Zack Snyder May Go PG-13

While at a Warner Bros. press release for the Blu-Ray release of the Watchmen Director's Cut, CHUD was able to discuss with director Zack Snyder about "Watchmen's" disappointing performance at the box office and what he will be doing with his next film, "Sucker Punch."

"Not to be snobby or anything, but I think the movie doesn't have the kind of... it asks a lot of the viewer," Snyder said. "It's not 'entertaining' in the classic sense of the word. That's just a fact. It's not an action film, it's not a comedy. Dramas are not hot right now, and no one wants to see a dramatic superhero movie. It's inherent in the material. I was kind of surprised by how excited everyone was getting at the time of release, because I always knew the movie was particular. I knew there were [only] certain people who would say 'This is awesome.

"We made $55 million on our opening weekend and everybody was like, 'Oh that's too bad.' And then 'Night at the Museum' made $58 million and everyone was like 'Hey, it's a box office bonanza!' I was like, 'Really? REALLY? A PG-13 movie about some kids in a frickin' museum and they make a few million more than us and that's awesome?' Maybe it's just sour grapes, but I felt like it was a little bit personal.

"It is R-rated and it's almost three hours long. There's no version of a three hour long R-rated movie about troubled superheroes that is a summer blockbuster. I don't see that happening."

Snyder went on to say how his next film might be toning down as to make more bang for its buck.

"If you can make 'Taken' PG-13, you can make this movie PG-13," he said. "That's what I believe. Because it's more fantastic. No one really dies in the movie."

He's got a point - there's plenty of violence in the "Lord of the Rings" films that would have gotten the films an R rating if it were humans being hewed to bits. "Return of the King" in particular seems to be right up on the edge of what's acceptable, and I imagine that edge is where Snyder will have in "Sucker Punch."

"I think 'Sucker Punch' is a smart movie," he said. "It absolutely is challenging, and it's f***ing hardcore. [A]t the end she gets... it's dark! But it's f***ing actiony like nobody's business. We hope the action we're creating is off the charts, and it's not stupid."

"Sucker Punch" is set to hit theaters on March 25, 2011 and the "Watchmen" DVD will hit shelves July 21.
More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Source: CHUD (1,2)