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U.K. chain Odeon bars ‘Rambo’
posted by
Michael Zoldessy
on
February 25, 2008 at 10:45 am
LONDON, ENGLAND — In a mysterious move, Odeon has said it won’t show the new Rambo movie.
Odeon, the U.K.’s biggest exhib chain, will not show Sony’s new release “Rambo” at its theaters this weekend, citing undisclosed “commercial reasons.”
News has sent shockwaves around the local industry as “Rambo” is the frame’s most significant new release in the U.K. News has also enraged online Sylvester Stallone fans, especially those who live in rural areas where their only local cinema is an Odeon.
Decision by Odeon not to play the testosterone-fuelled pic will likely see its opening U.K. B.O. haul dented considerably even though Sony has spent much of this week scrambling to get other chains, including other market leaders Vue and Cineworld, to pump up their “Rambo” showings.
Read the full story in Variety.
Comments (4)
This doesn’t surprise me one bit. In fact, I was surprised the film was even given an R in the US despite the extremely graphic violence. I mean, Lust Caution is rated NC-17 for a few sex scenes but Rambo and its near non-stop violence got an R. But also these same cultural differences may explain the difference in gun violence in the US and UK.
I saw the movie and, while being amused by it, was shocked by the amount of gore (digital gore no less). Some parents had brought their kids because the R Rating allowed it. I mean come on! How much violence do you need to get an NC-17? What does it take? Is it even possible? Since when is it better for a child to see multitudes of people being mowed down into mists of blood and chunks of gooey meat than to see two people making love without revealing their bits and pieces touching. Why can’t this be fixed?
I am all for movies like Rambo being made, but I think our ratings system is way out of whack!
When I saw it, there were a lot of small children as well. Meanwhile in the UK, its 18 rating disallows small children even if they arrive with adults.
On the Variety link, the replies are quite hellish and bashing cultures, politics and religion as the reason for the pulling. Even the bashing of Muslim nations get into the conversation.
Odeon would never ban a film based on content. This is a film terms battle.