Sony cancels "The Interview" after (North Korean?) threats

[Dervish]

I just feel sorry for the citizens because they have no idea of the BS their government is pulling, other than the propaganda they've seen all their lives there. They don't even get an opportunity to see the outside world aside from what they think is the outside world from what the government tells them.

Asking why they're even doing it would be fruitless, wouldn't it?

Everyone always hates their employers at some point...

An article on Cracked about a guy who escaped from North Korea.

Might be a better perspective than I could hope to offer.

 

[Hecatoncheires]

Dear Sony,

Welcome to the 21st century. Get some fucking cyber-security, you glakit fucksacks.

Sincerely,
Grumpy

 

[Fijoli]

Sony is a bitch ^_^;

 

[fatalrendezvous]

I was upset about this all day yesterday.

So basically, Sony just folded to pressure from a terrorist organization. Over a comedy/satire movie. That's absolutely ridiculous.

Let's just say, for the sake of argument, that this threat is actually credible and that the hackers had the reach and the resources to actually pull off attacks on these movie theaters. So let's say in this hypothetical, Sony allows the movie to air. If somehow some way those theaters that did screen the movie were to actually get attacked (whether physically or digitally) THOSE attacks would be far easier to trace than the initial hack. They'd leave a trail that we could follow right back to the source.

And if they were to attack the theaters, they have no idea how fucking hard and fast the international community would come down on them. If they really tried to pull shit like that, North Korea would cease to exist by the end of the year. It would be a fucking crater.

I understand that the safety of Americans comes first, and I'm sure Sony doesn't want any more trouble on its plate than it already has (Sony as a company hasn't been doing so hot financially anyway). But basically, by pulling The Interview from theaters, Sony has essentially taken the stance of "Yes North Korea, fuck me in the ass harder, I'm your bitch."

And it sets a bad precedent.

It's a MOVIE. A work of FICTION. And a comedy at that! Like, what the fuck? How many movies have we made about Germany, Russia, China, and the Middle East? Zero Dark Thirty is basically a serious, dramatic, action/thriller that retells the events leading up to (and including) the killing of Bin Laden.

NOBODY EVEN SQUAWKED ABOUT THAT MOVIE.

And now North Korea is trying to make threats over something as petty as a comedy? And Sony actually backed down???? What kind of room does this give future terrorist (or would-be terrorist) organizations to try to strong-arm American media and entertainment? If we'll bend over and have our first amendment rights violated over something as politically minuscule as a comedy film, I fear for the future of society.

 

[Fijoli]

It's a MOVIE. A work of FICTION. And a comedy at that! Like, what the fuck? How many movies have we made about Germany, Russia, China, and the Middle East? Zero Dark Thirty is basically a serious, dramatic, action/thriller that retells the events leading up to (and including) the killing of Bin Laden.

NOBODY EVEN SQUAWKED ABOUT THAT MOVIE.

I can't even count how many Fictional movies America has made that involve just North Korea being douches. I mean...Team America HELLOOOO where the fuck was North Korea for that and Sony too, I swear Sony lives under a rock O__O

 

[Rare]

Sony did the right thing by pulling the movie. The hackers would of done something terrible to them, if they showed the movie to the public. Sony isn't anyone's bitch or cowards, they did the right thing. They could of lost customers and money if they show it. Plus, they might release on DVD and Blue-Ray so everyone can see it.

Now, X-Box fans have this example to wave around PS fans and get them upset. Oh well.

 

[Dervish]

Sony did the right thing by pulling the movie. The hackers would of done something terrible to them, if they showed the movie to the public. Sony isn't anyone's bitch or cowards, they did the right thing. They could of lost customers and money if they show it. Plus, they might release on DVD and Blue-Ray so everyone can see it.

Now, X-Box fans have this example to wave around PS fans and get them upset. Oh well.

Most security agencies have basically said Sony caved into an empty threat. This sets an awful precedence, since now asshats realize they can get away with shit like this. Any halfway decent hacker can break into a company and leave ominous e-mails. Following up with threats, especially when people are alert to them, is another beast entirely.

I don't see what relevance this has to any so-called console war, since Sony's film and gaming departments are entirely separate. Anyone who honestly gives a shit about which console is better than another one past making intelligent consumer decisions is allergic to fun and needs some real issues to worry about instead of mouth breathing crap against someone who had the audacity to buy something you didn't. The moment somebody's like "heheheh You Wussstation drones are stupid for buying that shit" means they're probably mentally 13.

 

[fatalrendezvous]

Sony did the right thing by pulling the movie. The hackers would of done something terrible to them, if they showed the movie to the public. Sony isn't anyone's bitch or cowards, they did the right thing. They could of lost customers and money if they show it. Plus, they might release on DVD and Blue-Ray so everyone can see it.

Now, X-Box fans have this example to wave around PS fans and get them upset. Oh well.

Sony essentially agreed to a terrorist demand that violates our rights to freedom of expression. They did the right thing in a business sense (on paper), but in the greater scheme of political, societal, and moral issues, what Sony did sets a really bad example that is in no way "the right thing."

Sony has a responsibility as a globally recognized company to do more than look out for itself. If it wants to protect its brand and its image, they need to figure out a way to let people watch this movie, and to work with local and federal law enforcement to help PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE FROM HARM while watching this movie. Pulling the release entirely wasn't what I'd call "the right thing" to do at all.

They have ALREADY lost customers, and ALREADY lost money. Not to mention, Sony getting hacked over this movie affects the rest of the industry too. Other movies (involving North Korea) by other studios have been canned over this.

This is far, far bigger than a console war. Sony getting hacked affects Microsoft too. It affects Microsoft, Apple, LG, Samsung, Google, and any other large-scale corporation because it reduces the public's trust of allowing these companies to handle their private information. This is a studied and known phenomenon.

More importantly, Sony's decision to bail out from the release of The Interview affects all consumers of media in any country in the free world, because it has basically sent the message to terrorist organizations that if they stomp their feet loudly enough, they'll get what they want. If they make enough noise, they can restrict our individual and human rights of expression. That is not, in any way, "the right thing."

 

[LunaValentine]

I can't even count how many Fictional movies America has made that involve just North Korea being douches. I mean...Team America HELLOOOO where the fuck was North Korea for that and Sony too, I swear Sony lives under a rock O__O

I Believe I saw on the news that they're actually playing Team America instead of The Interview. XD

 

[Rare]

Sony essentially agreed to a terrorist demand that violates our rights to freedom of expression. They did the right thing in a business sense (on paper), but in the greater scheme of political, societal, and moral issues, what Sony did sets a really bad example that is in no way "the right thing."

I know that Sony agreeing to terrorist was a bad decision and allows hackers to claim more so called 'threats'. Of course, they did the right in business sense (losing money and customers is more important than the issues that come with agreeing to terrorist).

Sony has a responsibility as a globally recognized company to do more than look out for itself. If it wants to protect its brand and its image, they need to figure out a way to let people watch this movie, and to work with local and federal law enforcement to help PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE FROM HARM while watching this movie. Pulling the release entirely wasn't what I'd call "the right thing" to do at all.

They might still show the movie but, only in a couple movie theaters and then release it on DVD and Blue-Ray. I agree that pulling the release entirely wasn't right in the business sense.

They have ALREADY lost customers, and ALREADY lost money. Not to mention, Sony getting hacked over this movie affects the rest of the industry too. Other movies (involving North Korea) by other studios have been canned over this.

Yes, they already lost customers and money; but, they would of lost more if they allow the movie to be shown. Losing your credit card information to hackers isn't 'popular'.

This is far, far bigger than a console war. Sony getting hacked affects Microsoft too. It affects Microsoft, Apple, LG, Samsung, Google, and any other large-scale corporation because it reduces the public's trust of allowing these companies to handle their private information. This is a studied and known phenomenon.

Yes, of course. I didn't mean that, that was my personal input. The reaction of Sony will affect the trust from the public, no matter the outcome. If they show the movie and then get hack again, the public won't trust them. Since they pulled the movie, the public doesn't trust them still. The outcome would of been bad, no matter what.

More importantly, Sony's decision to bail out from the release of The Interview affects all consumers of media in any country in the free world, because it has basically sent the message to terrorist organizations that if they stomp their feet loudly enough, they'll get what they want. If they make enough noise, they can restrict our individual and human rights of expression. That is not, in any way, "the right thing."

Why don't we blame other studios as well? I mean Sony wasn't the only one to pull a movie about North Korea out. Team America: World Police was canceled from re-release to theaters by Paramount Pictures; yet, I don't see anyone saying that 'Paramount is Korea's bitch'.

I would like to add that George Clooney said that Sony was alone because, none spoke up when the emails surfaced.

 

[The Ghost Note]

To the guys saying, more or less, that "Sony are bitches for giving in" you also have to think about it from another standpoint. Or maybe two. They likely did it so, just in case something does happen, they don't get their pants sued off for allowing this to go through. Plus, I doubt too many people would show up to begin with, given the threats, and the theaters most likely would be hesitant to play it... You get the point, here, children. It's all about that paper.


But, in the end, it's no big loss. The Interview looked like another vulgar, dull-minded, comedy movie that would have bombed to begin with. I mean, I'm surprised the hackers care enough about this dumb movie to put out a threat.

 

[E.T.]

An "adult" movie director recently tweeted that due to Sony withdrawing The Interview, he plans on making a porn version of the movie.

http://imgur.com/gallery/PiO2efh

 

[Oswin]

An "adult" movie director recently tweeted that due to Sony withdrawing The Interview, he plans on making a porn version of the movie.

http://imgur.com/gallery/PiO2efh

Not surprised. (After all, rule 34 exists for a reason.)

As far as pulling the movie goes, I can see valid points on both sides of the fence. If they had shown the movie and something (however unlikely) did happen, then they would probably have their pants sued off by various people after the fact. If they pull the movie, there would be some public backlash and they lose some money, but it's probably less trouble to deal with over all. (Even though it means the hackers "win".)


Frankly, I think the whole situation is a bit ridiculous -- people need to find better ways to occupy their time than to get their knickers in such a twist over a movie. (And probably a bad one at that.)

 

[E.T.]

As someone who hadn't even heard of the movie until this entire controversy is the movie basically like inglorious bastards except with Kim Jung II instead of Hitler?

 

[Hatsune Candy]

To the guys saying, more or less, that "Sony are bitches for giving in" you also have to think about it from another standpoint. Or maybe two. They likely did it so, just in case something does happen, they don't get their pants sued off for allowing this to go through. Plus, I doubt too many people would show up to begin with, given the threats, and the theaters most likely would be hesitant to play it... You get the point, here, children. It's all about that paper.


But, in the end, it's no big loss. The Interview looked like another vulgar, dull-minded, comedy movie that would have bombed to begin with. I mean, I'm surprised the hackers care enough about this dumb movie to put out a threat.

I'm sorry, but what part about this movie makes you think that it would have bombed?

I ask because I was actually really looking forward to seeing this film.

 

[The Ghost Note]

I'm sorry, but what part about this movie makes you think that it would have bombed?

I ask because I was actually really looking forward to seeing this film.

Believe me, shorty, I doubt that anyone would have really bombed this atrocious film, but you have to think about it from the perspective of the owners of a very big entertainment company. There are people, who they have no idea about (This is important), threatening terror attacks against the showing of their movies.

They can't take the risk.

 

[Dervish]

Believe me, shorty, I doubt that anyone would have really bombed this atrocious film, but you have to think about it from the perspective of the owners of a very big entertainment company. There are people, who they have no idea about (This is important), threatening terror attacks against the showing of their movies.

They can't take the risk.

I believe Hatsune meant bombed as in stucked at the box office, not go explodey.

 

[The Ghost Note]

I believe Hatsune meant bombed as in stucked at the box office, not go explodey.

Oh? Because I think it sounds like a really, really, dumb movie.

 

[Dervish]

Oh? Because I think it sounds like a really, really, dumb movie.

I actually was planning on going to watch it, usually those two make fun, dumb movies I get a good laugh at (I loved This is the End, for the record), and anything poking fun at North Korea is usually gold in my books. Hell, my Facebook location is set to Pyongyang.

 

[Brovo]

Oh? Because I think it sounds like a really, really, dumb movie.

Can't be dumber than Transformers which has made over a billion dollars. So... One can never be too sure.