By Chris Kavan - 03/22/17 at 10:51 AM CT
While the list hasn't shrunk much from previous weeks, it is a bit light on the major films receiving their ratings. There are only two films to remark upon this week. One is a major superhero movie, and the first fronted by a female (thanks, Marvel, for never giving us a Black Widow stand-alone... jerks). Wonder Woman is coming, and she just might be able to lift DC out of their funk when it comes to their own cinematic universe. Otherwise we have the animated Leap! (also known as Ballerina), which is sure to be a boon to families with young girls. It's a short list, but let's get to it, shall we?
Certainly DC has been on a bumpy road when it comes to establishing the basis for their superhero franchise. Man of Steel was too dark for its own good. Batman v Superman followed suit - along with being a bit of a muddled mess. I had high hopes for Suicide Squad, but it squandered its talent as well. But maybe, just maybe, Gal Gadot can turn things around with Wonder Woman. For one, they have brought on Patty Jenkins to direct and while she is a bit new to the major blockbuster game, if anyone can bring a strong, female character to life, it's a strong, female director. The trailers make this out to be much less dark than its predecessors but still looks like it is full of action. Besides Gadot, Robin Wright, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Ewen Bremner, David Thewlis, Danny Huston, Saïd Taghmaoui, Elena Anaya and Lucy Davis are all on board - quite a pedigree there. I keep holding out hope that the DC movies can get better, but with Wonder Woman I think it actually has a good shot at redeeming the series. We'll see this summer. Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content.
Animated movies come in many shapes and forms, but there is no doubt what target audience that Leap! is going after. Let's see if you can guess based on the plot: a young orphan girl with big dreams of becoming a ballerina runs away from her rural Brittany home and heads to Paris where, thanks to a case of mistaken identity, finds herself enrolled in the prestigious position of pupil at the Grand Opera house. Orphan? Ballerina? Grand Opera house? Holy cow, I think I just heard the screams of a million five-to-nine-year-old girls just by typing that out. This is aimed directly at a young, female audience and the success of the film will be determined by how many are drawn in to this tale. I'm guessing it's not going to be anything like Black Swan. Elle Fanning, Dane DeHaan, Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen, dancing queen Maddie Ziegler and apparently Mel Brooks all have roles here. Rated for some impolite humor, and action. (and on that note, what is "polite" humor anyway?)
Those are the major films coming out, but be sure to check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN
Rated R for some war violence and brief nudity. NOTE: RE-RATE. PREVIOUS M/PG RATING, BULL NO. 21 (3/31/1969), VOIDED.
DEATH RACE: ANARCHY
Rated R for strong violence and language throughout, nudity and sexual content.
INCONCEIVABLE
Rated R for some violence, sexuality, nudity and language.
LEAP!
Rated PG for some impolite humor and action.
THE LITTLE HOURS
Rated R for graphic nudity, sexual content and language.
MUDBOUND
Rated R for some disturbing violence, brief language and nudity.
NEVER LET GO
Rated R for violence, bloody images and some language.
SIDNEY HALL
Rated R for language and some sexual references.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
Rated R for strong violent content, language throughout, some sexuality, drug material and brief nudity.
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
Rated R for violence, language throughout, and some sexual references.
TIME OF DEATH
Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, language and some drug use.
VALLEY OF BONES
Rated R for violence, drug use, language and some nudity.
WONDER WOMAN
Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive content.
