Lionsgate Gunning For A PG-13 Punisher: War Zone?
Slowly but surely,Punisher: War Zoneis being lowered into a grave of WTF byLionsgate. First,Lexi Alexander, director of the goreyMarvelactioner, wasseemingly kicked offthe project. We still don’t know what happened exactly. Her candid, rah-rahwebsitewas suddenly wiped clean of all prior updates on the film, save for a cryptic “see, hear, speak no evil” monkey post, which was later replaced by a detached entry about afriend’s Bugatti. Today,Latino Reviewhears that Lionsgate might edit the film for a PG-13 rating. The site speculates thatThe Dark Knight’s money volcano was an influence. Strange since Lionsgate ismoving forwardwith an R-ratedConanreboot, also being compared (of course) toTDK. But if true, this is beyond absurd. We’re almost intrigued to see them brick, given that Alexander enticed fans with boasts of hardcore bloodshed and Castle-worthy violence for months—later confirmed by thisentertaining, head smashing red band clip.
If Lionsgate is reading this, all it takes is a short statement to the fans clarifying your flick’s status. I was just interviewed by a mag about the detrimental impact a studio’s silence in 2008 can have on a movie generally perceived as troubled.War Zoneis becoming a prototypical botched case. Current online perception is that there are two bad-buzz nails already in this film’s coffin, and buzz wasn’t too hot to start with. All it takes is one more, like starRay Stevensonissuing a quiet diss, and this December outing will meet a worse fate than the prior Thomas JanePunisher. That would make Frank Castle, a character that is, uhhh,nota"college educated Ferrari engine," 3-for-3 for movie wipeouts.
