terminator, christian bale, terminator 2, terminator 4

Terminator 4's PG-13 Rating Will Mean More Dumb Explosions

First they gave us a sub-standard Teminator (T-X) that kicked 75% less ass than Terminator 2's T-1000. Then they added Claire (Shopgirl) Danes to the equation, and the result, T3, was a poor person's Terminator 2. The only thing that kept hope alive was the promise that Christian Bale would blow us all away as an embattled John Connor in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins (aka T4). But now news has broken that T4 will be rated PG-13 instead of R, like the previous installments. How can this movie rock half as hard as T2 with Disneyland limits?

Are the robots going to negotiate the humans to death? How will they up the ante? The "softer" rating actually means there will be less creative one-on-one combat, because up-close-and-personal fighting requires more gore. Instead, there will be more pretty explosions, so 13-year-olds can up the box office sales. It was worrisome enough when we heard that McG would be directing T4, but this rating makes want to throw in the towel. You could make the argument that this will force Bale to bring his best work so far. But when I go to a Terminator movie, all I truly want to see is robots fighting humans to the bitter end, period. [Variety]

4:30 PM on Mon May 5 2008
By Meredith Woerner
2,535 views
28 comments

Comments

Tim Faulkner at 04:41 PM on 05/05/08
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"You could make the argument that this will force Bale to bring his best work so far."

No, you couldn't. Unless you've never seen Empire of the Sun, American Psycho, The Mechanic, The New World, Rescue Dawn, 3:10 to Yuma... and enjoy getting laughed at.
nonbreakingspace at 04:42 PM on 05/05/08
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They should just make the whole movie like the CGI future scene's from T1 and T2...that's all people ever wanted...
Garrison Dean, King... at 04:45 PM on 05/05/08
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Connectedness Index: 140

At this point the Terminator franchise going downhill speeding away from it's origins is sort of par for the course.
capntim at 04:50 PM on 05/05/08
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To be fair the way the ratings system has slid over the last few years, T-2 might be able to sneak in under the PG-13 line if it were released today.

I forget how many fucks you're allowed in pg13.

that being said, i still dont' have any hope for this picture.
girraffesack at 04:51 PM on 05/05/08
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By today's standards, with the exception of the eyeball scene, the first Terminator would be PG13.

I think PG13 didn't exist at the time the first movie was rated.
EBone at 05:08 PM on 05/05/08
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You can blow the crap out of all the metallic Terminator robots you like, and it's not considered violence. That's why the Star Wars prequels didn't have R ratings (aside from the suckiness) - all the battles were with droid armies, which don't count in the MPAA ratings. Since the movie is after Judgment Day, they only shootin' will be at robots.
extracrispy at 05:10 PM on 05/05/08
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I'm pretty sure you just insulted Claire Danes. Which means I'm gonna have to track you down and cut you.
vertice at 05:20 PM on 05/05/08
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I felt the same about Die Hard 4, but I ended up quite enjoying it.

Then, I never bothered with T3, so if I do manage to catch T4 sometime, so be it.
followthattank at 05:44 PM on 05/05/08
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I know Terminator movies have always been about the mindless action, but I would actually like to see the horror aspect of the first one return... think about it: there's a reason unstoppable killing machines are terrifying.
Plague at 05:48 PM on 05/05/08
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@Tim Faulkner:
<-What he said.
phoenix at 05:59 PM on 05/05/08
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THIS DEAD HORSE SHALL FEEL MY WRATH!
russdanger at 06:01 PM on 05/05/08
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The only thing terminated around here is my interest in seeing this movie,
Log1c at 06:31 PM on 05/05/08
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@russdanger: OHHH SNAP!

But I intend to reserve my judgment until they release a trailer. PG-13 is getting pretty relaxed until you hit up some sexin.
Kareem King at 07:04 PM on 05/05/08
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WHAT! Cursing at the most inappropriate times was half the movie with the other half being super-violence. Take those out, you got nothing left. Whatever happened to creatively sneaking into a movie if you're under age? Kids nowadays. No priorities.
Victo at 07:18 PM on 05/05/08
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Boo! Terminator 3 was an insult to original series fans. John Connor as a wimp by an ugly and incompetent actor.

Terminator 4 is probably much much worse.
SeanOHara at 07:20 PM on 05/05/08
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Next thing you'll know they'll be turning it into a TV show where there's only minor cursing and no major gore.

Oh wait...
Szin at 08:08 PM on 05/05/08
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Oh come now. Surely, you know the new movie formula! First, release substandard, lower rated, cut version of said Film into theaters. Second, then release UNRATED DIRECTOR'S CUT HYPER ADMANTIUM EDITION DVD & Blu-Ray Discs. Third, laugh at suckers who payed to see the poor man's version with people talking on their cellphones in the back.
Cantonkid at 08:12 PM on 05/05/08
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I had the same feeling when they went for PG-13s with the Robocop sequels....but come on folks, we all know there's 'gold' in them there toy$ and luchboxe$ and underoo$.
Sharpless at 12:18 AM on 05/06/08
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Seeing as though this movie is going to be an uphill battle anyway (even despite the presence of the almighty Bale) I think it can only help them, broadening the audience's age range. And I'm never opposed to PG-13 ratings. You never need graphic violence in order to make a good film, despite the ridiculous penchant for gore some people have.
Sharpless at 12:18 AM on 05/06/08
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Also, could I please have some more Robert Patrick? Thanks.
Joscelin at 07:50 AM on 05/06/08
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Could I be the lone voice to say that T3 was actually, well, *good*? Especially the ending (if you didn't know what would happen beforehand)?
tinmiss at 08:18 AM on 05/06/08
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@Joscelin: You won't be the only voice. I wouldn't say ALL of it was good, but overall I enjoyed it. I liked Kate Brewster; she screamed and panicked for a while, as one would, and then stepped up. The ending was very well done and made it seem possible that this John Connor could grow into someone who can lead a resistance.
FrankenPC at 08:37 AM on 05/06/08
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@tinmiss:

T3 had it's moments sure. The sum of the whole was weak though. Contrived and presumptuous. IMO.

T4 better be gritty and depressing or it's going to bomb. PG-13 is fine. You can do a lot with that rating. Terminator doesn't need T&A or a lot of cussing to get it's point across.
MadMo at 10:34 AM on 05/06/08
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How can it get worse? ...And, starring Rob Schneider as the new Terminator
cmcginn at 11:14 AM on 05/06/08
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@capntim:

"I forget how many fucks you're allowed in pg13."

It is at least one, because McG is directing it.
Sharpless at 01:16 PM on 05/06/08
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@cmcginn: I believe you get one, maybe two at most.
B1663R at 01:26 PM on 05/06/08
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@Tim Faulkner: what? you didn't like equilibrium?
Meredith Woerner at 03:41 PM on 05/06/08
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Connectedness Index: 9

@cmcginn: oh that's good...

And just to clarify I followed Bale's career from Empire, Newsies to 3:10. I do not think that this will be his best work ever I'm praying for it. It's my silver lining. So he truly is the savior of man in more ways than one at this point.