Marvel fans have been questioning the age rating of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 over some of the film’s “disturbing” content.
The film, released this week, is the final entry in James Gunn’s MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) trilogy. It was given a 12A age rating in the UK, and a PG-13 rating in the US, which allow children to go and see it in cinemas.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 centres on the backstory of
Bradley Cooper’s character, Rocket Raccoon, and the sinister High
Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) who experimented on him.
Mild
spoilers follow for Guardians of the Galaxy...
The film features
several scenes of supernatural animal abuse, with CGI-rendered animals given
disfiguring mutations, and grotesque mechanical appendages.
Another
sequence sees the Guardians visit the Orgosphere, an interstellar mass made
entirely of fleshy organic matter.
Fans called out the “dark” and
“gory” content on social media, with many suggesting the film should have
been given a higher age rating.
“So Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3 definitely earned its PG-13
rating and I would advise caution if you’re planning on taking kids under
13,” one viewer wrote. “It is violent, dark and brutal. They definitely push
the PG-13 rating as far as possible. Disturbing imagery and thematic
elements.”
“Just got back from Guardians 3 and it definitely
pushes it’s rating,” another person wrote.
“Won’t go into spoilers but there’s animal cruelty, tons of violence,
gore and quite alot of swearing for Disney/Marvel. Not for the very young or
easily upset. Me and my 13 year old loved it.”
“Saw Guardians 3,”
someone else wrote. “How the f*** did they get away with a 12 rating? If
you've seen it you know exactly what scene is making me question
this.”
Another fan commented: “Maybe it was just cause James Gunn is
leaving the MCU, but it really felt like Guardians Vol 3 really pushed the
boat out as far as rating/gore. By far the most expletive and graphic MCU
project so far.”
As well as the visceral scenes, the film also
included the MCU’s first ever utterance of the “f-word”.
The
Independent’s film critic Clarisse Loughrey awarded it four stars, arguing
that it was the best MCU entry in years.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Vol 3 is out in cinemas now.
