It only works if it's R-rated. The first move was to a great part very successful BECAUSE it was R-rated. If you want to milk out the most money out from the sequel it MUST be R-rated!

I prefer the R rating, but if its PG13 I'll still support the Expendables on their next mission. -JJ

You're absolutley right. The Expendables got its glory & fans by being brutal. The movie is made for the real "man" inside all of us. To make The Expendables 2 a PG-13 is just very stupid. Only a retard can come up with this kind of idea. The Expendables is a movie for man over 30 not for teenage kids. Teenage kids don't even care about Chuck Norris. If Chuck doesn't like it, just let him goooo. Just let him make a PG-13 action movie by himself, just don't let his ego screw this one up.

You want a PG13 movie? Go home and watch Twilight with your kids. Let the real men have what they deserve.

Can't some things just be left for adults. Rated R for adult content why does it need to be watered down for kids if they wanna see it that bad they can get a parent to take them. I don't hate pg13 at all I hate movies that give up there values to cater for children.

you are the gayest of the gay lewis

If you care about good action movies and not money, then it should be R/18 rated.

A throwback/homage to R-rated action movies should not be rated PG-13. It just makes no sense.

This film is becoming a blatant promotion gimmick now. First we get Chuck Norris being used for comic effect, next we get a friggin' Tennis player getting a role in an action movie, then we get a PG-13 certificate stamped on it. It's all about marketing opportunities and advertising, and not about the film anymore. I mean, even Arnold and Bruce being in this is a gimmick..they do not have proper roles, it's all just to make it popular. Gone are the days of sticking to source material and integrity with producers.

This is bad for finances in the long run ... because you will not be able to make a third movie. That will cost you more than anything that the second one will make you. This could be a franchise with 4 or 5 chapters, but now it will be a franchise will ridicule, and zero longevity. How can you afford another 7 months of ridicule?? Avi Lerner is responsible for this, just like he was responsible for the first film's scare of it being PG-13.

I'll wait for LAST STAND with Arnie for a real R-rated action movie.

-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.
Even 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: $

great idea!!!! this way everyone is happy but I'd prefer that they would just leave it R..no people under 17 even know half of these action stars anyway

That's a lie I have a 16 and chuck norris is my idol I have a poster in my room and all chuck norris also has many fans of this age who knew him with walker texas ranger series. I rejoice at the pg-13 if I can see it in movies and not expect to come out on blu ray

Let me qoute the great Eric Cartman. This is for Lionsgate

"Screw you guys, I am going home".

Thanks to EX2! I am great happy! I am most fans of Action Heroes as Arnie, Sly, JCVD, Lundgren and Willis etc, but I love Arnie, Sly and Lundgren, they look very challenge men. EX2 must be rating "R", don't PG-13. We want to actions, combats, bloods, gores, huge bombs and very fires, like of Predator, Commando, Die Hard, John Rambo (2008), EX1 mixed movie in EX2. We are very very excite more it. Please sure rating "R" in EX2!!!!!!!! Hope EX2 will be better money than EX1. Worldwide peoples are fan of rated R

AMAZING DECISION EX2 BLOG TEAM, CONGRATULATIONS !!
WE SUPPORT YOU GUYS 10000000 % !!!!!!!

We were us the +18 people who made the first movie a hit, so making the sequel pg-13 to get kids is a betray to fans of the first movie and those that made you Sly got a new franchise.

Go "R-rated"

verryyy well put Dave !

When I watch an action movie, I expect it to not hold back. I don't want it to hold any punches. I want it to be as epic and over the top as humanly possible.

When I saw The Expendables, it was everything I wanted to see and a whole lot more. And seeing Sly, Arnie and Bruce together (finally) was a dream come true.

Then when part 2 was announced, I was ecstatic. And having Jean Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris added to the cast made what was an already dynamic experience that extra edge. But something happened. Something happened that changed all that. Someone came along with a knife and used it to castrate something so magnificent.

The Expendables 2 will never be as good as it needs to be, it will be a half assed movie with all the big names forced to hold back for the sake of a bunch of kids that will never appreciate what these action heroes brought us once upon a time.

Lionsgate, For Shame.

This is great that you guys are taking a stance and making your voice heard. This is truly one of the biggest mistakes in film history to make this movie PG-13. We have the biggest, the most legendary, badass action stars of all time in the same movie. Making this for the 13-16 year old kids who do not even know who you guys are is insane. It's stupid.. it really is. Just take a step back, take a deep breath and think about what you are about to do. You are about to ruin THE action movie fans have waited for 20-30 YEARS. And that is where your biggest fan base is.. people over 20. The only reason why kids went to see EX1 was because of the violence and swear words. If you take those away you are ruining it for the kids and most importantly.. for the real target audience who would actually go to see your movie. You are ruining it for almost everyone. The word of mouth is unbelievably bad. And it's only going to get worse. If you are keeping this movie PG-13, i hope it will flop. I for damn sure am gonna make the best possible effort to make this movie a total disaster. I will tell everybody.. and i mean everybody not to give any money to this. Internet is a powerful tool. Even a handful of people can make a difference when you can reach millions of people in mere seconds. So my message to you people is.. We can make this happen. Together we are strong. We have all the power in the world to make anything happen. If they keep it PG-13 and try to rob us the movie we have always wanted, just don't give your money to it. Buy a ticket to another movie and then sneak in to see EX2. Maybe then they will learn. You can never respect greed. So i say NO to PG/13 Expendables 2. Thank you.

Can we please have one movie that is for adults and the fans. The Expendables was a breath of fresh air in an industry that is full of kid friendly so called action movies. Now you have conformed to all other terrible Hollywood 'modern' action movies you have become a joke. Almost every news site and fan reported the PG-13 news with anger and distaste. Since the only thing you are motivated by is money, I tell you that I and a number of people think you would lose money at the box office if you make it PG-13. People wont watch it in protest and any hope of a third movie would be dead.

The first movie had a lot of flaws but it was still great to see all those childhood heroes in one movie. Now that there are practically every big action name of the 80's/90's in the sequel, which many believed would correct the flaws of the first it's a PG-13 Disney movie? No thanks. Like many others have already said, the kids only sneaked in to see the first part because of the blood and violence. Take it off and all you've got is a bunch of has-beens who could've once more been something.

Hey guys, even in the bloody-cold Russia the first movie was more than welcomed. It's like feeling yourself young again as the actors do in the film. But there's no way to keep this atmosphere if the language and violence is restricted. Please do keep it R.

:( Thank god very few people share your perspective.

Sly, much of the success of the first film was due to the fact that you got early buzz going via your grass roots fan campaign on places like Aintitcool.com (among other sites). We supported you from the beginning and believed in what you were trying to do.

In a world where Arnold went into politics, Bruce went more and more into family films, and guys like Seagal and Van Damme just went into the background, we action fans have seen you as the only standard bearer left for "R"eal action movies. You never gave up and you never sold out, or at least you didn't until now.

Though, many predicated that The Expendables 1 would bomb, it became a huge megahit. In large part, this is because we supported you. I personally paid to see the movie 3 times, and because of me, another 30 or so people saw the movie. This may have only contributed around $450.00-$600.00 of the total gross, but guys like me were doing this all over the world.

We loved what we saw, and moments like Dolph's, "warning shot!" and "A little low!" have become quotable quotes in the pantheon of great action movie lines like "Yipee-ki-yay," "Consider this a divorce!," "Your worst nightmare," and "Live for nothing, or die for something!"

I don't understand what happened. After the success of part 1, why did you feel the need to sell out your biggest fans and lower the bar? If you think we are bluffing and will ultimately go buy a ticket anyway just because of who is in the movie, think again. We are not mindless fans who just see anything because of the cast. We want action and expect it to be up there with the standard set by EX1.

If the rating does not change to an R. I will not only boycott this movie, but I will do everything I can to help fan the flames of discontent, and contribute to this movie becoming the laughing stock it is already becoming.

As much as we love you Sly, we can become "Your worst nightmare" and watch this movie bomb. I hope you realize this before it's too late.

P.S.: I also grew up on JCVD films (and, even though I hate to admit it, Seagal films). Sorry I forgot to mention you JCVD, my fellow Belgian! xD

The thing I don't get, is why was the rating changed to begin with? The Expendables was a big hit, so why try to change the formula for part 2? If TE had only made $40,000,000 or something and did great on video, I could understand shaking things up a bit, but it was a HUGE hit!!! Why change a successful series and eliminate the things that made it popular?

I always thought Stallone wanted to put his all into each film, so I don't understand why he would want to phone in a "Rocky V" on TE2.

If anyone at the studio or if Stallone sees this, just change it already! Give the people the movie they want to see. Raise things to another level and blow the roof off this thing. It's not too late to do reshoots and add in more action. Don't Power Rangers this movie, but give us another Rambo. Give us another Die Hard. Give us another Predator. GIVE US ANOTHER EXPENDABLES!!!

If you do change this and make the sequel an R, we will support you all the way, and hopefully you can turn around the very bad buzz this movie has been getting. If you don't, we will all band together to make sure this movie loses as much money as possible. It's not just about the Expendables series. It's about the very future of the action genre, and I for one will not lay down and just buy a ticket because "Sell-out Chuck" in in it.

"I won't buy this for a dollar!"

Speak for yourself. Not everybody is alienated, a big procentage is but not everybody.

I understand what the people are sayin but it is highly unlikely that they are going to change the rating so they need to put out a kick ass trailer ASAP and give us all something to think about

When I was watching all those great Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and et al movies back in the good ole 80's, the movies were rated R. They were rated R for a reason: those names conjured images of over the top violence and gore wrapped around great action. That is what The Expendables is about. To remove those elements weakens the entire premise. I am very disheartened about this PG13 crap. I was really psyched & ramped up for The Expendables 2, now I'm just curious. :( All those big names in one movie is like a dream come true...and now, it seems, it will just be a letdown.

I heard about this a couple of days ago and at first I laughed because it seemed like a joke. When I realized it was for real, it just made me angry and a little sad. I can't believe the people who made the first one would do this to themselves. It's such a stupid move and will just cause the movie to lose money! They have a chance to make an all time great action movie with the best line-up of action actors ever, yet they instead try to make a stupid sequel that betrays the memory and fans of the first movie. Way to screw up Stallone.

No trailer is going to help this unless it's a Red Band trailer filled with killing on the level of the first movie. This movie is getting bad bad buzz!!!

I saw somebody online say it should be called, 'Stop or My Dolph Will Shoot!" That probably is a better name.

When I heard about this being a PG-13 my instant reactions was that it was some stupid rumour, but when it was confirmed I was so annoyed by this, still am. It seems like Sly has gone back on his word to make an old-school action film, something he promised they'd deliver to the fans, to grab more of a profit. That would be moreorless the reason why all the fans are angered about this, one thing that made The Expendable an awesome film was that it was a great throw back to the action films of the 80's and 90's, filled with over the top action and violence, classic entertainment and when it's filled so many of your favourite action heroes who you spent years watching, it makes it all the better especially when it's a film with a similar tone as those first action films you'd watch, knowing it was made to please you as a fan of these films. It's something which is mostly missing from a lot of action films today.

I'm 19 so I actually missed those classics in theatres but I was still brought up watching all these films on old VHS tapes, a childish thrill of watching something which you're not actually old enough to watch, seeing excessively violent action scenes, it's just pure fun. Terry Crews pointed out that kids bought tickets to one film and went to see The Expendables and why would that be? Because they wanted to watch an over the top violent action film, it was the same case with Rambo back in '08, kids bought tickets to Meet The Spartans but instead went and watched Rambo which was also a classic throw back to the action films of the 80's and it was still hugely successful even with kids sneaking in.

It will be massively counter-productive to give this a PG-13 rating, the younger audience will probably be the majority number of viewers but they'll see it advertised and know it's not as violent or brutal as the previous film and lose interest, and the older fan base? Their interest went out the window the moment PG-13 was mentioned.

This series has so much potential and it's being thrown away and Sly and the studios don't seem to realise this. So please, really re-consider giving this film an R-Rating the film will be so much better for it. Or, if you must bring the film to a younger audience, then distribute two versions of the film one being R and the other PG-13, that's been done before and the film was a lot more successful because of it.

It´s really simple. I was going to watch this in the cinema, now I won´t in a million years. Not even rent it. See how that works? Nice way to piss on your audience. Truly disappointed.

Make it R or release it straight to DVD.

once again it looks like the suits are taking over. bottom line if we make this movie pg-13 we'll make more movie. while their at it let's throw in candy canes and santa claus. these movies are not supposed to be for children. they are supposed to be for adults who grew up watching these movies. there are probably worse things on tv that kids are watching. if you do make expendables pg-13 you're basically saying you don't care about the fans who would have probably brought their teen kids anyway

Certainly the expendables 2, would have to be category "R", but they Lionsgate 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 ....
Chuck norris' sure would not have minded the category 25 years ago ...

Yo, Sly!

Don't look at all of this as some kind of hate driven movement. Cause the fact of the matter is - we love you, man. I mean, right now, for example, as I am writing this, I have "The Expendables" poster in my room, a steel book "Rambo" DVD and the Heavyweight Collection of Rocky movies on my shelf (the rest of my films are all boxed in the basement, I'm about to sell my house).

I'm a fan, man. And I know you hear this a lot, but I truly really grew up watching your shit. The same thing with the rest of the cast. You guys are awesome!

But I can't for the life of mine support a PG-13 rated Expendables sequel. Cause it's a disgrace, man. And you damn well know it.

I understand it was a business move, but is that really the legacy you guys are going for? Businessmen?

You guys do what you gotta do, but remember that there is a whole bunch of people that are getting ignored here.A whole bunch of really loving and supportive people. And just because we're your friends doesn't mean we have to take shit from you.

With that said, I'm out of here.

Good luck to everybody!

wuzzz dis shit. why go see dis. whaz the point if there aint no action and blood. the first one is good but dis shit nah. skip it. no need for dis pg13 movie. ill go watch undisputed again.

What's amazing is that when you can watch a show like 'The Walking Dead' on a basic cable channel (one of the most popular shows on cable tv, and a show that has R-rated violence and action every week) why are they trying to water down a film that is supposedly aimed at that very core audience? And all to supposedly appeal to a few 8 yr. olds who are probably sitting on the couch every week with mommy and daddy watching shows like 'The Walking Dead'. Sorry Lionsgate/Stallone you are about to miss the boat with EX2. You have the opportunity to create an ongoing franchise the likes of no other (in sheer badassery) and instead are choosing to possibly kill any hopes of future sequels, along with this movie's profits by making it friendly to the Teletubbies crowd.

Coming from a hardcore action fan who has watched the majority of big 80's action films over the years this is disgraceful! The Expendables films were supposed to be the ultimate experience for all of the longtime fans of these bigger-than-life action movie stars. Making this film PG-13 is destroying the very thing that made us all fans to begin with... namely the over-the-top, ultra violent, gore fests (usually with a few f-bombs thrown in just for fun) that this genre "used to" deliver. I for one have grown quite weary of the weak, weepy and overly "PC" action films of the current Bieber generation.

Give me films like Terminator, RoboCop, Rambo, Die Hard, Timecop...and yes, Expendables '1'. Because if nothing changes with this rating then I and pretty-much everyone I know will not be seeing Expendables 2. I was another one of those guys who started a small viral campaign of my own when the first movie was released. I saw it 3 times in the theater myself and encouraged a lot of other paople to watch it as well.

Good luck on regaining our trust!

If this passes as PG13, then real actions movies are dead, i don't care about car chases, Explosions, i want Violent CQC, insane gun play and incredible bad ass one liners, not pillow fights, There are no Good PG13 action movies. A-Team? Don't make me laugh. Theres only one thing i want from this film, no holds barred raw action.

I don't see how it will appeal to a wider audience, other than simply falling flat and receiving horrible reviews with words stating 'NOT AS GOOD AS THE 1ST FILM' I don't care what Norris thinks, i don't want to see cut aways when someone gets shot, or shortened scenes because it maybe too much for a younger audience! The film should be the greatest action movie ever... with PG13 that will be impossible. Why? because it simply won't live up to the greatness of the films we grew up with, every shot, stab, snap, and punch.

They might as well give Justin Bieber a scene because it would appeal to a wider audience.

R or nothing.

As a die-hard action movie fan who absolutely LOVED the first movie, I strongly urge you to reconsider an R Rating for this movie. Your core audience... the people who grew up on the gritty, violent, anything goes R rated exploits of Charles Bronson, Van Damme, Chuck Norris, Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Statham, Dudikoff, Seagal, etc... wants an R Rating. We see this film as the ultimate of that type of film, since it has so many of the guys we grew up admiring. None of those guys' best movies were PG-13. Period.

It isn't because we want to hear "a lot of cursing" or see "a lot of boobs and gore". "Hard R" movies like Die Hard, Invasion USA, Lethal Weapon, Cobra, and Commando are balls-out in regard to attitude. Anything goes. Villains can be meaner and nastier, ultimately making the heroes of these movies that much more heroic. With PG-13, you just don't get that. There are well-defined guidelines we know going in that the film won't go, as dictated by the rating. Therefore, there is never a real sense of danger. It's entirely too safe. That's not the franchise promised by the first movie. The Expendables wasn't safe. It was "Hard R" and dangerous, and a much more satisfying and thrilling filmgoing experience because of it.

As Speed 2, Major League 2, RoboCop 3, Live Free or Die Hard, Beverly Hills Cop 3 prove... PG-13 sequels to R Rated franchises NEVER work, and almost always lose money. Please don't add Expendables 2 to this list of pathetic failures.

There is still time to deliver the tough, Hard R Rated movie fans have been wanting to see. Please don't let this amazing cast and director wimp out on us with a PG-13 film. I have zero interest in seeing a PG-13 Expendables 2, and judging from the massive fan backlash at Internet sites like MTV, IMDB, Ain't it Cool News, JoBlo, Latino Review, and many, many other movie sites from the past week, I am definitely not the only one.

Thank you for your time.

Dear Producers, all fans of the first movie wanna see a real action movie in the tradition of the 80's action classics. So, the movie with such an amazing cast has to be a Rated R movie... anything else is bullshit and not epic. I hope you will rethink about the PG-13 decision, there will be only one right answer. If the movie is not successfull (and I think this could realy happen) you get the bill.

A big middle finger to the A-hole that ruined this action extravaganza project... By turning THE EXPENDABLES 2 PG 13!!! What happened to the balls of this film? R rated action men in a PG movie together. Whoever thought of that idea is the true king of clowns. And for what? just to fill a rich man's pocket!! It makes me sick!! The fans made your movie successful because you made it for them. Now when you make it for yourself and the man in the black shades and evil smirk tells you what to do, and quit listening to the fans is when you forget the whole reason why you made it to begin with. Stay true to the R and don't sell your soul to the devil Mr Whoever is behind this decision.

Are you kidding me?! You get Stallone, Arnold, Norris, Van Damme, Willis, Statham, Lundgren, Adkins etc. in the same movie and you make it PG-13?! PG-13!!?? This is mind blowingly stupid decision. This is even more stupid than making Die Hard 4 PG-13. You must know that this movie is many action fans dream movie. And these people are over 18 years old! We and our parents are the people who paid to see your movies 30 years ago and we are the people who are paying to see them now. I really don't understand this. How greedy can you people be? Is this what you think about your fans? And don't even try to give us that bullshit that '' this film is large and is delivering on every level ''.. sure Die Hard 4 was large too, Willis came down to AICN and tried to desperately convince people that it would still be the same, just without the curse words. And then we got that piece of crap named Live free or die hard that was pure PG-13 and just awful. And some people actually did believe him. You know what? Not gonna happen again. People ain't stupid. Well some are but most of us are not. I personally have watched hundreds and hundreds of action movies and do know what the difference is between R and PG-13. It will be exactly the same as every other PG-13 movie before it. And don't even try to say otherwise. You are only making yourself a joke. This movie is officially doomed. You think we're bluffing? Sure we are gonna watch it in the movies some of us. But me personally am not gonna pay for it. I'll buy a ticket to another movie and then sneak in to see this. Now don't get me wrong.. i haven't even seen it yet, i might actually even somewhat like it in some parts. But a PG-13 is PG-13, and it is what it is. It's disgusting that you disrespect your fans like this and don't make this movie to the audience that has supported you for all your careers. You think we are bluffing? Well when the movie opens in the theatres and flops horribly... we are the ones who are gonna have the last laugh. It's gonna follow you the rest of your lives that when you had the change to give the fans what they want and have been waiting forever... you screwed it up because of greed. Your legacy will never be the same again. Action fans are gonna remember this for a very long time. And that is it for this franchise then. I would have never guessed that all these people would come together and then say FU fans. We won't make this to you. We will make this to Justin Bieber.

The producers should realize that the target group for this kind of movie are grown ups. Therefore,by turning it into a kiddie film out of greed,they'll end up losing money instead of making it.

Open letter from ABking to Sly, Chuck Norris and anyone else who had a hand in deciding to water down and cut the balls off this anticipated sequel. EX2 is now in a bad light with action fans and moviegoers. After browsing the internet for reaction I'm 1000% positive this is the WORST MOVE Sly and co. can make. Here are my thoughts: I will only be seeing EX2 once now (most likely).

Everyone knows "ABking" as the the most quoted Stallone and Schwarzenegger fan on the PLANET. Well, even the "BIGGEST SLY and ARNOLD FAN EVER" is not happy with the BAD and WRONG decision of turning a promising KICK ASS upstart franchise into a kids friendly series.

What made the first EXPENDABLES movie awesome besides seeing all those action stars together was that it was a throwback to seeing bad guys get blasted away real good like in such classics as DIE HARD, RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II, TOTAL RECALL, CLIFFHANGER, MISSING IN ACTION, DOUBLE IMPACT, TRUE LIES, DEMOLITION MAN, THE LAST BOYSCOUT, LONE WOLF MCQUADE, ERASER etc.

Those above movies I listed starred the likes of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Norris, Van Damme and Willis.

The fact that Sly, Chuck Norris, Avi Lerner, Simon West etc. decided to WATER DOWN and gut this franchise on the second film is going to backfire in a BIG way. People automatically assume that PG-13 means more butts in the seats. WRONG!!! Not for a franchise series like THE EXPENDABLES. Two points...1) the franchise did not start out PG-13 like say MISSION IMPOSSIBLE or BOURNE. Had it started out as a PG-13 then that would be fine. BUT it started out R. By dropping the rating it seems like the film is going in the wrong direction and it is telling the fans and the public 'hey we are more family friendly, bring the kids.' If a films rating starts out PG-13 and then goes to R with a second film at least you can say 'hey they upped the ante'...NEVER do it the other way around. 2) A film like EXPENDABLES begs to be R rated. I mean lets get real here: a movie starring STALLONE/SCHWARZENEGGER/WILLIS/VAN DAMME/CHUCK NORRIS does not scream PG-13. It MUST be an R rated movie, PERIOD! There are going to be SOOO many people that are going to wait for the possible "unrated cut" on blu ray that they are not going to pay to see this in theaters. This WRONG rating IS going to backfire, trust me. I saw the first film in theaters SIX times and loved it each time. I brought friends and family members to it. I will not see EX2 more than once if it sticks with this watered down rating...and I will go it alone so that no one will see the disappointment on my face. Sure I *might* like it, but the "WHAT IF" or "WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN" will always be in the back of my mind.

If you look all over the internet or talk to the average moviegoer that loves action movies what you will hear is "I'm going to watch the bootleg for free, at least I won't have to waste my money on a PG-13 throwback action movie", or "I will wait for the unrated cut", or "I will only be seeing this one in theaters once instead of numerous times like I did with the first movie". I have heard hard core action fans personally say this to me. Just browse the net on sites like AICN, IMDB, COMING SOON etc. and you will see how upset the core demographic is with this decision.

Simon West directed the cult action fest known as CON AIR. I remember seeing that kick ass action movie back in the summer of 1997. It was a true action movie. It had testosterone and then some. It was a hard R rated action movie that was bad ass and it delivered on every level. Now imagine if that film was rated PG-13. NO WAY IN HELL! How can the man that directed such an awesome R rated macho-fest movie like that settle for a film with the BIGGEST action stars on the planet and the film being rated PG-13? Grow some balls Mr. West and let Avi Lerner, Chuck Norris and Sly know you want this film as an R. EX2 should be better than CON AIR.

I would rather EX2 have the true rating it was meant to have and gross 90 million in the U.S. than for it to have that false rating of a PG-13 and gross 180 million. At least years from now when people own it they can watch it over and over and actually love it. LIONSGATE is going to make a killing with EX2 if it is rated R. The U.S. alone will see the film gross 150 million and over 400 MILLION DOLLARS WORLDWIDE.

Would Quentin Tarantino make one of his movies R just to please the studios...NO! Would he sequelize PULP FICTION then say I'm gonna make it PG-13 so that I can get a more mass audience! NOOOOOOO!

Does anyone want to see that epic AIRPORT scene in EX2 with Sly, Willis and Arnold taking on hundreds of bad guys and wiping them out...yet you only get to see little blood or cut-away shots??? HECK NO!!!!!!! I want to see Arnold use that shotgun that was seen in the trailer and blow a hole into someones stomach. I want to see Sly use those two hand guns and put a bullet between someones eyes. I want to see Willis mowing down bad guys with that m

You will basically be called Liars if you say this movie is a throwback to the action movies of the 80s and 90s, come on Stallone you could have turned Barney Ross into the next big action movie icon.

We just thinking, We need about rated-R as very hardly actions, gores mixed in EX2 I love ''R'', because group villain of the leader Van Damme and others challenge villains versus Sly, Arnie, Lundgren, but Lundgren was played versus Van Damme in Universal Soldier, now again he is versus JCVD! I am great happy! Please finally, EX2 will certain be huge actions than EX1. It should be ''R as 18+'', please don't keep in "PG-13 as 15", We hate the PG-13. Hope EX2 will be rating-''R', but should be better better money than worldwide :):):):) Please sure go the rated-R :() :() !!!!!!!!!

Thanks to SLY, WEST!!!

you are traitors!!! I ain't gonna watch it as a protest and I hope others will join me. Nowadays kids don't know who these actors are anyway, do you think a lot of them would care to see this movie?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD7ontlfT3Q


WE HAVE TO SPREAD IT EVERYWHERE GUYS, PLEASE PATRICK, WE NEED SOME HELP, THIS VIDEO CAN HELP THEM CHANGE THEIR MIND ON THE PG13 DISASTER !

thank you guys, then why not add the video to your last article, i think it would really help (the clean version of the video) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD7ontlfT3Q

Hey Jean, what websites can i send this link to?
And you guys at EX2 blog have a looot of visitors, even movie news websites, after all this work you guys have done on the Blog, adding this video to your last article will help considerably...
The video basically explains why a PG13 cant work...
Thanks

way to "Conan the Destroyer" the Expendables series. Totally lame. This will limit the appeal of the movie to many people. No violence and action, no movie ticket.

Dear Lionsgate,

I write to ask you to change Expendables 2 to Restricted.
Please understand that for us, fans, it is one time only. It has never been before and it will not be the movie starring so many 80's actions stars. For us, fans, it is very important to see and to have the 21st century movie with best action stars that we can be proud of.....again in 21st century. Please consider people's request, take it seriously and act accordingly. I understand that you are concerned about money but I believe if it stays PG-13, we, true fans will not be going to see the movie. And many of us will just wait DVD or Blu ray release to be available for free download.

Thanks in advance for your consideration and time to read our comments to you.

Please make this movie a mature movie because this is a action movie for men and women and I don't want what could be an amazing movie to be limited by anything. I'm not saying that I want gratuitous swearing but I want real dialog and real characters not Disney heros. Thank you

is this a joke? R please!!!!!!!!!

It's PG13 because Chuck Norris said so!

Make my dream come true! This movie will be the best movie in universe! PLEASE R!!

I'm caught in between this, everytime I see PG-13 I think of T3 AVP etc ugghhh but because I live in the UK we have different ratings 12A 15 18, you can pretty much get away with anything on a 15 rating over here so that would be cool, if it gets a 12A then well.... uh oh
I just hope this isnt going to be like The A-team (80's) where theres loads of shooting but you dont see anyone get shot

I understand where your coming from and my point wasnt clear at all, I just meant its a shame that U.S ratings arnt the same as ours, you need something in between PG-13 and R.
Just as an example The Mechanic rated R in US but UK is only 15 but still states 'Bloody violence and strong language' so they can show all the goodness but its not completly restriced to adults only which is what EX2 could do with

A golden opportunity to make the greatest action film of all time is being thrown away here. The hopes and dreams of millions of movei goers have been crushed. This movie has to be rated R, why can't people make movies for the fans anymore? WE are the ones who pay to make your film money, is it too much to give us what we ask for?

If this idiotic PG13 rating is maintained, Expendables 2 will become a self-parody of everything it could have been. With an R rating, this could have been the Greatest Movie Ever, but now it will go down in history as one of the stupidest decisions ever made.

Come Lionsgate. Is this Lionsgate or Pussycat gate? How can you do this to us. How can you insult the fanbase with this PG13 little girl rating? I hate it, and we the action fans will fight you until you change the movie back to where it belongs, in the R-rated section.

Dear Lionsgate,

I believe this is a true middle finger to those who grew up watching these guys in action films. We want to see them how they are supposed to be seen...in R-Rated Movies!

These men are legends because of how they were in the good old action films and you are not letting them be the men who they are.

For example - I was watching a trailer for G.I.Joe 2 and it go near the end, and it shows a truck spinning out of control and then all of a sudden Bruce Willis pops up and starts shooting this huge gun! The who audience gave a sense of "this movie is gonna kick ass because Bruce is shooting and blowing stuff up!". When all an actor has to do is pull the triger of a gun and it makes the audience go 'WOAH!"....it says something.

Dont take away who these men are - they are the legends of action movies. Norris is SUPPOSED to kick a guy in the face. Schwarzenegger is SUPPOSED to shoot the biggest gun imaginable. Willis is SUPPOSED to have wise cracks and still kick ass. Stallone is SUPPOSED to shoot the body part of someone off. Van damme is SUPPOSED to use his karate.

If this is a PG-13 rating; instead of being possibly one of the most anticipated films of the year - it will be a joke...and you could probably kiss a lot of fans goodbye!

Another thing I forgot to add. I go to movie theaters very very rare, may be 2-3 times a year, and it has to be either very special movie or somebody invites me and pays for ticket. Those are only 2 reasons when I go to see a movie.
I remember when Expendables came out, it was the most special movie of 21st century for me. Not only I went to see it, but I also bought a ticket for my brother who would never ever go to see such movie.
What I am trying to say is this:
If the second part stays PG-13 - you will make soooo much less money for sure. Kids nowadays don't know old school action stars and don't care about them. All they care is cartoons and crap like Avatar. This is all they know. They don't know true action, true action stars and nothing about it. So kids won't go to see it and action fans won't go either, and it will be biggest collapse and disappointment of the year.

So.....think logically, and make your choice.

I am in my mid-50s and have been an action movie fan for decades. I have longed to see a return to such movies for a long time. I don't watch PG-13 movies. I want to see adult fare - a high level of action, guts, gore and nudity. That's why I was drawn back to the theaters when Sly came out with the last Rambo movie and the first Expendables. Great action and the kind of adrenaline pumping scenes that an R-rated movie can provide. Tell me what would have happened to that climactic scene in John Rambo if the movie had been rather PG-13. It would have been a joke. That is what I fear will happen to Exp-2.

There is a loyal core of fans who supported the first movie because we wanted to see an adult-level action movie, not the watered down garbage of men in tights fighting other men in tights that Hollywood has been passing off as action. That's why this change, whether prompted by an over-the-hill Chuck Norris, who shouldn't even be in the film, let alone dictate what should be in it, or by greedy Hollywood types who think they'll expand the viewing audience is a betrayal to us loyal fans. No matter what Mr Crews thinks, I certainly will not see it in the theaters. I will not waste my money on kiddie fare. I hope the movie bombs and that Sly realizes what a grave mistake he made by caving in to those stupid demands.

wtf is chuck doing in a movies like this If this was my movie i would have told chuck to shave himself first and that we would talk later about him being in it Imagine Arnie saying ararrrrar rarraar and Sly going hu hu arr awwaarrr and kicking someones ass and imagine now both of them talking it over with the same bad guys over a hot tea party Which 1 would u prefer ..i bet this will be remembered as 1 of the biggest flops/fails in their lives Boycott this 1 please

PLEEEAAAAAAAAAASEEEEE DONT DO IT IT MUST BE R AAR AR ARR AARRRRRRRR

My response was cropped. I repeat the cropped paragraph below:

From a financial perspective, I understand the urge to market to as wide of an audience as possible. However, Expendables 2 is a sequel. Sequels are designed to recapture what an audience enjoyed about the first film. For myself, and many other loyal viewers who returned for multiple viewing of the first Expendables, this was for the characters and hard action that was present. And make no mistake: myself and my friends are the target audience for this film. The 13-17 year old age bracket does not know who many of these actors are, and will not be lured into the seats by their mere presence. In fact, how many of them are aware of the first expendables and are dying to see the sequel? If they are, they saw the first with a parent or guardian. If not, who wants to see the sequel without seeing the first film? It would be as if you decided your first "Star Wars" film would be "The Empire Strikes Back," having never seen the original "Star Wars." The reason "Empire" worked so well was we were invested in the characters, and "Empire" continued their story and upped the ante in story, tone, and the stakes (as evidenced by the violence).

Mr Stallone asks us to trust him, that the film will deliver and that action fans such as myself will not go hungry. I'm willing to give it a chance, but I am wary that I will be disappointed because the rating will have shackled the tone and characters from achieving the film it could--and should--have been. PG-13 action means that there cannot be any squibs or blood associated with people getting shot, and means that the action, not just the language, will be toned down for Expendables 2. This means that myself, and many of my friends, while we will not boycott the film as many outraged fanboys react in protest, we will not be going back for repeat viewings, which while not affecting the short-term opening weekend stats, will certainly affect the box office gross (personally, I saw the first Expendables six times in theaters). Are you willing to compromise on the rating for a short-term gain, but a long-term loss, and alienate the core audience that supported the first film? A PG-13 rating is a poor decision in which everyone loses: the fans as well as the studio.

Respectfully,

Chris

i totally agree with all that is said, it must be R rated if it's for the fans and not for the kids this is our movie we watch those guys for the past 30 years we grow up on them..... FRAK!!!

Quote from Sly Stallone EX1 interview

"I always believe the violence is justifiable," he said. "The one thing in my films ... I only kill people that need to be killed. And then there are people who need to be killed in an even worse way than those who simply need to be killed – the men who do terrible things to women. "Let me put it this way," he told a press conference in London. "The ones that deserve it get it and they get it good and the ones that go after women really get it, you know what I mean? Really get it. People say: 'Oh, isn't that overkill?' and I say 'I'm not going to have a man having his way with a woman and wrecking her life and just shoot him with a bullet - it's too civilised. He's going to feel real pain'." "I didn't want something that was a little too complex, a little too controversial, a little too politically correct, I wanted old school."
The phrase old school was used a lot today and Statham said it had been fun to make a movie of "real men doing real action"

Stick to your words guys... stick to your words

OK, what the hell are the makers of the movie thinking ??

We are fans of 80's action movies, that's why we loved EX1.

We're not teens, we are men who want to have a blast with a good, bloody action throwback to the classics, not some PG stuff for kids. Movies like A-Team did that and SUCKED!!!!

I want Rambo and Terminator, not Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot!!!!!

RatedR of GTFO! Why softening the sequel when the first one was so great as an R-rated?! It is just ludicrous. The fans have made up their minds and know what they want, and they want blood, gore, brutality at it's best... the whole package. Pure unrestrained action is what will bring us storming to the theaters. What good is the epic crew, if they will be hindered by PG-13? So, just give us that freakishly awesome hardcore piece of action art we have been waiting and hoping for!
Greetings from fans all over Serbia!

Fucking asshole Chuck Norris!!!! Fucking asshole EX2 ! Fucking asshole PG-13!!!!

Please very very sure sure sure sure sure at RRRRRRRR!!!!!!
Must be win "R''! Must be defeat PG-13!!

We've seen Arnie, Sly, JCVD, Dolph and Willis, their many many movies as these were in ''R'', never PG-13!! But why is suddenly now EX2 in PG-13? Now, we have very ANGRY!!!!!!!!

Kickboxer, Universal Soldier, Hard Target, Terminator, Total Recall, Rambo, Judge Dredd, Die Hard...

I'm a French fan and I grew up with these movies, like all my friends. This is because of their nature that Stallone or Schwarzenegger became legends for us and I was madly excited when I knew I could see those guys kick asses together in the Expendables. I did find everything I loved back then, this movie was clearly made with the heart and we were all greatly satisfied, enjoyed it much and supported it the best we could.

I was all the more excited when my childhood hero M. Van Damme was announced for the sequel, with Willis and Schwarzenegger joining the mission ! Man, when you see that cast...

Like many of us, I was telling my friends about the movie, reading the news on Expendables Premiere or IMDB regularly, promoting it on my Facebook and Twitter pages sharing trailers and pictures... Everyone was impatiently waiting for the MOST LEGENDARY cast ensemble united for the MOST BADASS movie EVER. This was supposed to make History, and not in a gentle way.

That's what we thought and were hoping for. Yet suddenly, we're told that this is going to be rated PG-13. Family-friendly. Now, this is making us very sad.

The first one did well because it was done so it could satisfy the target audience, us, males over 18, action lovers. We KNOW what we WANT and it's indeed incredible action with graphic violence and adult content from the guys who do it best on this planet. The most absurd in this decision is that teenagers may not even know about the guys except Willis, Statham and those Chuck Norris facts. Now, this man proved he's nothing but a joke. He's been doing shit for decades and had finally a chance to shine there but with this kind of sissy mind, he obviously doesn't belong to such project.

Rating this movie PG-13 is highly disrespectful for the people who supported the first one. Everyone knows it had flaws and was not an obvious win from the start. It still did well thanks to us, the FANS. That's why regarding business, it does appear to me like an extremely wrong idea when saying "Oh fuck the fans! let's make a charming movie with no blood and no negative language". Not sure this is how you'll get the bucks.

People at Lionsgate, why don't you wake up and see, you have fucking SLY, ARNIE & JCVD IN ONE SINGLE MOVIE! Don't waste the opportunity and just send them to war!

Well, if EX2 is really boasting this horrible PG-13 in August, I won't be surprised seeing Robert Pattinson, Orlando Bloom or Daniel Radcliffe in the next episode. Why not make it distributed by Disney and sponsored by the Vatican while you're at it ?

I hope that you, Lionsgate sellout assholes, will hear our voice because you're now ruining everything.

Sure, PG13 CAN work. Just look at Taken - awesome movie.

THIS however is supposed to be a violent movie with blood, gore and r-rated one-liners. That's what the old school action movies were all about. This SHOULD be like a modern day Commando, Die Hard or Terminator 2. That is the whole premise/concept of this thing.

Making a movie about violence and one-liners PG13 automatically removes the whole point of the movie.

I, for one, will not pay to see this disaster.

No going ti be PG-13! Please sure going to be R. I heard by Bruce talked Sly about EX2 must be R. Fuck Norris.

Contact Millennium films and express your feelings below.....Tell them no to PG and make it R.

Global Headquarters and Main Contact Information
6423 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90048
+1 310 388-6900 p
+1 310 388-6901 f
info@millenniumfilms.com

the best of fighter in the world is jean claude van damme.

i was upset when they first announced chuck norris was going to be in this movie, the dude is a joke and made a bunch of garbage movies, but i was a fan of the first expendables and the rest of the cast for this is pretty stellar, so i was willing to let it slide. but pg13? it pains me to say this, but i think i'm gonna have to pass

Dear god make this movie rated R or not at all I've seen enough pg-13 bullshit, take a stand and make a good movie not another run of the mill pg-13 cop-out picture without a heart that is purely for monetary gain

Hey tell me when we will see the first theatarical trailer of expendables2
???????????????????

Why even cater to these 13 year olds? They was not even alive when 3/4 of the cast was box office hits. Stallone..........You dropped the ball big time here. What a fucking joke. Put the gore back in asap

i totally agree it should have been rated R though, but if people are REAL fans, they'll go see it anyway...and that's what they're relying on...

this movie should be good and the chemistry between them should be teriffic

i wont watch this movie if it is pg 13. f#*k you lionsgate.i might watch it if i hear that jet li has great action sequences in it. Otherwise no thanks.f*#k you norris

Dear Stallone, Congratulations for EX2 has been rated "R". We are happy too. We want to see it early!!!! We just love "R". Hope he is being very ACTIONS.... Thanks!

Suck cock you faggot piece of shit bitches. Fuck rated R, fuck PG13, fuck Sly in his Rambo ass and Schwarzenegger in his Terminator ass and Chuck Norris in his fucking Walker texas ranger big fat ass. Pieces of fucking shit.