Today Jan 29, 2012, after some soul searching, long discussions with my associates and some of our fans, and after a serious consideration, I'm announcing our decision
to cease EX2 Blog's activities to protest against the proposed PG-13 rating of the Expendables 2 movie.
This was a very hard decision and we realize that in making it we will be criticized by some fans for seeming to
abandon neutrality to take a position. My hope is that when EX2 Blog stops today, people will understand that we’re doing it for the EX fans who are angry and outraged by the PG-13 decision taken by the studios who chose money & greed over the very fan base that made
the first movie so successful.
True EX fans will trust EX2 Blog's decision because they know that despite our faults, our heart is in the right place. We never aimed to monetize
on our efforts or make fans believe some particular thing, we just wanted to be helpful and share our passion of the Expendables 2 movie with them.
Although we have been tempted at times by an EX2 PG-13 just for the joy of seeing our action icons reunion on the big screen, it is still our opinion that the PG-13 rating would be devastating to the EX franchise. Over the course of the past few days we have witnessed the outrage and anger of fans across forums and fan sites who have joined together to discuss proposed actions that the EX fan community could take against the PG-13 rating to force the studios to change it. This is by far the largest level of participation in a fan community discussion ever seen since the beginning of the EX franchise, which illustrates the level of concern that fans feel about the future of the EX franchise.
The overwhelming majority of fans support action in response to the PG-13 rating of EX2 in the hope of convincing studios to change the rating of the movie to R before August 17, 2012. We have decided to join those fans and take action.
EX2 Blog will only resume its activities if studios decide to listen to fans and change the EX2 rating to R, we will not support and report any longer on an EX2 PG-13, this is not the principle on which this blog was founded. EX2 Blog was conceived to support an EX2 rated R.
For those fans who would like to join the movement we encourage you to post comments on Expendables Premiere to protest against EX2 rated PG-13, a special page has been allocated by Patrick the webmaster to support this action and can be found by clicking here.
We also encourage you to continue to post your protest on different fan sites and forums, this blog will also stay open for those who wish to post comments on it and continue to read its older articles.
On January 29, we hope you’ll agree with us, and will do what you can to make your own voice heard. It's been a rewarding journey for us and we thank you for your support. We hope to be back soon to report again on EX2 rated R.
This is the right decision. I support this 100%. I love Sly, Arnold etc. but this i just can't accept anymore. This is the biggest action movie cast of all time and you are ****** it up for the generation that has supported you guys for all your careers. I am too forced to take action and not support this movie. Sorry Sly&co, but enough is enough. Me & my friends are out. No money from us. Spread the word... SAY NO TO PG-13!!
ReplyDeleteWow! That is awesome!
ReplyDeleteWe must take a stance!
Thank you.
Seeing as you are obsessed with the rating, I'm glad your not updating the site any more. Just about every article in the last week says "And this is the last I'm going to say about the PG-13 rating". Then the next 5 articles discuss the rating or bash cast members.
ReplyDeleteFilming has completed. Since this situation was caused by movie studio greed, do you think they are going to spend more money and re-film scenes just to make "true fans" as you put it happy?
protest is fine but it is nonsense to cease to give informations about the film
ReplyDeleteCertainly the expendables 2, would have to be category "R", but they Liongate or rather, would have to understand that the fans do not want a movie about sex and profanity in bulk. We want to see a movie of big punches and kicks in the ass by the biggest icons in action ... we have not been "some" 20 or 10 years may be. to see how they caress!, as baby ....
ReplyDeleteChuck norris' sure would not have minded the category 25 years ago ...
I support you on this EX2B. I know it's not an easy decision, but you have shown to be not just a true action fan, but a true man who stands by his principles. Here's hoping the studios can avert this trainwreck before it's too late.
ReplyDeleteHetaAnma
HERE ARE 10 REASONS WHY EX2 HAS TO BE R RATED :
ReplyDelete-1- The average age of the cast is 55-60 year olds, most of these legendary action stars are known and loved by men (and women) over 18 at least, teenagers don't know, nor care about 71 year old Norris, 65 year old Sly and 64 year old Arnold...
-2- It is the true action fans who really supported the 1st movie, like myself, i saw it 4 times in theaters, sent at least 30 friends that i know of to see it, promoted it on my facebook, and after that, every time i went to see any other movie on theaters for the following 2 months, i actually paid for EX1 and snuck in to see the movies i went to see, then I purchased the blu ray with combo pack and i told my friends to buy it as well. I am not the only fan who has done this extreme promoting, there are a LOT of fans who TRULY miss the 80's style violent and fun action movies, we are truly sick of all these PG13 watered down and super hero movies, we miss our action heroes doing the things we love them for, kicking ass, cursing freely, taking names and not apologizing for it. We, the fans made the sequel possible by really supporting the 1st movie, even though it had a LOT of flaws but at least it had its own charm of not being like all the movies we see on theaters these days, it was violent and rough and reminded us of the good era of action (80's-90's) even with the fake CGI blood everywhere.
-3- A lot of fans like myself are very angry and outraged about the PG13 news and will not support this film if it is PG13, how can Lionsgate/Millenium/Nu Image wan to alienate the very fan base that made the 1st movie so successful? You do not change a winning horse.
This decision turns allies like myself into enemies of the franchise, i went from being the biggest supporter of the franchise to the biggest boycotter i could be, in 1 week, this is to show you guys how huge the disappointment is, like a lot of fans that i have talked to on forums, if this is PG13, i will not give one cent to the movie, i will spread a very bad word about the movie once it is out, will make sure nobody i know pays for it, but the truth is I HAVE TO SEE IT, (like a lot of fans), THIS MOVIE FEATURES THE MOST EPIC CAST OF ACTION LEGENDS so i will go to the theaters, PAY FOR ANY OTHER MOVIE AND SNEAK IN TO SEE EX2 FOR FREE with all my fav action stars, and i will tell everybody that if they really have to see it, DO NOT PAY for this movie and sneak in, so the movie doesn't bring big numbers and maybe we will get a badass balls to the wall R rated EX3 (even with a lower budget).
-4- The Biggest issue for fans isn't really the swearing, although it usually brings a lot of fun to the R rated movies. It is the graphic violence, we are not kids and we know that when someone gets shot, especially with a shot gun, there is BLOOD, this is not a cartoon, it is a movie with male action stars over 50 with an audience of people over 18, when people get shot or stabbed, there is blood, you CANNOT hide that. so if it is very important for the producers to please Mr. Norris, even if there is no bad language coming from him, it has to come from the other cast members, to be more realistic, or even if there is no "bad" words at all, at least keep the action and violence semi realistic, even with CGI blood so there is no need to reshoot. I mean how can Terry Crews's AA12 shot gun be in the trailer? this weapon HAS TO make a LOT of damage and blood, it cannot be featured in a PG13 movie.
-5- This is a mercenary movie, not a spy or super hero movie, it cannot work if it is not R, even Tropic thunder which is a comedy about mercenaries is R, mercenaries blow stuff up and kill left and right FOR MONEY, they do curse they are grown men, otherwise it isn't realistic, if it is censored, might as well leave all the curses and violence in the movie but censor it with a beep or a square that hides the blood, its better than to just hide everything from us like we are little kids. sorry but we do not watch cartoons anymore.
DeleteEven for Terminator which is a sic-fi franchise, they realized that it didn't work well at all as a PG13 so they just announced that T5 will be R, and thats not even a movie about mercenaries, for EX2, nobody truly wants an amazing story like a Terminator movie needs, fans just want REAL action with a legendary cast.
-6- Terry Crews said that kids sneaked in to see EX1, well if they did, it was not to see Sly's "old" face on the big screen, it was to see real violence like they saw in Rambo4. And if there was a lot of kids who paid for a PG13 movie and snuck in to see EX1, why did the PG13 movie that came out that day (Scott Pilgrim) underperformed so bad at the box office?
It is very clear that the Expendables movies are made for adults.
-7- A few numbers, 2 mercenary movies:
THE EXPENDABLES (Rated R) : Budget: $80 million
US box office: $103,068,524
= Worldwide: $274,470,394
.THE A-TEAM (Rated PG13) : Budget: $110 million
US box office: $77,222,099
= Worldwide: $177,238,796
They called the EX1 cast "has beens" but We, the fans made them relevant again, they used the hottest actors of that year for A-Team, (the main guy from Hangover, main guy from District 9, main guy from Taken and Clash of Titans, and Jessica Biel from Next and Valentine's Day)
Badass R started franchises cannot work with a pg13 sequel:
T3 cost 200M$ made 435M$ (rated R)
T4$ cost 200M$ made 370M$ (rated PG-13)
lost 65M$
Even Die Soft 4 didn't made more money than die hard 3 after 12 years of inflation. Die soft 4 cost 20M$ more than die hard 3 and only made 17M$ more at the Box office!
-8- Apparently Stallone, Crews, Norris and Lerner seem very confident in the movie, well here is the thing gentlemen, even if the movie turns out as an amazing PG13 movie, everybody, during and after most of the action scene will think/say OMG how much more awesome it would have been if it wasn't censored , if we actually saw all the badass violent action or oh, i feel like Bruce Willis wanted to curse here , but he was restrainted from it.. this is SOOO LAME , only to please the kids…but the kids don't care to see EX2.
Delete-9- Here is a poll from the very well known website: Joblo.com, http://www.joblo.com/?id=40467
it is not a website about 80's action fans at all, it is a regular movie website that covers every genre, and has all kinds of readers… the question is : WILL YOU STILL GO SEE EX2 IF ITS RATED PG13?
47 % answered "NO way, what is the point, only R for me" 825 votes
33% "I WOULD PREFER A R RATING, but i'll still see it as PG13 587 votes (just a reminder, i am one of those who will still see it, but i will not give one cent for it, i will pay for another movie and sneak in to see EX2 for free)
12% "Maybe, depends if the trailers kick ass"
7% "Yes, i don't mind if its pg13" ONLY 7% OUT OF 1765 PEOPLE DONT MIND THAT IT IS PG13 !!! This smells FLOP, I am sorry…
-10- Many times on the course of doing the 1st Expendables, Sly said always approach each movie like it's your LAST ONE, so give everything you can for it…
Is this really the best you can do Mr. Stallone? for your "last" film, reunite all the most iconic badass action stars ever into one movie and make it being censored on every "bad" word, NOT VIOLENT, kid friendly… you Mr Rambo ?!? is this the bad taste you wanna leave to your 30year long and more fans, your last hurrah? A lot of fans have LOST respect for you, but I still do respect you and i pray that you will not do the regrettable mistake to deny all your fans from this real movie we've been waiting for so long to see.
HERE IS A SOLUTION: RELEASE THE MOVIE ON THEATERS AS BOTH VERSIONS, R AND PG13, LIKE THEY DO FOR MOVIES AS 3D AND 2D, THAT WAY EVERYBODY WILL BE HAPPY AND WE CAN ALL SEE THE VERSION WE WERE MEANT TO SEE.
AMAZING DECISION EX2 BLOG TEAM, CONGRATULATIONS !!
ReplyDeleteWE SUPPORT YOU GUYS 10000000 % !!!!!!!
For God's sake, this site has been amazing to visit in the past 4/5 weeks since I found it. I come here everyday but the last week reading the same stuff about the bloody PG13 rating is boring now, seriously everyone should accept it and get on with their lives. Roll on August!
ReplyDeleteI support your decision. This movie is about the action, and the R rating will make or break this. I support why you are doing this. What's the point of reporting news on a sell-out movie that few want to see? Come what may, well done.
ReplyDeleteThis is unnecessary. This is not a smart move man. I am sorry. I do not support this decision of ceasing operation because a damn rating. come on people. your better than that. If your a true fan, give this movie a chance. Why judge a movie when you havent even seen a fragment of the film. Your judging base on ratings? Come on. If you are a true action 80's fan, you will reconsider your actions pal.
ReplyDeleteI support this move. The PG-13 rating MUST be changed. The ultimate pairing up of all of our old action stars... being PG-13? Are you kidding me? I refuse to go see this if I have to sit amongst 13 year olds texting each other and talking loudly about how old everyone in the movie is. I refuse to see Expendables 2 unless it's R. Period. If we put enough pressure on the studio, there is still time to fix it in post. Re-shoots can be ordered, etc.
ReplyDeletelol, girls...
ReplyDeleteNew Official Expendables 2 Trailer #2 (PG-13)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBcHY8Q3v8Q
THIS IS THE OFFICIAL BOYCOTT VIDEO OF THE PG-13 EX2 (NEW CLEAN VERSION)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD7ontlfT3Q
WE HAVE TO SPREAD IT EVERYWHERE GUYS, PLEASE EX2 BLOG, WE NEED SOME HELP, THIS VIDEO CAN HELP THEM CHANGE THEIR MIND ON THE PG13 DISASTER !
Great decision on your part. I support you and I thank you for having posted what you did until now. Don't let the detractors sway you. Let them spend their money on watered down kiddie fare in August. I will save my cash and hope that the film tanks. That's what it deserves after betraying the core of fans that supported it initially.
ReplyDeleteNEW OFFICIAL PICTURE FROM THE STALLONE VS VAN DAMME FIGHT :
ReplyDeletehttp://i43.tinypic.com/em69c.jpg
The boycott trailer is starting to appear on movie news websites:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.movieweb.com/news/terry-crews-talks-the-expendables-2-pg-13-rating
http://www.movieweb.com/movie/the-expendables-2/videos
THIS IS THE POWER OF THE TRUE ACTION FANS !
2 new pictures from their big fight has surfaced today. Check them out
ReplyDeletehttp://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/402744_315224231856709_100001074032770_877316_574883162_n.jpg
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/424813_315219795190486_100001074032770_877309_322972383_n.jpg
You can see there's blood on their faces. So it could be an R movie but PG13 on paper. :)
Come on guys, get back at what you love to do. If you are a true fan, don't judge the movie without seeing it first. You guys are judging the film based on a god damn rating? Seriously???
STAY STRONG EX2 BLOG TEAM !!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMore pissed off News :
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ramascreen.com/the-movie-trailer-for-that-fing-sellout-pg-13-expendables-2-would-look-like-this#comment-12592
where is the bathroom please?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to see it on big screen this year.
ReplyDeleteTHE RAID REVIEW From IGN.COM Makes Fun Of EX2 :
ReplyDelete"We're pretty confident that the upcoming PG-13 Expendables sequel is going to look like a romantic comedy by comparison."
http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/121/1218637p1.html
New EX2 Pg13 Posters:
ReplyDeletehttp://i42.tinypic.com/dddpio.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/2dqr02h.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/1416uys.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/qx1da9.jpg
AMAZING, keep it up guys, your meaningfull silence is greatly appreciated !
ReplyDeleteI SMELL VICTORY !!!!
ReplyDeleteThe PG-13 logo was removed from the Expendables 2 imdb page, after 2 months being there....
which could explain Sly's silence...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1764651/
it might look like all the complaining, protests and "whining" are paying off....
if this is R we better make this movie a huuuuuuuuuuge HIT....
Oh and to the people who say that Sly said : "Ex2 was shot as PG13 from the beginning"
I'm pretty sure he lied to us, the same way he lied about his poster being fake :
http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/expendables_2.jpg
And yet here it was in some theaters :
http://i41.tinypic.com/rvy49h.jpg
And here is the stunt woman saying that EX2 was shot as R rated :
http://www.youtu.be/GNPNWol971s?t=1m16s
Its now R rated guys so come back and update this damn blog!
ReplyDeletehttp://stallonezone.com/wordpress/?p=4376
Happy? :)