Looks like after Dark Knight managed to be all scary and dangerous with a PG13, Lionsgate wants to broaden the boxoffice line with a lower hight restriction. Word is that the fight is on over a PG13 Punisher War Zone.
the big fight over the Punisher project is Lionsgate wants a PG-13 cut to be released.
Of course, Lionsgate can always say, “This was never intended to be PG-13. We always had an R rating in mind.” but I trust Hollywood as far as I can throw it. I’m sure there’s some Lionsgate exec thinking this film can do what The Dark Knight has done with a PG-13 rating.
I actually think this is a bad idea. They want a PG13 cut so that they don’t limit their audience to the half with less expendable income. It makes sense. Marvel Studios knows this better than anyone and it is a strong factor in their pledge to never release a rated R film.
On the other hand I don’t know how effective a movie about a “hero” who is just as bad as the badguys (just better motives to commit the same crimes) is supposed to escape an R rating when you tie all those adult themes in with more firearms and violence than most adults don’t subject themselves to.
If they can magically shred the movie and remove any content that would be inappropriate while still maintaining the spirit and message of the film (which I think is pretty weak anyways) then I say “go for it”
I just don’t think they can. Not saying it CANT be done, but once a movie is a rated R its really hard to make it less without taking stuff out. If the goal was to make a PG13 from the begining they could have made it as dark and foreboding as they wanted (Dark Knight did) and still maintain a PG13.
