Have the terrorists won?

[Guinevere]

Regal and AMC theaters have now dropped The Interview from their screens. Setting aside whether or not it's a film that has value, why the hell are we letting these terrorists dictate what movies we make (and show)? These companies just totally caved in.

[MajGenl.Meade]

The top five theater circuits in North America have decided not to play Sony's The Interview. Regal Entertainment, AMC Entertainment, Cinemark, Carmike Cinemas and Cineplex Entertainment have all decided against showing the film.

Following theater chains decision not to screen the film, Sony canceled the release of the comedy on Wednesday. "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. We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers," the Sony Pictures Entertainment statement read

I don't think terrorists actually did anything, did they? It's hackers hired by/actually in North Korea who've raised the stink. Aside from the stink in any Seth Rogan alleged entertainment of course.

[rubato]

Regal and AMC theaters have now dropped The Interview from their screens. Setting aside whether or not it's a film that has value, why the hell are we letting these terrorists dictate what movies we make (and show)? These companies just totally caved in.

This is not evidence that they have. I think I will wait and see how and when the movie is released, which I think it will, before commenting specifically further.


yrs,
rubato

[Joe Guy]

I thought it was a great idea for a movie but the previews on TV make it look like a really stupid movie. I don't know much about Seth Rogan. He doesn't seem funny to me but I haven't seen enough of him to judge. I will probably watch it when it goes to Netflix.

[TPFKA@W]

Seth Rogan only makes lame, crap movies. Thus if this movie is never shown we all win. Go hackers!

[RayThom]

... of the brick-and-mortar movie theaters. RIP. Besides, Hollywood has been trying to cut out the middle man for years. They probably just became unsuspecting beneficiaries of this latest "terrorist plot."

With movies-on-demand and 60" wide screen TV home entertainment centers there's no good reason to patronize them anymore. Say goodbye to the $6 tub of mystery lube popcorn.

[BoSoxGal]

After all this controversy, the film will go to direct release streaming rental and DVD rental and do well, I'm sure.

As to Seth Rogan - if I still smoked weed, I'd love him. I'm sure he's wildly popular with young people who still know how to laugh at stupid shit - I wish I still had such a light heart, myself.

I commend him for the underlying attempt to highlight the dictatorship in North Korea, which I do think he was somewhat serious about doing.

[wesw]

well I like stupid stuff. c mon, the whole adam sandler Hanukah, play my harmonica and smoke my marijuanica thing makes me laugh, but seth rogan.....

...he can shake his wee wee elsewhere

[oldr_n_wsr]

How many North Korean sleeper cells were just waiting to bomb the theaters that would show this movie?

[RayThom]

How many North Korean sleeper cells were just waiting to bomb the theaters that would show this movie?

Now that's funny. I bet it's less than the Duchy of Grand Fenwick has planted here.

[rubato]

Is it really appropriate to call these cyber-crimes 'terrorism'? Can we find a more accurately calibrated adjective than "terror" to base the word on? I just seems inappropriate to refer to this sort of thing in the same way as killing people and blowing up buildings and planes.

yrs,
rubato

[Guinevere]

"Terrorist" was somewhat tongue in cheek, but the underlying concept is still making threats to change behavior, related to politics (at least in their mind). I think it has a terroristic element.

[Guinevere]

ter·ror·ism noun \ˈter-ər-ˌi-zəm\
: the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal

From m-w.com.

[rubato]

"Terrorist" was somewhat tongue in cheek, but the underlying concept is still making threats to change behavior, related to politics (at least in their mind). I think it has a terroristic element.

But blackmail isn't terrorism is it?

yrs,
rubato

[MajGenl.Meade]

... shorely shome mishtake? Extortion

[Big RR]

Let's wait and see what happens; I still can't help but think this "Terrorists" are nothing more than marketing people trying to whip up interest in the movie.

[RayThom]

Let's wait and see what happens; I still can't help but think this "Terrorists" are nothing more than marketing people trying to whip up interest in the movie.

A marketing agency working with Hollywood studios -- no matter how sleazy the two might be -- would not make these types of "terroristic" threats. That's a federal crime and would be a dangerous line to cross. I wouldn't be surprised that DHS is going all out to track down the perps.

I truly feel these threats (not the SONY data hack) emanate from domestic hackers like anon rather than from North Korea.

[rubato]

"Terrorist" was somewhat tongue in cheek, but the underlying concept is still making threats to change behavior, related to politics (at least in their mind). I think it has a terroristic element.

Maybe we could call these other things "Vexism" and people who do them "Vexists".


yrs,
rubato

[MajGenl.Meade]

Hackmail (if it involves keeping something secret)

Hackstortion (if it involves a threat to cause actual damage)

ETA maybe more trendy - 'haxtortion'

[Big RR]

Well Raythom, let's wait a while and see who is right. I am unsure of the intricacies of the federal law here, but I don't know if one can have a terroristic threat without a victim and a possibility/likelihood that the victim believes it could be carried out (e.g. saying you were going to call on your Martian allies to attack something might well not be a terroristic threat); here I see some at highly placed persons at sony as being part of the scheme and thus, I am unsure if this would be a real threat, although giving a "false alarm" call might subject them to some punishment.

I could be wrong, but I have a nagging felling that this is a marketing scheme which is now spiraling out of control--wasn't there an announcement a few weeks back (which later proved to be false) that the N Korean government was seeking to black the release of the movie in the world court or some other venue?