Anybody else surprised Sony caved in and will not show The Interview ?

[Mikey]

I'm kinda stunned a huge multimedia conglomerate like Sony would cave in to a peewee country such as North Korea.

They must have some pretty big secrets they don't want to get out.

[Gorn Captain]

There were threats that movie theatres would get targeted if they showed the film. It's a petty dictator throwing a tantrum, but he's dangerous.

It sets a dangerous precedent, these attacks on freedom of speech in free countries. Any megalomaniac and nutjob will find something he can't accept. They probably used their military intelligence to hack Sony.

Apparently, you can't name your kid Kim Jung-Un anymore, as well: "There can be only One".

I guess I'm going to have to name my next dog Kim Jung Woof then....

[MIB41]

I think it reaches far beyond just their personal will on the matter. So many players at the table for a film's release. And with the leads very lives being threatened (not to mention theaters and their patrons) by a foreign country, that pretty much closes the door on this film. There are too many legal implications should the film go forward and someone gets hurt because of it. A big lesson in all of this for studios. Email etiquette is high up on that list and a greater regard for security over their properties invested in. I imagine the overall impact of this will be devastating for Sony Pictures. It's hard to know what long range damage this will cause. And with Sony Pictures already in the red, this could be the final straw on the matter.

[Marvelmania]

Apparently Kim Jung-Un is the most powerful man in Hollywood.

[Boshek]

It was a bad idea to start with. When I first heard of the movie I got a sick feeling in my stomach. I know we live in an over sensitive world today but the premise of the movie is in bad taste IMO.

[SeattleEd]

Our company works directly with with the music division and movie division of the domestic market. I work directly with Sony Music Entertainment labels and from they are saying it's a big deal and are taking major precautions. My co-worker works directly with the movie side and he mentioned people are on lock down and not much work is being done in the marketing side. In other words they are pretty freaked out over there. Mind you these are the mid to lower level folks. Haven't heard anything about the big dogs. Needless to say, we aren't getting much movie content to process and promote. As for music, it's been hit or miss as of late since they are being tight with their DADC service and that is utilized by Warner as well.

What I find interesting is that they first say it wasn't N Korea but rather a group with no affiliations and that they had help from former employees since the only way to access how they did was from inside help. I'm trying to find somewhere where everyone is on the same page and state that it was in fact N. Korea and they have proof. Everything is all hearsay, even on NPR they keep flipping say it was N Korea but no actual proof the source was from that country. Someone here at work did make a point that if they were true terrorists, they would NOT warn anyone like they did with 9/11, or bombings, school killings, etc. They would just do it, regardless and keep it secret.
IMO, this thing with what chain theaters are doing seem like a big PR scam. But better safe than sorry. Looking forward to see how the players dig themselves out of this one.

[hedrap]

It's a third-party group, but it's not clear if they are a direct branch of the Triad or an offshoot of Unit 61, China's hacking division. The fogginess is deliberate.

[enyawd72]

Anybody have Kim Jong-un's address? I have a slightly used copy of Barney Miller season 2 to send him.

[megomania]

It didn't even look entertaining...who would have green-lit the thing in the first place is my question.

-Chris

[megomania]

It's a third-party group, but it's not clear if they are a direct branch of the Triad or an offshoot of Unit 61, China's hacking division. The fogginess is deliberate.

My father-in-law came over from China when he was 12. The Triad jokes with him never get old.

[MIB41]

Can we go ahead and say this will be the biggest in-demand movie on the black market?

[Mikey]

I bet if the South Park guys made it they wouldn't hesitate to release it - see Team America

[johnnystorm]

Sadly, it probably got way more attention than it ever deserved. Seth Rogan films can go either way, but this one was probably southward bound.
Sounded to me like an in & out film, nothing special and probably most of the funniest bits already shown in the trailers.
Plus it's a bad idea to start with. Why go there? Imagine if North Korea had announced they were making a film like this but about Korean idiots meeting Obama? We would go nuts! Fox News alone would explode!
And I'm sure Sony figured it would be cheaper to tank the film rather than payout lawsuits if something actually did happen. Plus I heard a lot of theaters were refusing to show it anyway.
One upside- if Sony is in cash trouble, maybe they'll sell Spiderman back to Marvel!

[ubermanx]

To be fair ... how would the American public react to a movie depicting a murder plot to kill Barrack Obama? Granted, I doubt Mr Obama would threaten to send in Seal Team Six to take out movie theaters but I expect there would be some outrage / offense taken, except in certain anti-Obama factions within the US.

So I am not entirely surprised Sony has pulled the movie, for now. I am VERY surprised the movie was green lit in the first place, let alone made and marketed.

There are some pretty angry and more than slightly unhinged people in the World. Why poke them with a stick? I'm still steamed at you Americans for making Canadian Bacon (not really as we Canadians can take a joke).

Lets remake Condorman instead or at the very least remaster that bad boy and release it on Blu-Ray / Hi-Def streaming.

- Marty

I'm kinda stunned a huge multimedia conglomerate like Sony would cave in to a peewee country such as North Korea.

They must have some pretty big secrets they don't want to get out.

[pmwasson]

I bet if the South Park guys made it they wouldn't hesitate to release it - see Team America

Texas Theater to Show 'Team America' In Place of 'The Interview'