When the screenwriter hates the movie 

With the difficulty Tarantino had getting started it makes you wonder how many other amazing directors are out there who never get the chance

Tarantino: "First off, Oliver cut over 28 minutes of Juliette's feet. I wanted nothing to do with it after that."

*No feet shots* Tarantino: it's ruined

The sitcom opening is what grabbed me right away. I can't even picture the movie without that scene

Downey Jr; the one American actor in showbiz who's put in the effort to craft a damn decent and pretty convincing Strayan accent haha.

Why does Roger Avery never get credit from the public for being involved in writing Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and True Romance.

QT’s hate of the “I Love Mallory” sequence seems pretty simple; he didn’t think the co-protagonist needed an origin story. Much like how IMO Rob Zombie’s Halloween messed up by trying to explain why Michael Myers was like he was. Sometimes it’s more compelling when you don’t have an explanation.

Oliver Stone: "It wasn't like we stole his script, he was paid very well." 3:28 "$10,000"...

every youtube video these days: "before we get to the point of the video, lets start from the beginning....." every damn video

I just couldn't get Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Downey Jr.'s roles, dialogue and performances out of my head after I finished seeing it for the first time 1.5 decades ago. So over-the-top that they were perfect!

He hated that it was rewritten, he didn't hate the result of the script he wrote

does anyone else miss when film video essays had actual titles and thumbnails

The sit com part is incredible. It's such dark twisted absurd satire. Really brilliant ridicule of a deeply disturbed nation.

I loved Natural Born Killers. It's a great film.

A solid documentary, excellent editing. Very good stuff man!

It was QT’s baby, so I understand why the deviation annoyed him so much. But from the outside, the things Stone brought to it were valuable and interesting. Just in a different tone from what QT laid out. He kept most of what was in the original script, and arguably by expanding and humanizing M&M, added a good dash of complexity to the flavor. Added stakes to tense scenes in the riot and escape that would be much much dimmer. Who cares if they make it out if all you know is the little shown in the interview and a few flashbacks? I’m glad fate lined up a collaboration that otherwise wouldn’t happen.

Natural Born Killers is an underrated masterpiece!

I love that movie. Some of my favourite ever performances. It’s a funny, wacky, psychedelic, horrific road movie. It’s no Wild at Heart though. I don’t think Tarantino understands or at least cares about Satire and that movie is 100% satire.

Funny, because this is my favorite film. Love Tarantino and Stone. I find it interesting you came to a different conclusion because in reading the original screenplay, I was actually surprised how similar Quentin's was in its tone. Much of the media satire is still there, only Quentin focuses on overly long dialogue scenes with Wayne that aren't necessary and focuses less on Mickey and Malory which makes them a lot more stale than Stone's version--as goofy and romanticized as they are in his version.

NBK is also a virtual blueprint for Kill Bill: needless shifts to black and white, tilting camera angles, anime sequence. Stone should have been given a Pulitzer for adding in a laugh track to the Dangerfield scene

NBK came out in 1994 - just one year after the documentary version of Manufacturing Consent - and both combined had such a profound impact on the way I see media and how it is used to influence people's values and opinions.

Nice retrospective! I have always wondered why he hated the movie so much. It was iconic to us teenagers in the 90s. This really explains the differences of focus between his original script and the final product.

Natural born killers is an exceptional film by any measure...roger ebert called it a masterpiece....i kinda agree with him

This is one of my all time favorite movies. It may not have been Tarantino's complete vision, but his incredible writing put in the hands of an incredible director spawned an incredible film.

that movie affected me like no other ever & definitely more than any of Tarantino's.

I am personally happy that Stone picked this up. It’s one of my favorite movies. If Tarantino had it his way it would be a comic lacking meaning and purpose. Stone added a depth that Tarantino could never do. NBK is a masterpiece under Stone’s correction and direction.

Would you like to see Tarantino’s version of 'Natural Born Killers'?

Thank you for talking about this movie. I first saw it a few years back and keep coming back and then away with new interpretations, and for whatever reason not a ton of people are talking about this film

Tarantino making his version would be a pretty fitting choice for his last movie imo

I like NBK and definitely think it’s interesting how it turned out in Stones version compared to QT’s script.. originally NBK was a story Clarence was writing in an early version of True Romance but it was QT’s mate Avery who told him. To split it into two separate scripts cause the story was so good that it shouldn’t be just a smaller part of TR’s sub plots, Good video.. new to the channel and subscribed.

A Great film and a Great soundtrack...

Natural Born Killers is my favorite movie of all time. Partly because of the nostalgia I have for what happened in my life, how m I enjoy watching it and the soundtrack. I think Quentin Tarantino would have made the movie much better but it is what it is. It is still the movie I enjoyed the most probably of any movie in my life. I still watch it from time to time. I really enjoyed this video. Very well done sir and thank you.

This is hands down one of my favourite movies.

That movie is magnificent. I saw it as a kid in the theater. Watched it as an adult and was still blown away though I understood it through a different lens.

I love that movie. The song as the credits roll is great

Thanks for doing this video. NBK is my favorite movie of all time, and I always heard that Tarantino hated it but I never knew why or heard him actually talk about it.

The difference between Stone´s take and Tarantino´s personal style can be boiled to a couple of key distinctions: Tarantino has the mind of an adolescent, a video-store clerk for whom the spectacle of violence is jus thrilling cinema. Stone is the more mature film-maker, in that he declines to use on-screen violence as a means to excite the audience, but is more interested in the people who commit these acts and the consequences of them. Tarantino could never make a film like Platoon (1986), which sought to seriously interrogate American gung-ho militarism through the raw, painful and for Stone deeply personal experience of Vietnam. That more socially conscious outlook is anathema to Tarantino, who, despite his own great skill and panache as a film-maker, remains basically rooted in childish impulses and B-movie tastelessness, and can only view his subjects through a lens of virtuoso technical craft.

Excellent editing and walking through the history

You should look up the video of Tarantino explaining why he hates Bill Murray films but loves Chevy Chase films. QT loves Chevy Chase films because the guy he plays is always an asshole from beginning to end but he hates Bill Murray films because the guy he plays always starts out as an asshole but "grows" over the course of the movie in a Disney fairytale like way to become some great moral character by the end of it. Tarantino argues that Bill Murray movies thus do not reflect the realities of human character: if someone is an asshole at the beginning of a particular set of events, they will still be an asshole at the end of those events. I suppose the difference here between Stone and Tarantino is their view on both morality and reality. Stone is very focused on moralizing, but Tarantino has a more existentialist view on life and morality: "the moral of the story here is that you were at the wrong place at the wrong time and as a result you are dead".

I love Tarantino and I love Natural Born Killers and as a nice side note.... that TV sitcom scene is one of the best in the picture!!

If Tarantino directed: Tim Roth as Wayne Gale, Michael Madsen as Jack, with Val Kilmer as Mickey and Angelina Jolie as Malory

this is a best video essay about natural born killers & it's story different from stone (Director & frontman of the finished film that we all love & know today) & Tarantino (original writer of the film, but hate the result because it got messed up & re-tooled), which I would understand, but knowing, that it's great film, and after seeing this video, I'm really interested in seeing Tarantino version getting it's shot to the big screen & I feel like it would a a similar vibes to JAWS, not showing the sharks, but knowing their kills, like it will be a zodiac type scenario, but not seeing the killers until the very end, but in a non-chronological storyline, that would be fun, heck, I might do it, overall, in hindsight, Quentin's version = Zodiac + Jaws + Truman Show + all of his films, I will love it, no matter what

I think people are hating on Tarantino way too much and I will explain why. The version that you got with this movie is the one you’re so used to, so you can’t imagine another script because your mind is trained to only accept the only version that you got. If Tarantino had his original version and it did not go in another direction. Yes there is a chance the audience could love his version more. So if he believes that the audience would like what he had to offer, there’s a chance that they actually would. If both versions got the screen light, then the fans would debate making videos on which one did better, which one was written better, and which one has the better storyline? You’re only trained to know that only one version of natural born killers was made, and you will only accept this one version because the other version of this movie does not exist. But if it did, you probably would be taking back your opinions because when you actually have the real thing in front of your eyes, a lot of things could change immediately with opinions.

Fastest 10 mins on the internet. Damned Well Done.

Gotta watch this movie now

Intersting vid! I've not watched it for years but I always liked NBK, although in an alternate universe somewhere there's Tarantino's version which I would love to see. Also True Romance rules!

I remember watching this in the theatre. It was challenging to watch. It was supposed to be. And it was. I had already watched all of Tarantino's other work, of course, same with Oliver Stone, but this was next level. I can't imagine that any changes to script would have had any difference to the end product. This was Stone's movie in the end, a showcase of his directing more than anything else, him trying to make his version of a snuff movie, and it was unlike anything else. I feel like Tarantino is just bitter that Stone out-Tarantino'ed him.

QT is probably my Favorite Director of all time, but NBK is also one of my Favorite Movies of all time... I cannot imagine NBK as interpreted by QT, I can't imagine it with different actors or different cinematography, I just cant. The movie is perfect as it sits and the Sitcom Mallory segment is hugely important to establishing who she is and why she would fall in love with Mickey. In all the really good serial killer stories there is always a back story they explains why they became the way they are. And the Media Hyping of Mickey and Mallory satires the early 90s in a nutshell because it was and still is a huge joke. The Media is a major problem for our society to this day and NBK was calling out the problem 30 some odd years ago...

The one script Tarantino wrote that I'm glad he didnt direct. NBK is a phenomenal movie.

Incredible movie. Tarantino is a great director, but I feel like the script in someone else's hands really elevated this to a level he probably couldn't achieve. I fully understand his position though, it was his baby and to see someone else run with it is probably a hard thing for the ego.

I had read that Natural Born Killers was part of True Romance, as a script that Clarence was writing. Wonder where that story came from

"Repetition works, David. Repition works, David"

How crazy. I’ve tried to watch this movie 3 times and can never get through it.

And that's w-hyyyyy.... helicopters.... were not deployed. I remember the first time watching this movie. I had to rewatch it immediately.

This is 1 of my favorite films, the anxiety it induces isnt captured anywhere else. The fact tarantino hates that shit makes me like it even more. Fucking tired of his feet shots every 2 seconds

True Romance is an absolute masterpiece though, I hope he doesn't feel the same about that one. It felt like a Tarantino movie through and through, the same way From Dusk 'Til Dawn did (albeit a different genre)

Natural Born Killers has a lot of good stuff in it but I don't think it totally works as a movie. Maybe Tarantino's version would have, considering how good he was at the time. The best thing about Natural Born Killers was the soundtrack.

I get why seeing your vision turn out completely differently than what you had in mind would turn you off and cause resentment. Also, I love Natural Born Killers.

as horrifying as it is, and the copycat crimes, I fucking love this movie

Both Stone and Tarantino have made many films I love. Natural Born Killers, True Romance, Reservoir Dogs all special films. But Natural Born Killers always reminded me of Fear And Loathing because it feels like a fever dream.

Natural Born Killers is a FANTASTIC movie!! I honestly don't care what Tarantino thinks about the final product. I'm not a fanboy who is going to start hating an awesome movie just because HE does! Great video, though, Lancelloti! :)

Like it or not, this movie was ahead of it's time. Great video.

I'm glad Stone made the movie he did. As with most successful artists, Tarantino is a control freak, and I get it. Ya can't win 'em all, bud!

one of my favorite movies of all time. They really don't make em like this anymore.

The problem is that stone revamped Tarantino’s vision for the film without fully understanding what he was trying to say. You can tell by the way he talks down about it, something that had been rejected, by trying to breathe relatability into the killers, he ends up neutralizing their uniqueness and turns them into common archetypes.

Honestly, True Romance is his best. I'd have _liked_ to have seen his original script for Natural Born Killers, but I can't imagine a way it could be better. And I have a very good imagination.

It's not a Tarantino movie, that's clear while watching it. NBK is much more like Robocop, which is why I loved it. You have a director who earned two Purple Hearts in Vietnam and tried to show people the difference between what you see on-screen and what's actually happening. He released a documentary about the Ukraine War and the public will only understand what a masterpiece it is once the war is over.

Natural Born Killers and True Romance are amazing! Some of my favorites

I find it hard to believe that a guy who watches all sorts of obscure low budget crap hasn't actually watched what is an incredible film because he couldn't get through 5mins of a bit he didn't like

I love pretty much every Tarantino movie, and I loved this movie too. But I'd be fascinated to see the Tarantino versions he envisioned of this and True Romance.

i love this movie. first watched it during my rdj obsession. told my 7th grade teacher i saw it and she said "huh!?" rewatched it again at 22 and still love it

Thank you for this insightful video, this was interesting to learn. Watched natural born killer ages ago, didn't like it, kinda hated it actually. Didn't know the story behind it. True romance was really cool, enjoyed that one.

NBK is masterpiece film.

I did ultimately find the movie uncomfortable to watch and didn’t exactly enjoy it, but I do appreciate Stone's take. I really think the sitcom stuff was wildly disturbing and worked really well itself

I mean it’s kind of legendary that your first two scripts are directed by two of the finest directors in modern history. ❤

I liked the sound of your voiceover. What microphone or program did you use?

Respect to the source material or the lack of it is evident in both his first scripts turned into movies. Tony Scott not only makes a great movie, but also lets Tarantino direct its best scene - the 10 minute dialogue between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken, while Oliver Stone takes the script and does whatever the fuck this shit was, patting himself on the back that he is a real filmmaker... As a Tarantino fan, I don't think it's a coincidence that I absolutely love True Romance and I really really can't stand NBK. And that was before I even read a book with Tarantino interviews where he actually explains why both these movies are so different from one another despite both being his scripts. Tony Scott read a Tarantino script and saw a movie. Oliver Stone read a Tarantino script and saw an opportunity.

i think i was 14 or so when this came out and i saw it on VHS, and I LOVED it. Had never seen anything like it before, loved the trippy stylized way it was filmed and was shocked to hear QT actually didnt like it. In fact i was shocked years later to find out that this movie was panned when it came out as well. I guess people just dont have good taste lmao

True Romance is a perfect time capsule of 90s action movie from Tony Scott with Tarantino dialog. It’s perfect. NBK is just grotesque. It was trying way too hard.

I like Tarantino's mindset he only hates it because he wants better no matter how good it might look to the audience , in the mind of the creator there will always be flaws.

Where we read Tarantino's original script? Any pdf link?

That’s pretty crazy cause that’s literally 1 of my fav movies EVER. It’s a classic fr

Oliver Stone has made some good movies but f me, can he eff them up too! Also, sticking to historical accuracies seems to be his kryptonite.

QT was so smart to take his name off the screenplay to not tarnish his reputation but still want credit for inventing the characters!!!! Sucks we didn't get his original film directed by him even though i like how trippy NBK was made !!!! Its the only reason I like it & the acting of course!!! I consider NBK & Fear & Loathing a perfect double feature because of how visually trippy they both are & the reason i said that is because i actually saw them as a double feature on a Divx DVD & it made them both feel like brother sister movies of each other in the way that they are both made visually ❤

I finished the script more than once. Never could finish the movie.

That sitcom scene is one of my favorite parts!!!

Watching this film felt like Oliver Stone held a gun to my head while rambling about deep state

There are few things more exhausting in this world than a feature length running of Tarantino dialogue.

It's the most memorable and horrifying part of the movie. Tarantino is wrong, and he maybe hates it because his filmography does not take violence seriously.

Natural Born Killers is better then all of Tarantino's work and continues to age like fine wine. I feel Blue Velvet, Natural Born Killers and Mandy make-up a avant-garde film trilogy. My three favorite films that I have seen.

I’ve always found it funny how much Tarantino claims to hate Natural Born Killers and claims to never have seen the whole thing, when he stole the visual aesthetic for Kill Bill and even used the same cinematographer Robert Richardson ever since

They are all great movies and my wife and I re enacted our vowes on the same bridge from Natural born killers in Taos New Mexico when we drove across the country

I prefer Born Killers over most of Tarantinos movies. It doesn’t feel like a constant rip off of old genre pictures I’ve already seen.

The sitcom scene was the best and darkest part of the movie…

2:48 Ironic that Stone's alterations to Tarantino's script made a film 100 times more "morally repugnant" than anything Tarantino could just by changing the perspective from the journalist to the killers. That one change made a film that is painful to watch, edgy and psuedo-provocative drivel.

Great film, brilliant soundtrack. I watched it on acid as a teen in the 90's and the movie really "unlocks". Its meant to be viewed like that, not as disturbing as you might think. Tarantino is a nerd that makes decent shlock, but he lacks true artistic chops. Hes been trying really hard lately to make some "legacy" films, but he basically makes the same movie over and over again. "True romance" is the best thing hes ever done.

This is one of those films you might have loved as a teenager because it was so edgy and off its tits, but when you mature, and watch it again, you realize it was terrible. I saw Taxi Driver at 16, but my appreciation for that film has only grown. Let's be honest, neither director has the talent of 70's directors.

I always wondered why I couldn’t get through this movie…. This nails the reason.

The sitcom part is so memorable and so poignant even today, there was a movie called Paint ang Gain, wich was a comedy based on true crimes committed by a gym manager, and its so painful to watch knowing that real people were murdered. But hey that's the entertainment business.

Tarintino's 2 best movies are the 2 that somebody else made.