To this point, ""Terminator Salvation"" is probably most famous for the Christian Bale tirade that swept the Internet a few months ago. Now, ""Salvation"" will soon hit theaters and become more famous for something else: Being the first film to be affected by ""Watchmen"" syndrome.
With all the studio controversy over ownership of the ""Watchmen"" franchise, the hype for the graphic novel adaptation could not have been higher. Graphic novel enthusiasts and casual fans alike lined up to see the film that many great directors had called ""unfilmable."" But did they really line up? The film made a little over 55 million in its first weekend. This seems like a lot, but it was well below expectations. In all, ""Watchmen"" has made significantly less than studio pre-estimates, and many executives are blaming the film's R rating.
As a result, Warner Bros. began to re-examine ""Terminator Salvation"" to see what kind of rating it might receive. The film hadn't been rated yet, so producers were able to tinker without much notice. Now, rumors say the final cut of ""Salvation"" has received a PG-13 rating, a victory for Warner Bros. executives.
Tinkering with a film like ""Salvation"" to allow it to reach the maximum potential audience is a wise move financially. Yet slapping a PG-13 rating on a ""Terminator"" movie is like slapping Arnold Schwarzenegger directly in the face. Each of the previous three films have received R ratings, and for good reason. There is graphic violence, language, nudity and general feelings of doom. Part of what makes the ""Terminator"" series so fun is the gratuitous violence.
The news of the ""Salvation"" rating reminded me of another neutering of a classic film series from a few years back. ""Live Free or Die Hard"" brought a lot of things to the table: the return of Bruce Willis' smart-talking hero John McClane, the introduction of whiny, yet enjoyable Justin Long and a PG-13 rating, the first in the movie series. Although the film was enjoyable, it lacked the charm of the earlier films. McClane was always known as a callous figure, particularly notable for his colorful language. With ""Live Free or Die Hard"" having a PG-13 rating, however, this language was toned down.
Perhaps most offensive was the omission of McClane's famous catchphrase, ""Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker."" This catchphrase is the iconic line of the movie and one of the great movie quotes of American cinema. Yet the only reference in ""Live Free or Die Hard"" is a cable-TV moment when McClane's ""yippee-ki-yay"" is followed by a burst of sound and action rather than a profanity. Swearing in movies isn't necessary for audience enjoyment, but taking the ""motherfucker"" away from its ""yippee-ki-yay"" is like having a ""shaken"" without its pal ""stirred.""
I don't want to condemn ""Terminator Salvation"" before it even hits theaters. Christian Bale is a capable actor, and director McG knows action like the back of his hand, given that his hand is CGI and is constantly exploding. But Warner Bros. shouldn't tone down a classic movie series just for the money. After all, by doing that, the movie loses its soul. I guess movie executives already know a little bit about sacrificing souls for money, though.
Selling your soul? E-mail Kevin at kevslane@gmail.com, he'll give you a great price.
