comment #1

MAGGA says ...

That still is from the Norwegian trailer, judging by the subtitles. I saw it and noticed the absence of the American flag, but not the guns. The guns are strange, the flag understandable. American flags give a negative association to many Europeas, which is not what you want from a teaser.

comment #2

Dave says ...

I think it was suggested in an earlier thread that the MPAA has rules against guns being pointed at anybody in a green-band trailer. Not sure if that's BS or not, but might want to start there.

As for the flag. . . Jeff, Indiana Jones is an AMERICAN hero. The American flag is YOUR flag, MY flag, OUR flag. It's a *good* thing, if you're an American, or anyone whose life has been bettered by America.

But yeah, it's just a Bush/Cheney symbol, right, got it.

As the saying goes, if dissent really is the highest form of patriotism, where does that leave actual, you know, *patriotism*?

comment #3

sunny says ...

Forget pants/guns/flag, Harrison Ford is looking like a decrepit geezer, and not in a good way.

comment #4

Rich S. says ...

Maybe Spielberg is trying to do a director's cut before it even gets to theaters. The next trailer, the soldiers will all be carrying walkie talkies.

comment #5

DavidF says ...

I think people are jumping to Rich S's conclusion.
Lucas and Spielberg have such reputations for revisionism that people now think they self-censor before the films even come out.

Clearly this has to do with the MPAA and there will not be any missing guns in the final film.

I think it's wonderful they care enough to ensure that some computer nerd spends several days erasing guns and painting pockets. It's this sort of thing that keeps the American economy strong.

In the meantime, you Americans should once again thank the MPAA for protecting your progeny from violence and sex, upholding free speech and, in general, saving democracy as we know it.

comment #6

tophertilson says ...

It's pretty common knowledge that you can't point guns at people in MPAA-approved green band trailers.

As for this patriotism nonsense -- this is a business. If you want to sell a film in Europe these days, you don't wave an American flag in their faces. It's that simple. American flag = fewer Euros.

I can't tell you how many times I've been railed against in pubs or coffee shops in the UK when someone detects my American accent. The resentment is real. You can argue that it's not justified but you can't argue the reality of it.

Long story short: Removing the flag in the foreign trailer, good business decision. Removing the guns in the domestic trailer, MPAA bullshit as usual.

comment #7

Josh Massey says ...

I just want to know what's so great about that shot they still included it in the trailer. Is that really one of the best shots in the film?

"Hey, the MPAA isn't going to let us use this because of the aimed guns."

"Well, we don't have a single other piece of interesting film to use, so let's just erase the offending weapons!"

Doesn't bode well...

comment #8

christian says ...

Well, according to the right-wing, if everybody hates us around the world, that's a good thing. Y'know, cause we're scary n'shit.

comment #9

Rich S. says ...

Actually, my post was a joke.

In today's world, though, the MPAA position makes little sense, since in the very same AICN story about removal of the guns, they post a link to the international trailer with guns intact.

Although it was eerily prescient for them to make that decision for a trailer to premiere yesterday, no?

comment #10

tophertilson says ...

I'm assuming they wanted that shot because they wanted Indy's line about it not being as easy as it used to be. Ha! Get it? He's old now.

Actually, he looks pretty damn good to my eyes.

comment #11

Howlingman says ...

I think the US image works better (for a teaser trailer). The EU one is way too busy. It's the first moving image of Harrison Ford in costume, with dialogue, and pretty important when re-introducing a character who hasn't been on screen in 19 years.

comment #12

insidah says ...

Ageism really pisses me off. In some cultures, elders are respected. Not sure who's to blame. Oh yeah, American coporate culture, which pits sons against fathers.

comment #13

Edward says ...

Looks like the MPAA doesn't even like guns being pointed at no one. Compare the stills and look at the the soldier in the right background. They added crates to hide the gun in the US trailer.

comment #14

christian says ...

"Oh yeah, American coporate culture, which pits sons against fathers."

And primarily marketing, which pits every youth against everybody.

comment #15

erniesouchak says ...

This is MPAA interference ALL THE WAY.

comment #16

christian says ...

So how did SHOOT 'EM UP get away with it?

comment #17

Crosby says ...

I recall when A RAGE IN HARLEM came out back in '91, director Bill Duke complained that the MPAA forced him to re-cut the trailer because of a shot where guns were being pointed at Forest Whitaker, so this is nothing new.

comment #18

MDOC says ...

Wait, Jeff is now going to lump together Bush and McCain like they are the same person? Aren't the conservatives having a hissy fit because McCain isn't conservative enough? If your not with us, your against us. Remeber, Gruver, only a Sith deals in absolutes.
How come I get 4 postings on Obama and Hillary yet not one with commentary on what the new Star Trek release date means?

comment #19

JeffGP says ...

There are no guns pointed at any individuals within the same shot in the Shoot 'Em Up trailer... as insane as that sounds, them's the rules. Watch the trailer again, frame by frame, there's an ALMOST moment, but nothing literal. This is how trailers are cut.

comment #20

Spacesheik says ...

Didnt Clint Eastwood point a gun and go 'make my day' in a 1984 trailer? Didnt Meryl Streep also point a gun in THE RIVER WILD trailer? And countless others...

When did this MPAA law come into effect?

comment #21

Baron von Lego says ...

"As for the flag. . . Jeff, Indiana Jones is an AMERICAN hero"

Huh? Sure, Indy has an American accent, but that's really as far as it goes. Switch said accent for An Australian or Brit accent and NOTHING changes.

comment #22

Rosebudsthesled says ...

Great trailer. Makes me feel like a kid again. Can't wait for the movie!

comment #23

Travis85 says ...

I don't see the American flag as a big deal. It is well established that the character of Indiana Jones is American and this is evident by his accent and the flash back scene in last crusade. When I first saw the flag, I thought it was an establishing shot that the scene was in the USA somewhere and I didn't even think anything of it. If people are offended at the mere site of the flag then then they really need to lighten up. The gun and pants thing is very strange though and if the guns were edited to point down, then that just shows the overly PC nature of the USA these days. Censorship scares me more than guns.

comment #24

Cadavra says ...

The rule is supposed to be that guns cannot be pointed directly at the camera (i.e., the audience), but may be pointed elsewhere. But like everything else the MPAA does, this is flexible according entirely to their whims. My trailer for MIRACLES (a period comedy with Jackie Chan) was rejected for just that reason, but when I pointed out that they'd recently approved the trailer for Takeshi Kitano's BROTHER, in which guns were not only aimed at the camera but FIRED, they reluctantly relented.