As mentioned here way back in September, it’s looking more and more like Episode III of the Star Wars saga will be rated PG-13.
In the interview for next week’s broadcast of CBS’ 60 Minutes George Lucas talked about (what else?) the upcoming film, and confirmed that it’s going to be a very dark story relative to the other films in the series. He stated that “I don’t think I would take a 5- or a 6-year-old to this, it’s way too strong.” A statement that I have absolutely no doubt will be ignored by thousands of idiotic parents.
Of course the flip side is that although Lucas thinks the film will be too strong for young kids, he will have no problem marketing toys to those very same children, who will of course harangue their parents about seeing the movie.
Don’t get me wrong… considering the plotline, Revenge of the Sith should get the PG-13 rating. If it didn’t, it would be a watered down version of Anakin’s descent into evil, which within the canvas of the overall story needs to be told very seriously.
I’m curious to see if the PG-13 rating does, indeed stick. I have a feeling that it will, since PG-13 movies have no problem making buckets of money…. probably even more than PG films do.
Source: CBS News
21 Comments
I was 7 years old when the first Star Wars film came out and it was also my first movie experience. I can still remember how mesmerised I was when I was looking at this seemingly huge television in front of me which later of course I was told was the silver screen,
and when the opening crawl came out of that screen, and the Star Destroyer in space was shown cruising on the background, I just felt I was taken to some place I would rather be, the Star Wars galaxy. Fast forward to the age where I am now 34 and Star Wars still have a hold on me. What a shame that 7 year olds can not see this film now but I will have to agree that it should be rated as PG-13 if the premise of the story will be that “dark”.
Sorry kids, ask your parents what happened when they come back home.
i think it should be rated PG-13 beacuse then they can put more action and adventure in the movie that way
I too was fairly young when the Oringal Star Wars was released. I remember a little later in life sitting through a TRIPLE Feature (yes you read that right) of the oringal 3 in one shot. I recently read a short article with Natile Portman and she talks very little about the movie but does mention the fact that she is pregnat during the major part of the film. This is going to be a great film i think.
From the look of this trailer, this movie is going to be an improved episode 2. The pg 13 thing is a very good idea. I don’t want to see some sappy romance or some gay jar jar character ruining it. I want this to have good acting wich episode 2 so lacked.
Thanks
This one HAS to be very dark. There is just no other way to tell the story. Anakin turns from a young, idealistic character with a lot of potential and promise, into pure cold, calculating evil. It BETTER be dark! I’m so tired of the kiddie crap. People seem to think Star Wars is still just a kid’s movie…time for them to wake up and realize what this part of the story is really about. I was RELIEVED to see in the previews that it was going to have a PG-13 rating. Anything less wouldn’t do the story justice. Heck, it should be rated R!
Vic
Well, I mainly made the comment about the R rating as a joke. I was just imagining how wild and hillarious it would be to actually have a Star Wars movie with an R rating! But yes, I agree with you that a PG-13 rating is sufficient. George Lucas was claiming that this was supposed to be more of a character study (of Anakin, obviously) and a much more mature story. I really hope it is. I want to see a dark, emotional thriller with a lot of action…and much less cartoony aliens. There are so many great themes with real human drama that he could use here, so I hope he keeps his promises. It could really be an awesome movie if it’s done right.
As to your joking about the R rating… with some of the posts that have been made here sometimes it’s hard to tell when people are joking. :confused:
Vic
hehehe…you know, Vic, I have never even seen that movie “Citizen Kane.” I’ve always heard so much about it and it seems like just about every movie on the planet ever made has been compared to it. I’m 27, so I wonder if age has anything to do with it. The only old movies I’ve seen that I think I like are “Chinatown” (the one I think from the 1970s with jack Nicholson playing as a detective) and “North By Northwest.”
Anyway, just 2 days now! I probably won’t even try to get in the theater the first week or so. It’ll be too crazy.
I am seein the film tonight!!! Woohoo!
The force will be with me.
Simone, enjoy!
Vic
Thanks Vic, I really enjoyed it, I have seen it 3 times today! Yeak I know I am so sad.
Vic, what’s your review of Episode III, I am dying to hear what you thought of it?
I just posted my review. I hope you like it.
Vic
I have read it actually Vic.
I finally saw the movie tonight. Wow! It was awesome! It’s on a COMPLETELY different level from the other movies. We know Anakin turns completely evil, but actually seeing it happen has an effect on you. He becomes totally merciless. Yes, the movie is VERY dark and intense, especially towards the end. There are some scenes that even I was a little caught off-guard about. It gets even more graphic and disturbing than I thought it would. But what I was really impressed with was that overall there really was a sense of mature human drama and tragedy. The duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan (everyone knows this happens by now) was especially moving when you really consider the whole meaning of it…when you think back to the beginning with Phantom Menace and remember that Obi-Wan has trained Anakin and been a father figure to him since he was a little kid. The way their duel ends, or actually the way Obi-Wan ends it is even a little more disturbing and unexpected.
This is WAY better than the other prequels. I don’t think there is even any comparison. It was what I was looking for.
But I will say the same thing some other people have warned about…This is NOT a kid’s movie!! No way, no how. The beginning isn’t too bad, but towards the end I think there are some parts that frankly will scare the crap out of some kids. Also, the movie really just has a more grown-up feel to it and kids would probably find some of it boring. There is a LOT of action, and special-effects but also a lot of foreshadowing and tragedy.
I think this is totally different from any other Star Wars movie I’ve seen. It just had a different feel to it.
On the other hand, Lucas has created this series with a MONSTER fanbase mainly targeted at kids. Look at the marketing tie-ins and even the cutesy commercials for various tie-in products that preceded the release of the film.
I tend to wonder if he could have gotten the point across while making it a bit less gruesome right there at the end. Of course this won’t stop parents from bringing 5 year olds to the movie. I saw plenty when I went to the theater. :confused:
Vic
Vic,
I guess I would agree (to a point) with some people that it may not have been fair to market the first two prequels to kids, and then make this one an adult movie. But I think the problem was the marketing and merchandising, NOT the movie. It seems like some of those parents who were complaining just obviously didn’t really know the Star Wars story. They apparently also weren’t paying attention…it was all over the news and the Internet that “Revenge of the Sith” would be a much darker and more intense movie than any of the other Star Wars movies. George Lucas had said it himself. He warned that it would be more mature movie and definitely not for kids. Everyone knew it was going to get very violent and graphic. That was no secret. It’s time parents take some responsibility and take those ratings seriously. When they said PG-13, that’s what they meant. In fact, some scenes might be intense even for older kids or even adults. So if some parent wants to take their little kids to see this just because they think it’s a cutesy kid’s movie with a lot of neat special effects and spaceships…they are obviously just not paying attention.
There is a lot of violence, but I think it has purpose and it shows just how vicious Anakin becomes. We have to know this, to reconcile how the innocent little kid in PM and the idealistic teenager in AOTC becomes evil Darth Vader. None of it seemed like violence just for sake of doing it (like “Kill Bill”). It had a purpose. The scene where Anakin says “I hate you!” (you know which one I mean) is obviously one of the most emotionally and visually disturbing…but I think it had to go there.
I’m actually very impressed with George Lucas for showing some spine and telling the story the way it needed to be told. In the end, he did NOT sell out. This was never supposed to be a kid’s movie, and in the end he stuck to his guns and told the adult story that the real fans wanted to see.
It’s up to parents to show some intelligence and responsibility and decide if their kids can and should see that story.
My daughter is almost nine and I didn’t take her to see it. Heck, at the end even my wife had to turn away briefly.
Vic
Vic,
Yeah, I remember seeing a lot of kids in the theater when I went too. Most were teenagers, but I did also see quite a few younger kids…maybe around your daughter’s age. Some even a little younger. I kept thinking to myself that it was a really BAD idea for parents to bring them there. But judging by some of the other movies some parents have brought their kids to see, I really think some people just don’t have a clue. Thankfully, I would say that most of the audience at the theater I saw it at were adults (well, young adults anyway…late teens and 20s).
By the way, I didn’t know if your site was mainly just for reviews and updates on the movie. Not sure if you meant for this to turn into a message board! Sorry about the clutter if not. Maybe people who are actually doing some research about the movie will hit your site with Google…and parents will know that they at the very least need to warn their kids that yes it is a very good movie with a lot of action and a good story, but it does get very intense and some parts are going to get scary. PG-13 warning notwithstanding, a 13 year-old kid (and even adults) need to know what they may be in for.
So you’re also doing your civic duty for the day with this site, Vic!
Best regards,
Vic