TMNT, The "R"-rated version.

[Weapon X]

I in issue #9 of Comic Scene with an interview with Eastman and Laird in which they were talking about the upcoming film, Laird was quoted with saying the first script was heading toward an "R' rating but Laird and co-creator Eastman felt a large portion of the heroes audience would have been turned away at the theater doors. It pretty much goes on to say that they are now going for a "PG-13" rating that can still allow a great deal of action and violence, and doesn't need to "gross" and "gory" to the point of needing an "R" rating. This was all the information I ever knew on the subject of the "Original "R" rating", until now.

Hopefully there's a couple people yet to know this, and here is another bit of evidence of it.

"Director Steve Barron wanted the film to closely follow the comic. He intended to make the film dark and gritty. The film would open with April being raped (not just mugged) and being saved by the Turtles. The Turtles were to swear, drink beer, and be more rude, and there would be more killings. However, the producers thought that with the ongoing cartoon version of the franchise, they should make the film more children-friendly. Much of the original violence was cut and new shots were filmed to tone the movie down."

[Jester]

I thought TMNT was Pre-PG13....*shrugs*

[GK Punk]

Honestly, I'm GLAD it didn't turn out that way. One of the things that makes that movie so watchable even to this day is the fact that it's such a great balance of the Darkness of the Mirage Studios comics and the Cartoon.

[Jester]

True, but I'd like to see some of the action put back in...maybe not the swearing and booze...

[GK Punk]

Or a Rape scene.there's no need for that.

[Jester]

Oh yeah...I kind blocked that from memory....thanks GK....

[Weapon X]

This quote "Much of the original violence was cut and new shots were filmed to tone the movie down" just makes the want of a SE even that more larger for the mere fact that some of this survived(That is to say that any was filmed, which is implied) I'd only want to see the gritty more violent stuff, mybe a little booze drinking just for the fun of it, but nothing on the rape scene, that is definatly something not to want, but it is somthing to think about......ohhhh wait, scratch that.

[d_osborn]

not THAT much was cut from the film. as for earlier drafts of the screenplay, i have no idea. i've been searching for early drafts for years.

[Jester]

There's more than you think....X's got a shooting script...

[Coola Yagami]

well.... maybe the rape scene would be going too far... but at least let the bad guys get far enough to show the screen-viewers some Paige Turco boob before the TMNT bust in and save the day....

[Weapon X]

It was Judith Hoag's April that your talking about, Turco played April in TMNT 2 and 3.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

I'm not sure even the Mirage-comics were dark enough to have a rape scene. That would be going too far. A mirage-perfect movie would be upper PG-13 rather than R

[Weapon X]

I agree, a rape scene just seems really out of place in a TMNT comic or movie, by all means I love it gritty, but not that gritty.

[Coola Yagami]

Ah yeah, got my Aprils mixed up. Well yeah, no actual rape scene.. not in a TMNT movie.. but at least let the bad guys rip her blouse open before the TMNT save her....

[Sewer Bull]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

but at least let the bad guys rip her blouse open before the TMNT save her....

...

Dreamer

[Buslady]

They can still make it more adult level without getting corny like TMNT2. With a PG13, they can pull it off. I'm gonna hold faith in them. They seem to wanna be careful about how they go about this project. They can still say bad words but no really bad bad stuff...f-word, s-word....stuff like crap, damn(raph's best!), and junk like that. Bring on the beeer! At least for Raph..he likes that stuff. I kinda think it'd be funny a buzzed Raph on screen trying to fight drunk against Leo..now that'd make him look like a fool.
April doesnt need to be raped, mugged and seriously hurt would work enough.

[cowabunga14]

Well, that's intrestin'. I didn't know April was orginally gonna be raped. I'm glad they left that out personally. I wouldn't like to see the Turtles drunk. It's somethin' doesn't really go with 'em and it would be ironic cuz the Turtles were in this drug free cartoon and X-Entertainment has an article on it. Y'all should read it if you get a chance.

[Jester]

I just realized....how many super hero movies nowadays have PG-13 ratings?

Originally Posted by Buslady

They can still make it more adult level without getting corny like TMNT2. With a PG13, they can pull it off. I'm gonna hold faith in them. They seem to wanna be careful about how they go about this project. They can still say bad words but no really bad bad stuff...f-word, s-word....stuff like crap, damn(raph's best!), and junk like that. Bring on the beeer! At least for Raph..he likes that stuff. I kinda think it'd be funny a buzzed Raph on screen trying to fight drunk against Leo..now that'd make him look like a fool.
April doesnt need to be raped, mugged and seriously hurt would work enough.

I agree. With a rating like PG13, they can still make it pretty adult.
We can have Raph drinking beer and maybe Splinter smoking a bong pipe. That would be quite the sight.
Oh, and we can have Leo carrying a classic Japanese sake bottle on his belt. He can take swigs from it occationaly.

Seriously, yeah, we do need the Mirage elements that are constantly skipped out on in every other TMNT incarnation. Swearing, blood, and booze.

[Jester]

There was booze in the Mirage incarnation? *shrugs*

And Splinter smoking a bong? Yeah...I could see that....NOT!