Should A Superman Film Be PG Or PG-13? A Comic Book Writer's Plea

Should A Superman Film Be PG Or PG-13? A Comic Book Writer's Plea

Fan favorite comic book writer Greg Rucka makes the argument for why a Superman film needs to PG. Trekking through the whole Superman filmography, Rucka states that,"if you make a Superman movie you can’t take kids to, you’ve done something wrong." Agree or disagree?

Editorial Opinion
By MarkJulian - Apr 29, 2013 02:04 PM EST
Filed Under: Superman




Superman (1978)- PG
Superman II (1980) - PG
Superman III (1983) - PG
Superman IV: The Quest For Peace(1987) - PG
Superman Returns (2006) - PG-13
Man of Steel (2013) - PG-13

Can a film's rating indicate a wrong approach to Superman? Comic book writer Greg Rucka (Superman: World of New Krypton, Gotham Central, 52, Punisher) doesn't outright make that distinction but instead, raises some thought-provoking questions in his essay over at The Hollywood Reporter. Specifically, Rucka asks that a Superman film be something that uplifts and inspires, particularly for little children; and not the tale of "an absent-father who got prison-yard shanked with a Kryptonite shiv," in a clear reference to Superman Returns. Citing the hope and optimism of the original Richard Donner film, Rucka says that in light of recent tragedies, we need Man of Steel to possess the same attributes. Now Rucka isn't foolishly condemning the film before he it's even released, he's merely poking a finger at Hollywood and it's current tendency to lean towards "dark" and "gritty" for it's comic book properties.

It's an interesting question and one I'm not going to present in any other format than what the original writer wanted. Check out the original essay over at THR and then come back and discuss away in the comment section below.

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Running Time: In post-production
Release Date: 14 June 2013 (USA)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Starring: Henry Cavill, Michael Shannon, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner,Russell Crowe, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Christopher Meloni, Richard Schiff, Harry Lennix
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Written by: Christopher Nolan (story), David S. Goyer screenplay)

Man of Steel follows the Last Son of Krypton on his epic journey to become mankind's shinning beacon of hope for a brighter future. With the beliefs and values instilled by his adoptive parents Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha (Diane Lane) Kent, a young Clark (Henry Cavill) sets out to find his place in the world. But when the nefarious General Zodd (Michael Shannon) arrives on Earth, Clark will have to choose between being a normal human or Kal-el,son of Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and humanity's greatest protector and champion. Filmed in IMAX and shot in Vancouver, Chicago and Plano, Illinois, Man of Steel will be released on June 14, 2013 by Warner Bros. Directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) with a screenplay by David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) the Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Rises, Inception) produced feature film will surely be the summer blockbuster of 2013.


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Poopyman
Poopyman - 4/29/2013, 3:10 PM
First
Webhead007
Webhead007 - 4/29/2013, 3:10 PM
The Avengers was PG-13, but tons of kids still watched it.
Berserker187
Berserker187 - 4/29/2013, 3:11 PM
BLOODY HELL! AS LONG IT DOESNT SUCK I'LL BE HAPPY. BUT WONT HURT IF ITS PG-13. MORE BLOOD, HEY AN MAYBE WE SEE LOUISE BOOBS. ;)
GizmoEl
GizmoEl - 4/29/2013, 3:12 PM
very interesting point. I do hope that this movie is inspirational. We keep hearing about the action, but I really hope we get a lot of heart too. I don't trust DC with anything yet, so I'm cautious about this movie.
DocComic
DocComic - 4/29/2013, 3:12 PM
I think it's extremely difficult NOT to make a PG-13 film nowadays. Pretty much any action movie is going to be slapped with PG-13, regardless of the degree of content in it. PG-13 covers everything from relatively lighthearted films like The Avengers and the Raimi Spider-Man films up to the GRIMDARK stuff like the Dark Knight films. It's such a broad rating used for such varying films that I really think the MPAA needs to rejigger their rating system.
SuperJoe
SuperJoe - 4/29/2013, 3:13 PM
in the 80's some PG movies showed tits....
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 4/29/2013, 3:14 PM
Really dang I see parents dragging their snot nose kids to rated R movies all the time.
DarthVenom
DarthVenom - 4/29/2013, 3:14 PM
Umm yeah Greg gtfo :P
Rhino4508
Rhino4508 - 4/29/2013, 3:15 PM
R
polarkyle
polarkyle - 4/29/2013, 3:16 PM
PG-13 all the way. If it was PG then it would be too kid friendly and silly
shamo
shamo - 4/29/2013, 3:18 PM
a Supes film should be rated R. i wanna see him snatch Luthor skull through his eyesockets and shoot his kids down Lois' throat.
CavEl
CavEl - 4/29/2013, 3:19 PM
Even Spider-Man movies are PG-13, the [frick] is the matter with this guy? Why do morons always try to marginalize Superman to simplicity?

Superman shouldn't be PG 13, Superman's suit can be too dark, Superman should say G'D, Superman shouldn't get angry at criminals....

Jesus [frick]ing Christ! These are the same morons who wonder why Superman's sales don't do so well or aren't as marketable as Batman/Spiderman. No one tries to pigeon hold those characters, but every moron has an idea on what Superman should be.

No wonder World of New Krypton was shit, this moron was writing it for 10 year olds.
UrbanKnight
UrbanKnight - 4/29/2013, 3:20 PM
PG-13 just means go with your parents if you are under 13.
What is the difference? Who many 8 year olds go to the movies on their own?

Besides I survived watching R rated movies as a toddler.
Durf
Durf - 4/29/2013, 3:20 PM
Well I see what he's getting at, but kids still go see PG-13 movies. I mean, plenty of kids were able to go see the Avengers just fine, and that was PG-13. It's like someone else on here said: PG-13 is very broad.

However, his dig at Returns was pretty damn funny
Ryagan
Ryagan - 4/29/2013, 3:21 PM
Whoever said that comic book movies have to appeal to children? The main audience for comic book movies isn't children, so we don't need PG movies.
LeonNova
LeonNova - 4/29/2013, 3:22 PM
I saw the Raimi Spider-Man films and X-Men films and I was about 6, and nothing about those films warped my mind. PG-13 is just the standard rating all action films are given nowadays. Name a major summer blockbuster action film, especially a comic book one, that was PG? Back in the '70s and '80s, the filming technology at Richard Donner's disposal wasn't advanced enough to make these fight sequences there are now, so of course they got away with PG. I think Man Of Steel will get Superman right, the trailers have portrayed it as kind of melancholy, but I've heard the actual film is more light-hearted and action-packed than the trailer shows. We'll just have to wait and see, this is the most anticipated film of year for me next to Iron Man 3, which I will be seeing in 4 days.
UrbanKnight
UrbanKnight - 4/29/2013, 3:24 PM
Superman is about what we should aspire to be. Wouldn't work as well without evil as contrast.
Scooby
Scooby - 4/29/2013, 3:24 PM
Dude has lost his marbles.
naterator
naterator - 4/29/2013, 3:26 PM
Perhaps someone has already responded in the fashion that I am about to.....sorry I didnt read everyones posts...HOWEVER...there is a reason why the first two Superman movies were not PG 13...and its because PG13 was not introduced until mid 1984. Both Superman 1 and Superman 2 could have easily been PG13 had the rating existed. 3 and 4 were clearly dumbed down to younger audiences so its clear why those remained PG.
silverdog
silverdog - 4/29/2013, 3:27 PM
those PG-13 ratings dont mean anything anymore, in most countries PG-13 summer movies are realeased as PG to sell more tickets anyway....
teinen
teinen - 4/29/2013, 3:27 PM
This is irrelevant, 80's PG is 2013 PG-13. Ever seen Gremlins? They say sh!t and b!tch like 20 times in Ghostbusters. Wussification of America.
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 4/29/2013, 3:27 PM
Go beyond the surface people, he's not making a superficial statement about whether kids are in theaters to see movies above PG. It's about what a Superman film can teach these kids.
Scooby
Scooby - 4/29/2013, 3:27 PM
@Durf I agree, his dig was funny!
AlternateNo4
AlternateNo4 - 4/29/2013, 3:28 PM
there was no pg-13 until 1984, so the donner films were obviously going to be pg.
UrbanKnight
UrbanKnight - 4/29/2013, 3:28 PM
SuperCat lol. I think most of us do at some point right? I think that's normal. Not too sure though.
AlternateNo4
AlternateNo4 - 4/29/2013, 3:28 PM
@naterator ya beat me.
naterator
naterator - 4/29/2013, 3:30 PM
I mean its common sense ;)
marvel72
marvel72 - 4/29/2013, 3:30 PM
superman prime r-rated

superman pg or 12 at a push

i've got tim burton's batman on blu-ray & that's a 15 in the uk.
rocky
rocky - 4/29/2013, 3:32 PM
Superman just needs to be A for AWESOME and I think we have a winner
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 4/29/2013, 3:34 PM
PG-13.
AC1
AC1 - 4/29/2013, 3:35 PM
I thought kids could still see PG13s with an appropriate adult? Like how here in the UK children under 12 can see 12A films in the cinema as long as they're accompanied by an appropriate adult.
StarkAnthony
StarkAnthony - 4/29/2013, 3:35 PM
I would like to point out that Superman I - III were released before the PG-13 rating existed
thebearjew
thebearjew - 4/29/2013, 3:35 PM
DISAGREE it should be pg-13
And believe me children see pg-13 movies all the time TONS of kids go to the marvel films and theyre all pg-13 ibelieve i know AVENGERS was and i think that done pretty well
UrbanKnight
UrbanKnight - 4/29/2013, 3:36 PM
@MarkJulian
"Go beyond the surface people, he's not making a superficial statement about whether kids are in theaters to see movies above PG. It's about what a Superman film can teach these kids."

If Superman's world got too soft, it would mistakenly NOT teach kids much. In my opinion, Supes needs to be the strong moral compass in our world. Which we all know, isn't PG rated.
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