MPAA Rating (Note: Officially PG-13)

[zer00]

I actually agree with Vile

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

I actually agree with Vile

Well thats fine. I am just stating facts. Sony wants PG-13 to make as much as they can. Just how it is.

 

[str8raz0r]

If they wanted an "R" film, would they be doing so much w/ licensing for toys/action figures?

Sure, there are "adult" action figures, but somehow I doubt they'd aim for something like that with an R flick.

 

[TheVileOne]

Contrary to popular belief, R-rated movies have had action figures toys and tons of merchandise.

 

[FlameHead]

IMHO, the budget for a Ghost Rider movie does not need to be as high as an X-men film, a Hulk film, or Fantastic Four film.

Ghost Rider is not nor has he ever been a heavy hitter character.

It's not the popularity of a character that determines it's budget. It's what's needed to make the character come to life. In this case, the title character is a flaming skeleton. To bring that to life means money.

Either way, the budget isn't what we're discussing here. It's the rating and the rating is PG-13.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

It's going to be P13. Sony isn't WB, they aren't going to be dumb enough to go with an R rating.

 

[FlameHead]

I don't know if it would be dumb to go with an R or not but, you're right, Sony are definatly not the WB... and I like it that way.

 

[TheVileOne]

It's not the popularity of a character that determines it's budget. It's what's needed to make the character come to life. In this case, the title character is a flaming skeleton. To bring that to life means money.

He's not a flaming skeleton. He has a flaming skull and flaming wheels on his motorcycle.

The X-men movies have characters that do all sorts of insane stuff, but the second movie still cost less than what the alleged budget is for Ghost Rider.

A while back I think we were hearing 50-60 million, that seemed pretty reasonable for this type of movie.

Either way, the budget isn't what we're discussing here. It's the rating and the rating is PG-13.

I'm not the one that originally brought up the budget either.

I think if it will make the movie better and less sanitized, it should be rated R.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

I don't know if it would be dumb to go with an R or not but, you're right, Sony are definatly not the WB... and I like it that way.

I personally think it would dumb...but thats only if the budget is in the area I think it is.

 

[TheVileOne]

I dunno, if the budget is that big, I think it's kinda dumb to spend that much money on a Ghost Rider movie, even if its PG-13.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

It just shows they are going for the best CGI and effects possible. I doubt they want mediocre CGI like Daredevil had.

 

[FlameHead]

He's not a flaming skeleton. He has a flaming skull and flaming wheels on his motorcycle.

....

Actually, he is a flaming skeleton. It's not just the skull. That's what it was like in the comics and from the look of GR's flaming boney hands in the teaser footage we've see, that's the way it is in the movie too.

 

[TheVileOne]

Alright, a flaming skull and boney hands then .

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

So, I'm gonna step in and lay the smack down... once again

http://boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=superhero.htm

PG Movies:
The Incredibles -- $261,441,092
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles -- $135,265,915
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II -- $78,656,813

PG-13 Movies:
Spider-Man -- $403,706,375
Spider-Man 2 -- $373,585,825
Batman -- $251,188,924
X2: X-Men United -- $214,949,694
Batman Begins -- $205,343,774
Batman Forever -- $184,031,112
Batman Returns -- $162,831,698
X-Men -- $157,299,717
Fantastic Four -- $154,696,080
Superman -- $134,218,018
Hulk -- $132,177,234
Superman II -- $108,185,706
Batman and Robin -- $107,325,195
Daredevil -- $102,543,518
Unbreakable -- $95,011,339
The Mask of Zorro -- $94,095,523

R Movies:
Blade II -- $82,348,319

In the top 20 Superhero movies, rated by box office intake... there are 16 PG-13 movies compared to 1 R movie.... heck, there are even 3 PG flicks!

Also, that R rated movie happens to be a sequel

This just proves that PG-13 superhero films have a larger box office... then R rated ones.

Going by purely a business stand point, PG-13 is the clear way to go.

How'd that R rated Punisher do?
The Punisher -- $33,810,189
$33 MILLION in the box office.... compare that to MSJ's other superhero production (PG-13 Daredevil) whose box office take was $102,543,518...

Lesson:
$102 Million > $33 million

PG-13 > R ... for superhero movies

There is no need for an R rating

I'd look more into the numbers and break this thing down.. but it's not worth any more discussion

Oh my god. I...love...you?

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Yeah I tried to tell Vileone that bet you did it much better.

 

[Uncanny Orb]

I pretty sure that Blade 2 was not R here in Canada because me and my son did not miss any of them. At least I don't remeber not seeing them.

 

[FlameHead]

Nope, sorry man, it was R here too.

Can't young people go to movies if they have adults with them?

 

[NDX]

Unless it's NC-17 (here in the states), you can see an R movie as long as you are accompanied by a parent and under 18.

 

[TheVileOne]

So, I'm gonna step in and lay the smack down... once again

http://boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=superhero.htm

PG Movies:
The Incredibles -- $261,441,092
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles -- $135,265,915
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II -- $78,656,813

PG-13 Movies:
Spider-Man -- $403,706,375
Spider-Man 2 -- $373,585,825
Batman -- $251,188,924
X2: X-Men United -- $214,949,694
Batman Begins -- $205,343,774
Batman Forever -- $184,031,112
Batman Returns -- $162,831,698
X-Men -- $157,299,717
Fantastic Four -- $154,696,080
Superman -- $134,218,018
Hulk -- $132,177,234
Superman II -- $108,185,706
Batman and Robin -- $107,325,195
Daredevil -- $102,543,518
Unbreakable -- $95,011,339
The Mask of Zorro -- $94,095,523

R Movies:
Blade II -- $82,348,319

In the top 20 Superhero movies, rated by box office intake... there are 16 PG-13 movies compared to 1 R movie.... heck, there are even 3 PG flicks!

Also, that R rated movie happens to be a sequel

This just proves that PG-13 superhero films have a larger box office... then R rated ones.

Going by purely a business stand point, PG-13 is the clear way to go.

How'd that R rated Punisher do?
The Punisher -- $33,810,189
$33 MILLION in the box office.... compare that to MSJ's other superhero production (PG-13 Daredevil) whose box office take was $102,543,518...

Lesson:
$102 Million > $33 million

PG-13 > R ... for superhero movies

There is no need for an R rating

I'd look more into the numbers and break this thing down.. but it's not worth any more discussion

All this really tells me is that Sony or Johnson don't have enough confidence in the film to break that trend and try to make something edgier and darker like those first 2 Blade movies. Just like Fox didn't have enough confidence to release the the non-butchered cut of Daredevil.

I see no reason why the movie should have to cater to the kids and family types because considering the subject matter, I don't think its going to make X-men/Spider-man type money.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

All this really tells me is that Sony or Johnson don't have enough confidence in the film to break that trend and try to make something edgier and darker like those first 2 Blade movies. Just like Fox didn't have enough confidence to release the the non-butchered cut of Daredevil.

I see no reason why the movie should have to cater to the kids and family types because considering the subject matter, I don't think its going to make X-men/Spider-man type money.

Daredevil didn't even need the R. The only thing that I can think of that pushed it to the R was the F word used by Colin Farrel. Daredevil could have been PG-13 and good it was just the editing and chopping that made the theatrical version suck.

And have you actually read any Ghost Rider comics? People around here seem to agree that there is mostly PG-13 material in the comics. Its not a question of confidence its just common sense. Ghost Rider can maintain a PG-13 rating and still be the Ghost Rider from the comics and be in the best profit area in the movies.

 

[TheVileOne]

Daredevil didn't even need the R. The only thing that I can think of that pushed it to the R was the F word used by Colin Farrel. Daredevil could have been PG-13 and good it was just the editing and chopping that made the theatrical version suck.

And have you actually read any Ghost Rider comics? People around here seem to agree that there is mostly PG-13 material in the comics. Its not a question of confidence its just common sense. Ghost Rider can maintain a PG-13 rating and still be the Ghost Rider from the comics and be in the best profit area in the movies.

I've read Ghost Rider comics, and some of them were pretty bloody and violent and the way he unmercifully just executes a lot of people. It's my understanding that he doesn't or can't kill people in this movie right?

Also, the subject matter itself. A guys sells his soul to Satan to become a demonic vigilante. I don't see it making huge money.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

I've read Ghost Rider comics, and some of them were pretty bloody and violent and the way he unmercifully just executes a lot of people. It's my understanding that he doesn't or can't kill people in this movie right?

Also, the subject matter itself. A guys sells his soul to Satan to become a demonic vigilante. I don't see it making huge money.

Uhh to my knowledge Ghost Rider doesn't intentionally kill or execute people in the comics...he just inflicts pain on humans at the most. He is probably only going to get bloody and violent with the demons in the movie therefore making it CREATURE violence which gives it the PG-13.

 

[TheVileOne]

Uhh to my knowledge Ghost Rider doesn't intentionally kill or execute people in the comics...he just inflicts pain on humans at the most. He is probably only going to get bloody and violent with the demons in the movie therefore making it CREATURE violence which gives it the PG-13.

I've read issues where he does indeed brutally kill people.

But hey, torture is just fine .

The rating kind of tells me they are going for a more Spider-man demographic, which I don't think they are going to get.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Well I will have to revert to Flamehead and let him answer if he has actually killed people cause to my knowledge he doesn't.

 

[BIGGUN]

Well I will have to revert to Flamehead and let him answer if he has actually killed people cause to my knowledge he doesn't.

to say that either GR never killed would be false...he did. but it was in the early issues of both series and it was a RARE occurance. in an early issue of the 70s series GR killed a human villain w/ hellfire, there were 2 or 3 other times where he caused a human villain to be killed. ran one dude off a cliff and ran his hellcycle into a helicopter before it had a chance to dive into a nuclear reactor.
the demon Zarathos (Ghost Rider) didnt mind killing human beings...but it was Blaze's willpower that prevented him from doing it. the times when he did kill were when he had no choice....he wasnt being vindictive.
the 90s GR also killed but again it was RARE and happened only in the early issues. he punched one mugger in the face w/ his spiked fist and you assumed he killed him...he made one ninja stab himself w/ his own weapon. however the ninja was later revealed to be a undead creature used by Centurious and wasnt human to begin with. there was even a little arguement between GR and the Punisher where Pun was about to shoot a villain and GR stopped him saying that something to the effect that "vengeance is my mission...not death"
later in the series this point was driven home over and over again that GR would not take a human life.

what does all of this mean? well it seems GR would kill but only when he had no other choice. also it shows that this was before the writers knew exactly what to make of GR. it was suggested in a interview before the 90s series started that GR would be someting like a "supernatural punisher"...only killing when he had no other choice. but it seems Marvel didnt like the idea and nixed that point early in the series.
fans remember GR as only giving human villains the Penance Stare or buring their souls w/ Hellfire. only killling non-humans (demons/monsters) was allowed. THIS should be reflected in the movie...as it was in the comics.

as far as the PG13 rating goes...GR for the most part was always intended to be PG13. the 1995 movie was going to PG13...but when Goyer had success w/ his R rated Blade they felt they could do the same for GR. it was all set to go untill 9/11 hit and changed how films were being made at the time. many films were dropped, changed or shelved because of their violent content. GR was a casualty as the producers decided it would best if it was to be PG13 instead of R. Goyer refused and moved on...MSJ agreed to the idea and the rest is history.