Unfortunately, money talks. Studios are afraid to spend big money on a film with a “limited” R rated audience. Lower the rating, more bums on seats.
Comment on Borderlands stunt coordinator says the film was originally shot with an R-rating in mind
ech@lemm.ee 3 months ago
What an absolutely baffling choice to make at the last minute. To think this movie, based on an ultra-violent game that children aren’t supposed to play, needs to cut out all the ultra-violence to garner an audience of children that…shouldn’t be playing the games. Stupid fucking studio execs.
And I hate the trend of director’s cuts lately, but a Roth movie getting neutered down to pg-13 absolutely deserves one.
UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 3 months ago
ech@lemm.ee 3 months ago
In a world with Deadpool, you’d think they’d learn their lesson. And for one of the most popular gaming franchises around, no less.
It’s like that bit in The Simpsons Movie where Lisa tells Homer he has to speed up through the loop to actually make it - if they’d had the nerve, they could’ve had a major hit. But nope, they’re too scared to commit and now it’s gonna crash and burn.
Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca 3 months ago
Deadpool is looking to hit $1 billion in 3 weeks. They’re worried about not making money with an R rated movie. They’re out of their minds, back when I was a kid my dad took me and four friends to see Starship Troopers. There are ways to see R rated movies even if you are not old enough. If it isn’t rated NC-17 then kids will get in to see it.
UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 3 months ago
Exactly! I often hear that NC-17 is the kiss of death for some films. Apparently, the bigger cinema chains won’t even show NC-17 films. (This is all 2nd hand knowledge as I’m obviously not from the US.)
Thank god for R rated films! 😆
Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
Just to add in that Borderlands made 8.8 million it’s first weekend. How is some exec board going to blame this on someone below them. I bet that billion dollar box office from D & W is really making them salivate and cry at the same time.
scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 3 months ago
Agree with that’s what they think and sometimes it’s the case, but man they do not get nuance. This isn’t some romcom that shows a bit too much boob, it’s a movie based on a video game that literally advertised bazillions of guns. Anyone who knows the franchise wants it to be as nutty and gruesome as possible. Nerfing the movie I think took bums out of seats
Passerby6497@lemmy.world 3 months ago
That and the casting. Kevin Heart as Roland and Jack Black as Claptrap was enough for me to turn off the trailer. I knew it was going to be bad from the get go.
mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
But they hired the beloved director of The House With A Clock In Its Walls! I’m sure the rest of his filmography is equally approh my god.
scops@reddthat.com 3 months ago
From what I’ve heard in reviews, it sounds like the decision to make Tiny Tina a main character drove a lot of the market shift. It sounds like they made her more vulnerable and innocent to contrast with the tired, jaded Lilith instead of the demented bomber that fits into the tone of the game
Jesus_666@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Tina actually is the most emotionally vulnerable major character in Borderlands 2, as Assault on Dragon Keep shows. However, she’s also a deeply disturbed demolitionist who tortures someone to death on-screen.
Trying to turn her into an innocent little girl feels utterly bizarre.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world 3 months ago
So they completely ignored why she’s the fan favorite character.