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I say, after three previous movies, if anyone’s going to this film to be surprised, they’re probably going to be disappointed. If a film creates a compelling world, knowing the plot does not matter. Call it “The Godfather Effect.”  I’ve seen those films (“Godfather I” or “II,” take your pick) dozens of times, yet I’ll always stop and watch them while couchsurfing.

Why? Great characters and a fascinatingly rich world centered on power and family.

While I’m not saying “Salvation” is “The Godfather,” I do like the world of these films. I’m seeing “Salvation” tonight with BH honcho John Nolte and I can’t wait.

Oh, and speaking of revealing too much, “Salvation” director McG tells SciFi Wire a promised nudie scene where Moon Bloodgood takes her shirt off felt gratuitous. 

Here’s Moon:

And here’s what McG told SciFi Wire:

There’s a topless scene of Moon Bloodgood that I thought was a very beautiful scene, that Moon thought was a beautiful scene, that we ultimately cut because we didn’t want to fall into any of the cliches of the genre, like “Here’s the scene where the beautiful girl takes her top off.” I thought it was a soft moment between a man and a woman that was designed to echo the Kelly McGillis/Harrison Ford moment in Witness, for God’s sake. They never touch each other; they just notice each other. But, in the end, it felt more like a gratuitous moment of a girl taking her top off in an action picture, and I didn’t want that to convolute the story or the characters.

For the cynics out there who say the studio probably pressured him into it for a PG-13 rating, McG says it ain’t so, honest Injun’: 

We were liberated by [Warner Brothers president of production] Jeff Robinov from day one, and I give you my word that there’s no way that Christian or Sam or I, for that matter, would shoot a picture aiming for a rating.

Movieguide®’s analysis of the top movies released in 2008 also showed that moviegoers rejected movies with extreme forms of substance abuse. Movieguide® also measured miscellaneous amounts of immorality, such as lying, stealing, blackmail, extortion, greed, envy, jealousy. Movies with no miscellaneous immorality made nearly six times more money than movies with extensive or extreme amounts of miscellaneous immorality.

We have found similar results in practically all of our previous studies.

Movieguide® has been analyzing the content of movies and comparing box office numbers since 1991. The annual studies since 1996 have been particularly comprehensive.

Movies with no foul language compared to average box office in 2008: 

• No obscenities/profanities averaged: $55,568,733
• 0-25 obscenities/profanities: $32,145,527
• More than 25: $22,934,908

Movies with no sexual content compared to average box office in 2008:

• No sexual content averaged: $42,953,235
• Implied adultery, promiscuity, sexual perversion or sexual immorality: $33,290,253
• Depicted adultery, promiscuity, sexual perversion, or sexual immorality: $19,390,655
• Graphic adultery, promiscuity, sexual perversion, or sexual immorality: $14,878,503

Movies with no nudity compared to average box office in 2008 movies: 

• No nudity: $36,274,503
• Some sexual nudity: $29,132,665
• Extensive sexual nudity: $19,874,327

Movies with no alcohol abuse compared to average box office in 2008 movies:

• Some drunkenness: $32,809,224
• Extreme abuse: $14,014,314

Movies with no drug references compared to average box office in 2008 movies:

• No drug references: $48,819,627
• Some drug references: $18,880,203
• Very strong drug references: $11,621,557

For more information, visit www.movieguide.org or call 1-800-577-6684.