Natural Born Killers Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Although it seems as if I've been hired exclusively to write articles about or concerning Tarantino-themed projects, I assure you it's merely a private obsession. That said, it feels necessary to announce that on August 25, 2009, Warner Home Video will release the Natural Born Killers Director's Cut on Blu-ray and DVD. The forthcoming set features a collection of all-new bonus materials and a 44-page booklet on the production and its cultural significance.

Perhaps even moreso than director Oliver Stone's theatrical version, The Director's Cut has something of a storied history; rather than the director's or extended cuts that DVD and Blu-ray producers churn out purely as a cash-in, this was in fact the original incarnation of the film that was truly Stone's vision, and was changed because the MPAA balked at the inclusion of some four minutes of material, including images such as a horrifically comic point of view shot through the bullet hole in a character's hand. On the other hand (no pun intended), it remains subjective which version is truly better than the other; once you've succumbed to the visual onslaught that Stone unleashes, it's tough to determine what additional impact such shots and sequences really effect.

The single disc Blu-ray will be available for the MSRP of $28.99, while the two-disc DVD set will retail for $20.97. Both sets will feature the following extras (located after the jump):

I have a confession to make. I used to be a rabid fangirl of Quentin Tarantino -- so much so that I went all sorts of nuts when introduced to my first college poster sale. My poor roommate ... she had to deal with one half of a room adorned with posters of John Travolta, Tim Roth, Samuel L. Jackson, and more. My guns and bad guys were balanced by her posters of funky black and white photos and art prints.

It wasn't that I was a huge fan of ultra-violent films; I just couldn't get enough of a film laden with insanely catchy conversations and even catchier music. I especially loved Pumpkin, and Honey Bunny. So, in honor of bad girls and guys who love each other while wreaking havoc on the world, I give you two Tarantino flicks from 1994 -- Pulp Fiction and Natural Born Killers. (Well, to be fair -- he disowned the latter, but he's still a part of it.)

This is Tarantino we're talking about, so these clips might not be suitable for wee young things and work environments.

One of the greatest things about a controversial film is that it sparks debate. It shocks us. Scares us. Changes us. And helps us to look at the world differently. Be it about war, religion, politics or pop-culture, a good controversy will often lead to a colorful discussion. However, Hollywood doesn't really care about discussion or debate -- to them, controversy equals big box office numbers ... some of the time.

Take, for example, recent films like The Da Vinci Code and United 93. One was controversial for its belief that Jesus Christ was married and fathered a child -- an idea that goes against what many feel is a proven truth. The other was about a horrific event that took place only five years ago, and raised questions over whether or not it was too soon to come out with a commercial film about what actually took place. While The Da Vinci Code took in millions at the box office, United 93 didn't do as well. However, both were engulfed in controversy. What does this tell us? Well, for starters, Jesus will always be Hollywood's number one superstar.

This week's Entertainment Weekly ranks the 25 most controversial films of all time. Not surprisingly, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ came in at number one. Also on the list are JFK, A Clockwork Orange, Natural Born Killers, Basic Instinct and Fahrenheit 9/11, among others. Some of these films are controversial because of only one or two scenes. I mean, Clockwork is number 2 on the list, mainly because of its one violent scene. Does it belong there? On a list that spans the entire history of film?

So, I ask you: How should we rate controversial films on a list like this? Also, what makes one stand out from the next. Oh, and for fun, what are some of your favorite controversial films of all time?