What should LotR be rated?

[bmilder]

What should it be rated? All the Star Wars films have been rated PG, but will LotR be a PG-13? It's probably not going to try to appeal to the under 13 crowd, so PJ shouldn't feel obligated to tone it down to PG. I don't think it needs to be R. But what will be "questionable" in it? There won't be any profanity, and probably no nudity. (Why would there be?) The only concern would be violence, but I don't think it would need to be excessive. What do you think?

[anduin]

I too think they will be PG-13, and they should be. An R rating would definitely make me wonder what PJ did with this movie.

[Hernalt]

You have plenty of items which may put it on the scale with The Sixth Sense, which I think was PG-13. The Balrog, to actually come across as a corporeal demon, Must be imbued with some terror that you just don't find with Feddie Kruger/Candyman/Jason/etc. Also, Peter Jackson has said that for drama reasons, he'll be doing shots with Sauron. Obviously this raises the ire of those who are true to Tolkien's design that Sauron's evilness be magnified by his remoteness. But if PJ's going to pull it off, Sauron will have to possess a terror factor that is not customarily seen in things like Willow, Neverending Story, and Legend. It will have to incorporate a fraction of the malicious suspence like what went into Blair Witch. Sauron can't just come across as a ruthless tactical genius like King Edward I in Braveheart. And just having a holy evil choir like in DOTF won't cut it. These are without mentioning the Witchking, by which I intend to be scared bloodless...

[bmilder]

Yes, well I saw Blair Witch, and I'm pretty sure the only reason it got an "R" was because every other word out of their mouths started with "F" :P

[anduin]

hehehe

[Darth Tater]

PJ said a few months back he was aiming for PG-13, but maybe would release a DVD copy with an R raiting so he could add more blood to it.

[Elanor]

I personally will be very disappointed if it's worse than PG. Horror is NOT the most important thing in the story!

[anduin]

.....and evil ARE apart of the story, if left out or diluted, then what will we have? LOTR is not a children's book. How effective would it be if PJ didn't show Legolas and Gimil's "game" of killing the Orcs? I personally don't like gore, but I also don't want that scene cut up so all that you see are G and L just keeping score. The whole Witch-king slaying scene is another example. It has to be downright horrific to be effective. Water down any of these scenes or any others like them, and you lose overall, how dire the threat is to ME. Sorry if this isn't coherent, I'm sick :(

[Darth Tater]

1. Very true 2. I hope you feel better

[anduin]

Thanks [b]Tater[/i] :)

[Darth Tater]

You're welcome [b]anduin<b/>

[Hernalt]

~Hernalt gives Elanor a pretty flower~

[Elanor]

Why, thanks, Hernalt! I don't know what occasioned that, but I do like flowers! Have a nice day! ~Elanor curtseys gracefully~

[Darth Tater]

Um, sorry to ruin this romantic moment, but what was that about?

[Gimli the Dwarf]

If the movie does't show me chopping Orc necks I will be very put-out, Though if it gets a R I will be downright angry!!!! (I don't watch R movies, and not very often pg13s either)

[anduin]

Good point, Gimli, I want to see some orc heads roll too (hehe), but where is the line drawn between R and PG13? Is blood the deciding factor? I am not too acquainted with the new rating system.

[bmilder]

I remember hearing that one of the Star Trek movies was rated R until they turned the Klingon blood from red into purple, which downgraded it to a PG... so it's all very silly. :P

[Darth Tater]

I think what makes it R is, well you know.

[Bloop TK 421]

I wonder what will come out of the Shelob events. To make this and other shots already mentioned truly terrifying my opinion is that pg 13 is as low as it could possible go. I wouldn't mind an R rating myself in order to get something scary out of Sauron and other baddies. No need for execessive battle violence but i have to be scary when it is supposed to be so.

[Hernalt]

Observe "Sleepy Hollow" / Johnny Depp. This is an R-rated version of the Disney cartoon from about 20some years ago. Good, quality legend does not have to remain in the purview of childish imagination. Look at the ancients - they daily feared for their lives from the spirits they had inhabiting every blessed object they were surounded by. Obviously, it took an adult-class imagination to believe there were ghosts and spirits looking over your shoulder every move you made. So.. what if LOTR turns out to be TPM-class kiddy goofdorkstupid? I promise: they will make another. Indeed, no one is even limited to remaking LOTR itself - the Silmarillion is chock full of quality narrative which can be adapted to screen. Or take the Unfinished Tales. Can you imagine an R-rated version of the extended Turin tale? I as hell can, Glaurung, spells, Findulas and all. They may even embellish it with some freelance romance, Orc battles, etc. There is no doubt that Tolkien's entire world will become fodder for the silver screen. And much of it is dark enough to warrant a mature rating.

[Darth Tater]

I agree with you Hernalt, except when it comes to your opinion of TPM!

[Hernalt]

Psst! (whisper) My opinion of TPM is actually quite high... but I do get carried away sometimes... (/whisper)

[Gollum]

It would be much cooler with a R rating...they could have much more realistic violence... but theres no way thats happening...:( i mean how can you show a orc getting its head hewn by gimli with a pg13 rating? you can't really...

[Eruve]

I think you could show Gimli hacking at orc necks and keep a PG-13, because an orc is a monster, not human.

[anduin]

Peter Jackson has stated, "These films will be PG13, but I would like them to be a hard PG13. The battles can't be BRAVEHEART violent, but we could maybe think about a slightly "harder" version for laserdisc release." That is of course, if laserdisc is still around then......

[Darth Tater]

ok then

[anduin]

Tater, Tater, Tater...... *shakes head* ;)

[Hernalt]

One pTater, Two pTater, Three pTater, Four...

[IronParrot]

Up here in Canada (eh) we have a much better ratings system than what your foolish American MPAA provides. It goes: G - Same as G in US. PG - Same as PG and most of PG-13. 14A - Same as either a high, high PG-13 or a low-to-middle-range R. 18A - R. R - NC-17. I'd say LOTR would definitely have to be 14A. That would likely end up R in the US, though... or as Jackson said, a "hard PG13".

[ArwenUndomiel02]

All I can say is this: if it gets rated 'R', my idiot mum will not let me see it. I'm hoping to God it's not. My mother is waaaaay overprotective.

[anduin]

Have no fear Arwen....it is going to be rated PG-13 :)

[Darth Tater]

That's good

[Pippin Skywalker]

Ok here's my 0.02 cents. :) I think pg is a little to soft for things that happen in the story i.e. shelob,slaying orcs,sauron, "ect" Frankly an R is to high...this should be for children too... So I would go for a PG-13.....it's a good "Inbetweener"

[Imladris]

Yes, let me see... I think thwe way they're doing it in the Uk is quite good-PG but not suitable for under 8's.

[Liviaine]

If it was rated R, I wouldn't be able to see it in the theater.

[cassiopeia]

I think FOTR was rated M 15+ here which means (I think) that children under 15 have to be with an adult. I think it should be PG which means anyone can go see it, but is warns of violence etc. The TT will be rated PG or M 15+ cause of financial reasons. Obviously there will be no swearing, but maybe nudity in ROTK. *Blushes*