An R-Rated Intended Release?

Prior to the release of Die Another Day in the United States, debate raged as to the classification of the film. Inevitably, a PG-13 rated film was released to audience, but an MGM site indicates that the intended rating was original R.

The rating can be found on MGM and United Artists ‘For Your Consideration’ site, the purpose of which is to ask members of film groups such as the MPAA to consider various films for award nominations. For instance, Madonna’s ‘For Your Consideration’ campaign for Die Another Day garnered the performer with Golden Globe and Golden Satellite nominations.

The Die Another Day ‘For Your Consideration’ page lists the film as being rated R. The rating would mean that cinemat patrons younger that 17 would require a parent or adult guardian. The film was apparently given the rating for Action, Violence and Sexuality.

The different rating comes as the closest official indication that scenes from the United States cut of Die Another Day were removed in order to achieve a PG-13 rating.

MGM has put Die Another Day forward for the following award considerations;

BEST PICTURE

Michael G. Wilson And Barbara Broccoli

BEST DIRECTOR

Lee Tamahori

BEST ACTOR

Pierce Brosnan

BEST ACTRESS

Halle Berry

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Toby Stephens

Rick Yune

John Cleese

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Rosamund Pike

Judi Dench

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Neal Purvis and Robert Wade

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

David Tattersall BSC

BEST FILM EDITING

Christian Wagner

BEST ART DIRECTION

Peter Lamont, PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Simon Wakefield, SET DECORATOR

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Lindy Hemming

BEST MAKEUP

BEST SOUND

BEST SOUND EDITING

[SUPERVISING SOUND EDITOR]

Martin Evans

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

David Arnold

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Madonna and Mirwais

“Die Another Day”

Performed by Madonna

If you’d like to discuss the rating, or nomations, please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. Thanks to Jim for the tip-off.