"The Interview"

[MooseMom]

What do you all think of the kerfuffle surrounding this movie in the wake of the cyber attack on Sony?

Most cinema outlets are either cancelling showing this film outright or are delaying it.

Seth Rogan and James Franco have cancelled all talk show appearances.

If I'm not mistaken, the NYC premiere has been cancelled.

Would you go see it?

[iolaire]

I don't care about the movie, but when it shows up at the library my wife with order it and we will watch it.

Sony will have serious legal impact from their "we don't care about information security" stance that led to this hack.  And the lack of encryption on medical communications (yes corporations discuss the employees costing them the most on insurance payouts - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-11/sony-hack-reveals-health-details-on-employees-and-their-children.html).

I do think the data that was released will fuel all kinds of positive research and analysis.  For example this post about women's earnings from the Washington Post today: http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/17/stop-denying-the-gender-pay-gap-exists-even-jennifer-lawrence-was-shortchanged/ which points out that Jennifer Lawrence is being paid less than the men who are less popular and have won less awards, and the executives talked about this disparity, but in the end she still was paid less.  Its a very unique insight into corporate America and it will benefit the public to have smart people analysis the information and share their findings.

[Michael Murphy]

The level of security in most corporate data centers is a disgrace.  The methods of securing a center are well understood but in most cases the money it a would take to implement them is blocked by the bean counters.  Security starts by not attaching your systems to the Internet but creating a private network that is firewalled off from the rest of the world then carefully restricting what can pass through a firewall.  I have seen real security it is possible it just takes some skill and money to build a secure firewall and constant monitoring of all activity from inside or outside.  Cheap no but better than having your customers info spread out over the World Wide Web for all to see. 

[MooseMom]

Well, my questions weren't really about computer system security, rather, it was about the idea of a massive corporation and large cinema chains deciding not to show a stupid movie because of threats of 9/11 style attacks on theatres that show this film.

Are we still the "home of the brave"?

[cattlekid]

I think in this situation, we are "home of the prudent".  Christmas Day, threats related to 9/11 by an unstable leader of an unstable country...the risk of disaster is just way too high in my estimation.

The bigger question is "who greenlighted this nightmare?"

[Zach]

The issue is Freedom of Speech.

Perhaps SONY should put the movie up on the Internet for all to see.
 

[Simon Dog]

The issue is clean - threatening violence is an effective way to control the actions of others.

Doubt it?  Try finding a paper that allows satires of Islam or Mohammed.     Or, try finding a copy of this movie.

Going forward, the North Koreans can save everyone trouble by just issuing American media a "notice of censorship" which it will, of course, obey.

[MooseMom]

I think in this situation, we are "home of the prudent".  Christmas Day, threats related to 9/11 by an unstable leader of an unstable country...the risk of disaster is just way too high in my estimation.

The bigger question is "who greenlighted this nightmare?"

Hmmm...I think the bigger question is how exactly do the American people think that it is possible that a country that can't feed its own people nor launch a nuclear weapon can cause disasters at any or all cinemas that show this movie.  Do you really think that you would be in danger if you went to see this movie in, say, Naperville? 

Why have we handed so much psychological power to a tyrant, and so willingly? 

[MooseMom]

The issue is clean - threatening violence is an effective way to control the actions of others.

Doubt it?  Try finding a paper that allows satires of Islam or Mohammed.     Or, try finding a copy of this movie.

Going forward, the North Koreans can save everyone trouble by just issuing American media a "notice of censorship" which it will, of course, obey.

But don't you think that you, as an individual American, can decide whether or not you will allow your actions to be controlled by others?  And do we as a free society allow our choice of entertainment to be controlled by threats from North Korea?  Really?

[MooseMom]

The issue is Freedom of Speech.

Perhaps SONY should put the movie up on the Internet for all to see.
 

I'm not sure that putting the movie on the Internet would help, though, since this was all due to a cyber attack in the first place.  I think that Sony should release it, anyway, but the problem there is that Sony is Japanese, and there is a lot of bad history between both nations.  But if there was a local theatre that DID release it, I'd be first in line to buy a ticket.  I'm fed up with everyone diving under the tables anytime anyone yells, "BOO!" 

I'm just really embarrassed by the collectively jellied response by people.  Deary me.  It's just really odd to me.

[Michael Murphy]

Sony is a Japanesse company so I don't think they reflect the home of the brave.  However I don't think the reason for the cancelation was the hackers attack but the threat of violent retaliation at movie theaters showing the film.

[MooseMom]

Sony is a Japanesse company so I don't think they reflect the home of the brave.  However I don't think the reason for the cancelation was the hackers attack but the threat of violent retaliation at movie theaters showing the film.

And who exactly do you think would carry out said violent retaliation, and how?  Are there North Korean operatives infiltrating cinema chains in the US?

Would you go see this movie if it was showing at your local theater, and if not, why not?  What do you think would happen?

[iolaire]

Sony is a Japanesse company so I don't think they reflect the home of the brave.  However I don't think the reason for the cancelation was the hackers attack but the threat of violent retaliation at movie theaters showing the film.

And who exactly do you think would carry out said violent retaliation, and how?  Are there North Korean operatives infiltrating cinema chains in the US?

Would you go see this movie if it was showing at your local theater, and if not, why not?  What do you think would happen?

Playing devils advocate if they can export drugs, they could export violence:
http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/11/21/u-s-drug-bust-puts-spotlight-on-north-korean-meth-exports/
https://news.vice.com/article/north-koreas-got-a-big-crystal-meth-problem

That being said I'd go to the movies on X-mas day - except these days we watch movies once they get to the library or RedBox.

[Michael Murphy]

Before the Colorado movie hose shooting I think most people would ignore it, now I am not sure.  I think I would go to spite the morons that are making the threats. I would however sit near a exit.

[Charlie B53]

I haven't gone to see any movie in a very long time, we prefer to wait until they are released so we can watch them at home.

However, if I was to go to see a movie I would be wearing my light jacket that I ALWAYS wear.  Since I am a confirmed believer in concealed carry, any idiot start popping off rounds will be in for a very rude surprise.

Granted, I 'could' die, but since I started the big D I've had to realize that my time is limited anyway.  If I can stop some idiot from killing or injuring innocents, it would be worth it.

[PrimeTimer]

For me, the real concern is why enemies of the USA are circling and licking their chops and feeling so emboldened these days. I'd rather be the country that terrorists fear and our allies trust. Not the other way around.

[Simon Dog]

Since I am a confirmed believer in concealed carry, any idiot start popping off rounds will be in for a very rude surprise.

Before Aurora, this would be near useless since you would be facing someone with an EBR (Evil Black Rifle) with your handgun.  BUT, now that movie theaters are somewhat more vigilant, chances are someone would be unable to sneak in a long gun and would also have a handgun - putting you are roughly even odds (though you are at a disadvantage because, unless you have a badge, there is a very heavy price for hitting an innocent bystander when returning fire).

I'm less concerned with sitting near an exit than getting an aisle seat so I can move quickly if necessary.

[Rerun]

I think Hollywood crossed the line by even doing this movie.  What if Hollywood wanted to do a movie where the Royal couple and the baby were assassinated.  Really?  Let's have some ethics.

[MooseMom]

For me, the real concern is why enemies of the USA are circling and licking their chops and feeling so emboldened these days. I'd rather be the country that terrorists fear and our allies trust. Not the other way around.

Maybe it's because the American people are so easily terrorized.  But who exactly is it that's feeling so emboldened?

[MooseMom]

I think Hollywood crossed the line by even doing this movie.  What if Hollywood wanted to do a movie where the Royal couple and the baby were assassinated.  Really?  Let's have some ethics.

"Ethics" and "North Korea" don't belong in the same conversation.

This is yet another false equivalency.  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their baby have not terrorized an entire nation, nor do they have nuclear weapons.  There is no reason that a large corporation like Sony would want to make a film where they come to harm.  Americans love the Royal couple, so where would be the audience for such a movie?  However, the leaders of North Korea have been the butt of jokes for decades, so it's not so odd that a comedy would be made about such an assassination plot.

Hollywood has a history of "crossing lines".  I sure haven't seen Americans expressing outrage over the plot.  If Americans don't like the premise, they have the choice of refusing to see the movie.  But we've let North Korea take away our choices.  Yay for us.  We have army personnel serving bravely in dangerous parts of the world, but the population they are "defending" (Americans) are too spooked by terrorist rhetoric to go see a stupid movie.  Something's wrong with this picture.

[Simon Dog]

[The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their baby have not terrorized an entire nation, nor do they have nuclear weapons. s wrong with this picture.

Actually, they do.    As the heir to the throne of England, the Duke is in line to become the head of state of one of the world's declared nuclear powers.

[MooseMom]

The King of England is the Head of State, not the head of the Government, so does not have the authority to launch nuclear missiles.  The Head of State does not have any political authority.  The head of the Government is the Prime Minister.

[Rerun]

We are NOT supposed to be "mean" to terrorists.  Just ask the CIA.  We should not be mean and make a movie like that.  We are "better than that". 

[MooseMom]

We are NOT supposed to be "mean" to terrorists.  Just ask the CIA.  We should not be mean and make a movie like that.  We are "better than that".

No, we're not.  Just ask the CIA.

Whether or not watching "The Interview" is torture is a separate topic for discussion!   

[Rerun]

I agree with the CIA!   

But, Hollywood... they push the borderline too much.  First it was saying "damn" in a movie.  aka Gone With The Wind...  Now this.  Next are they going to try to get child pornography to be "acceptable"?

This will be interesting to see what happens with this.  I don't like Seth Rogan so I would not pay to go see this movie anyway. 

The media acts like we are being censored.  Like we are NOT ALREADY censored.  We can't say the "N" word.  We cannot even think the "N" word. or Look at anyone "different" and think they might be trying to shoplift (Even though we have video of a person shoving a chain saw down his pants"....

WE are censored. Hollywood made their own bed.