5 R Rated Comic Book Movies We Need

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With Deadpool's R-rating release this weekend, we'll be exploring some R rated comic book movies that we'd love to see come out soon. Bloggers and fans all over are discussing the pros and cons of rating superhero movies with an "˜R'. Of course, Deadpool isn't the first comic book movie to be rated "˜R', Blade, Watchmen, 300, and Sin City all had R ratings when they were released, but Deadpool is considered to be the first "superhero" comic book movie to be released with such an adult rating. It has raised a lot of questions about the future of comic book and superhero movies, and the characters that need an R rating to accurately portray the story and do a decent job of adapting from the original source material.

The argument coming from some is that the comic book movie genre is starting to grow a little tired, recycling a lot of the same themes and stylistic approaches. Especially now that so many superhero movies are in the pipeline to be released in the next four years, fans are worried that traditional avenues for favorite characters and comic books could all blur into one. The story of a hero defeating the villain and saving the world. Deadpool gives these fans hope that the landscape of superhero movies is changing and that more complicated, gruesome, realistic, and adult storylines and characters can be explored.

The opposing side of course, is worried about tarnishing the superhero movie brand, especially for younger viewers who would not be able to watch new releases rated R. Mothers are already penning letters about Deadpool's rating and their inability to now take their kids to enjoy a favorite character. There are a lot of arguments pertaining to this, that we won't get into here, but it's obvious that both the landscape is changing, and the the majority of fans are excited for it.

In celebration of Deadpool's opening weekend and its R rating that made headlines across the country, and globe for that matter, we've come up with a list of 5 R Rated Comic Book Movies We Need"¦ like now. These characters will thrive with a little bit more realism.

Venom

Venom

Venom remains as one of Marvel's best characters and a fan favorite across the board. Originally introduced as a supervillain up against Spider-Man, and later evolved into an anti-hero of epic proportions, Venom tops the list for his own R rated superhero movie. Though there were talks of Sony doing a Venom movie using Eddie Brock as the host, giving Spider-Man a cameo, and introducing Carnage, little else has been done to bring this complex, alien character to life.

Eddie Brock's Venom is deserving of his own spin-off after the butchering he received when played by Topher Grace. Ok, that might be a little harsh, Grace played to the best of his ability and was simply just miscast (perhaps among some of the worst superhero movie miscasts). Brock's Venom is a huge guy, just in stature Topher Grace can't match up, and he's supposed to be frightening, leaving Grace's face exposed instead of his Venom face, was a poor choice that did the character no favors.

With an R rating the antihero Venom can get crazy and hunt for justice in his own twisted way. Also, if we're throwing Carnage into the storyline, that guy definitely needs an R rating as he is one of the most terrifying monsters out there. Any other rating will play down the terror that these two can bring. R rated comic book movies could really take flight with this addition.

joker

The Joker

Another beloved character who despite his darkness and complete and total lack of empathy has captured the hearts of fans everywhere for decades. We were hesitant to put him on this list because of Heath Ledger's great performance in the Dark Knight and Jared Leto's upcoming chance to blow us away in Suicide Squad's release this summer. But we couldn't help but imagine not only a movie where Joker is the lead, perhaps allowing us to even cheer for the maniac for once, but also one that lets his brutality loose. In the world of R rated comic book movies, the Joker could own the genre.

It's hard to say that this may ever happen. Batman is of course a favorite among children and so the Joker falls into that category of fandom, whether he likes it or not, but the sheer brutality of the Joker in other forms like the Batman comic book "A Death in the Family", and the scene’s subsequent appearance in Under the Red Hood, where he beats Robin to death with a crowbar. The Under the Red Hood clip is relentless and long and actually pretty difficult to watch.

While Ledger captured the insanity of the Joker, another film to focus on just how deep his darkness goes could be great– and terribly haunting, disturbing, and brutal.

lobo

Lobo

There was once a whisper that The Rock would play Lobo and it remained a whisper, much to the dismay and sadness to a lot of Lobo and DC fans.

Initially launched as a villain, Lobo was relaunched in comic books as an antihero. Lobo is an interstellar, alien bounty hunter who is just as brutal as he is scary to look at. You do not want Lobo coming for you as a bounty because most often he murders whoever he is sent after. He is best known for his over-the-top violence–actually punching people's heads clear off their bodies– and so an R rated movie a no brainer. In fact, our favorite fun fact about Lobo is that he killed off every member of his own race for a high school science project"¦ and gave himself the "˜A.'

Without an R rating, and some very careful tongue-in-cheek humor about his violence, Lobo would absolutely fall flat. It would be impossible to represent him in any other way. Lobo is a special character that could benefit from same treatment that Deadpool received and both could have their very own R rated comic book movies.

Spawn

Spawn

Fans and creator Todd McFarlane did not take to the 1997 film version of Spawn at all. The downfall of this movie was what we have been saying, to water down a violent character to appeal to more moviegoers and kids, just isn't going to work. By removing violence or carnage– you are removing key components of characters, their stories, and their original source material. The 1997 Spawn is a great example of why R rated comic book movies are a great idea and certainly a direction for studios to explore.

McFarland has been teasing the release of such a movie but little else has been said or done. Though the short lived HBO show got closer to the heart of Spawn, an R rated take on the demonic character would properly serve him. Spawn's storyline deals with complex themes surrounding heaven, hell, and the afterlife which is hard to waterdown in the first place. Tying in the fact that when he first returns from Hell to seek out his wife (he makes a deal with a demon to do so) he is a demonic creature with little memory of life as a human or his death. It takes some time for him to remember and to come to terms with his new identity– a hellspawn. Given the right attention and the freedom to grapple with the complexities of afterlife and Spawn's demonic tendencies, Spawn could really have the chance at having a great movie.

Deathstroke_Vol_2_1

Deathstroke

With all of the DC movies in the pipeline, we can only imagine they're plotting their next moves for movie theater domination and if their planned releases go well, those next moves could very well be spin-offs. Deathstroke would not only be a great direction to move in, but if experimentation with an R rating is on the table, Deathstroke could certainly join the ranks of great R rated comic books.

Fans have already been introduced to Deathstroke via Arrow, but again, that's only an introduction. A character with the magnitude of Deathstroke deserves, and could withstand, his own full-length feature film. We hate to add another assassin/mercenary to our list but really, these guys are the best for R rated comic book movies because they lend themselves to complicated, violent storylines where fans won't necessarily feel bad about rooting for "villain." Assassins rarely make distinctions between good and evil in their line of work and so depicting the brutality of those choices are well suited for an R rating.

Deathstroke himself has a complicated past, wrought with lies and wrongdoings at the hands of the government, and is a talented combat fighter lending himself to some amazing fight scenes.

Without a doubt, Deadpool's release is changing the landscape of comic book movies for years to come and we can only hope that this means so many of our favorite heroes, antiheroes, and villains deemed too inappropriate for the big screen finally get their time to shine in some R rated comic book movies. It is time to grow the the genre and it seems that this is the step.

Next Post
The 10 Best Comics You Aren't Reading
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