Ridley is pissed at MPAA over Prometheus Rating

It's difficult for me to comment on this if the majority of you are talking from the US but I would expect the Prometheus rating here in Britain to be a 15 certificate, which is what Aliens would probably now be if released tomorrow. The problem is that in the US you don't have an inbetween rating, it jumps from, effectively 'Okay for under 13's if mum & dad say so' to - 'uh you're not over 17'. So from this point of view you are talking millions of pounds, sorry dollars in lost revenue. I agree it sucks and an 18 would be preffered for us and R for the US. But how many films are now coming out with PG-13 that really aren't suitable for children under 13?

I can't tell if hes pissed at the editing of films to make the pg-13 or slapping a pg-13 rating on an R rated cut. I just want to know if the movie we get to see in theatres regardless of rating is presented how Ridley Scott wants to present it. He could just be angry that films are being misrepresented before people even get to see them. He may feel that the wrong rating will attract the wrong audience or the wrong frame of mind when entering the theatre. Basically if the rating makes it look like it's been cut then we will allways be wondering how much "better" if could have been instead of enjoying the movie. If the cut that is making it to theatres isn't Ridley's cut we most likely wont know until after the film wich sucks because our minds are allready polluted with the idea that it will be edited. I just hope if they do cut it for PG-13 that they at least release Ridley's version on bluray.

Sorry to nitpick Spartacus, but you said a lot of stuff that didn't make much sense... "if they make it PG-13 LESS people will go see it NOT more...Period. " Your opinion seems to fly in the face of actual facts like box office receipts. "The reason is, the target market for this film is adolescent males between 12 and 19 yrs old. An adolescent male between 12 and 19 yrs old is far more likely to try to see a movie that is R rated than one that is PG-13 and this is just fact." That's also your opinion, not necessarily fact. I get that there is an allure to seeing an R rated film when you're young but the studio won't be making any money off of the kids who sneak into the theater or who just want to see it really bad but end up not seeing it. "IMO the PG-13 rating on Batman is going to hurt it and is no different than saying this movie is FOR ALL." The PG-13 rating didn't do anything to harm the last two Batman movies (in fact, they can be used as a strong case for why a good PG-13 film will put more butts in seats than an R film). Why do you think it's going to negatively impact the third one. That just seems odd. "As far as the money goes, everyone surrounding the making of Prometheus already has plenty/enough..." That may be so but that doesn't mean they want to take a loss on any film.

He has already said their will be a special edition released exclusively for DVD. I expect that cut to be more in line with what Ridley would have wanted already...right now...months before it is even created.

@Juston sorry man with regard to a sci film like this many many more adolescent males will want to see this film if it is 14 and over and not if it is for all, it's human nature and the way it actually works...Jaws was 14 and over and set the all time box office record on the day it was released. ditto for many many other films of this nature...You would think that making it for all opens it up to more people seeing but what happens is word of mouth spreads on films quickly and if it is watered down at all, and this is why it is PG-13 people find out FAST and stop going to see it...BUT...you make it 14 and over and leave just enough gore in there to make it be taken seriously and like I said, you should have seen the buzz over JAWS, and many many other films of this nature...Halloween was 14 yrs and at the time 1978 set the single Weekend Box Office Record for ticket reciepts...people do NOT LIKE THEIR SCOTCH without the ROCKS and we certainly do not want any more watered down science fiction.

If he puts 'Based on actual events' at the beginning the film censors will be more lenient lol

Take independence day for an example, made a fortune, was For All I believe...in this case Juston would be Right, but i do not think the producers of that film cared one bit how it would precieved after it's run in the theaters...in this case it is a film of substance and Ridley Cares...especially that it is taken seriously and has some lasting impressionistic endurance. he wants, as many have said before me, for everyone to see the film he intended for us to see, and this is always the case with him. In the case Of the film Robocop, Paul Verhooven was asked to make 58 seperate cuts after having to re submit that film to the studio over 4 times because they kept making requests for cuts to change it from an "X" rating to a 14 and over rating and release it as such....More than 58 Cuts folks. Ya think Verhooven was happy about this, by the time we all saw that film in the theater it was HALF the film he intended us to see. IMO it is far more about the publics perception than the Rating itself. and how many subtle or severe changes the studio makes to the intended submitted cut.

I have misunderstood the US rating system and this film should really be R rated in the US and 15 in the UK. I am now satisfied with my eventual opinion on this matter.

well ,as he said [i]he wanted Prometheus to get a rating “that allows it to make as much money as possible. I know the importance of that. When a big film fails, it’s disastrous for all of us.” But he also blasted some of the “films this year that have got PG-13 ratings – it’s absolutely fucking ludicrous. So MPAA, get your house in order.”[/i] in the end it really is about money.

The KEY to this movie being a success is GOOD PRESS & VIRAL FAN WORD OF MOUTH type promotion. Forget about the damn rating altogether folks... Its nothing but a distraction for all concerned at this point. Here is a REAL WORLD issue to contend with.... When this movie premieres across North America on June 8th, the ONLY other nationwide competing movie that weekend will be MADAGASCAR 3... a KIDS MOVIE! Thats it!! No other major nationwide releases other than that one. Whatever the F. the final rating is, if Prometheus FAILS TO TROUNCE Maddagascar 3 in the weekend box office revenue or fails to hit anything near 100 millionish which seems to be the defacto benchmark standards for a movie with blockbuster status these days, the MEDIA will literally MURDER Ridley Scott. It will be like a feeding frenzy of negativity. So how about we all agree to put any criticism aside, GO OUT AND SEE THE MOVIE, and try to support our friend Ridley Scott... so that his hopeful success with this will LEAD TO MORE before he finally decides to "retire".. (( He is already 75 folks!! ))

"In the future (2012) the world (films) will be ruled by corporations."

lol

I must admit that here in the UK a 15 movie can get away with murder (to a degree) and can contain some strong stuff within it ... so I can't really complain and therefore I am happy with our certification over here ... it's you guys in the States that I feel sorry for ... ;) ...

GEM, its very different in Canada vs. the US as well. Very often, films here will be given 14A or 18A ratings whereas in the US, it will have an R ??? This is the system in MOST of our provinces.... G - General Audience - Suitable for all ages. PG - Parental Guidance - Parental guidance advised. There is no age restriction but some material may not be suitable for all children. 14A - 14 Accompaniment - Persons under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. 18A - 18 Accompaniment - Persons under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. In the Maritimes & Manitoba, children under the age of 14 are prohibited from viewing the film. R - Restricted - Admittance restricted to people 18 years of age or older.

@ Spartacus, Hey dude I have to correct you...When Jaws came out in 1975 in the UK it was a "A" certificate which is equivelent to a "PG" - not a "PG-13" but a "PG". I went to see Jaws on its re-release (hid at the bottom of my seat at some scenes) in 1976 (I was 5 years old) - blew me away, but never was a big fan of the ocean again. Your opinion regarding ratings doesn't hold any water at all - In my opinion!

@ Spartacus - actually Sparty - apologies, I was thinking you where English! I guess - Is it Canada your from? You guys had a more "realistic" rating for the awesome Jaws! Still think your ratings opinion sucks though dude! soz - only IMO!

Spart is from Montreal if I recall, and in Quebec, they use a different system, because they ALWAYS have to be a little different than the rest of us!.... hahaha. In Quebec its only 4 classes..like this... G Visa général (General Rating): May be viewed, rented or purchased by persons of all ages. 13+ 13 ans et plus (13 years and over): May be viewed, rented or purchased by children 13 years of age or over. Children under 13 may be admitted only if accompanied by an adult. 16+ 16 ans et plus (16 years and over): May be viewed, rented or purchased by children 16 years of age or over. 18+ 18 ans et plus (18 years and over): May be viewed, rented or purchased by adults 18 years of age or over.

I believe[b] so far[/b] the movie has gotten a R rating, FOX [b]wants the movie to have[/b] a PG 13 rating. His statement reflects the way they are rating some movies against others. So this means He will have to cut, shorten or "barney" the movie.. hence trailers with black blood..the ampule not showing fetal type matter blacked out and most likely a very shortened or pull away show of the "Shaw medpod scene" I think they should let it out as a rated R. Most people that get the reference of alien and horror genrea are of 17 plus anyways. Parents that let their 13 year old children into a horror movie need to go to a parenting class. [u][b][ ] [/b][/u] < soap box

lmfao you guys hahahahahahahaha yup Quebec !!! Vivre La Difference !!!

Just to put things in a bit of perspective. These are the top twenty highest grossing films of all time in the U.S. (and this list is adjusted for inflation). All numbers are in U.S. dollars. 1 1977 Star Wars Ep. IV: A New Hope $1,284,600,464 2 1982 ET: The Extra-Terrestrial $1,060,155,772 3 1997 Titanic $1,016,477,150 4 2009 Avatar $778,817,600 5 1980 Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back $761,835,156 6 1983 Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi $733,586,163 7 1994 The Lion King $712,852,561 8 1999 Star Wars Ep. I: The Phantom Menace $712,529,607 9 1993 Jurassic Park $668,021,841 10 1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark $645,342,265 11 1994 Forrest Gump $633,678,391 12 1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind $587,327,355 13 2008 The Dark Knight $585,975,751 14 1978 Grease $564,379,961 15 2004 Shrek 2 $554,550,157 16 2002 Spider-Man $548,234,646 17 1996 Independence Day $546,452,224 18 1984 Beverly Hills Cop $521,554,398 19 1990 Home Alone $519,397,359 20 1984 Ghostbusters $518,616,036 The only film on the list that was rated R was "Beverly Hills Cop," an action/comedy - and that rating was due to violence, mild sexual content, drug references, and Eddie Murphy's trademark colorful language. None of the top ten were rated R. In terms of absolute dollars worldwide - again, only one of the top twenty grossing films was rated R by the MPAA (same movie, BHC). These are numbers that movie studios remember. And it's nothing new. ("Jaws" would have probably warranted a PG-13 but that rating did not exist at the time it was released.) Given Scott's offhand comment that he wants a rating which will ensure the highest possible box-office returns, I don't think he's going to regret a PG-13 rating if it helps lift "Prometheus" into the ranks of the highest earners. As far as trailers - blood being colored black as opposd to red, and so forth - movie trailers are judged by a somewhat different set of rules and generally must be approved for "All Audiences" by the MPAA (unless it's what they call a 'red band' trailer). So I wouldn't pay too much attention to that. At his best, Ridley Scott can make a great film that succeeds artistically regardless of its rating. At his worst, he turns out mediocre fare (*cough*Legend*cough*) that no amount of violence, profanity, nudity, drug or alchohol references or gore would save even if it were added. I wouldn't worry too much about it.