Sony cancels The Interview release amid threats

[webfact]

Sony cancels The Interview release amid threats

(BBC) Sony Pictures has cancelled the planned US release on 25 December of the film The Interview, after major cinema chains decided not to screen it.

The film is about a fictional plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Hackers have already carried out a cyber attack on Sony and warned the public to stay away from cinemas screening the film.

Earlier, the New York premiere of The Interview was cancelled. Sony says it understands its partners' decision.

However, in a statement it said it was "deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie".

"In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release," it said.

"We respect and understand our partners' decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theatre-goers."

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30526406


-- BBC 2014-12-18

[bkkgooner]

Cowardly

[neverdie]

The fat boys mafia in full swing.

Sony could crush this tool and not warrant the latest overpriced cassette decks that recently went on sale on North Korea. That would show the fat fool.

[tx22cb]

Cowardly

Sony don't know that these are empty threats. Plenty of NK fanatics around.

25 years ago a fatwa was issued against Salmon Rushdie, which was taken very seriously.

At least Sacha Baron Cohen wasn't targeted by Kazakhstan

[ezzra]

Enter the sawn of blackmail by internet, and it's working.. this will open the flood gates to similar

actions by other groups for all sort of reasons, Sony should have not capitulated, you don't

bow to terrorism of such... Sony... this is NOT the end of this story, but now that you have shown

how weak you are, the gates are open now....

[maidee]

sony can take over PIRATEBAY, bring it back to life and drop the movie there ...

at least someone will see it without his/her life being in danger ...

except sony's lawsuits that can bankrupt once life in a western country for downloading just one song or movie ...

[daveAustin]

Should anything have happened in one of these cinemas had they not capitulated, I guess it would be bad for Sony and their image in this day and age of over the top litigation. Still, what is the world coming to when a toad can dictate whether a company (that brings in several times its nation's revenue) shows a movie or not!

[spidermike007]

This is a real blow to democracy and free speech, perpetrated by a very fat, very ignorant, very ruthless, and very incompetent so called leader. He should be ignored at all costs. Multiple dramas, comedies, and movies should be made about this utter fool, so that the world can see how truly ignorant this despot is. He ranks right up there with the Castro brothers, Mugabe, his ignorant father, and Ida Amin. He is a pig. A filthy rich spoiled brat, who allows his people to lead desperate lives, in order to maintain his wealth and power. Shame on Sony for this cowardly decision. There was nothing behind the threat. I do not think he has the cajones to attack even a stray dog, outside of his country.

[IAMHERE]

What !!! The only way to see the film is to download it from North Korean Pirates? Is there some irony here I don't know how to express ?

[SiSePuede419]

If America (Global Plutocrats) can't release inane, drivel-laden cinema full of stereotypes, then the Terrorists have won!!!

Edited December 18, 2014 by SiSePuede419

[jomcondo]

could u make a movie about a western leader like that?

[SiSePuede419]

"could u make a movie about a western leader like that?"

No, of course not!

There is no Freedom of Speech in the West, like there is in North Korea, Comrade.

COUGH COUGH Death of a President (2006) COUGH COUGH

[maisodni]

From Rudyard Kipling “Dane-Geld”

It is always a temptation for a rich and lazy nation,

To puff and look important and to say: --

"Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you.

We will therefore pay you cash to go away."

And that is called paying the Dane-geld;

But we've proved it again and again,

That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld

You never get rid of the Dane.

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,

For fear they should succumb and go astray;

So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,

You will find it better policy to say: --

"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,

No matter how trifling the cost;

For the end of that game is oppression and shame,

And the nation that pays it is lost!"

[The manic]

Supine cowardice. I stopped buying Sony stuff years ago because of the crap after sales service. This action by them further encourages me to avoid their products. But I will Bit Torrent the movie eventually.

[Fred Flinstone]

Its just a marketing ploy -

Wait six weeks then it will be released

[bangon04]

If America (Global Plutocrats) can't release inane, drivel-laden cinema full of stereotypes, then the Terrorists have won!!!

It is pathetic indeed. So much for superpowers..

But now I have to buy a pirate copy of this total c**p movie, .....just out of principle.

[muffy]

^{Just makes me want to see the movie , should be a big hit with all the free promotion .}

[Jingthing]

^{Just makes me want to see the movie , should be a big hit with all the free promotion .}

No plans to EVER release in Thailand (in theaters) even before the threats.

[lil fluffy clouds]

It's all the same in end, every country has it's own style of oppression, and they all have a way of impressing to themselves that they are free. Besides countries don't really exist anymore, borders are only maintained to give people some pseudo sense of identity, but they are only distractions from the deeper issues concerning large corporations. Who really knows who is rigging what judging by what they are told in media? It may only be a way of steering market trends....

[JacChang]

Sony, when you will make laundry machines to wash my clothes?

[deckard]

Total hands up surrender from Sony and the cinema chains . As many people are saying they have now opened the floodgates for every crackpot hacker (or the fat boy in N. Korea) to hold them to ransom . Stand up to these scum bags and don't capitulate at them at the first step .

[wabothai]

May be Sony made a deal and is driving up the price !!

All is possible in this nice world where nobody is to be trusted anymore.

[kaobang]

what a bunch of coward morons

[Hanuman2547]

The fat boys mafia in full swing.

Sony could crush this tool and not warrant the latest overpriced cassette decks that recently went on sale on North Korea. That would show the fat fool.

Cassette decks, really?? Didn't know anyone used them.

[EyesWideOpen]

Sony can easily win this match if they want to. They just need to write off the 44 million dollars

to make the film, which in essence they already have. Then release the film to every torrent

site in the world. Thus ensuring a massive audience and making North Korea look like a

total fool.....

[mopar71]

Movie studios and cinemas always stand their ground when they make movies angering other groups of people.

Now that they have announced that boycotts and picket lines won't stop them, but threatening to moviegoers with physical harm, I wonder how a studio/cinema chain will know which threats to take seriously? Will an anonymous email campaign making threats be enough to kill a movie? Can it come from any 13-yr old hacker in his parent's basement just trying to have fun?

[zydeco]

From the beginning of this affair (and before) until this latest decision, the executives at Sony Entertainment have made one horrendous mistake after another. Why are they still employed?

[Jingthing]

I have to agree their brand name has really been damaged.

I hope this doesn't hurt Seth Rogan's career -- that man is very cool.

[JetsetBkk]

.

[Berkshire]

Should anything have happened in one of these cinemas had they not capitulated, I guess it would be bad for Sony and their image in this day and age of over the top litigation. Still, what is the world coming to when a toad can dictate whether a company (that brings in several times its nation's revenue) shows a movie or not!

That was my thinking. It's rather distasteful to allow hackers to dictate business decisions. But the fact that America is so litigious, any theater that shows the movie would be setting themselves up for a major lawsuit if something did happen (doubtful it would). Can you imagine..."you were warned that this might happen and you showed the movie anyway?? Pay up buddy!"