
- ADDED – Courtroom scene – regrettably had to cut some of it. It’s all as scripted but that damn circus music is embedded DEEP on the audio track of this deleted scene. I rebuilt the audio for the stabbing scene completely and trimmed some of the build up because of the music. I hate that circus music and it doesn't feel like the rest of the film now at all. The best bits are still there in my opinion, though.
- REORDER – moved pre-interview Mickey and Wayne getting ready to after they’re looking at footage for the show. Changed music to Charles Bernstein/RZA “Crane/White Lightning”
Cut Wayne hugging prisoner – too over the top and not in the script
- REORDER – moved Scagnetti talking to Mallory in private to after pre-interview stuff. Cut him bribing guards but left the rest of the conversation intact as it more or less captures the essence of the script (changed music to Bernard Hermann – “Twisted Nerve” and then the Green Hornet theme once the fighting starts.
- Cut a lot from the beginning of the Mickey/Wayne interview. The stuff about god, demons and the Indian. What’s left is the best parts and best exemplify the tone of the interview in the script (IMO)
- Changed music to Ennio Morricone – “A Silhouette of Doom” – pretty radical departure but I love how the crescendos and decrescendos play behind what Mickey is saying.
- Changed music under warden getting riot call and Mickey telling a joke. It’s now Louis Bacalov – “The Grand Duel” which turns into Hotei Tomoyasu – “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” when Mickey finishes his joke
- Changed music under beginning of riot as Mickey and co. make their way through the hall to David Bowie “Cat People”
- Changed music for scene where Mickey and Mallory reunite to Elliot Easton’s Tiki Gods – “Monte Carlo Nights”
- Changed music when Warden realizes full scope of riot to Bullwinkle Pt. 2
- Changed green lighting to black and white for scene where they prepare to break out of prison. I hate that obnoxious green lighting so much.
- Changed music for final standoff in front of the door to George Baker “Little Green Bag”
- Cut a lot of dialogue from the final scene, to remove references to the Indian, demon and - Oliver Stone trying to really let us know that we are the media and it is our fault for obsessing with them. I think that’s clear already. Changed music to Ennio Morricone “Il Tramonto”
- End credits are April March “Chick Habit” and Smith “Baby It’s You” which are separated by the knob turning sound effect from the Misirlou/Jungle Boogie transition from Pulp Fiction
- REMOVED COMPLETELY – Mickey and Mallory sitcom style scenes with parents, Mickey and Mallory meeting, all of the stuff with the Indian, Mickey and Mallory wedding scene, Mickey proposing a threesome, Mallory cheating on Mickey, Scagnetti murdering a hooker, as many of the weird black and white slo-mo cuts as possible, all of the demon and cartoon shots, the guardian angel and more probably.
Trailer (Password: fanedit.org)
Full Edit (Password: fanedit.org)
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie/Show Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1994
Original Running Time:
118 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
56 minutes
Time Cut:
58 minutes
Time Added:
6 minutes
Available in HD:
Additional Links:
Synopsis:
This is Natural Born Killers edited as closely as possible to Quentin Tarantino's script. All of the music has been replaced with pieces from previous Tarantino films.
Intention:
To remove as much over-the-top heavy handed Oliver Stone stuff. The lighting shifts, wildlife shots, random cuts to demons and cartoons, his infatuation with drugs and Native American culture, etc. Then I wanted to reorder things and remove everything to follow QT's script as much as possible. I chose music from other Tarantino films to give the raw pop culture feel to it.
Additional Notes:
Two deleted scenes added back in as they were scripted (Hun Brothers interview and Mickey's trial in court). They are SD so there is a quality dropoff but the intent was to follow the script.
Other Sources:
Title cards were pulled from Kill Bill Vol. 1
Soundtrack is from Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof, Inglorious Basterds and Jackie Brown.
Soundtrack is from Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof, Inglorious Basterds and Jackie Brown.
Special Thanks:
The fanedit.org community
Release Information:
- DVD
- Blu-ray
- Digital
Editing Details:
I followed the script scene by scene, which worked surprisingly well. Most of the scripted scenes were in the movie, along with an additional hour of Oliver Stone making sure we really understand that the media is bad and it's our fault. The only real deviation to the strategy was that in the script, M&M's arrest plays on Wayne Gale's show and there is no footage of that. So I created a montage with the opening credits so that I could have snippets of that scene. Since the movie is now sorta non-linear, it works fine I think.
Cuts and Additions:
- Added new title sequence and credits (music is “Stuck in the Middle with You”, used some title cards from Kill Bill)
- Removed original intro with wildlife shots
- Removed black and white shot of guy reading “666 death newspaper” and disappearing (guardian angel)
- Changed music Mallory puts on to Joe Tex – I Got Ya
- Cut scorpion getting run over
- Cut all of the punches after the first
- Changed record change to “Misirlou”
- Cut bullet hanging in mid-air before hitting cook in the face
- Cut end dancing scene and lighting change
- REORDER – moved Scagnetti/Warden meeting to right here
- Changed music during Scagnetti/Warden meeting to “Down in Mexico”
- Added flashbacks to Mickey and Mallory killing her family after Warden mentions it (added Quincy Jones’ Ironside Excerpt as music for it)
- Removed part about Scagnetti hating the media – we get the theme already
- Removed bits of Mickey/Wayne Gale pre-interview to more closely match the script and changed music to Ennio Morricone – “Paranoia Prima”
- REORDER – moved Mickey letter scene right after pre-interview (changed music to Link Wray and his Wraymen – Rumble)
- REORDER – moved Wayne going through 1st American Maniacs episode with crew to take the place of scripted scene where Wayne tells them to cut up the 1st episode to make the 2nd
Removed lines about how stupid the viewing public is and that this is junk for the brains ( we get it)
- REORDER – moved all of the 1st show and footage from the 2nd show intercut with Wayne talking to crew. Changed theme song to Billy Preston “Slaughter”
- ADDED – Hun Bros scene, trimmed a couple lines to match script
- ADDED – Courtroom scene – regrettably had to cut some of it. It’s all as scripted but that damn circus music is embedded DEEP on the audio track of this deleted scene. I rebuilt the audio for the stabbing scene completely and trimmed some of the build up because of the music. I hate that circus music and it doesn't feel like the rest of the film now at all. The best bits are still there in my opinion, though.
- REORDER – moved pre-interview Mickey and Wayne getting ready to after they’re looking at footage for the show. Changed music to Charles Bernstein/RZA “Crane/White Lightning”
Cut Wayne hugging prisoner – too over the top and not in the script
- REORDER – moved Scagnetti talking to Mallory in private to after pre-interview stuff. Cut him bribing guards but left the rest of the conversation intact as it more or less captures the essence of the script (changed music to Bernard Hermann – “Twisted Nerve” and then the Green Hornet theme once the fighting starts.
- Cut a lot from the beginning of the Mickey/Wayne interview. The stuff about god, demons and the Indian. What’s left is the best parts and best exemplify the tone of the interview in the script (IMO)
- Changed music to Ennio Morricone – “A Silhouette of Doom” – pretty radical departure but I love how the crescendos and decrescendos play behind what Mickey is saying.
- Changed music under warden getting riot call and Mickey telling a joke. It’s now Louis Bacalov – “The Grand Duel” which turns into Hotei Tomoyasu – “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” when Mickey finishes his joke
- Changed music under beginning of riot as Mickey and co. make their way through the hall to David Bowie “Cat People”
- Changed music for scene where Mickey and Mallory reunite to Elliot Easton’s Tiki Gods – “Monte Carlo Nights”
- Changed music when Warden realizes full scope of riot to Bullwinkle Pt. 2
- Changed green lighting to black and white for scene where they prepare to break out of prison. I hate that obnoxious green lighting so much.
- Changed music for final standoff in front of the door to George Baker “Little Green Bag”
- Cut a lot of dialogue from the final scene, to remove references to the Indian, demon and - Oliver Stone trying to really let us know that we are the media and it is our fault for obsessing with them. I think that’s clear already. Changed music to Ennio Morricone “Il Tramonto”
- End credits are April March “Chick Habit” and Smith “Baby It’s You” which are separated by the knob turning sound effect from the Misirlou/Jungle Boogie transition from Pulp Fiction
- REMOVED COMPLETELY – Mickey and Mallory sitcom style scenes with parents, Mickey and Mallory meeting, all of the stuff with the Indian, Mickey and Mallory wedding scene, Mickey proposing a threesome, Mallory cheating on Mickey, Scagnetti murdering a hooker, as many of the weird black and white slo-mo cuts as possible, all of the demon and cartoon shots, the guardian angel and more probably.
- Removed original intro with wildlife shots
- Removed black and white shot of guy reading “666 death newspaper” and disappearing (guardian angel)
- Changed music Mallory puts on to Joe Tex – I Got Ya
- Cut scorpion getting run over
- Cut all of the punches after the first
- Changed record change to “Misirlou”
- Cut bullet hanging in mid-air before hitting cook in the face
- Cut end dancing scene and lighting change
- REORDER – moved Scagnetti/Warden meeting to right here
- Changed music during Scagnetti/Warden meeting to “Down in Mexico”
- Added flashbacks to Mickey and Mallory killing her family after Warden mentions it (added Quincy Jones’ Ironside Excerpt as music for it)
- Removed part about Scagnetti hating the media – we get the theme already
- Removed bits of Mickey/Wayne Gale pre-interview to more closely match the script and changed music to Ennio Morricone – “Paranoia Prima”
- REORDER – moved Mickey letter scene right after pre-interview (changed music to Link Wray and his Wraymen – Rumble)
- REORDER – moved Wayne going through 1st American Maniacs episode with crew to take the place of scripted scene where Wayne tells them to cut up the 1st episode to make the 2nd
Removed lines about how stupid the viewing public is and that this is junk for the brains ( we get it)
- REORDER – moved all of the 1st show and footage from the 2nd show intercut with Wayne talking to crew. Changed theme song to Billy Preston “Slaughter”
- ADDED – Hun Bros scene, trimmed a couple lines to match script
- ADDED – Courtroom scene – regrettably had to cut some of it. It’s all as scripted but that damn circus music is embedded DEEP on the audio track of this deleted scene. I rebuilt the audio for the stabbing scene completely and trimmed some of the build up because of the music. I hate that circus music and it doesn't feel like the rest of the film now at all. The best bits are still there in my opinion, though.
- REORDER – moved pre-interview Mickey and Wayne getting ready to after they’re looking at footage for the show. Changed music to Charles Bernstein/RZA “Crane/White Lightning”
Cut Wayne hugging prisoner – too over the top and not in the script
- REORDER – moved Scagnetti talking to Mallory in private to after pre-interview stuff. Cut him bribing guards but left the rest of the conversation intact as it more or less captures the essence of the script (changed music to Bernard Hermann – “Twisted Nerve” and then the Green Hornet theme once the fighting starts.
- Cut a lot from the beginning of the Mickey/Wayne interview. The stuff about god, demons and the Indian. What’s left is the best parts and best exemplify the tone of the interview in the script (IMO)
- Changed music to Ennio Morricone – “A Silhouette of Doom” – pretty radical departure but I love how the crescendos and decrescendos play behind what Mickey is saying.
- Changed music under warden getting riot call and Mickey telling a joke. It’s now Louis Bacalov – “The Grand Duel” which turns into Hotei Tomoyasu – “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” when Mickey finishes his joke
- Changed music under beginning of riot as Mickey and co. make their way through the hall to David Bowie “Cat People”
- Changed music for scene where Mickey and Mallory reunite to Elliot Easton’s Tiki Gods – “Monte Carlo Nights”
- Changed music when Warden realizes full scope of riot to Bullwinkle Pt. 2
- Changed green lighting to black and white for scene where they prepare to break out of prison. I hate that obnoxious green lighting so much.
- Changed music for final standoff in front of the door to George Baker “Little Green Bag”
- Cut a lot of dialogue from the final scene, to remove references to the Indian, demon and - Oliver Stone trying to really let us know that we are the media and it is our fault for obsessing with them. I think that’s clear already. Changed music to Ennio Morricone “Il Tramonto”
- End credits are April March “Chick Habit” and Smith “Baby It’s You” which are separated by the knob turning sound effect from the Misirlou/Jungle Boogie transition from Pulp Fiction
- REMOVED COMPLETELY – Mickey and Mallory sitcom style scenes with parents, Mickey and Mallory meeting, all of the stuff with the Indian, Mickey and Mallory wedding scene, Mickey proposing a threesome, Mallory cheating on Mickey, Scagnetti murdering a hooker, as many of the weird black and white slo-mo cuts as possible, all of the demon and cartoon shots, the guardian angel and more probably.
Trailer (Password: fanedit.org)
Full Edit (Password: fanedit.org)
Trusted Reviewer reviews
4 reviews
Overall rating
8.9
Audio/Video Quality
9.8(4)
Audio Editing
7.5(4)
Visual Editing
9.0(4)
Narrative
9.3(4)
Enjoyment
9.0(4)
(Updated: March 21, 2023)
Overall rating
9.2
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
8.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
9.0
You can feel Tarantino’s raw script here, and the film does become a different thing entirely.
The pace is frenetic and it flows very well, on par with the main characters.
The main improvement for me here regarding the original film is reducing the obsession about the mass media. The message is still quite clear without being too much on the nose and over the top.
The choice of songs was peculiar but actually works fine, the music contributes to the main theme.
The removed scenes were really adding a lot of fat, which is now thoroughly trimmed.
The pace is frenetic and it flows very well, on par with the main characters.
The main improvement for me here regarding the original film is reducing the obsession about the mass media. The message is still quite clear without being too much on the nose and over the top.
The choice of songs was peculiar but actually works fine, the music contributes to the main theme.
The removed scenes were really adding a lot of fat, which is now thoroughly trimmed.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
(Updated: September 26, 2015)
Overall rating
8.8
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
7.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
8.0
Enjoyment
9.0
Furious edit of Stone’s Killers slices away all lulls, dream sequences, and moralizing. This is a blistering grinder of Tarantino’s original script (which I have not read) that hurtles ahead like the running of the bulls in Pamplona. thecuddlyninja’s version does not resemble a Stone film, nor one of Tarantino’s knockoffs. Instead, this reminds me of full bore Takashi Miike. I mean that as high praise.
Video - 720 video stream. Outstanding mix of black n white, distortion, inappropriate zooms, hard cuts, etc ... Many, many visual tricks and changes keep this film popping. Even what could have been mistakes work well and look amazing in a down n dirty, drive-in thrasher.
Audio - 2 channel, 192K AC3. Sound was very good, though suffered occasionally when original score was wiped. Dialogue not always clear. No subs.
I had a real problem with new song selection, which Neglify touched on. I dislike Tarantino, but still, every time I heard a familiar cue, I cross checked it in my memory. Reservoir Dogs - Kill Bill - Pulp Fiction - Death Proof - Pulp Fiction again ... It was distracting and yanked me straight out of cuddly’s edit, especially when I got stuck trying to recall which QT film the cue was from.
To my mind, it takes a certain amount of balls and chutzpah to reedit a film. I find it sad when a fan-editor shrinks back from displaying their own musical taste and knowledge, and instead apes Mr QT. Come on, be original with reconstruction. New tunes! That said, all of us have viewed fanedits and studio releases marred by unfortunate song selection. The line between cool and fool is a thin line. Tarantino’s idiosyncratic musical taste is easy to decipher, however. Blaxsploitation, 70s Nikkatsu, surf guitar, literally hundreds of selections are viable. If nothing else, ask fellow members for suggestions next time.
Narrative - With so much footage sheared, coherency suffers. Example: when Mickey is in Drug Zone we figure out he needs anti-snake medicine. How and when he was bitten ought to have shown. Another mystery: how did that Botango riot start? Throughout the story, I always knew what was occurring, but I think 5 minutes of bits here and there would have clarified any confusion caused by wholesale cutting.
Enjoyment - I had to think about this. I enjoyed, still enjoy, and rewatch Natural Born Killers every couple of years. cuddlyninja has studied QT’s script (Director Tarantino I view as borderline plagiarist, by the way, with few original ideas) and given NBK the Swisha House treatment - chopped and screwed - to remarkable effect. This is a delicious, in many ways authentic, companion to the original. In another world, I could envision this being included in the DVD box as the “storyboard print.”
Recommend this? Absolutely. This is pedal down, all the way.
Video - 720 video stream. Outstanding mix of black n white, distortion, inappropriate zooms, hard cuts, etc ... Many, many visual tricks and changes keep this film popping. Even what could have been mistakes work well and look amazing in a down n dirty, drive-in thrasher.
Audio - 2 channel, 192K AC3. Sound was very good, though suffered occasionally when original score was wiped. Dialogue not always clear. No subs.
I had a real problem with new song selection, which Neglify touched on. I dislike Tarantino, but still, every time I heard a familiar cue, I cross checked it in my memory. Reservoir Dogs - Kill Bill - Pulp Fiction - Death Proof - Pulp Fiction again ... It was distracting and yanked me straight out of cuddly’s edit, especially when I got stuck trying to recall which QT film the cue was from.
To my mind, it takes a certain amount of balls and chutzpah to reedit a film. I find it sad when a fan-editor shrinks back from displaying their own musical taste and knowledge, and instead apes Mr QT. Come on, be original with reconstruction. New tunes! That said, all of us have viewed fanedits and studio releases marred by unfortunate song selection. The line between cool and fool is a thin line. Tarantino’s idiosyncratic musical taste is easy to decipher, however. Blaxsploitation, 70s Nikkatsu, surf guitar, literally hundreds of selections are viable. If nothing else, ask fellow members for suggestions next time.
Narrative - With so much footage sheared, coherency suffers. Example: when Mickey is in Drug Zone we figure out he needs anti-snake medicine. How and when he was bitten ought to have shown. Another mystery: how did that Botango riot start? Throughout the story, I always knew what was occurring, but I think 5 minutes of bits here and there would have clarified any confusion caused by wholesale cutting.
Enjoyment - I had to think about this. I enjoyed, still enjoy, and rewatch Natural Born Killers every couple of years. cuddlyninja has studied QT’s script (Director Tarantino I view as borderline plagiarist, by the way, with few original ideas) and given NBK the Swisha House treatment - chopped and screwed - to remarkable effect. This is a delicious, in many ways authentic, companion to the original. In another world, I could envision this being included in the DVD box as the “storyboard print.”
Recommend this? Absolutely. This is pedal down, all the way.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
DVD
Overall rating
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
9.0
Audio Editing
8.0
Visual Editing
9.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
This is a great edit. I liked the original well enough, but haven't seen it in years. This was the perfect way to rewatch it and easily replaces the original for me. I love the concept and the execution. Sure, the audio is a little wonky in spots but the movie is supposed to be a bit of a frenetic mess. No issues with the reuse of Tarantino music - it drives home the point of the edit. This is an excellent edit and I'd recommend it to all Tarantino fans.
Oh, and my favourite part? No more Rodney Dangerfield.
Oh, and my favourite part? No more Rodney Dangerfield.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
(Updated: June 19, 2015)
Overall rating
8.5
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
7.0
Visual Editing
7.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
8.0
(NOTE: The editor has fixed the editing issues I've brought up, but I haven't watched the new version. Some of my criticisms and scores may not reflect the current version.)
I am a huge Tarantino fan. I could say a lot about his movies, but we don’t need that. What I’ll say is I decided to read the script as I watched the edit, and not just a PDF I got off a popular site, the Faber & Faber book I bought (and read) years ago.
General Critiques:
A/V Quality – 10.
Great work. No complaints, I know what working with deleted scenes is like, and the lower quality fits the style.
Visual Editing – 7.
No big complaints, just nitpicks. Amazing how many shots you were able to remove without it looking like a hacked up mess (Stone already did that).
Audio Editing – 7.
A few rough volume shifts here and there for new songs, some bad audio cuts, but pretty solid overall. (See scene specific notes)
Narrative – 10.
Except for some criticisms I give below, this was incredibly well executed in terms of following the narrative Tarantino wrote. Of course nobody would ever be able to make a 1:1 faithful line-for-line re-edit of the script, and that’s not the point. This is a fabulous look at a “Could Have Been” movie.
The most fascinating thing about this version of the story is how loud & clear Tarantino’s original concept was, a psychotic satire about the media frenzy caused by a pair of spree killers. While I’m not going to bother arguing who’s vision was better, Oliver Stone or Quentin Tarantino, it’s unquestionable this is a different beast. It’s not the “Hyper-Edited Badlands on Acid” movie anymore.
Narratively speaking, the plot is paper thing (and I’m talking about the script) and there’s little character development. That is something I think Stone did well in his rewrites, but I can see where QT was trying to go with it.
Enjoyment – 8.
Overall this was a great rewatch and a decent fanedit! With some more technical polish this could be a real gem.
My main negative view… There was too much reliance on songs already used in Tarantino films. I had the same criticism for njvc’s “Pulp Empire” and I may have been in the minority for that one. But personally speaking, I would have remixed it with the intention, “If QT really did direct this, what music might have he chosen?” There are a million and one great pop/rock songs from the same genres he loves that he hasn’t used, and it could have made this even more unique if it had an “original” soundtrack. Again, this is an opinion and YMMV.
I will say though, the songs you selected were badass and the majority fit perfectly. And this makes a nice double-feature companion to “True Romance – The Tarantino Cut”.
Scene Specific Criticisms. [SPOILERS!]
The opening Wayne Gale montage and Mickey & Mallory capture sequence was nicely edited, but it should have taken place after the opening scene in the diner, where the script indicates “Credit Sequence.” Putting the credits before the diner scene is incorrect, if the intention is to follow the script.
(Nitpick.) I understand why you did it, but personally I didn’t care for the “Miramax Films Presents… A Band Apart… by Quentin Tarantino” credits. Those companies didn’t produce this film and it’s a lie to say this is “by QT”.
Script has Mallory singing “Long Time Woman” while she’s in her cell at the beginning. Stone didn’t do this, but it would have been a nice touch to put that song somewhere. Yes QT used it in Jackie Brown and you could say I’m contradicting myself, but that’s one he specifically wrote down.
Technically, the Hun Brothers interview comes before the Reinghold interview and the montage of foreigners. But, that whole portion of the script is very sloppy and it no doubt would have been re-ordered in the editing room, even if he shot everything word-for-word, and I think you placed it nicely. (But nitpick, I would have cut the fade to black, I hate how deleted scenes do that shit.)
There’s some pretty bad audio editing in the court-room deleted scene. Everything is too quiet, music should have swelled louder when he stabbed her, etc.
Oops, flash frame around 27:39, a color frame in between B&W shots. Oof, some bad audio cuts immediately after that as well.
Bullwinkle Pt 2 was put on a loop for way too long.
I’m undecided on if I like that you kept McClusky’s severed head. It’s not in the script, in fact he writes the opposite of the grisly violence that was filmed. “Freeze frame: As Mickey and Mallory start firing, a la Butch and Sundance. We hear the gunfire and screams of a small war. FADE TO BLACK. EXT. WOODS – DAY…”
But… in QT’s script McClusky disappears early on and the Deputy Warden Wurlitzer has a beefier role. McClusky in the final movie is essentially those two guys combined, so since it’s already uncontrollably different it makes sense to end with that climatic moment.
Some awkward edits in the final confrontation with Wayne.
Nice use of Alan Smithee!!
I am a huge Tarantino fan. I could say a lot about his movies, but we don’t need that. What I’ll say is I decided to read the script as I watched the edit, and not just a PDF I got off a popular site, the Faber & Faber book I bought (and read) years ago.
General Critiques:
A/V Quality – 10.
Great work. No complaints, I know what working with deleted scenes is like, and the lower quality fits the style.
Visual Editing – 7.
No big complaints, just nitpicks. Amazing how many shots you were able to remove without it looking like a hacked up mess (Stone already did that).
Audio Editing – 7.
A few rough volume shifts here and there for new songs, some bad audio cuts, but pretty solid overall. (See scene specific notes)
Narrative – 10.
Except for some criticisms I give below, this was incredibly well executed in terms of following the narrative Tarantino wrote. Of course nobody would ever be able to make a 1:1 faithful line-for-line re-edit of the script, and that’s not the point. This is a fabulous look at a “Could Have Been” movie.
The most fascinating thing about this version of the story is how loud & clear Tarantino’s original concept was, a psychotic satire about the media frenzy caused by a pair of spree killers. While I’m not going to bother arguing who’s vision was better, Oliver Stone or Quentin Tarantino, it’s unquestionable this is a different beast. It’s not the “Hyper-Edited Badlands on Acid” movie anymore.
Narratively speaking, the plot is paper thing (and I’m talking about the script) and there’s little character development. That is something I think Stone did well in his rewrites, but I can see where QT was trying to go with it.
Enjoyment – 8.
Overall this was a great rewatch and a decent fanedit! With some more technical polish this could be a real gem.
My main negative view… There was too much reliance on songs already used in Tarantino films. I had the same criticism for njvc’s “Pulp Empire” and I may have been in the minority for that one. But personally speaking, I would have remixed it with the intention, “If QT really did direct this, what music might have he chosen?” There are a million and one great pop/rock songs from the same genres he loves that he hasn’t used, and it could have made this even more unique if it had an “original” soundtrack. Again, this is an opinion and YMMV.
I will say though, the songs you selected were badass and the majority fit perfectly. And this makes a nice double-feature companion to “True Romance – The Tarantino Cut”.
Scene Specific Criticisms. [SPOILERS!]
The opening Wayne Gale montage and Mickey & Mallory capture sequence was nicely edited, but it should have taken place after the opening scene in the diner, where the script indicates “Credit Sequence.” Putting the credits before the diner scene is incorrect, if the intention is to follow the script.
(Nitpick.) I understand why you did it, but personally I didn’t care for the “Miramax Films Presents… A Band Apart… by Quentin Tarantino” credits. Those companies didn’t produce this film and it’s a lie to say this is “by QT”.
Script has Mallory singing “Long Time Woman” while she’s in her cell at the beginning. Stone didn’t do this, but it would have been a nice touch to put that song somewhere. Yes QT used it in Jackie Brown and you could say I’m contradicting myself, but that’s one he specifically wrote down.
Technically, the Hun Brothers interview comes before the Reinghold interview and the montage of foreigners. But, that whole portion of the script is very sloppy and it no doubt would have been re-ordered in the editing room, even if he shot everything word-for-word, and I think you placed it nicely. (But nitpick, I would have cut the fade to black, I hate how deleted scenes do that shit.)
There’s some pretty bad audio editing in the court-room deleted scene. Everything is too quiet, music should have swelled louder when he stabbed her, etc.
Oops, flash frame around 27:39, a color frame in between B&W shots. Oof, some bad audio cuts immediately after that as well.
Bullwinkle Pt 2 was put on a loop for way too long.
I’m undecided on if I like that you kept McClusky’s severed head. It’s not in the script, in fact he writes the opposite of the grisly violence that was filmed. “Freeze frame: As Mickey and Mallory start firing, a la Butch and Sundance. We hear the gunfire and screams of a small war. FADE TO BLACK. EXT. WOODS – DAY…”
But… in QT’s script McClusky disappears early on and the Deputy Warden Wurlitzer has a beefier role. McClusky in the final movie is essentially those two guys combined, so since it’s already uncontrollably different it makes sense to end with that climatic moment.
Some awkward edits in the final confrontation with Wayne.
Nice use of Alan Smithee!!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
User reviews
9 reviews
Overall rating
9.1
Audio/Video Quality
9.1(9)
Audio Editing
9.0(9)
Visual Editing
9.6(9)
Narrative
8.7(9)
Enjoyment
9.0(9)
Overall rating
9.3
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
9.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
8.0
Enjoyment
10.0
This was very interesting. I used to have a copy of Tarantino's script for this (printed in book form), no idea whatever became of it, but I can only assume this is what the Cuddleyninja used as the basis for the pacing and cutting with whatever material he had to use.
The music replacement to match a Tarantino film worked well. In fact, for some I preferred it to the original
Everything worked fine--mostly. Where it sort of didn't work was at the end during the riots. It felt like it moved too fast during this section and then before you know it the short edit is over. I felt it also worked because I had seen the original film 8 million times at this point (a favorite of mine). My enjoyment though is because I already knew the material-- So if I were to view this without ever seeing the film prior how would it hold up? It would still work to a much lesser extent (most of the characterization is gone so you do not get too invested, you just roll with the film wondering a bit more about these individuals), but not as well as if you knew the original
Gets some nice ratings because it was well done. I gave narrative an 8 because it works, but it kind of doesn't, but it kind of does. I gave audio editing a 9, quite a few spots suffer from leveling where either the dialogue or music/effects get too loud or low. I understand dissecting channels to make something new, but people need to pay more attention to this (a few other fan edits I saw suffer from this). It wasn't too bad in this one.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation
The music replacement to match a Tarantino film worked well. In fact, for some I preferred it to the original
Everything worked fine--mostly. Where it sort of didn't work was at the end during the riots. It felt like it moved too fast during this section and then before you know it the short edit is over. I felt it also worked because I had seen the original film 8 million times at this point (a favorite of mine). My enjoyment though is because I already knew the material-- So if I were to view this without ever seeing the film prior how would it hold up? It would still work to a much lesser extent (most of the characterization is gone so you do not get too invested, you just roll with the film wondering a bit more about these individuals), but not as well as if you knew the original
Gets some nice ratings because it was well done. I gave narrative an 8 because it works, but it kind of doesn't, but it kind of does. I gave audio editing a 9, quite a few spots suffer from leveling where either the dialogue or music/effects get too loud or low. I understand dissecting channels to make something new, but people need to pay more attention to this (a few other fan edits I saw suffer from this). It wasn't too bad in this one.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation
Overall rating
6.9
Audio/Video Quality
7.0
Audio Editing
6.0
Visual Editing
8.0
Narrative
7.0
Enjoyment
5.0
I only recommend this edit just to see how Tarantino's script would have looked like had it been followed closely, but this film is a mess. I don't know what Oliver Stone was going for in his direction, but it did not work in my opinion. The script could possibly have worked better in the hands of Tarantino, as it has a lot of his usual tropes, but even still it felt pretty weak. The audio editing was a bit dodgy in places, and there were at least 5 spots that had glitches visually. The edit did well in matching Tarantino's feel by using his musical choices from his other films in fitting places in this one.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
(Updated: June 06, 2018)
Overall rating
8.5
Audio/Video Quality
7.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
7.0
Enjoyment
9.0
This version serves well as an alternate version, in no way is it a proper replacement for the original because way too much good stuff was cut. In fact this edit, as it stands, very quickly moves to the [spoiler alert!] prison ending and to the riot escape which drags on and on just like the original. Don't get me wrong; the Tarantino style and music is a great mood change for a viewing but I would've much more enjoyed an edit that trims the riot ending and other smaller issues and therefore would work as a replacement for the original.
The video quality was decent at 6.5mbps, 1080p, last-gen codec. If the edit was better I would have wanted a more preservation-worthy bitrate.
Let's all hope QT keeps on writing scripts after his 10th and (supposedly) final film!
The video quality was decent at 6.5mbps, 1080p, last-gen codec. If the edit was better I would have wanted a more preservation-worthy bitrate.
Let's all hope QT keeps on writing scripts after his 10th and (supposedly) final film!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
P
pahakokki
Overall rating
9.3
Audio/Video Quality
9.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
9.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
10.0
It's been a while since I watched this but I remember it was INSTANTLY miles above the original Oliver Stone version. It's interesting how when I found out Tarantino wrote NBK I was surprised Oliver Stone made it and not QT himself. At the time Tarantino was just starting out with writing scripts so he didn't have the clout to make a movie yet-- hence why Natural Born Killers and True Romance were written by Tarantino but directed by Oliver Stone and Tony Scott respectively.
But I digress. Seeing Natural Born Killers: The Tarantino Cut was like a breath of fresh air. Whereas the Oliver Stone theatrical version was enjoyable but not much of a repeat viewing movie (read: too insane to put on again), this visual and music re-edit gives it that Tarantino funktacular style that is more stimulating to the senses, engaging, and all out fun.
Furthermore, let me just personally thank thecuddlyninja for ditching the sitcom scenes, the bizarre Indian, the wedding scene, the cartoony and demonic stuff, and all that other stupid Oliver Stone over-the-top crap that made the movie seem like it was trying a bit too hard to be insane. We get it, Oliver, it was the 90s and you were still on A LOT of drugs, but jeez. And don't get me wrong, I LOVE a bunch Oliver Stone movies like Platoon, Wall Street, JFK, and Nixon. But NBK was meant to be a Quentin Tarantino movie. Thanks to thecuddlyninja it now is!
But I digress. Seeing Natural Born Killers: The Tarantino Cut was like a breath of fresh air. Whereas the Oliver Stone theatrical version was enjoyable but not much of a repeat viewing movie (read: too insane to put on again), this visual and music re-edit gives it that Tarantino funktacular style that is more stimulating to the senses, engaging, and all out fun.
Furthermore, let me just personally thank thecuddlyninja for ditching the sitcom scenes, the bizarre Indian, the wedding scene, the cartoony and demonic stuff, and all that other stupid Oliver Stone over-the-top crap that made the movie seem like it was trying a bit too hard to be insane. We get it, Oliver, it was the 90s and you were still on A LOT of drugs, but jeez. And don't get me wrong, I LOVE a bunch Oliver Stone movies like Platoon, Wall Street, JFK, and Nixon. But NBK was meant to be a Quentin Tarantino movie. Thanks to thecuddlyninja it now is!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital
Overall rating
9.5
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
8.0
Enjoyment
9.0
Having not been a super fan of the original film and this being my first viewing of a Fanedit, I was at once, curious, cautious and open-minded to the experience. I like Tarantino, but I also happen to like Oliver stone. It has been a while since I last saw the OS version of the film and after watching this, I can't really imagine sitting through that one again.
At 56 minutes, it seemed closer to the running time that this type of film really actually warrants, maybe a 70-75 minutes would have been perfect.
My thoughts are that I think it would be fairer for someone who hasn't seen the original to review this properly because having a knowledge of the original, means I was able to go past any narrative short-cuts without feeling like I was missing out. I wonder what the experience would be like for the uninitiated?
I found it to be fun, inventive and with some genuinely inspired moments, although the ridiculous cartoon acting by usually great actors such as Robert Downey Jr (I'm thinking/ hoping the accent is purposely terrible) and Tommy Lee Jones, still does not show either of them in a good light and there was nothing the editor could have done about that. Interesting experience though, very good. Thanks for the hard work TheCuddlyNinja.
At 56 minutes, it seemed closer to the running time that this type of film really actually warrants, maybe a 70-75 minutes would have been perfect.
My thoughts are that I think it would be fairer for someone who hasn't seen the original to review this properly because having a knowledge of the original, means I was able to go past any narrative short-cuts without feeling like I was missing out. I wonder what the experience would be like for the uninitiated?
I found it to be fun, inventive and with some genuinely inspired moments, although the ridiculous cartoon acting by usually great actors such as Robert Downey Jr (I'm thinking/ hoping the accent is purposely terrible) and Tommy Lee Jones, still does not show either of them in a good light and there was nothing the editor could have done about that. Interesting experience though, very good. Thanks for the hard work TheCuddlyNinja.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched
Digital