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PUNISHER: WAR ZONE Is Still R-Rated!
Beaks here...
And the latest twist in the post-production saga of PUNISHER: WAR ZONE is... everything's alright! Yes, everything's fine!
This might be hard to believe what with all the bad buzz that got kicked up at Comic Con last month, but according to the film's cinematographer, Steve Gainer, that bad buzz was 100% bullshit. Here's what he had to say on the Raw Studios message board (passed along by ScreenRant's Vic Holtreman)...
Holy smokes, I go away and shoot some kids stuff for Disney, and the whole world is a different color when I return. Again I appear here to dispel rumors. Please believe:
Lexi is not off the film
Lexi is still involved in the edit process
The film is not (nor could it ever be) PG-13
Today I saw a cut that ran 91 minutes
Lexi did in fact get married
Lexi is an incredibly talented director, and this film kicks major ass, as will be proven when it is released IN THEATRES DECEMBER 5th
The film is most certainly not all exploding heads, but will reveal a great deal of Franks personna and pain
This film has been difficult from the begining, from a bitter Canadian winter, to endless nights, to rampant sickness, Lexi has fought to make a killer Punisher film for fans and non fans alike.
Initially we were to release in September, but for whatever reason (not the quality of the film or edit IMHO) it was decided to release in December. That extra time has given everyone a chance to put their two cents worth in, but rest assured, Lexi is still stearing the boat, and she is a great captain.
When I hear vicious unfounded troll rumors like the "film was unwatchable" or "a total mess" it makes my blood boil. I want to punish the corrupt. People sit on their fat asses trolling the internet, people that have never even looked through a motion picture camera, and make judgements on a work of art that they've never seen, it's like saying a baby will be ugly before it is born, I can't freaking wait for this film to come out and prove the nay-sayers wrong.
Sorry for the rant, I just love something wonderful you have yet to see-
sg,asc
Pretty convincing. But if it was that easy, why didn't Lionsgate issue more vehement denials when all of the non-news was breaking? And why is the movie's DP debunking these falsehoods in a fan forum? It's not that I don't believe Gainer; it's just that this is a very odd and indirect way to get the stink off of your film.
In any event, if the PG-13 or the idea of Alexander getting shut out of the editing room was causing you grief, be at peace. You'll get your R-rated PUNISHER: WAR ZONE this December 5th.
Lexi is not off the film
Lexi is still involved in the edit process
The film is not (nor could it ever be) PG-13
Today I saw a cut that ran 91 minutes
Lexi did in fact get married
Lexi is an incredibly talented director, and this film kicks major ass, as will be proven when it is released IN THEATRES DECEMBER 5th
The film is most certainly not all exploding heads, but will reveal a great deal of Franks personna and pain
This film has been difficult from the begining, from a bitter Canadian winter, to endless nights, to rampant sickness, Lexi has fought to make a killer Punisher film for fans and non fans alike.
Initially we were to release in September, but for whatever reason (not the quality of the film or edit IMHO) it was decided to release in December. That extra time has given everyone a chance to put their two cents worth in, but rest assured, Lexi is still stearing the boat, and she is a great captain.
When I hear vicious unfounded troll rumors like the "film was unwatchable" or "a total mess" it makes my blood boil. I want to punish the corrupt. People sit on their fat asses trolling the internet, people that have never even looked through a motion picture camera, and make judgements on a work of art that they've never seen, it's like saying a baby will be ugly before it is born, I can't freaking wait for this film to come out and prove the nay-sayers wrong.
Sorry for the rant, I just love something wonderful you have yet to see-
sg,asc
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booya
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From the trailer, I'm not placing any big bets.
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This is hollywood people... You know this!
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...rated GAY!
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PUNISHER: WAR ZONE Is Still Undoubtedly a Big, Dumb Piece of Shit!
Bug nuts! -
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE Is Still Juggfuckled!!!
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Released to counter program prestige pictures. Hmmm.
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I have always hated when people have responded to any news with 'meh', but if any news deserved it...it is this! Liongate trying to jazz up some publicity huh?! Not going to give them my $10...hope they go bankrupt someday.
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Aug 17, 2008 9:55:10 PM CDT
aaaaaaand i still don't wanna watch this piece of shit.
by el bean0r peen0r
*shrugs*
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Released to counter program good pictures...
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Perhaps someone in the production company or the like tried to change something and his or her advise wasn't taking. Now it sounds like this person was trying to dick with this movie. While I'll miss Thomas Jane in the role, I'll admit I am again interested in the film.
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Why were all mentions of the film scrubbed from Lexi Alexander's website? I blogged about this last week and now I feel kinda bad but it's not like I ws judging the movie, I was saying if this Laitno Review report turns out to be true it'd be a bad idea so I hope it's not. It's still weird how we're hearing this and who we're hearing it from and now I don't know what to think about those other reports but something stinks and we should get to the bottom of it. Let Lexi come out and explain it herself.
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I'm really hoping for a faithful (as in kick ass) Punisher film.
I don't understand what's so difficult about it, as the Ennis' source material is so rich!
As a rabid Punisher fan, I'm desperately hoping this guy is right and it's going to satisfy. -
...and it STILL fucking sucked.
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still looks Full Retard
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He sounds pissed off. Heh.
I'd love me a good Punisher film...maybe third time is lucky, who knows. -
well if both parents are ugly, chances are the kid will be too. i know some people think all babies are cute but while most tend to be, some arent.
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its the 3rd punisher movie and the 3rd actor to play him. its sorta like the action movie equivalent to halloween.
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rumors. Why should they? All this discussion is just free press for their movie. Any press is good press. And they love for crazy discussions like these to happen on AICN. Again, it's free press!
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WTF is lions gate thinking?
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You all remember his defense of Transformers, right?
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at least now it has a chance in hell of not sucking.
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Does anybody care about this movie? It is a sequel to a movie without its star. Tom Jane was awesome, and it will not be the same without him. Is this movie worth having so many articles and talk back for? I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.
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Oh, and I am hoping that this is a good film. John Travolta killed the last one!
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In which Dreamworks gains the rights to the property and casts Shia LABOUFFY in the role as a "young, hip, newly formed" Punisher, executive produced by Spielberg of course, with an $80 mil. budget. Marvel will disown the product after seeing an early cut. After this oddly humorous, extraordinary cinematic bomb, in 2015 EDKO Films in China will form a co-production with Marvel in which Chow Yun Fat will play "nasty gangster" who gets "blown up 'real good" by newly-cast Punisher Tom Cruise, in an extraordinary career comeback, takes over the production and turns it into a tragic drama about a former secret agent who "just can't stay out of the game". Marvel will disown this project as well, finally settling on their own interpretation in the spring of 2018, with the now Academy-Award nominated Louis "I'll eat the rotten cherries off of Marvel's toes" Lettier, who "re-interpets" The Punisher as an angry disgraced scientist, on the run from the government and hoping to re-unite with his *SPOILER ALERT* long-lost love, who is surprisingly still alive. Starring a grizzled Edward Norton and Liv Tyler, Marvel and Lettier will denounce any criticisms of the extremely obvious similarities to The Incredible Hulk. After that, Marvel finally gives up on The Punisher, until in 2028, a new star arises, raised by two *extremely* talented actors, that's right folks, David, adopted son of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (now divorced), will exclaim how he "grew up reading Punisher," but felt that Hollywood "never quite got it right -- I want to add an African spin to it!"
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If everything is all hunky-dory with Lexi and Lionsgate, then someone please tell me why *every single bit* about War Zone was removed from Lexi's site(?) -- and her two most recent posts, following the oh-so-inconspicuous monkeys, of course -- have HEAVILY veiled references to conflict, "friends sticking up for you" the kind of soul-searching one only does when they've had there ass kicked to the curb off a job, and perhaps their career as well...???
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having shafted tom jane in this role, i'm not too inclned to beielve any other reports coming from them. there's a lot of bad press about this movie already and now all of a sudden they decide to act upon it? nope thats not how the business works.
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I'm glad that this site doesn't report rumors.
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Granted, Punisher is a whole different class of character. Punisher SHOULD be very hard R, but given what they did with Dark Knight, PG-13 doesn't have as bad of a foreshadowing as it once did. This however worries me: "The film is most certainly not all exploding heads, but will reveal a great deal of Franks personna and pain". Sounds like they are pulling a Spidey 3 on us, less entertainment, more emo mope-fest. I hope I'm wrong, I really want to see a badass Punisher movie done right.
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why has all mention of it disappeared from her site and why hasn't she herself or fucking lionsgate cleared this up yet?
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Don't we all. Don't. We. All.
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Look, I love a good comic book movie as much as the next guy but who seriously cares about this movie anymore? War Zone is going to B-O-M-B. This whole thing has turned into a soap opera! too bad none if it will add up to ticket sales...
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whatever. All designed to hype the film. Manufactured. We're too jaded to fall for this kind of bullshit. I'm going to see it, enough already.
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Glad to hear it's still being rated R.
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So the unsubstantiated speculation from an anonymous guy who knows an anonymous guy who's friends with an unnamed Lionsgate employee turned out to be utter bullshit? What a fucken shock. No rating in the world will make this movie not suck balls.
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non plussed either way.
that other guy from rome was a more compelling actor anyways.which one? any. -
Nobody wants to see it though, R or PG-13. Beaks probably has friends involved with it.
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Is it still gonna suck?
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sometimes I CAN tell that a baby is gonna be ugly before it's born. If both of the parents are amazingly freaking ugly, there's a pretty damn good chance that the baby is gonna be ugly.
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It's a shame when the best Punisher outside of the comics comes in video game form. That game had everything I expected from a Punisher tale, especially the score. I like metal but it can sometimes hurt a good visual. Give me a bold brass and string score any day.
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With some movies, you just wait until you can find them cheap on dvd. But I'm hoping this one doesn't end up on the budget dvd shelf, right next to FANTASTIC 4.
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I believe him then, becuase one of the main problems with everything I've seen so far from this is that it's lit like a fuckin straight to video abortion and every scene looks like a sound stage. So yeah, if this obviously talented professional says it's all good I guess I believe him......
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This is good news. R rated Punisher is the only way. I will check this out in theaters.
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I'd rip your head off and take a dump down your neck if you weren't already so full of shit.
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The whole "you've never made a movie so you're opinion doesn't count" thing is BS. I need to make a movie before I can give my opinion on one? Do I need to play professional baseball before I can critique how well or poor the team is doing?
The "You haven't seen the movie, so don't judge it yet" thing kind of bothers me too. Yes, it's true I might be wrong about the movie, and realize that mistake by seeing the movie. However, my problem is just in the idea that my opinion (supposedly) holds no merit until I've seen it? Do I not have the right to vocalize how good or bad something seems based on my current knowledge of it?
The entire point of advertising (in this case trailers) is to A.) Let everyone know about the movie, B.) To show potential customers (moviegoers, ie us) what the product (movie) is about. So the trailer tells me THAT their is a movie, and what it's about. If that is everything that they want me to know about it then YES I have every right to judge it based on what I've seen so far. The point is to show me a little bit, and hope I like what I see. If I don't like what I see can I not say that I don't like it?
So having said that, let's say that there is a movie called "Blood Drive in Hell". It's a "gruesome, terrifying tale" about zombie nurses that have come back from the dead for blood. Now let's assume that I hear an "unofficial" report that the blood will be removed from the movie (or something along those lines) and I don't like the sounds of it. Now being a "customer" looking to purchase [a ticket to] your "product" I am therefore the "audience" for said "product". Do I not have the right to express my concern that the product I am looking to buy may not be what I'm expecting? If I'm going to have these concerns, is it wrong for me to freely express those concerns (be it directly to them, or on a forum) vocally (... in text)?
Case in point, if you are looking to purchase a mop, but your friend hears a rumour that it leaves TERRIBLE STREAKS (AHHHHHH!). Are you saying that it is wrong of me to be concerned? I want that damn mop! I'm going to buy it! As a potential consumer of the product I feel that I have every right to voice any concerns I may have about the product.
And for the people that say this kind of thing, I mean this in the nicest way. You are on a message board/forum/talk back that was designed for comments, and good ole dictionary.com (YOUR source for all your online dictionary needs... well mine at least) as:
A statement of fact or opinion, especially a remark that expresses a personal reaction or attitude.
I am reacting to the insinuation that zombie nurse from hell movie I'm looking forward to purchasing [a ticket to] will be ruined by removing all the blood (it's CALLED Blood Drive from Hell I mean jeez). Therefore I have every right to tell the world (..on the talk back) that the idea of this movie not having blood SUCKS.
So there.
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... all this Punisher 2 hoopla was bullshit like a month ago. Its just a publicity stunt to create awareness for the film. I mean if there where no rumors for this one, I'm sure most people wouldn't even know that theres a new Punisher film coming, considering how cheap lionsgate is at promoting their films...
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Tropic Thunder opening on Wednesday caused everyone to blow their load mid week, I guess.
Hollywood grinds to a halt... -
Aug 18, 2008 3:46:50 AM CDT
Lionsgate's backhanded fishing for fan opinion on rating changes
by baked
They figured they could sit back and see the response to their little floating post-prod changes before they were actually made just to see if they could gin up some early responses before committing.
Basically, they talked about how small their cock was before the date started so they could say, "Just kidding, I was being ironic" if their date was getting turned off. -
Yes and yes.
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Could be a promising film. If its not then the dudes a liar.
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He didn't dispel the runour about the crappy nu-metal soundtrack being replacing the score though, did he?
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Because I hate them so very, very much, My brother is one, and you have to wonder, what makes these people so misanthropic?
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Love Guru was both bad and ass at the same time.
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This film will be a piece of shit either way. But now that its back to being a violent, exploitive piece of shit, I'll rent it when the girlfriends not around.
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Although I'd gladly take a PG-13 rating if it means they would lose the neu-metal soundtrack. Shit, I'd rather see a "G" rated Punisher movie than a "R" rated one filled with neu-metal. This isn't 1998 anymore. That shit aint cool, if it ever was.
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what's he GONNA say ... "yeah, it kind of sucks." He spelled "steering" with an "a". He seems to think movies can only be appreciated by people who have "looked through a motion picture camera" (?!)
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I don't mean to sound abrasive here: I would like a good Punisher movie too. But, we all know this isn't it. This ALMOST looks closer, but Lionsgate just could not get on-board with simply doing an Ennis script. They probably thought it was too simple, too boring... no potential for sequels etc. So, they went Resident Evil/ John Rambo with it... and now they realize that they have another probably turd on their hands so some schmuck sez: "Ooooh, let's get the mainstream talking about the film in someway so people will show up to see what they're getting." Problematically, the only folks discussing it are on the net... and we're the only people who are going to see this steaming pile either because A) We want to see the R-rated trainwreck or B) We want to see how the monkeys at Lionsgate potentiaql effed the trainwreck. All these cats had to do was just take a damned run of Ennis' work and transcribe it (Hell, it's already storyboarded for ya). It worked for Sin City, and, as has been argued above, it would work for the Punisher. It would cost little. People would like it. It wouldn't be a piece of shit. This movie may not be a piece of shit, but if you look at the marketing, the buzz, the red-band trailer... hell even the logo looks like shit. *sigh* Ya know, at this point, I don't care about whose fault it is... I would just like a nice, simple, GOOD Punisher film... or for the wonks in charge to just leave the franchise alone long enough for us to forget the films and bring it back when cooler heads prevail... for the fourth reboot.
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Aug 18, 2008 8:57:57 AM CDT
Close your eyes, close your eyes and relax think of nothing
by freakemovie
If Lexi's still on the film why didn't she (or the studio tell her to) take the fifteen minutes to get a statement to the right people on the Internet? My assumption is that the PG-13 rating might've been an exaggeration but there really was some kind of blow-up over the heavy metal soundtrack. Nice to know she's still on board though.
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well the 6 issue garth ennis special which starts coming out weekly in Nov. he wrote the story 3 years back. and will be the last ennis Punisher story.
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who decided that a vibrant, candy and clowns color palate was appropriate for a gritty, violent film surrounding the criminal underworld? I HOPE that maybe it just happens to be the select few images they've shown us, but so far it looks like Speed Racer in terms of color saturation. Even the darkest, seediest alley in this film has laser-vibrant tones of green, yellow, red, purple, blue all through them. It just seems completely opposite to the tone Lexi claims to be going after.
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and purple was nowhere to be found throughout.
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joeelliott, I too misread that line:"This film has been difficult from the begining, from a bitter Canadian winter..."I wondered why the Canadian writer was bitter. But then I reread it and saw the error of my comprehension.
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Personally Im looking forward to it to a degree...seems to be the closest to the actual punisher over all so far..and to a couple of you all this is not a sequel. Thats like saying the Thomas Jane one is a sequel to the Dolph Lungrend one.
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then i doubt they woulda given a script to thomas jane.
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but this is definitely the type of movie thats begging for a metal soundtrack. Maybe not sell out nu metal but real kick ass bands like Testament and the like.
http://tinyurl.com/pv8do -
Someone who worked on the film thinks it's awesome? What a shocker... suckage.
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I might have to check it out on disc. She's a cutie pie. Liked her in Rambo.
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Hasn't anyone ever noticed that ugly parents very often have good looking kids and ugly kids often have better looking parents. Sometimes the ugly skips a generation. I really think the only way to dispel this is when we hear from Lexi (Ed Norton style) and probably then we won't buy it, but at least it's something. Smackfu, I've heard this criticism already about the colors, but they actually took the palette from the comic, which DOES have those crazy colors peppered amongst the dark scenes. Take a look at some of the issues and some of the comic models they used - they actually got the look right. I think people assume they know what the Punisher looks like without ever actually looking at the comic.
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..skinny trolls out there too! Anyway, I wanna see this one, really. Count me in.
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SRSLY!!! OMGZ!!! EPIC FAIL!!!
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Now it is old news.
Welcome to last week. -
If it was going to be PG-13 I wouldn't even waste my bandwidth on it.
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The guy that wrote the stroy is a PLANT. The director probably realized that the movie sucked. The trailer did suck
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This looks bad.
Looks like I should download it, turn the sound down, turn up the heavy metal music and watch this with a Jacks and coke in hand. -
Unless it's porn or a non-stop gorefest, I honestly can't imagine a movie being satisfying at a mere 91 minutes. You'd need a far better caliber of writers and directors than Hollywood has at their disposal to get a story that sharp, that tight, and told at that pace without sacrificing character, plot, or action. Then again, if a movie is gonna suck balls, better it end quickly than drag on for nearly 2 hours.
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All the whines are reminding me of those losers crying over how nicholson's gonna pwn ledger in joker role 1 year ago! and today those losers are crying in their beds with jack nicholson trying to have a lick of ledgers ass.This movie has loads of potential with jigsaw and frank, stfu and deal with it.You'll see when it comes
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