GreyWolfLord |
Recently Sony Pictures has decided to not premiere "The Interview" and many theater chains have decided NOT to show the movie. This means there is no where to really see "The Interview" for those who have decided NOT to let fear and terrorism intimidate them.
I wondered then, was it really Sony and the Theater Chains allowing someone to quell their American Spirit, that they were bowing to Terrorism, or was it something else they were afraid of.
And then, I realized with other articles, they weren't afraid of the terrorists, they were afraid of Americans.
Which is what I think is the biggest irony. It's not the terrorist organization which caused them to pull their film, but the Americans instead.
When you had the Aurora shooting (a tragic event) one could say, there's no way a theater could really plan for that. However, the theater was STILL sued for not giving their customers enough protection.
With threats to do 9-11 events at theaters across the US, movie theaters would be nervous. It stands to reason, if it is N. Korea or any other nations, an attack of that type on US soil would inevitably lead to WAR (and probably the destruction of the N. Korean govt. in that instance....though if smart, the US wouldn't occupy it this time, just leave it in shambles for someone else to take over instead).
However, it wouldn't protect the chains from the lawsuits...and if Aurora is any indication, sticking to your guns isn't worth it if the very people going to see the movie and are hurt, will sue you out of existence.
So, in an extreme case of irony, it's not the terroristic threats that are causing the theaters to pull the Interview, it's the Americans own preponderance to blame the theaters over things the theaters don't have much control over in the first place which is pulling the film.
Irony, but very sad irony if I say so myself.
GreyWolfLord |
So, if I am understanding this right, you think theaters won't show the movie because they are afraid of getting sued after North Korea attacks them?
Well, what it boils down to, is they are afraid of being sued. It's not if N. Korea attacks them or even terrorists attack (the US has shown if it has a massive attack on it's soil, it takes actions against the attackers pretty swiftly).
Rather, the big point that has been coming across, is if something happens during the movies, people are going to use it as an opportunity to sue the theater.
So, if some maniac decides to go shoot a theater up due to the publicity of the terroristic threats regarding the movie, the theater will be sued by every joe, dick, and harry having even the remotest thought to it.
Seeing this is on a MUCH larger scale than the Aurora, several theaters I think have even come out and stated that is the big reason they are not going to show the movie. The threat of being sued is more than what they can afford by showing it.
It's not that they even expect the GoP to be able to pull off a terrorist stunt, it's that if anything happens, they feel it will be blamed on them and they will be sued because of this stunt that's been happening.
So, instead of a fear of terrorism (which some are thinking it is), it's the fear of the US citizen suing their pants off.
The theaters aren't afraid of the terrorist really, it's the financial threat of legal action by the Americans themselves.
GreyWolfLord |
Seems like Hollywood is beginning to speak out as well.
I think most are looking at it as capitulating to the terrorists instead of the financial worries the theaters had.
It seems many of them are disappointed at what has happened. I wonder if there will be a big enough public outcry that the theaters will come out with a reversal of their decisions or not...
Probably not, but it would be interesting if they did and then Sony reverses it's decision to pull the movie.
Damon Griffin |
It stands to reason, if it is N. Korea or any other nations, an attack of that type on US soil would inevitably lead to WAR (and probably the destruction of the N. Korean govt. in that instance....though if smart, the US wouldn't occupy it this time, just leave it in shambles for someone else to take over instead).
"Someone else" = China. You think that would be a big improvement?
Robert Little |
Problem with this is that anytime there is a controversial film, a group can make terrorist threats to try and get it removed from theaters. And it doesn't even necessarily have to be controversial, folks just don't have to like the message of the movie. When it happens again (at this point, its "when" not "if"), studios will start questioning whether a movie is going to get threatened or not, which will influence if and how movies are made. I'm not holding "The Interview" to any high standard of quality, but there is a serious risk that because of Sony's and theater's actions regarding it, that it will prevent more serious and important movies from being made or seen.
That said, if you want to protest with your dollars, don't see the following Sony films this holiday:
Annie
Mr. Turner
Rynjin |
Boycotting Sony seems counterproductive, considering the only reason Sony pulled the movies is because all of the major theaters refused to show it.
If you want to boycott something, boycott the theaters (see NO movies), because that at least has a slightly less infinitesimal chance of actually doing something instead of being a pointless gesture like 99.9% of all other boycotts.
lorenlord |
I understand Sony's two-part rationale for pulling the movie: a)not get sued if something happens, even if it's a hoax and someone pops a bag, you know someone will sue for mental anguish. that's the sad world we live in.
And b)just shutting it down to make sure nothing happens.
Either way, we let the terrorists win, yet again, and that is stomach-turning. We're losing the cyber-terror war, and not even putting up any sort of resistance that the hackers don't see as laughable. That sets a terrible presidence for other terrorists to consider "risk/reward" scenarios more seriously.
Robert Little |
And now Paramount is keeping Team America from being shown...
Badass Digest - More Chilling Effect: Paramount Now Suppressing Team America
Caineach |
And now Paramount is keeping Team America from being shown...
Badass Digest - More Chilling Effect: Paramount Now Suppressing Team America
Broken link
Robert Little |
Robert Little wrote:Broken linkAnd now Paramount is keeping Team America from being shown...
Badass Digest - More Chilling Effect: Paramount Now Suppressing Team America
Looks like Badass Digest pulled the story for some reason.
Link on Deadline Hollywood
LazarX |
I suspect the movie will still be available on PSN.
Still showing on Netflix.
On a more sadder note Netflix is pulling an all time classic "ˇThe Day The Earth Stood Still", the original with Michael Rennie. beginning next year.
LazarX |
I understand Sony's two-part rationale for pulling the movie: a)not get sued if something happens, even if it's a hoax and someone pops a bag, you know someone will sue for mental anguish. that's the sad world we live in.
And b)just shutting it down to make sure nothing happens.
Either way, we let the terrorists win, yet again, and that is stomach-turning. We're losing the cyber-terror war, and not even putting up any sort of resistance that the hackers don't see as laughable. That sets a terrible presidence for other terrorists to consider "risk/reward" scenarios more seriously.
How do you resist a cyber-terror war? The only response is a fight back, and there's precious little in North Korea that you an attack on a consumer level, as most of the country is still practically in the peasant subsistence economy.
MMCJawa |
I can't blame the theaters...I think they are concerned that some segment of the population will stay home because of fear that the threats will come true. Theaters show lots of movies, not just the interview. If people think something bad is going to happen, they won't see ANY movie at that location, and the theater sales will tank.
Doomed Hero |
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George Clooney's take on the issue impresses me.
Also, I'm really looking forward to the South Park episode that comes out of this...
Sissyl |
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Well, now that the movie seems to be officially dead, if they still want it out, put it on the torrent sites for free. Given that they won't have a cent of money from it no matter what, that there isn't a movie in the Western world with a better ad campaign, that would flood the world's computer screens with the movie. No bombings, no lawsuits, nothing. Nobody would have to worry about anything North Korea or anyone else would do.
Right tool for the right job, wouldn't you say?
thejeff |
They prefer nobody seeing a movie they spend millions on to "encouraging torrenting"? They certainly should rethink their status as a movie making company. Seriously.
There are other options.
Release it to DVD. License it to various streaming services.It's possible they're hesitating to do that because of threatened cyberattacks over any release, but that would apply to putting it on torrent sites too.
Te'Shen |
George Clooney's take on the issue impresses me. . . .
Appropriate. Honest. Classy.
I'm going to have to give him a little more credit now... and possibly forgive him for Batman and Robin...
MMCJawa |
They prefer nobody seeing a movie they spend millions on to "encouraging torrenting"? They certainly should rethink their status as a movie making company. Seriously.
Well what do you mean by Torrenting? Free download from Itunes or streaming on Hulu or Netflix? sure. Encouraging people to go ahead and use Pirate Bay and any of the dozens of other sites that release movies and shows within a day of their release? nope.
MMCJawa |
It would be everywhere, with no risk involved. I have no problem seeing the pirating sites handle it, and if this makes the hackers hit those sites, I doubt the movie moguls would shed a tear. If you have already written off the possible profits, the only difference is people get to see it.
"Hey Guys, go download this movie for free on the internet, just while you are doing so please don't download any of the other movies you encounter, since they are the main source of profit for us!"
thejeff |
It would be everywhere, with no risk involved. I have no problem seeing the pirating sites handle it, and if this makes the hackers hit those sites, I doubt the movie moguls would shed a tear. If you have already written off the possible profits, the only difference is people get to see it.
It's not at all clear they've written off profits from future DVD sales/licensing.
Nor is it clear that Sony wouldn't be attacked for releasing it, however they do so. Even if it's by releasing torrents.
Te'Shen |
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"Hey Guys, go download this movie for free on the internet, just while you are doing so please don't download any of the other movies you encounter, since they are the main source of profit for us!"
You know... I think that disclaimer would be more successful than their 'Piracy is not a victimless crime' campaign.
And I've linked this before, but Neil Gaiman on copyrights and the web.
Free stuff is Free Advertising. I agree with Sissyl. Get it out there. Write off the loss in tax credits. And GET THE FREE POSITIVE PUBLICITY.