What can you expect from the MPAA when you make a movie with "some some graphic sexuality"? Yup, the kiss of death. Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make a Porno has been slapped with a rating of NC-17 by the MPAA, according to a list posted today by The Hollywood Reporter.

The rating was posted on the MPAA film ratings site at least as early as last Saturday, but News Askew noted that it was marked as "pending appeal" and had received the rating for "some graphic sexuality." I just checked the MPAA's site, and now the film doesn't show up at all. What happened? Was the appeal lost? Will cuts be made to secure the R rating? Who made the "some some" typo -- the MPAA or THR?

The ratings tussle is not entirely unexpected. Seth Rogen complained about the MPAA last month because of the film's difficulty in securing an R rating, and Smith took down a raunchy online-only teaser until the MPAA approved it. I would imagine that Smith is contractually obligated to deliver an R-rated version, but I wonder what nightmares he faces to please the MPAA?

As it happens, Smith will appear at Comic Con on Friday evening to talk about his film, and I'm sure he'll have something to say about the rating. Zack and Miri Make a Porno is still due to hit theaters on October 31.

So last night I was twiddling my thumbs, watching a re-run of Design Star (shut up) and I suddenly remembered that our friends from Slashfilm had Kevin Smith as a guest on their podcast. Since we're in no way above pimping out something pretty awesome on another site, I'll let you know now that I truly enjoyed listening to Smith talk about how much he loved The Dark Knight -- and, essentially, just hearing these guys all geek out over the flick. (I think they just posted the full podcast for those of you who missed it.)

So anyway, at one point they were talking about the intense marketing for The Dark Knight, and how the hype had reached a ridiculous level just prior to the flick arriving in theaters. But then Smith brought up the point that the hype surrounding The Dark Knight was not even close to the hype surrounding Tim Burton's Batman back in 1989. I was still kinda young (12), but I do remember Batman being the first giant summer movie. And Kevin made a good point in that with The Dark Knight, most of the buzz was online and other folks didn't really know much about it until we got closer to release -- whereas Burton's Batman was everywhere. Of the things I remember, the Bat symbol was on everything -- I vaguely recall walking through the mall in Staten Island and seeing it on walls, on stands and, at one point, in cardboard box form all piled up in the center of the Macy's wing. The hype was out of control for that flick.

So, is Kevin Smith correct in saying the hype for Burton's Batman far exceeded the hype leading up to The Dark Knight? Sound off below ...

With about a week and half left before myself, Scott Weinberg and Elisabeth Rappe head out to sunny San Diego for this year's Comic Con, organizers have finally unveiled the full line-up of acitivities .. and there's an insane amount of stuff to see and do. Here are some film-related highlights from Friday, Saturday and Sunday; you can check out the entire sched over on the official Comic Con website (Note: We covered Thursday here, and don't say anything, but I've heard there may be a certain fanboy-ish screening that night as well. Hmmm ...)

Friday:

11:55-1:00 Warner Bros.: Watchmen- A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock"- which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union-is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up -- but no less determined -- masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion-a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers -- Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity...but who watches the Watchmen? Guest appearances TBA. Hall H

2:00-2:30 Universal: The Wolfman- For its upcoming action-horror film The Wolfman, Universal will showcase new footage and a presentation from the title monster's creator, six-time Oscar-winning special effects artist Rick Baker. Hall H

2:45-3:45 Lionsgate and Odd Lot Entertainment: The Spirit- Writer/director Frank Miller and producer Deborah Del Prete are joined by film stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, and Eva Mendes in unveiling an exclusive preview of the new film based on the classic comic by Will Eisner. Hall H

6:30-8:00 Kevin Smith Makes a "Porno"- Well, not really, but for the umpteenth time, Smith is back at Comic-Con to talk movies, comics, and whatever else the audience wants to talk about. This year, he'll be highlighting his fall film, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. Expect some special guests. Hall H

More after the jump ...

In case you didn't spot it earlier this week, Kevin Smith slipped a peek at the supporting cast for Zack and Miri Make a Porno into his MySpace blog. It's nestled amongst remembrances of the late, great George Carlin and other morsels.

This picture is awesome, and not because you can get a look at what everyone will look like in the film. Look at their faces. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that these six people are witnessing something porn-esque, and the variety of expressions is priceless. Traci Lords looks a little unnerved. Katie Morgan looks unimpressed. But best of all is Jason Mewes. First, he looks ready and willing to get in on the action -- legs spread, face serious, anxious posture. (Pinch hitter, perhaps?) Secondly, what's with the beer? On-set hops enjoyment?

This definitely won't be our usual Halloween fare when Smith's latest opens on October 31, and I'm thinking that's a good thing.

[via JoBlo]

Whether you like it or not, if you spend a lot of time on the internet, then you owe a big thanks to the porn business. We may all not count ourselves as customers, but if you've ever made an online purchase, then you have benefited from the adult entertainment industry. So I guess it was about time internet porn finally got its time in the spotlight, and what better way to do that than with a big, splashy movie? Variety reports that Gallo, the writer behind Bad Boys and Midnight Run, has signed to write and direct the internet porn comedy, Middle Men.

The story of Middle Men follows a straight and narrow type of guy who finds himself smack dab in the middle of the 'adult entertainment' business. Luckily, the film isn't just a Boogie Nights rip-off and instead will focus on the early days of online porn, including its rise to becoming the number one way most of us like to get our naughty fix. Gallo co-wrote the script with Andy Weiss (Punk'd), and the film will begin shooting on location in L.A. this September.

Unfortunately, us North Americans tend to get a little hung up on our Puritan past, and we don't always appreciate sex comedies that aren't written for teenagers (just ask Kevin Smith). But if you're a fan of dirty jokes, keep your fingers crossed that Gallo has a little more luck with the MPAA than Smith has so far.

Kevin Smith's latest, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, is apparently having trouble securing an R rating from the MPAA, sending star Seth Rogen on the obligatory rant about how the MPAA cracks down on sex while giving virtually all violence a pass. You can check out his full comments at MTV if you like, and no prizes for guessing which torture-happy recent horror franchise he cites as an example of what the MPAA should be targeting instead of pestering his movie. The tongue-halfway-in-cheek kicker from Rogen: "The MPAA? It's my mission to sue the MPAA and take them down. I don't know how to go about doing that. But to me, it seems like it's something that has to be taken care of."

I'm in the camp that thinks the problem lies less in the MPAA's attitudes toward "objectionable" content and more in the stigma placed on the NC-17. For a movie whose marketing campaign has consisted of cheerfully courting controversy -- check out the hilarious teaser if you don't believe me -- it's a bit disappointing that Zack and Miri doesn't run with the harsher rating. The asinine restrictions on advertising that accompany the NC-17 stamp would be a bummer, but the blogs and magazines would go nuts, and I think the movie would do pretty well.

Do watch that teaser (which had MPAA issues of its own) if you haven't already. Among other things, it will make you fall in love with Elizabeth Banks. Uh, if you haven't already.

What Silent Bob giveth, Silent Bob taketh away... or, at least, taketh down, which is why one can no longer give the Zack and Miri Make a Porno teaser a look-see until the MPAA gives it the once-over.

The online-only teaser, while filled with writer-director's Kevin Smith expectedly raunchy dialogue, does not actually feature any footage from the finished film, but according to Smith's recent News Askew post, that is a stipulation unseen by the Ratings Board, which must approve all marketing materials for any film.

"We're now officially submitting the teaser to the MPAA for rating," said Smith. "If they approve it, we'll put it back up." He does make a point of mentioning how a mere two years ago, he posted similarly crude internet-exclusive trailers for Clerks II with nary a complaint.

Until the MPAA hands down its formal red-band (or is it yellow-band?) decree, here's a link to our initial post on the teaser's arrival last week -- a post on which the teaser just so happens to still work...

[via /Film]

Updated: Teaser after the jump. (Watch for language; it's R-rated)

The first teaser for Kevin Smith's new comedy Zack and Miri Make a Porno will premiere online tonight at Midnight PST (3am EST). To see the trailer, head on over to QuickStopEntertainment and Kevin will unveil it right on time, we assume. But don't worry about this teaser spoiling anything; giving away scenes or ruining the film's best jokes. Over on his site, Smith says, "Don't call it a trailer, 'cause it's not a trailer; it's a teaser. There ain't a frame of footage in this puppy that's in the actual flick, so feel free to watch it without fear of "spoilers". This is just a little something to give you a bit of a feel for the flick."

The film, due out in theaters on October 31, follows two platonic friends (Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks) who, hard up for cash, decide to make a porno together. We imagine some trademark Kevin Smith hilarity will ensue. So there you have it. The first teaser for Zack and Miri Make a Porno will debut online tonight at midnight (on the west coast) right over here.

Definitely let us know what you think.

Over on his blog, Kevin Smith has released another new image from Zack and Miri Make a Porno, promising fans that the film's first internet-only teaser will debut on his site, www.quickstopentertainment.com, when he returns home from a trip to the east coast next week. Additionally, Smith says he'll be at San Diego Comic Con again this year (we missed ya at NYCC, Kev!), and to (most likely) look out for a panel in the big room on Friday night. Panel? Does that mean he'll have a bunch of cast members with him? Does that mean he'll debut the first full-length trailer for the film? Does that mean he'll give out candy?!

From looking at the photo, it appears we'll be getting some fun adult hockey in the flick, which, in case you didn't know (or forgot) tells of two platonic friends (Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks) who, strapped for cash, decide to make a porno. Check out a couple more images from the film in our gallery below. Zack and Miri Make a Porno arrives in theaters this fall.

No, this isn't an acting gig for the two directors, nor is it a new collaborative effort to come after a little Zack and Miri porno. It is actual, real-life sports blogging. Yahoo/AP reports that both Jason Reitman and Kevin Smith will join The Hills' Lauren Conrad, and country music star Dierks Bentley to write blogs professing their love of hockey for the National Hockey League's website. This is cool and all, but where's Mike Myers?

Well, at least there's the Juno director and a man who loves watching kids say "aboot." Reitman says: "I'd come to really love the game and I was just a little upset because I felt there was more of an opportunity, for particularly Americans, to know about the game and follow the game." For the director, who is a fan of two teams that didn't make the playoffs (the Canucks and the Kings), he plans to "write a kind of mythical blog about what the Canucks and Kings would be doing had they still been in. In my version, for the first time in NHL history, the Canucks and the Kings will be the first two Western conference teams to actually meet in the Stanley Cup finals." There is no word on what Smith's plans for the blog are, but considering the fact that the filmmaker is an old-school blogger, it should be fun.