The Interview not to be shown in theaters

[Underseer]

Sony decided to cancel the release of The Interview (a comedy that makes fun of the current dictator of North Korea) due in large part to a hacking attack and major terrorist threats from North Korea.

Mostly, it wasn't the Japanese corporation that made this decision, but cowardly American corporations who are supposedly from a culture that values free speech above all else. If it were just Sony that turned chicken shit, I would be mad, but American companies? Seriously? Have we so abandoned our ideals that it has come to this? While the hacking incident was indeed serious, I don't think anyone really believes North Korea has the means to carry out their terrorist threat.

And you know what? Even if they did have the means, aren't we supposed to be the shining example that stands up for our values even in the face of serious consequences? What the [bad word] happened to us as a nation?

I doubt Sony is thinking about patriotism or defending the constitution. And I don't think anyone takes seriously an actual physical threat from North Korea.

But there were hundreds of thousands of documents stolen, including private and secure information on 140,000 (non-famous) Sony employees. Then you factor in the complete lack of support they've received from other US corporations and the public in general - US News Outlets releasing the stolen information to the public; major theater chains not showing the movie (well ahead of Sony's decision not to release it) - I don't think Sony could have 'won' here regardless. No matter what decision they make, they would have been ridiculed.

Pretty good opinion piece on the whole ordeal here:
http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/sony-hack-amy-pascal-the-interview-seth-rogan/
(this was before it was confirmed that North Koreans were the hackers).

Under the circumstances, I think they probably took the least damaging route to their employees, brand, and profitability. Now, what's more patriotic that profits?



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I really don't care about Sony's reaction to this because it's a Japanese corporation. I'm more upset about American corporations that own those theaters. They should clearly know better.

Rachel Maddow had a great segment comparing the reaction to The Interview to how much of the West responded (or rather failed to respond) to terrorist threats over Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses. I'm too lazy to dig up a link to the appropriate video.

 

[NobleSavage]

I'm guessing this movies sucks.

 

[Underseer]

Suspect publicity stunt.

Still suspect it. "Prove" me wrong.

You are committing a shifting the burden of proof fallacy.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

Still suspect it. "Prove" me wrong.

You are committing a shifting the burden of proof fallacy.

Of course. I just want to hear any arguments as to why it is not a publicity stunt.

Also, if you don't think that the Invisible Pink Unicorn exists, then prove it!

 

[semiopen]

I watched it yesterday and perhaps was feeling overly generous by thinking it might deserve two stars.

On reflecting on it over night though, I think it was only one star... the best two word description might be "fucking awful."

The screen play grossly overuses this adjective so it is only appropriate to use it in the description.

 

[Underseer]

You are committing a shifting the burden of proof fallacy.

Of course. I just want to hear any arguments as to why it is not a publicity stunt.

Also, if you don't think that the Invisible Pink Unicorn exists, then prove it!

What would be the point? It might be, it might not be, but without evidence supporting the claim the claim is pretty meaningless.

If it turns out this was a publicity stunt, we should calculate how many taxpayer dollars were wasted on this publicity stunt and send a bill to Sony.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

Of course. I just want to hear any arguments as to why it is not a publicity stunt.

Also, if you don't think that the Invisible Pink Unicorn exists, then prove it!

What would be the point?

From what I hear it is a very bad film and few people would have gone to see it. Now it is packing them in and people are paying to stream it online. So the point is: money.

 

[Nexus]

I don't know whether its a publicity stunt or not, but I never bought the narrative that hackers are also planning terrorist attacks.

 

[Underseer]

I'm pretty torn right now.

I'm angry that this was pulled from theaters. I'm angry at Sony, I'm more angry at the American corporations that own those theaters. Oddly, not so angry at North Korea. Why? Because on the long list of horrible things they've done, this is strictly small potatoes. Yeah, I'm mad at them for their reaction to this movie and interfering with our own right to free speech, but I'm much more angry about what they do to the North Korean people.

Anyway, I really wanted to watch this movie just to spite everyone involved, but the word is that this is a terrible movie, so I'm torn. Should I watch it or not? What do you think? Are you willing to put up with a bad movie to express your support for free speech?

 

[semiopen]

I'm pretty torn right now.

I'm angry that this was pulled from theaters. I'm angry at Sony, I'm more angry at the American corporations that own those theaters. Oddly, not so angry at North Korea. Why? Because on the long list of horrible things they've done, this is strictly small potatoes. Yeah, I'm mad at them for their reaction to this movie and interfering with our own right to free speech, but I'm much more angry about what they do to the North Korean people.

Anyway, I really wanted to watch this movie just to spite everyone involved, but the word is that this is a terrible movie, so I'm torn. Should I watch it or not? What do you think? Are you willing to put up with a bad movie to express your support for free speech?

There are a few chuckles which one should expect from a comedy.

Thanks a lot Obama for not letting this pos rest in peace.

 

[Artemus]

Anyway, I really wanted to watch this movie just to spite everyone involved, but the word is that this is a terrible movie, so I'm torn. Should I watch it or not? What do you think? Are you willing to put up with a bad movie to express your support for free speech?

It had more laughs than I expected but certainly wasn't high art. It was worth the $6 it cost for six of us to watch it on Xmas eve. It insulted Americans about our culture almost as much as it insulted North Korea (and got a dig in at our leadership not ever learning). Free speech fully exercised. (That includes the right to produce lame movies.) I'd say watch it.

 

[braces_for_impact]

I did the truly American thing and watched it without paying a dime. Why reward Sony? It wasn't bad. I had some laughs. I can see why a petty dictator with no sense of humor might get his undies in a bunch about it.

 

[Bacillus anthracis]

Providing one isn't an uptight douche, the movie was pretty funny--as long as you understand going in that it's not supposed to be a highbrow, cutting edge display of avante garde comedic genius. IOW, don't go to McDonald's and be upset that you couldn't order Chilean sea bass.

 

[RavenSky]

I can see why a petty dictator with no sense of humor might get his undies in a bunch about it.

That's the part I find the most unbelievable about this entire thing... that any world leader would get his panties in a bunch so bad over a ridiculous movie he'd start an international incident over it.

 

[Underseer]

I can see why a petty dictator with no sense of humor might get his undies in a bunch about it.

That's the part I find the most unbelievable about this entire thing... that any world leader would get his panties in a bunch so bad over a ridiculous movie he'd start an international incident over it.

North Koreans are even told what emotions to express outwardly and when to express them, and they can be put to death for failing to do so. Any leader who is used to that level of control over others is going to deal very badly with even the mildest criticism.

 

[Angry Floof]

That's the part I find the most unbelievable about this entire thing... that any world leader would get his panties in a bunch so bad over a ridiculous movie he'd start an international incident over it.

North Koreans are even told what emotions to express outwardly and when to express them, and they can be put to death for failing to do so. Any leader who is used to that level of control over others is going to deal very badly with even the mildest criticism.

Exactly. You are not dealing with a "leader" here at all, but a fucking cartoon of a crazy person. It's funny, but not haha funny.

 

[braces_for_impact]

I can see why a petty dictator with no sense of humor might get his undies in a bunch about it.

That's the part I find the most unbelievable about this entire thing... that any world leader would get his panties in a bunch so bad over a ridiculous movie he'd start an international incident over it.

That's just because your not a megalomaniac dictator. [emoji3]

 

[Davka]

Sony has got to be cheering wildly behind closed doors. Kim's insane reaction to this movie was the best free publicity they could have hoped for, especially considering that it was directed at such a dog of a movie. Now not only do they not have to deal with the cost of distribution to a shit-ton of theaters (only to see the movie tank), they don't have to spend a dime on promotion.

I gotta wonder if someone at Sony is good buds with Dennis Rodman. "Hey Dennis, could you maybe put a bug in Kim's ear next time you see him?"

- - - Updated - - -

That's the part I find the most unbelievable about this entire thing... that any world leader would get his panties in a bunch so bad over a ridiculous movie he'd start an international incident over it.

That's just because your not a megalomaniac dictator. [emoji3]

That's exactly what she wants you to think.

 

[semiopen]

Providing one isn't an uptight douche, the movie was pretty funny--as long as you understand going in that it's not supposed to be a highbrow, cutting edge display of avante garde comedic genius. IOW, don't go to McDonald's and be upset that you couldn't order Chilean sea bass.

Pretty funny might be a good description, for example it is probably less than 50% as good as the worst of the Scary Movies. So if all the Scary Movies were hilarious this was pretty funny. To be fair, it is better than many of the Police Academy offerings ( Police_Academy_%28franchise%29)

Actually, I thought that  Katy_Perry was responsible for making this dog at least partially tolerable (which in itself is a scary thought) however this appears to be another scandal -

The Interview” Music Controversies: A Fake Katy Perry, and a Rapper Who Says She Wasn’t Paid

But, hey, these guys were doing the higher artistic calling of making an idiotic movie and probably couldn't be bothered with these details.

Granted that Kim is a bizarre character, but can you imagine the freak out had the movie been about two North Korean dufis who have a similar plan to kill Obama, or another world leader.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

So Sony now has a property that has been deemed so controversial it had to be pulled not just from certain theaters but ALL THEATERS.

This is a movie, at least by the lights of the few people who saw it, with a lot of funny moments, but is not necessarily a funny movie. A movie that probably would have made a profit in its initial release and would have done decent in rentals

This movie has already achieved cult status and it HASN'T BEEN RELEASED. People who would have never gone to see this movie NOW ARE SCREAMING to see this movie.

this is best marketing ploy ever for an OK movie to become GOLDEN.

Told ya