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Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins Announced as PG-13
May 5, 2008
Source: Variety
by Alex Billington
The Halcyon Company made an official announcement today stating that the upcoming Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins will be officially rated PG-13. I'm not entirely sure why they made such an effort to make sure the rating was this well known, especially when they haven't even really started filming, but it's a topic worth discussing. The important thing to note: all three of the past Terminator films have been rated R. This is the very first time any Terminator movie will be PG-13. This is similar to Live Free or Die Hard last year, which was the first Die Hard movie to be rated PG-13. Is this a concern?
Although the previous Terminator films, which have played quite well, were all rated R, the producers from Halycon "thought it was time to broaden the upcoming fourth film's audience base, and they believe the PG-13 won't compromise the series' gritty vision." Let's hope their right, because from the sounds of it, they're more about money than about really keeping true to the spirit of the Terminator franchise. "Our merchandising program will be the largest to date for The Terminator." So the truth comes out! "We are carrying on in the tradition of the mythology, with an exciting approach to the action. If we can make a compelling film to reach the widest audience, why wouldn't we do it?" As much as they are trying to sound like a company that cares about the vision, Halcyon is really only about money in the end.
I think it's too early to start screaming about how problematic a PG-13 rating will be. I had a huge issue with Live Free or Die Hard because that series needs to be rated R and the "yippie-kay-yay motherfucker" line had to be a part of it or it would've lost all that made the series great. Unfortunately that's what happened. Although you could claim Terminator would lose the grit it had if it got rid of its always over-the-top violence, just look at Iron Man. That was a PG-13 movie that had a fair amount of violence and yet didn't feel like they cut back. Halcyon co-CEO Victor Kubicek says that "the ratings have changed" and that "PG-13 has increased in intensity." But we all know it's still about selling toys.
Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, directed by McG of Charlie's Angels and We Are Marshall, starts shooting this week for a May 22nd, 2009 release.
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Reader Feedback - 26 Comments »
1
This is bullshit. How can they even consider turning this movie into a PG-13 rated film? Every other film in the franchise, as Alex said, has been rated R. This franchise has grossed billions of dollars. So…what makes them think this is acceptable to the fans that MADE the Terminator franchise the monster hit that it is? The movie is calle TERMINATOR, for christs sake. Its about machines that kill people. Who cares if that's palatable for 13 year olds? (It is, by the way, and the 13 year olds that want to see it, even if it were R would see it anyway.) I really don't understand this logic? Marketing? You gotta be fucking kidding me. Live Free or Die Hard sucked balls for many reasons, but it would have sucked a lot less if it had been a hard R, like EVERY OTHER DIE HARD FILM! This is extremely disheartening.
R-Bitrary on May 5, 2008
2
THIS FUCKING SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
REAL6 on May 5, 2008
3
Hell yea this is a concern! First of all in my opinion the final die hard sucked ass the stunts were way too unrealistic and the story wasn't believable. In their attempt to keep it PG13 they made it too far fetched sort of like the 2nd Transporter. They should stick to tradition and keep it rated R that's what TERMINATOR is all about. Fans of the Terminator saga love foul language, blood, guts, and death you take that away and we have nothing just a robot running around with no blood, guts or glory. In my book this is Strrrrrike One against Terminator Salvation.
Tirrell on May 5, 2008
4
Totally agree.
Live Free or Die Hard lacked the visceral action of the first film. Still… it was 100 times better than the other 2 sequals. If it stayed true to the vision of the original - and therefore had to bear the burden of an R rating - than it could have been even better. But, as with any corporation, money talks REAL loud.
Unfortunatly Terminator is now heading down than same dark highway… its future now uncertain…
DH T Fan
DieHard Terminator Fan on May 5, 2008
5
There is no 'R' in "quality" and I think for this dud the least of their worries is the rating. As far as "grit" is concerned T3 had already lost a lot of that with ridiculous scenes like Arnold putting on that homo stripper's sunglasses. The Terminator franchise is nothing but a cashcow now, and although such a thing can be of high quality (potentially Indiana Jones, for example) I have little faith that James Cameron's creation will ever grace its former glory unless he himself has his hand in its related projects.
Frame on May 5, 2008
6
i don't see why it should matter, there was no actual nudity in any of the Terminators other than the few minutes in T1.
blood and gore have never been an overwhelming factor other than a few gratuitous scenes I.E the fist in the chest in 1 and 3 and the ol' sharp object in the eye/mouth in 2.
it is sound reasoning for the body count to NOT mount up in this movie because it takes place in the future after the machines took over, the human resistance is small, so the mounting body count is going to be purely Terminator Endo-Skeletons.
cursing wasn't that big an issue especially after the sappy catchphrase filled T2.
frankly i don't see why this is such a big deal really, there have been some really good PG-13 movies as of late.
The Delightful Deviant on May 5, 2008
7
While on topic, Do you guys think that The Dark Knight should have been rated R as well ?
Max on May 5, 2008
8
Count me out - and I'm a big fan of the franchise. But that sucks donkey ass, and isn't worth a watch.
nha on May 5, 2008
9
James Cameron is the only one who can make a good terminator movie. Look at how fucking shitty the third film was. As far as I am concerned the last Terminator movie came out in 1991.
alex on May 5, 2008
10
Like #6, I don't see any problem with the new Terminator's being PG-13, because the old Terminator's didn't have so much violence that requires a 'R' rating, for today standards.
Comparing with (more) modern ultra-violent movies like Hostel or Saw, the old Terminator trilogy would certainly have a PG-13 if they were made today.
I'm more concerned about a the new T's having a good script, good acting and great action sequences that turn this franchise in all that should always be from the first place - not a rehash of the same story over and over again (terminator comes from the future to kill John Connor).
Fox on May 5, 2008
11
This movie will be a success at the cost of the fans. The first 2 Terminator films were rated R for, not so much in blood and gore, but in the sense of unrelenting dread and unforgivingness. These "end of the world" stories are not for the PG-13 crowd, unless they star Keanu Reeves. This movie will be another one of those "Next on MTV's TRL, the cast of Terminator 4". I very sad demise indeed.
Don't worry though in 4 years they'll remake "Terminator" anyway.
What ruined Die Hard 4 for me was the lack of rhythm, heart, style, and atmospehere that the first 3 created. It also had a one trick pony for a director.
Scorpio on May 5, 2008
12
they already lost me on this one
taurinh on May 5, 2008
13
Bleah, T2 was the last Terminator movie in my mind. James Cameron had something there. Now that these other hacks are all over the license like Lohan on coke they are bound to suck…the fact Cristian Bale is part of it gives me some hope though.
In some respects PG-13 has become the new R, they seem surprisingly violent compared to years ago. I think R is becoming more reserved for movies with truly excessive torture porn and sex.
interl0per on May 5, 2008
14
I think today Terminator 1 would be PG-13 but really, this is an R franchise.
Ryan on May 5, 2008
15
this fucking sucks Who is makeing this WB Made Number 3 are they still going to make it or some differnt
Mattie on May 5, 2008
16
A PG-13 Terminator will completely suck balls
Winston on May 5, 2008
17
First McG…now this. I honestly hope we are all wrong and this movie turns out to be good. But I can say I'm not as optimistic as I was before this news came out. It's all about the money.
Jeff on May 5, 2008
18
I dont think a rating makes a movie as much as a director and/or script does.The rating is not as bad as the face that James Cameron is not involved. I think that there is a lot of ground to make up from a poor T3 and I hope this film can pull it off.
Napier's News on May 6, 2008
19
Wait. Who is making this? FOX or WB?!?!?!?!?!?!
If it is FOX then they REALLY need to get a new President :). If its WB this is quite surprising.
Ryan on May 6, 2008
20
It's a little concerning that the makers would think telling everyone that the film was going to be a PG-13 would be so important.
I don't see what they hope to gain from it apart from scoring the obvious own goal that they should be more concerned about the artistic merit of the film rather than it's eventual rating.
Maybe they should announce what it's exact running time will be in the hope that this info might help them also!
Payne by name on May 6, 2008
22
this movie is going to be a waste of what James Cameron created, it seems like all these people think about the money and not the fans that loved the three previous movies. I have some hope for it seeing as Christian Bale is in it, lets hope MGM doesn't fuck this movie up.
Curtis on May 6, 2008
23
No Cameron no good. Cameron stopped for a reason and he did it to perfection. A rental at the least.
john on May 6, 2008
24
I think this will be AWESOME!!!!
Terminator was WAY too violent of a movie-
and now we can watch it with the WHOLE FAMILY!
I've always wanted to have conversations about SKYNET
at the dinner table.
Now's my chance!
Uh, yeah. This'll blow. on May 7, 2008
25
Haha, I totally agree…what the hell are they thinking?
William on May 8, 2008
26
Does anybody know if the gossip about polish strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski playing new terminator is true? When I heard that I searched for photo quickly and I loved that news immediatly - this guy is just born to play new Terminator!
Oro_Spain on May 9, 2008