‘Rambo’ Lite Coming, ‘Expendables’ Experiment with PG-13

Posted by Robert Fure (robert@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 19, 2009

rambo-pg13

A handful of our movie going friends got to visit the set of The Expendables recently and, of course, they got some cool news for us. Scratch that – they got some lame ass news for us. The boys over at UGO talked to producer Avi Lerner who in a very “I’m a producer” move wants to tame down all the violence in these violent movies to get a larger audience.

Lerner is under the impression that the hardcore violence of Rambo was a detriment to its audience when in fact the opposite is true – the violence sold that movie. We want to headbutt our friends, listen to Bodies, and watch a muscled-up John Rambo blow the living piss out of badguys. We want ripped out throats and point black .50 caliber headshots. Lerner wants a much more toned down feel to the violence in the next installment of Rambo, which he speaks of in certainties. Hm. Rambo was well received and awesome and super violent and made enough to warrant a sequel. How should we follow it up? Less violence! Jerk.

Other potentially bad news surrounds the rating of what is supposed to be a balls-out, bad-ass, violent movie: The Expendables. Lerner indicates that they’re going to test two versions with audiences – a PG-13 version and an R-Rated version. Whichever tests better will be the one to go to theaters one would assume. So if you get into a test screening, demand blood! Lerner wants to turn the $80million Expendables into a franchise opportunity, which I’m totally down with, as long as it kicks ass. On paper, it sounds amazing. Let’s hope the blood shows up in buckets.

What do you think of a sissified Rambo and a PG-13 Expendables?

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blinkica

Agreed, the violence made the movie. Making a sissy version would be stupid. You're going to just censor everyone's work so a larger audience can see it. Trust me there are plenty of people who like violence that will go see these movies.

Brandon

That is so f*ckn rediculous. I thought Sly was the one director out there with the balls to make his movies the way they were suppose to be made. I have been a fan for years, if the expendables is droped down to a PG-13 rating, I wont be pissing away my money on it. So much for a throw back action film. As far as a PG-13 Rambo, that would tarnish the series, and Ray Tango would be proven right....Rambo is a pussy!

Chris

I fucking knew it! This was rumored months ago, and I felt just as sick as I do now. The cast ALONE warrants an R-rating. To hell with this producer! What's his name, Lerner? I'll write that down and be sure to boycott his movies and send him hate mail if this goes through.

I still have a bit of hope because Stallone caters to the fans (i.e. when 50 Cent was announced as part of the cast, the fans went ape shit.....not coincidentaly, 50 Cent is dropped and Terry Crews is added)

TJL

So there going to make The Expendibles PG-13 to bring in the youngsters?
A generation who have no idea who Sylvester Stallone is?
Yeah, that's smart.
Stallone? Oh yeah, he's in those boxing movies my Dad likes.

The Dude

Wow, Avi Lerner is a freaking moron for thinking that a pg-13 rating will satisfy people in the next brilliant action movie ever. What the hell happened to hollywood? Did its balls drop off after the '90s or something?

Aleric

Hmm, ok, the PG-13 concept did not work for the original Rambo movies, which is why they turned into a joke after the first one. Stallone needs to tell Lerner that without the "R" rating he will not support the film and will ensure its demise in the interviews he does.

jacobebel

They did Die Hard 4 as a PG-13 movie, and I was so disapointed it's not even funny. They took the Mclane mannerisms out of the movie, and it sucked. If they do the same with Rambo and The Expendables, it's going to be lame and many action fans will be dissapointed.

‘Rambo’ Lite Coming, ‘Expendables’ Experiment with PG-13

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