Above is the first pic we’ve seen of Mark Wahlberg playing the title character in Max Payne, the 2009 action flick based on the loner cop, blood-and-bullets video game smash. While Wahlberg’s involvement had me somewhat interested and I think the first game actually lends a fairly twisted Punisher-like storyline for a feature film, Dark Zero, which posted the photo, report that a PG-13 rating is in the cards. Stupes. My interest possibly just flatlined.
For those who aren’t familiar with the vid game: Max Payne joins the DEA after his baby daughter and wife are slaughtered in their house by psychotic junkies, high on a new designer drug. Tracking the drug to the mafia, Payne is framed for the murder of his partner and becomes entwined in a heavy conspiracy. The series is known for its Matrix-like bullet-time (hopefully it won’t appear in the film), graphic violence and profanity. You know, the stuff PG-13 was made for.
Discuss: Feel free to tell 20th Century Fox that you want an R-rated Max Payne. Is this film a smart move for Wahlberg, who can basically choose his action vehicles these days?
March 11th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
They made an R rated video game adaptation last year called HITMAN. It did make back its budget of 25 million but they were probably hoping for more and they will do a PG-13 Max Payne.
I have no clue why people didn’t like Hitman. It was by far the best video game adaptation and had intense and well done action scenes. See when you people cannot support R rated Hitman then why should fox listen to you and do an R rated Max Payne?
Don’t tell me the movie sucked. Because like i said it was the best video game adaptation and it did deliver nice hot chick, great hitman type action scenes.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I’ve never played the game, but the concept sounds really interesting. Based on the nature of the story, though, I don’t know why they’re going for a PG-13 rating. I guess it’s like Jojo said, they’re trying to appeal to a bigger audience.
March 11th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
k the game was rated mature …so y not make it R ..u need the blood violence and all round disturbing content of the games to make this movie work…any gamers who go and see this r gonna want blood ..and my guess is lots of gamers go to the movies soo give the masses what they want …more BLOOD
March 11th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
@ Jojo
I’d argue that Max Payne is a better known title/character than Hitman, and Mark Wahlberg is obviously a more famous actor than Timothy Olyphant. The box office potential for Max Payne, if rated R, would be far greater than Xavier Gans’s video game adaptation.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Why in all thats holy to they make these kill em all, drugged out, revenge action flicks rated pg-13. It just ruins it in my opinion? I mean die hard with no yippy kay ye
March 11th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
sorry man, but the reason hitman did poorly was because hitman sucked. calling it the best video game adaption doesn’t mean much with the competition it has. i think if 300 has shown us anything it is that ratings don’t matter so much when movies are actually good as opposed to garbage. i really liked max payne, both in terms of gameplay and great atmospherics, but it was a derivative of hard-boiled detective movies, so it is funny that it is being converted back into a movie. the style doesn’t really break any new movie ground, although it broke new gaming ground.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Marky Mark: Most overrated actor of all time? Completely unchararismatic and just plain dull. He was good in the Departed because he was just playing a wittier version of himself.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
And remember Max had those trippy hallucination scenes?! blood stained house with dead baby and all that? Man I almost assume this movie will suck now…
March 11th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
It’s PG-13 because they want to make more money. It’s that simple. A movie like this will make considerably more, both here and overseas, with a more easygoing rating.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Remember that one good video game adaptation that they made? Oh, what’s that? There wasn’t one. Sorry.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
@ Ghost
Yeah, the hallucination level(s) were epic. That is one reason why I was anticipating the film. PG-13 dead baby scenes won’t cut the mustard.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I’ve played both Max Payne games a lot and they are great.
The movie will suck if it’s rated PG-13, it would not work, because the movie has to be dark as hell. The audience has to feel all those sick stuff that is going on in the game. The nightmares Max has wouldn’t work with a PG-13 rating. no way!
We don’t want a some pissed of dude running around with dual Berettas doing some ugly matrix-wannabe moves, dropping One-liners like Schwarzenegger.
Give us that sick, bizzare and scary world they have in the games, make people CRY!
I want to FEEL fucking depressed when i watch this movie!
March 11th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Uh, when was anyone’s hopes up for this film?
Please, for the love of god someone name a good game-adaptation.
Mark Whalberg looks like he was running out of filet mignon and needed a few coins and papers. The midget from That 70’s Show is a joke. This movie is a joke, the writer is a joke. And PG-13?
Fuck that in the ass.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:56 am
As long as Wahlberg doesn’t make that stupid face that was constantly plastered to Max Payne’s head in the video game, I’ll go see it. That’s my only real concern.
If you don’t remember, look at it:
http://mauritskappers.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/maxp_3.jpg
March 13th, 2008 at 12:17 am
@Jojo
Doom was way better than Hitman, Hitman sucked cuz of the main actor Timothy Olyphant.
I think its a smart move for Wahlberg to play Max Payne, cuz the game is one of the most serious games with an amazing narrative and one-liners that I hope they use in the movie. But it’s sad that it’s gonna be PG-13, Hitman should’ve been PG-13 while Max Payne should get an R-rating.
One of my fav. lines in the game “I don’t know about angels, but fear gives men wings”
March 15th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
hmm, but max payne the game wasent PG-13 so why bother??? make it rated R, I want F bomb
April 12th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
FOR ME…Max Payne could be one of the best action movies EVER…I LOVE the game/I am 45:-)/ and this is great story…GOD PLEASE…Let them do the film WELL!:-)
I hope the final result WON`T BE just another ordinary action movie shit…