How can something with a poster this awesome be PG-13?
It was pretty well documented during the initial production of The Expendables that that film was going to be PG-13. Sly Stallone mostly stuck to that until late in shooting when he decided to go with an R-rating, and the film got peppered with some profanity, and CGI bloodletting. I really didn’t have too much of a problem with it, but apparently what Renn reported about Carlos Ray Norris earlier today was indeed true to a point.
According to Harry over at AICN, Sly had this to say.
the film is fantastic with Van Damme turning in an inspired performance… Our final battle is one for the ages. The PG13 rumor is true, but before your readers pass judgement, trust me when I say this film is LARGE in every way and delivers on every level. This movie touches on many emotions which we want to share with the broadest audience possible, BUT, fear not, this Barbeque of Grand scale Ass Bashing will not leave anyone hungry…Sly
First off, I’m glad that Van Damme has turned in an inspired performance. The man has really been trying in his last few films, and this is a tentpole picture, so it should be LARGE. HOWEVER, a movie of this scale, with these actors that a lot of us grew up watching in the 80’s and 90’s, DEMANDS to be R-rated. There should be unbridled carnage in epic fashion. One can only wonder what kind of backlash this will unleash, and if Sly will decide at the 11th hour to make it R-rated in the same way he did with the first one.
Let’s just hope it was Sly’s decision, and not one influenced by Carlos Ray Norris.
I still hold out hope, since with the combined muscles and personalities in this film, even with a PG-13, it will rock the shit out of the cinema when it hits in August.
Source: AICN