Leaving aside parenting choices in taking kids to high rated films, I think lower ratings make things more accessible to a wider audience - not just as an age thing, but even some adults don't want, or always want, graphic violence/sex/swearing. And the more people who see the film, the more money is made. And the more that gets invested in the franchise. (I'm not sure wide audience and money making can be separated for this.) I also think films shouldn't market merchandise etc to target audiences younger than those who can see the film - it's not fair to get kids excited for something they can't watch (let's leave the moral issues aside) - and it has to be taken into account that again that means less money made off the franchise.

I don't know the figures for the age ranges in the fandom, and are we talking for fandom as a whole or breaking it down into Avengers, X Men, individual characters? (How many kids read Deadpool comics or had heard of him before the film?)

I enjoyed Deadpool and I think what they did worked for the character. As times it was a bit too crude or below the belt, but then that's why Deadpool isn't a favourite of mine - i laughed more at Guardians. I think sometimes a lower rating makes writers have to be...sideways with their adult jokes, more innuendo than outright, and that works for my sense of humour. Like the Jackson Pollock joke in Guardians. And the X Men First Class films didn't just work with the restriction of one F word but used it for max impact. How about the 'language' joke in Age of Ultron? I don't feel I've lost anything in other films having a lower rating.

That said, I could see a place for higher rated films. I doubt Deadpool would have worked with a lower rating. Or - non-Marvel but - Kingsman. I've, alas, still not watched, but Daredevil and Jessica Jones? But would a higher rating suit all characters/of Marvel? Would you stick a 15 or R rating on many comics you've liked and would like to see as films/shows?

Hmm, I think I see this as a weighing up of tge accessibility - and marketing/money aspect - against suitability for the character/s.

Out of curiosity, what would people think about the rating for a Black Widow or Clint and Natasha film? What about a tv show of Clint and Kate in the style of Fraction and Aja's comic?

I would love it if Netflix came out with a version of Fraction's run. Also, have you seen the Hawkeye Fan Film that was put up on YT this week? It really captures the style the comic was in.

It would be so good :D

Ha, no I hadn't seen that, thanks for the link! "You can't just walk a dog away from your problems." = classic and even a bit from Lucky's POV!

I don't think there is a word in this with which I disagree. I saw Deadpool and kind of liked it, but the relentless dick jokes and gory violence got old pretty quickly. The whole thing started at 11 and never came down, and my ears were ringing when I came out (figuratively speaking). There's only so much crescendo I'm prepared to take; basically, I prefer adult writing to adult jokes.

I'd adore a Fraction!Aja run on Netflix or elsewhere, but if they do the same uber-violence that turned me off Daredevil, count me out. The series itself has some violence, but nothing horribly graphic, and the swearing is limited to the occasional "futz". So if it is to be R-rated, let it be for dialling those up to the original "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" version, and for that little Hawkeye mask to be removed from that scene were ... Well, you know.

I've never thought 'adult jokes' had to necessarily be rude. I always thought of them as the jokes that could be in any show or film, but went over kids' heads. The 'you'll get it when you're older' jokes. *shrugs*

I still need to finish watching season 1 of Daredevil and Jessica Jones, bah. I think The Walking Dead has made me more able to cope with graphic violence, but then I don't want that all the time. Like I have kept up with Agent Carter, because that's a gem :) A Fraction & Aja style Hawkeye show with futz and sign language and the goofy mess of life, oh that would be so good! With or without the mask *grins*.