Two More Major Movie Chains Drop The Movie "The Interview"

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Major chains drop Sony's 'The Interview' - Dec. 17, 2014

I can only shake my head. This sets up a bad precedent. What do y'all think?

RoD
  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    Yes, this will make it tempting for trolls and pranksters everywhere (forget hardcore hackers and terrorists) to try to create similar outcomes.

    On the other hand, this will probably end up making more people want to see The Interview and may ultimately improve its long term profits. It's transforming what would otherwise be just another trivial Hollywood comedy into some kind of memorable, socially significant event. I can even imagine some people now feeling like they are being brave and patriotic by seeing it!
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    • Profile picture of the author socialentry
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      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

      Yes, this will make it tempting for trolls and pranksters everywhere (forget hardcore hackers and terrorists) to try to create similar outcomes.

      On the other hand, this will probably end up making more people want to see The Interview and may ultimately improve its long term profits. It's transforming what would otherwise be just another trivial Hollywood comedy into some kind of memorable, socially significant event. I can even imagine some people now feeling like they are being brave and patriotic by seeing it!
      Lol.

      If this becomes a memorable socially significant event, it just shows how non-sensical and decadent Western culture has become.
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    • Profile picture of the author Darkangel95
      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

      Yes, this will make it tempting for trolls and pranksters everywhere (forget hardcore hackers and terrorists) to try to create similar outcomes.

      On the other hand, this will probably end up making more people want to see The Interview and may ultimately improve its long term profits. It's transforming what would otherwise be just another trivial Hollywood comedy into some kind of memorable, socially significant event. I can even imagine some people now feeling like they are being brave and patriotic by seeing it!

      I agree with your statement.
      I already know some people who at first didn't have interest in watching it and now do.
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    What a world.
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

      What a world.
      You said it, brother.
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      What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
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      • Profile picture of the author Floyd Fisher
        Sony just cancelled the release.

        Not a good day at all.
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        • Profile picture of the author Kay King
          Bunch of wimps. What happens next? What if hackers are against Christmas shopping in the malls - what if they want to postpone our elections or prevent a new law from being passed?

          Do we just fold and go along? Why am I not surprised that it would be Hollywood - home of the people so willing to tell us what is and is not politically correct - that would fold at the first warning?
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          • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
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            Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

            Bunch of wimps. What happens next? What if hackers are against Christmas shopping in the malls - what if they want to postpone our elections or prevent a new law from being passed?

            Do we just fold and go along? Why am I not surprised that it would be Hollywood - home of the people so willing to tell us what is and is not politically correct - that would fold at the first warning?
            If I released a movie that might cause bloodshed of innocent people in the movie theaters, I'd probably not run it either. Freedom be damned. I don't want to have to clean up the blood and brain tissue from the theater when it's all over just for a movie. Violence was threatened.
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

            Bunch of wimps. What happens next? What if hackers are against Christmas shopping in the malls - what if they want to postpone our elections or prevent a new law from being passed?

            Do we just fold and go along? Why am I not surprised that it would be Hollywood - home of the people so willing to tell us what is and is not politically correct - that would fold at the first warning?
            it wasn't Hollywood. Other countries refused to show the movie. Then half of the US theaters. It made the decision easier. And, can you imagine if one person was killed in a theater that was showing the movie?

            Everyone on the news would have been asking the Sony spokesman "Don't you care? How many have to die because of your greed?"

            They had to pull it.

            I'm sure it will be out on DVD and on HBO soon enough. I was looking forward to seeing it.

            I'm still seeing the previews on TV. Weird.
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        • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
          Originally Posted by Floyd Fisher View Post

          Sony just cancelled the release.
          Dozens of Rogen and Franco fans will surely be disappointed.
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          • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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            Originally Posted by Midnight Oil View Post

            Dozens of Rogen and Franco fans will surely be disappointed.
            Dozens of Rogen fans and both of Franco's fans.

            Cheers. - Frank
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            • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
              Banned
              Personally, I believe that theaters should run it and let people decide if the want to see it or not, having been made fully aware of the associated threats. Then, every adult American with a spine should buy a ticket, enter the theater with their middle finger held high and enjoy what might be their last taste of chemically enhanced GMO popcorn.

              I'm sorry, but I just don't believe that the threat of an attack on a theatre is the least bit credible. Sure, I could be wrong but I'd rather choose incorrectly and be blown to bits than live in a country where cowardice reigns supreme and some psychopathic dwarf a half-world away gets to tell me what I can and can't see.

              We truly have become a nation of wimps, cry babies and scaredy-cats that is in desperate need of a stem-cell infusion of backbone.

              I have always believed that we should take the world's worst bad actor, completely annihilate them without warning and then ask the rest of the world, "Who the f*** wants to be next?" It's about time the rest of the world starting fearing us, instead of us buckling to every two-bit despot that comes down the pike. And don't start crying over the 'poor innocent people of N. Korea.' They have been brainwashed to the level of considering it a point of national honor to slit your throat and the throat of every member of your family, if ever given the chance. For the few that are innocent, you'd be putting them out of a lifetime of misery. Consider it a humanitarian act. You wouldn't be far off the mark. It probably beats starving to death.

              Now - tea and crumpets, anyone?

              Cheers. - Frank

              P.S. Butch up, America. The entire world is pissing themselves laughing at us.
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              • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
                Banned
                Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

                I'm sorry but I just don't believe that the threat of an attack on a theatre is the least bit credible. Sure, I could be wrong but I'd rather choose incorrectly and be blown to bits than live in a country where cowardice reigns supreme and some psychopathic dwarf a half-world away gets to tell me what I can and can't see.

                We truly have become a nation of wimps, cry babies and scaredy-cats that is in desperate need of a stem-cell infusion of backbone.

                I have always believed that we should take the world's worst bad actor, completely annihilate them without warning and then ask the rest of the world, "Who the f*** wants to be next?" It's about time the rest of the world starting fearing us, instead of us buckling to every two-bit despot that comes down the pike. And don't start crying over the 'poor innocent people of N. Korea.' They have been brainwashed to the level of considering it a point of national honor to slit your throat and the throat of every member of your family, if ever given the chance. For the few that are innocent, you'd be putting them out of a lifetime of misery. Consider it a humanitarian act. You wouldn't be far off the mark. It probably beats starving to death.

                Now - tea and crumpets, anyone?

                Cheers. - Frank

                P.S. Butch up, America. The entire world is pissing themselves laughing at us.
                oorah .... lol.

                Like I said, I might consider dying for something I actually give a shit about ... a movie that I didn't plan to see doesn't rise to that level.
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                • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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                  Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

                  oorah .... lol.

                  Like I said, I might consider dying for something I actually give a shit about ... a movie that I didn't plan to see doesn't rise to that level.
                  I understand. So you could save your $10 and remember me, fondly. :-)

                  I just don't think the threat is credible. Nothing but an attempt to scare us. We should never let that happen in a circumstance like this one.

                  I know you well enough to know that when push came to shove, you WOULD buy a ticket - middle finger held high. lol

                  Cheers. - Frank
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                  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
                    Banned
                    Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

                    I understand. So you could save your $10 and remember me, fondly. :-)

                    I just don't think the threat is credible. Nothing but an attempt to scare us. We should never let that happen in a circumstance like this one.
                    I didn't think that a couple of jets flying into the world trade center was credible either.

                    Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

                    I know you well enough to know that when push came to shove, you WOULD buy a ticket - middle finger held high. lol

                    Cheers. - Frank
                    No seriously ... I wouldn't. I think it's a laughable cause to die for. lol. I like flipping the bird at times, but I just don't care about Kim whatshisname or the movie enough.
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                    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
                      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

                      Did I say I thought it was a publicity stunt? Ya know something -- apparently other people decided that Kim is not the dictator of the US, either.

                      There's this funny thing about terror. Once you bend to it - you are always bending to it. Terrorist love cowardism.

                      Kim Jong Un Death Scene (The Interview) - YouTube
                      It won't play in AU,?


                      But it was about some individuals that were invited to visit the Chinese leader, (the James Bond, evil villan lookalike) and the FBI, wanted then to assisinate him!

                      But since the people who went to see him were indiots, they turn it into a black humor movie!

                      I saw the trailer to it a while ago, and as others have said, not worth it.

                      I would risk my life for Star Wars or Jurassic Park, but this, nope!

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                  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
                    Banned
                    Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

                    I understand. So you could save your $10 and remember me, fondly. :-)
                    Cheers. - Frank
                    ... but I would remember you fondly and with deep regret that you gave a shit about that movie. lol.
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                    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
                      Banned
                      Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

                      ... but I would remember you fondly and with deep regret that you gave a shit about that movie. lol.
                      It had nothing to do with the actual movie and everything to do with the general principle. I don't like being bullied, by anyone, about anything.

                      I wouldn't pay 50¢ to watch either of those two. lol

                      Cheers. - Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author socialentry
    Banned
    But what if the movie was about assassinating obama

    Clearly, the US is blaming the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for its internal problems.
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    • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
      Originally Posted by socialentry View Post

      But what if the movie was about assassinating obama
      It would be in bad taste, just like Death of a President was. Other than that, meh . . .
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  • Profile picture of the author agc
    Originally Posted by Rod Cortez View Post

    Major chains drop Sony's 'The Interview' - Dec. 17, 2014

    I can only shake my head. This sets up a bad precedent. What do y'all think?

    RoD
    We don't negotiate with terrorists. We just roll over and beg them to use lube.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    As self-professed business owners, I am surprised at the lack of empathy towards the businesses that were affected by this.

    Sony was facing the prospect of much bigger, and presumably much more damaging releases of their hacked data.

    Theatre owners were facing the threat of violence against their customers and in their establishments.

    By making this incredibly tough decision, Sony gets to begin to rebuild after this catastrophe, and lives to fight another day.

    How would YOU react if all of your secrets were stolen and published, humiliating you and threatening your ability to do business?
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I don't see this as anything but a publicity stunt. I know I didn't have one drop in the movie until I heard this stuff.

    A threatened cyber attack keeps people out of a theater? What is being said? Did Kimmy say that he has people over here that are gonna bomb the theatres or mass shoot the customers? If that is the case, then there are people here that our highly paid FBI and CIA should be kicking right back across the ocean if not jailing, ya think? Threatening the US is not gonna go over well with Kimmy's mommy country, either maybe?

    Sorry - there's nothing about this "report" that even starts to sound logical to me.
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    • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
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      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I don't see this as anything but a publicity stunt. I know I didn't have one drop in the movie until I heard this stuff.

      A threatened cyber attack keeps people out of a theater? What is being said? Did Kimmy say that he has people over here that are gonna bomb the theatres or mass shoot the customers? If that is the case, then there are people here that our highly paid FBI and CIA should be kicking right back across the ocean if not jailing, ya think? Threatening the US is not gonna go over well with Kimmy's mommy country, either maybe?

      Sorry - there's nothing about this "report" that even starts to sound logical to me.
      It became a bit more than a cyber attack...the hackers threatened a physical attack on theaters that showed the movie.

      We will clearly show it to you at the very time and places 'The Interview' be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to," the hacking group said. "The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001.
      Sony hackers threaten moviegoers with terrorist acts - Dec. 16, 2014

      The hacker group the "Guardians of Peace" is supposedly behind the hack and the threats. After that threat was made the major movie theater chains started dropping like flies. No credible evidence of a security threat exists.

      Sony has already suffered significant damage due to the hack.

      The feds say they have found linkage and are are naming North Korea as the hacking instigator.

      http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/no...icials-n270451

      Cheers

      -don
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

        It became a bit more than a cyber attack...the hackers threatened a physical attack on theaters that showed the movie.



        Sony hackers threaten moviegoers with terrorist acts - Dec. 16, 2014

        The hacker group the "Guardians of Peace" is supposedly behind the hack and the threats. After that threat was made the major movie theater chains started dropping like flies. No credible evidence of a security threat exists.

        Sony has already suffered significant damages dues to the hack.

        The feds say they have found linkage and are are naming North Korea as the hacking instigator.

        North Korea Behind Sony Hack: U.S. Officials - NBC News
        Cheers

        -don
        I get the highly emotional response, and I share it.

        But the correct business response is to not knowingly walk into a situation with an elevated chance of another theatre massacre. They have threatened blood.

        http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/17/bu...interview.html

        Would they dare? Who knows. There is no reason to believe they are not crazed enough to do it though.
        Threatened blood is a declaration of war.

        So now we just stand down when war is declared on us? Great. We should have hand delivered a message to NK for that one. Who else is going to tell us how we're gonna live now and why bother to have a government if it's every country in the world's business to tell us what we will and will not do. I say fill those theaters with concealed carriers - check for bombs, armed security and undercover security -- and play that movie. This has gotten ridiculous.

        It's a MOVIE. Nobody said that they were gonna run over and kill Kim for cripes sakes. This world needs to get a grip.
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        • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
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          Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

          It's a MOVIE. Nobody said that they were gonna run over and kill Kim for cripes sakes. This world needs to get a grip.
          I hear you on that one!

          Some pundits are saying the feds should step and make sure things are safe --> but if the feds stepped up they would probably say cancel the public showings. The feds have said they don't have any credible evidence that any sort of related attack is imminent. I have also heard several people ask the question --> "Is this an act of war?"

          The theaters are in the people business and they are acting with an abundance of caution. Unfortunately, the terrorists seem to be winning this one with words alone.

          Cheers

          -don
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      • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
        Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

        The hacker group the "Guardians of Peace"
        Hmmm . . . Guardians of Peace . . . the GOP . . .























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        • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Midnight Oil View Post

          Hmmm . . . Guardians of Peace . . . the GOP . . .
          Yeah, several "news" organizations have been using that reference.

          Cheers

          -don
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    I get the highly emotional response, and I share it.

    But the correct business response is to not knowingly walk into a situation with an elevated chance of another theatre massacre. They have threatened blood.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/17/bu...interview.html

    Would they dare? Who knows. There is no reason to believe they are not crazed enough to do it though.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    It's actually against the law to even HAVE it, let alone show it:

    News Default Page - FreeRealTime.com

    Sony Pictures Entertainment has postponed indefinitely the theatrical release of The Interview, a comedy starring James Franco and Seth Rogen as American broadcast journalists enlisted by the CIA to assassinate Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea.

    Franco and Rogen, who are both active Twitter users, have not yet commented on the decision to cancel the movie's release.

    The film studio's computer system was hacked by an anonymous group known only as the Guardians of Peace, which cited its outrage over the film as its motivation. Tens of thousands of private documents -- including copies of unreleased films, screenplays, financial information and personal emails -- were released online.
    So HOW could a Movie chain ****CLAIM**** to not be showing a movie that they aren't allowed to have. SONY cancelled it!

    They introduced a set of thunderbird type series some time ago, and one of the marrienettes Was KIM JUNG IL!!!!! HERE is one of his scenes from the movie!


    It is said that he was upset about THAT! They LOVE killing communication channels, so this is NOTHING new! HECK, the terrorists did the SAME with a CARTOONIST in DENMARK!!!!!

    BTW I say THUNDERBIRDS because this hearkens back to an old show in the 1960s!


    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
      Banned
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      It's actually against the law to even HAVE it, let alone show it:

      So HOW could a Movie chain ****CLAIM**** to not be showing a movie that they aren't allowed to have. SONY cancelled it!
      Good grief, Steve! The Interview was set to show in theaters across the nation on Christmas Day! The New York premiere set for tomorrow has been cancelled, the regular showings across the nation have been cancelled, and Sony allowed the scheduled theaters to pull out of the screenings! According to Sony they have no future plans to release the movie in any form.

      After several theater chains pulled out Sony has cancelled the entire theatrical release.

      FTR --> The Interview has not yet been turned loose on pirate sites.

      Cheers

      -don
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    Then again, this could also be a publicity stunt to generate interest in the movie or even a false flag to generate interest in our next military action.
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    • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
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      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

      Then again, this could also be a publicity stunt to generate interest in the movie or even a false flag to generate interest in our next military action.
      Conspiracy theory much? Let me get this straight --> You think it's possible that Sony is trying to seriously damage themselves (or the U.S. Gov is doing this to them) for publicity? Or they are trying to seriously damage themselves (or the U.S. Gov is doing this to them) to drum up a war with North Korea?

      I think I've heard it all now...

      While intelligence officials have concluded that the cyberattack was both state-sponsored and far more destructive than any seen before on American soil, there are still differences of opinion over whether North Korea was aided by Sony insiders with knowledge of the company’s computer systems, senior administration officials said.

      “This is of a different nature than past attacks,” one official said.

      An attack that began by wiping out data on corporate computers — something that had been previously seen in South Korea and Saudi Arabia — had turned “into a threat to the safety of Americans,” the official said. But echoing a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the official said there was no specific information that an attack was likely.
      But there is a long forensic trail involving the Sony hacking, several security researchers said. The attackers used readily available commercial tools to wipe data off Sony’s machines. They also borrowed tools and techniques that had been used in at least two previous attacks, one in Saudi Arabia two years ago — widely attributed to Iran — and another last year in South Korea aimed at banks and media companies.

      The Sony attacks were routed from command-and-control centers across the world, including a convention center in Singapore and Thammasat University in Thailand, the researchers said. But one of those servers, in Bolivia, had been used in limited cyberattacks on South Korean targets two years ago. That suggests that the same group or individuals may have been behind the Sony attack.

      The Sony malware shares remarkable similarities with that used in attacks on South Korean banks and broadcasters last year. Those intrusions, which also destroyed data belonging to their victims, are believed to have been the work of a cybercriminal gang known as Dark Seoul. Some experts say they cannot rule out the possibility that the Sony attack was the work of a Dark Seoul copycat, the security researchers said.

      The Sony attack also borrowed a wiping tool from an attack two years ago at Saudi Aramco, the national oil company, where hackers wiped off data on 30,000 of the company’s computers, replacing it with an image of a burning American flag.

      Security experts were never able to track down those hackers, though United States officials have long said they believed the attacks emanated from Iran, using tools that are now on the black market.
      http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/wo...y-hacking.html

      Let us not forget that Sony Corporation (founded by Masaru Ibuka & Akio Morita) is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Kōnan Minato, Tokyo, Japan.

      Cheers

      -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

    I'm sure it will be out on DVD and on HBO soon enough. I was looking forward to seeing it.
    We shall see how long the stand down holds...

    Sony Pictures Entertainment has chosen to stand down for “The Interview,” deciding against releasing the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy in any form — including VOD or DVD, as U.S. officials reportedly link Sony’s massive cyber attack to North Korea.

    “Sony Pictures has no further release plans for the film,” a spokesman said Wednesday.

    The studio issued the statement a few hours after pulling the planned Christmas Day release of “The Interview” in the U.S. in response to the hackers who threatened a 9/11-style attack against U.S. theaters and moviegoers if the comedy were released.

    By late Wednesday afternoon, the studio had removed any mention of “The Interview” from its official web site.

    The move could open the door for Sony to sell the rights to a rival distributor — though Hollywood is still reeling from Tuesday’s invocation of a possible terrorist attack on exhibitors if they screened “The Interview.”

    Prior to the decision to pull the controversial movie, a Sony Pictures insider had told Variety that the studio was weighing releasing the film on premium video-on-demand. Such a move would have allowed the studio to recoup some of the film’s $42 million budget and tens of millions in promotion and advertising expenditures.
    https://variety.com/2014/film/news/s...ew-1201382167/

    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    As far as I'm concerned - if we were threatened, we should feel obligated to run it. They've warned us they will shed blood -- and I would think we should be able to handle security of any theater between bomb squades, secret service, citizens with concealed carry - and some military.

    When someone threatens you like this - the worst thing you can do is cower. If we take a stand now - it will be the end of the threats. If we back down - we're going to get threatened every time we breathe crooked. If we can't keep an attack out of a few theaters to run this show - we're pretty screwed, because there's a lot of different factions right now that feel because of our PC stupidity they can tell us exactly what and what not to do.

    As far as I'm concerned - they just forced our hand to show it.
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
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      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      As far as I'm concerned - if we were threatened, we should feel obligated to run it.
      How big of a commercial success do you actually think it would be with the threat of a terrorist attack and it is simply not feasible to guard every single theater for every single showing that runs it. Who would actually want to go spend money in a heavily guarded theater, knowing that there was a terrorist attack directed towards it?

      Not me. Not a lot of people. Entertainment is supposed to be fun. Not life threatening. If one person died, Sony's head would be on the chopping block.
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

        How big of a commercial success do you actually think it would be with the threat of a terrorist attack and it is simply not feasible to guard every single theater for every single showing that runs it. Who would actually want to go spend money in a heavily guarded theater, knowing that there was a terrorist attack directed towards it?

        Not me. Not a lot of people. Entertainment is supposed to be fun. Not life threatening. If one person died, Sony's head would be on the chopping block.
        Foreign leaders are also not supposed to be able to threaten us with bloodshed because they don't like something we see or do. That was so out of line that it's unspeakable - yet people are "scared" to disobey Kimmy? Come on. Really? I know a lot of people who would go see it regardless of threats - I'd go just to stand that little twerk down.

        As I think I stated (but maybe not) - if we can't handle putting a building through a bomb squad and make sure that it's safe, we're in a lot deeper dookie than showing cowardice over little Kimmy's ranting.

        Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

        At first I was peeved that the movie was pulled. How dare somebody try to bully Us like this?! Then I thought about it...

        It wasn't the American government that bowed in deference.

        It wasn't the American people that kowtowed.

        Hell, it wasn't even an American company.

        My only concern is how this will affect gutsy filmmakers. If cyber terrorists can shut down a stupid, pointless movie such as The Interview, what will happen to the next Schindler's List?
        This. Exactly. If comedy can be shut down - what can't be. Sometimes the world's got to know things -- but if we're so butt scared that we can't even show a harmless comedy -- what happens when something really important comes along and we are silenced? This is NOT a good precedence.
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

          Foreign leaders are also not supposed to be able to threaten us with bloodshed because they don't like something we see or do. That was so out of line that it's unspeakable - yet people are "scared" to disobey Kimmy? Come on. Really? I know a lot of people who would go see it regardless of threats - I'd go just to stand that little twerk down.
          \

          These kinds of threats happen all the time with war declared, etc... Putin said similar things in the past week. A few weeks ago, or was it a couple months, one russian official threatened us.

          As I think I stated (but maybe not) - if we can't handle putting a building through a bomb squad and make sure that it's safe, we're in a lot deeper dookie than showing cowardice over little Kimmy's ranting.
          Yeah, in theory, such a technology will never exist. What do you do? Design a product to somehow analyze every atom and make sure they are all as they should be? What happens if someone drops a cookie or something? Look at what the TSA does to do what little THEY do!

          This. Exactly. If comedy can be shut down - what can't be. Sometimes the world's got to know things -- but if we're so butt scared that we can't even show a harmless comedy -- what happens when something really important comes along and we are silenced? This is NOT a good precedence.
          Well, there WAS that guy in denmark, and southpark, etc... So this is NOT the first time! Ironically, ALL were comedy!

          Steve
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          • Profile picture of the author HeySal
            Originally Posted by seasoned View Post


            These kinds of threats happen all the time with war declared, etc... Putin said similar things in the past week. A few weeks ago, or was it a couple months, one russian official threatened us.

            Steve
            Over a movie? Get a grip. Putin is threatening because of a lot of other stuff, not because we made a movie he doesn't like.

            South Park offends a lot of people. That's kinda what the cartoon is actually about, ya know? The point to the whole show is about how stupid the PC crowd gets. Watching people rage over it just makes the whole point even funnier to those who understand the point of view of the show creators.
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            • Profile picture of the author seasoned
              Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

              Over a movie? Get a grip. Putin is threatening because of a lot of other stuff, not because we made a movie he doesn't like.
              Your right about that, but I never said he did!

              South Park offends a lot of people. That's kinda what the cartoon is actually about, ya know? The point to the whole show is about how stupid the PC crowd gets. Watching people rage over it just makes the whole point even funnier to those who understand the point of view of the show creators.
              YEAH! Christians, Jews, Hindus, BUT..... There IS one group they HAVEN'T!

              Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author socialentry
          Banned
          Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

          Foreign leaders are also not supposed to be able to threaten us with bloodshed because they don't like something we see or do. That was so out of line that it's unspeakable - yet people are "scared" to disobey Kimmy? Come on. Really? I know a lot of people who would go see it regardless of threats - I'd go just to stand that little twerk down.

          As I think I stated (but maybe not) - if we can't handle putting a building through a bomb squad and make sure that it's safe, we're in a lot deeper dookie than showing cowardice over little Kimmy's ranting.



          This. Exactly. If comedy can be shut down - what can't be. Sometimes the world's got to know things -- but if we're so butt scared that we can't even show a harmless comedy -- what happens when something really important comes along and we are silenced? This is NOT a good precedence.
          Wow there. Who said that the DPRK did it.

          Clearly, it is the work of Americans sympathetic to the DPRK

          Statement from the DPRK:

          Originally Posted by Democratic People's Republic of Korea

          The SONY Pictures, a film producer in the U.S., has reportedly been attacked by hackers.
          The hacking is so fatal that all the systems of the company have been paralyzed, causing the overall suspension of the work and supposedly a huge ensuing loss.
          Much upset by this, the U.S. mobilized many investigation bodies including FBI, CIA and the Department of Homeland Security for urgent investigation and recovery of the system.
          We do not know where in America the SONY Pictures is situated and for what wrongdoings it became the target of the attack nor we feel the need to know about it.
          But what we clearly know is that the SONY Pictures is the very one which was going to produce a film abetting a terrorist act while hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK by taking advantage of the hostile policy of the U.S. administration towards the DPRK.
          We already called upon the world to turn out in the just struggle to put an end to U.S. imperialism, the chieftain of aggression and the worst human rights abuser that tramples down the universal rights of people to peaceful and stable life and violates the sovereignty of other countries, as well as its followers.
          The hacking into the SONY Pictures might be a righteous deed of the supporters and sympathizers with the DPRK in response to its appeal.
          What matters here is that the U.S. set the DPRK as the target of the investigation, far from reflecting on its wrongdoings and being shameful of being taken unawares. And the south Korean group, keen on serving its master, groundlessly linked the hacking attack with the DPRK and floated the "story about the north's involvement", an indication of its inveterate bitterness towards its country fellowmen.
          The U.S. and south Korean puppet group are all accustomed to pulling up others for no specific reason when something undesirable happens in their own land.
          The south Korean puppet group went the lengths of floating the false rumor that the north was involved in the hacking that happened in the U.S., a country far across the ocean.
          It should be well aware that it can not evade the severe punishment by the anti-U.S. sacred war to be staged all over the world if it blindly curries favor with the U.S. as now.
          The U.S. should also know that there are a great number of supporters and sympathizers with the DPRK all over the world as well as the "champions of peace" who attacked the SONY Pictures.
          The righteous reaction will get stronger to smash the evildoings.
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        • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
          Banned
          Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

          Foreign leaders are also not supposed to be able to threaten us with bloodshed because they don't like something we see or do. That was so out of line that it's unspeakable - yet people are "scared" to disobey Kimmy? Come on. Really? I know a lot of people who would go see it regardless of threats - I'd go just to stand that little twerk down.
          Well it looks like you won't have that opportunity, but I wouldn't join you. As I said, I don't care a hoot about that ill conceived movie or Kim whathisname. In addition, the Sony hacking is no more or no less than the cyber warfare that this country, in conjunction with Israel, launched on Iran with Stuxnet. I'm certain that the US is still covertly involved in cyberwarfare against other nations to this day.

          As for threatening violence, they may or may not have been able to pull it off, but to suggest that this country is going to move an army to every theater for every showing to guard them is pretty ridiculous. As for citizens arming themselves to go to a movie that probably stinks at Christmas time is pretty far fetched too. I'm certain you could rustle up a few who don't have better things to do at Christmas, but I wouldn't be in that group.

          I'm certain that the US government will respond to the ID theft of Sony's sys admin that got them the access to Sony's data, but to suggest that the US doesn't do the same thing (without the threats of violence) is simply not true. They just don't do it over movies.

          PressTV - US launches cyber war against Iran, Russia and China: Expert

          Opinion: Has U.S. started an Internet war? - CNN.com

          U.S. spy agencies mounted 231 offensive cyber-operations in 2011, documents show - The Washington Post
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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    I suspect there is much that hasn't been publicly released, that could be very damaging to Sony and could be a contributing factor to their recent decisions.

    (On another note, it is funny that that clownish little turd who heads North Korea imagines that he could look even worse and more ridiculous than he already does. I personally believe that his days are numbered. He's angered China and that can't end nicely. Neither China nor South Korea want a total regime collapse, I don't think. They would naturally favor a regime modification..perhaps as a result of an illness that seems to be caused by the Dear Leader's bad habits).
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  • Profile picture of the author Rick Rodd
    I love Rogen and company, and their brand of comedy might be offensive to some, but it only gets funnier as soon as people overreact to it. The hype is indeed working. I guess the world has to adapt to the fact that is no longer black-and-white political farce but a psychosocial propaganda-- people's opinions via social media and the interwebs... *yawn*
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Did I say I thought it was a publicity stunt? Ya know something -- apparently other people decided that Kim is not the dictator of the US, either.

    There's this funny thing about terror. Once you bend to it - you are always bending to it. Terrorist love cowardism.

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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      There's this funny thing about terror. Once you bend to it - you are always bending to it. Terrorist love cowardism.
      Well, you have to actually give a shit about something before you're willing to die for it and I for one, never intended to see the movie to begin with and wouldn't now if I could. It's a movie. ho hum. Sony needs to come up with better ideas and stop gossiping about all the actors and actresses.

      And by the looks of the image on the opening screen of the video you posted, they didn't even get Kim right. Kim is a big fat doughboy with a ridiculous haircut. The guy in that pic didn't closely resemble the grotesque ahole that Kim is. Geeesh. You think they could have found someone to do it who was a lot fatter and uglier.
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      • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
        Banned
        Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

        You think they could have found someone to do it who was a lot fatter and uglier.
        Sorry. I had a prior commitment.

        Cheers. - Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    OK, now there's at least two people that movies about them will make all hell break loose...

    Kim, the present day leader of North Korea and the prophet Muhammad.

    Is there anyone else who could generate this type of response from their followers?
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

      OK, now there's at least two people that movies about them will make all hell break loose...

      Kim, the present day leader of North Korea and the prophet Muhammad.

      Is there anyone else who could generate this type of response from their followers?
      TL; Nobody has attempted to make a movie about me. Hollywood is so afraid of me, that they won't even whisper my name.

      They only call me by the name...The Professor.

      Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

      Sorry. Riffle had a prior commitment.

      Cheers. - Frank

      Suzanne said that he was fatter and uglier. So I fixed your post for you.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        They only call me by the name...The Professor.
        OH, yeah, they did a series about you with 6 other people! Funny contraptions, I'll give you that!

        Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        TL; Nobody has attempted to make a movie about me. Hollywood is so afraid of me, that they won't even whisper my name.

        They only call me by the name...The Professor.
        ... and we all know what kind of hell breaks loose when "the professor" tries to sneak in here. lol.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        TL; Nobody has attempted to make a movie about me.
        Wait, I thought Napolean Dynamite was loosely based on your high school years, except they went with a much better looking, slimmer, more athletically talented lead and added the part about you being interested in girls and having any social skills whatsoever.

        Could I be wrong about this?
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        • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
          Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

          Wait, I thought Napolean Dynamite was loosely based on your high school years, except they went with a much better looking, slimmer, more athletically talented lead and added the part about you being interested in girls and having any social skills whatsoever.

          Could I be wrong about this?
          Yes, I thought he was Moby Dick?



          Just look at that forehead.
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

            Yes, I thought he was Moby Dick?



            Just look at that forehead.
            Moby Dick was my porn name. That isn't a forehead......

            (Brilliant play on words that would get the post deleted. But it ends in...skin)
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            • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
              Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

              Moby Dick was my porn name. That isn't a forehead......

              (Brilliant play on words that would get the post deleted. But it ends in...skin)


              You are right but the top bit of the head could be the forehead and it's bald and shiny.

              Mother of God, I'm talking about the whale here in case anyone gets the wrong impression.
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              • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
                Had I known that this wasn't a proper question to ask here, I probably would have just gone and found out what it was all about first and then offered my opinion on it.

                I probably also overreacted to Suzzane's suggestion and for that I'm sorry.

                Now that that's out of the way, my thoughts on all this.

                The movie was stupid to be made to begin with. What was Sony thinking? They had to know this was going to start a shit storm.

                That doesn't mean I agree with caving in to terrorism, but still. This was just a dumb idea from the start and whoever it was at Sony who gave the go ahead with this project should be fired.

                See, now we've set a precedent. Imagine trying to make Schindler's List AFTER this fiasco? It would never happen. Some group would threaten the movie company over that as well and the movie would be pulled.

                You can pretty much say goodbye to any controversially political movie involving other countries.

                Still, what were they thinking? SMH
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                • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                  Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

                  The movie was stupid to be made to begin with. What was Sony thinking? They had to know this was going to start a shit storm.

                  That doesn't mean I agree with caving in to terrorism, but still. This was just a dumb idea from the start and whoever it was at Sony who gave the go ahead with this project should be fired.
                  I agree.


                  In North Korea, they worship this guy as a god. And he sells himself that way. This film was a threat to them....to their image of their leader.

                  I still want to see it.
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                  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
                    Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

                    I agree.


                    In North Korea, they worship this guy as a god. And he sells himself that way. This film was a threat to them....to their image of their leader.

                    I still want to see it.
                    Me too. And OMG it's 40 years since this one.

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                  • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
                    Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

                    In North Korea, they worship this guy
                    I think 'fear' may be more accurate.

                    It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the hackers involved in this are doing so at gunpoint, in fear for their lives and the lives of their families.
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                    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                      Originally Posted by Midnight Oil View Post

                      I think 'fear' may be more accurate.

                      It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the hackers involved in this are doing so at gunpoint, in fear for their lives and the lives of their families.
                      Isn't half of worship...fear?

                      But it was a good point.
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            • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
              Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

              Moby Dick was my porn name.
              Is that like when you call a guy with no left arm "Lefty"?
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              • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
                Uhh, guys, turning this into a porn thread isn't any better.

                Just sayin is all.


                Terra
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                • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
                  Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

                  Uhh, guys, turning this into a porn thread isn't any better.

                  Just sayin is all.


                  Terra
                  Yeah, fair point, back to Steve.

                  Dammit Steve, don't come here again and ask QUESTIONS, WHY DON'T YOU BLADDY WELL USE GOOGLE.

                  (Sorry Steve, better than chatting about Moby Dick)

                  More to the thread point, here's the killer. Much to my enormous surprise, Kim doesn't apparently have a sense of humour.
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                • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
                  Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

                  Uhh, guys, turning this into a porn thread isn't any better.

                  Just sayin is all.


                  Terra

                  Any better than what?
                  Signature

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                  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
                    Okay, this is really weird. When I go to use my mouse to highlight a block of text here, it works fine each and every time. But when I go to Photoshop and try to highlight a section of a photo to crop it, it keeps breaking connection before I get to finish my highlight. I have to do this sometimes 5 or 6 times before the entire highlight will take. At first I thought it was my mouse. Now I'm not so sure what the problem is. Seems to only happen in Photoshop and I've never had this problem before until today.

                    Oh, I'm sorry...Am I in the wrong forum?
                    (Damn I hate these ugly smilies)
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                    • Profile picture of the author LGCalab
                      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

                      Okay, this is really weird. When I go to use my mouse to highlight a block of text here, it works fine each and every time. But when I go to Photoshop and try to highlight a section of a photo to crop it, it keeps breaking connection before I get to finish my highlight. I have to do this sometimes 5 or 6 times before the entire highlight will take. At first I thought it was my mouse. Now I'm not so sure what the problem is. Seems to only happen in Photoshop and I've never had this problem before until today.

                      Oh, I'm sorry...Am I in the wrong forum?
                      (Damn I hate these ugly smilies)
                      Did you Google it? Sorry Steve, couldn't resist!

                      LG
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                  • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
                    Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

                    Any better than what?
                    Any better than lots of stuff!

                    GOOGLE it, Dan!!


                    Terra
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                    • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
                      Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

                      Any better than lots of stuff!

                      GOOGLE it, Dan!!


                      Terra
                      I googled it and the first thing that came up was this thread.

                      Getting an answer from you is the conversational equivalent of an Ouroboros.
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                      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                        Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

                        I googled it and the first thing that came up was this thread.

                        Getting an answer from you is the conversational equivalent of an Ouroboros.
                        Great. Now I had to look up Ouroboros. Of course, it's a snake with it's tail in it's own mouth....so I know why the word is familiar to you.
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                      • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
                        Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

                        I googled it and the first thing that came up was this thread.

                        Getting an answer from you is the conversational equivalent of an Ouroboros.
                        I like it! Terra ~ The never ending story


                        Terra
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                      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
                        Youtube had a clip of the actual scene yesterday. I shared it widely to show what people were all in huffs over. It's about a 30 second - maybe a minute scene in the whole movie.

                        I can see how it would have been upsetting to Kimmy - because the guy looked so much like him. It was a spectacular scene (in case you didn't catch it before youtube doused it). It also was a FICTION movie. Fiction. No threat, no reality. The movie, like many of our movies before it from countries all over the world, was just a fiction story and almost any nation on earth could have been substituted for NK. The difference is - no other country would have had freaking terror threat tantrums over it.

                        To actually run around threatening blood over it is still inexcusable. Not what was the person who made the film thinking -- what the hell is Kimmy thinking?

                        We've just opened the door to have the arts shut down any time someone doesn't like something. There was no threat to us, or him, or anyone. There was just some guy ranting at a gruesome scene in a piece of fiction.

                        Anyway - hundreds of thousands, if not millions, saw that scene before Youtube yanked it.........kinda like any other trailer to a movie. The whole video was not ripped - just less than a minute. So where's that threat stand now? I saw it and shared it on here and on a few other media. We're still standing.

                        Good grief. Now I am wondering what's going on that our attention has been diverted this time. It was a pretty good diversion, I guess. Some people actually fell into the "oh no -save us" mode over it.
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              • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

                Is that like when you call a guy with no left arm "Lefty"?
                Yup. It's like when I tell you "Brilliant post".
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

          Wait, I thought Napolean Dynamite was loosely based on your high school years, except they went with a much better looking, slimmer, more athletically talented lead and added the part about you being interested in girls and having any social skills whatsoever.

          Could I be wrong about this?
          He was a better dancer too....and had more charisma.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    I have absolutely no idea what anybody is talking about. What is the movie about and why has the release been canceled?
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      I have absolutely no idea what anybody is talking about. What is the movie about and why has the release been canceled?
      Since you're completely in the dark perhaps you should just google sony and the movie name in google news. It's been all over the news for a couple of weeks or so.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

        Since you're completely in the dark perhaps you should just google sony and the movie name in google news. It's been all over the news for a couple of weeks or so.
        See, that I could have figured out by myself. But I figured (wrongly obviously) that just as I might go up to a friend of mine and ask him a question about something that I knew he knew about and didn't want to spend a lot of time digging through resources to find answers to, he'd be a good friend and answer my question.

        Apparently, I don't have any friends here. Just people who I happen to know.

        Kind of sad. But thanks anyway Suzanne. I could have figured that out on my own.

        ** EDIT ** Looked it up. Oh THAT stupid movie. I didn't know that was the name of it. I'd seen the commercial for it once and thought it was dumb. They pulled it? Eh, doesn't surprise me. We cave in to pretty much everything these days.
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        • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

          See, that I could have figured out by myself. But I figured (wrongly obviously) that just as I might go up to a friend of mine and ask him a question about something that I knew he knew about and didn't want to spend a lot of time digging through resources to find answers to, he'd be a good friend and answer my question.

          Apparently, I don't have any friends here. Just people who I happen to know.

          Kind of sad. But thanks anyway Suzanne. I could have figured that out on my own.
          Oh for crying out loud Steven ... dump the poor me act just because someone requested that you Google it to get caught up. There's three stories ... the hacking, the movie, the threats and hundreds of stories on each.

          So we should just type all that background info in for your convenience or we're not your friends. lol.
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          • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
            Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

            Oh for crying out loud Steven ... dump the poor me act just because someone requested that you Google it to get caught up. There's three stories ... the hacking, the movie, the threats and hundreds of stories on each.

            So we should just type all that background info in for your convenience or we're not your friends. lol.
            Yeah Suzanne, because my FRIEND would have answered my question.
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            • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
              Banned
              Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

              Yeah Suzanne, because my FRIEND would have answered my question.
              My friend wouldn't have asked me to do all the work for him that he is perfectly capable of doing himself. Google is your friend.
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              • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
                Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

                My friend wouldn't have asked me to do all the work for him that he is perfectly capable of doing himself. Google is your friend.
                If you already knew the answer to my question, what work was there for you to do? Type a couple of sentences?

                People have asked questions at this forum about marketing that I responded to with pages of content. Don't take my word for it. Look up my history here. These were people who I didn't even know. I could have easily just said to them "Google it" and be done with it. I didn't. I took the time to answer a question that was asked.

                I've been here 8 years. I asked a simple question. It would have taken 2 minutes to answer it.

                And with that, I'll quietly leave this thread so i can get back to things that are actually important, though it is a sad day that we've caved in to terrorism and have allowed this to happen.

                Again, not that I'm surprised.
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                • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
                  Banned
                  Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

                  If you already knew the answer to my question, what work was there for you to do? Type a couple of sentences?
                  ....

                  And with that, I'll quietly leave this thread so i can get back to things that are actually important, though it is a sad day that we've caved in to terrorism and have allowed this to happen.

                  Again, not that I'm surprised.
                  You're still the same old Steven you always were, aren't you? That nicer Steven who pretended humility was a class act, I must say. If you bothered to keep up with news, you'd know that it's far more than a couple of minutes or a couple of sentences to the story, and no, I feel like I've already wasted minutes on you at this point.
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                  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
                    Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

                    You're still the same old Steven you always were, aren't you? That nicer Steven who pretended humility was a class act, I must say. If you bothered to keep up with news, you'd know that it's far more than a couple of minutes or a couple of sentences to the story, and no, I feel like I've already wasted minutes on you at this point.
                    Suzanne, I'm simply disappointed that you couldn't answer a simple question. Had I called my friend Paul on the phone just now and asked him the same question, he would have answered me.

                    This has nothing to do with humility or class. It has to do with being totally dumbfounded that a simple question couldn't be answered. In fact, after having gone to Google and done the research I could have answered my question in two short paragraphs.

                    Is that really asking so much?

                    So yes, I'm disappointed.
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                    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
                      Banned
                      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

                      Suzanne, I'm simply disappointed that you couldn't answer a simple question. Had I called my friend Paul
                      ...

                      So yes, I'm disappointed.
                      I did in fact answer your question politely and then I get the poor poor pitiful Steve routine.
                      Grow up. Seriously .... or

                      BETTER CALL PAUL
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              • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
                Personally I think the Movie, judging from the trailers, plus the over all concept is trash, maybe even dangerous. Come on, a movie about assassinating a sitting leader of a country?

                But I agree with others that allowing this "computer threat" to win is even more dangerous. And believe me terrorist from around the world is taking copious notes.
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                • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
                  Sony gave the OK for the theaters to not show the movie before they did so, and also did eventually pull the movie from any type of release.
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                  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                    Banned
                    Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

                    Sony gave the OK for the theaters to not show the movie before they did so, and also did eventually pull the movie from any type of release.
                    Obviously you must have missed my post above. Sony is trying to get VOD and/or streaming delivery but so far nobody has stepped up. According to some, they will not step up because they don't want to get hacked. The fact remains that the theaters refused to show the movie.

                    Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

                    The Sony Pictures CEO has done a in-depth interview with CNN that is already in the can which will be airing soon. The Sony CEO said that film may be released later, and the fact remains that nobody would show the movie when it was released on the 25th.
                    The Sony Pictures CEO has done a in-depth interview with CNN that is already in the can which will be airing soon. The Sony CEO said that film may be released later, and the fact remains that nobody would show the movie when it was released on the 25th.

                    It sounds like negotiations are ongoing to stream this movie or offer it on VOD. Supposedly they have even discussed releasing the movie on YouTube.

                    According to the Sony Pictures CEO...no major VOD distributors or ECOM sites have stepped up to deliver the movie for them. The Sony CEO says he would make the movie again...

                    So as it stands now, according to Sony --> Netflix, On Demand and/or another major VOD distributor(s) need to step up. According to some sources, these entities are afraid of getting hacked if they run the movie.
                    Cheers

                    -don
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                    • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
                      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

                      Obviously you must have missed my post above. Sony is trying to get VOD and/or streaming delivery but so far nobody has stepped up. According to some, they will not step up because they don't want to get hacked. The fact remains that the theaters refused to show the movie.





                      Cheers

                      -don
                      I read elsewhere that a Sony rep told USA Today "there will be no further release plans of any kind."

                      I think Sony is doing some backpedaling and face saving now after all the criticism.
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                      • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                        Banned
                        Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

                        I read elsewhere that a Sony rep told USA Today "there will be no further release plans of any kind."

                        I think Sony is doing some backpedaling and face saving now after all the criticism.
                        I just listened to the Sony Pictures CEO say it himself on CNN. In-fact others on CNN have reported they have been negotiating for a while.

                        Save face? Backpeddaling? The friggen movie theaters won't play the damn movie. Good grief...

                        Watch Fareed Zakaria's interview with Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton when it is aired in it's entirety on Sunday.

                        Cheers

                        -don
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                • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                  Banned
                  Originally Posted by The Niche Man View Post

                  Personally I think the Movie, judging from the trailers, plus the over all concept is trash, maybe even dangerous. Come on, a movie about assassinating a sitting leader of a country?
                  I figure you missed the award winning British mockumentary political thriller. released in 2006, about the assignation of George W. Bush in Chicago.

                  Most of the reviews were not so hot...

                  http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/death_of_a_president/

                  Death of a President (2006) - IMDb

                  Death of a President - Awards - IMDb

                  Cheers

                  -don
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  • Profile picture of the author alistair
    I don't know much about the story as I haven't watched the news that much lately, but I do think that pulling it definitely sends out the wrong message.

    Some of the responses here do make me chuckle though. Talk about getting your knickers in a twist.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    While you're at it, Suzanne, would you bring us up to speed on the Cuba situation? I'll require the full backstory, if you don't mind.

    You're a peach.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    At first I was peeved that the movie was pulled. How dare somebody try to bully Us like this?! Then I thought about it...

    It wasn't the American government that bowed in deference.

    It wasn't the American people that kowtowed.

    Hell, it wasn't even an American company.

    My only concern is how this will affect gutsy filmmakers. If cyber terrorists can shut down a stupid, pointless movie such as The Interview, what will happen to the next Schindler's List?
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      At first I was peeved that the movie was pulled. How dare somebody try to bully Us like this?! Then I thought about it...

      It wasn't the American government that bowed in deference.

      It wasn't the American people that kowtowed.

      Hell, it wasn't even an American company.

      My only concern is how this will affect gutsy filmmakers. If cyber terrorists can shut down a stupid, pointless movie such as The Interview, what will happen to the next Schindler's List?
      Right you are and that caliber of movie would have made all the difference in my response. An important movie vs a not so important movie.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    Here's the answer to my question.

    The movie's about getting an interview with the leader of North Korea and a plot to kill him. North Korean terrorists hacked Sony and threatened to blow up movie theaters if the movie was released. Because of this, Sony pulled the movie.

    Wow, even shorter than I thought.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      Here's the answer to my question.

      The movie's about getting an interview with the leader of North Korea and a plot to kill him. North Korean terrorists hacked Sony and threatened to blow up movie theaters if the movie was released. Because of this, Sony pulled the movie.

      Wow, even shorter than I thought.
      It is amazing what one can accomplish with just a smidgen of internal effort...
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Originally Posted by Jack Gordon View Post

        It is amazing what one can accomplish with just a smidgen of internal effort...
        You're right Jack. And the next time somebody asks a question at this forum I'll simply tell them to Google it.

        Later.
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        • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
          Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

          You're right Jack. And the next time somebody asks a question at this forum I'll simply tell them to Google it.

          Later.
          lol, such passive-aggressiveness. I feel like I am arguing with my wife.

          How about this... the next time somebody on a marketing forum asks you to explain something as complex as international affairs, I think it is permissible to suggest that maybe they could do their research elsewhere, without sounding like an ass.

          When they ask a question that actually has to do with marketing, however, and you have some relevant experience to share, maybe - just maybe - that would be your opportunity to add some value to that person's day. Right there. On the forum.

          And now I feel like I am teaching one of my children how to get along with others. Is this for real?
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          • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
            Originally Posted by Jack Gordon View Post

            lol, such passive-aggressiveness. I feel like I am arguing with my wife.

            How about this... the next time somebody on a marketing forum asks you to explain something as complex as international affairs, I think it is permissible to suggest that maybe they could do their research elsewhere, without sounding like an ass.

            When they ask a question that actually has to do with marketing, however, and you have some relevant experience to share, maybe - just maybe - that would be your opportunity to add some value to that person's day. Right there. On the forum.

            And now I feel like I am teaching one of my children how to get along with others. Is this for real?
            Complex? Seriously? Seems pretty simple to me.

            US makes movie that pisses off North Korea

            North Korea hacks Sony and threatens to kill people if movie is shown

            Sony pulls movie to avoid any violence.

            How complex is that?
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            • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
              Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

              TL; Nobody has attempted to make a movie about me. Hollywood is so afraid of me, that they won't even whisper my name.

              They only call me by the name...The Professor.




              Suzanne said that he was fatter and uglier. So I fixed your post for you.
              You know that WC is dying to reply to this, but can only post once a week, (or once a month?) and he needs to cut down on his multivitamin milkshakes, before logging on here!

              No, doubt if he had not been clobbered again, we might have seen this?

              See l told you so, Nuke them all?

              But in a nice way!


              Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

              Complex? Seriously? Seems pretty simple to me.

              US makes movie that pisses off North Korea

              North Korea hacks Sony and threatens to kill people if movie is shown

              Sony pulls movie to avoid any violence.

              How complex is that?
              Why are we arguing about this, let's be honest it is that crappy Google comedy, (that was streened a while ago) set around a modern day dictator!

              No wonder Sony pulled it, who cares about another crappy comedy?

              If it was Avatar 2, and they plowed 300 million into it, then they might have risked it!

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              • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
                What I don't understand is why the Sony hacking thread has turned into a pick on Steven thread?

                Anyway, my view on the whole hacking and backing down issue is completely against the rules so I can only say, It's a secret Baby, I'll keep it to myself.


                Terra
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      • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Jack Gordon View Post

        It is amazing what one can accomplish with just a smidgen of internal effort...
        With a little more effort, he could have gotten the rest of the story ... all about the massive hacking, the embarrassing email leaks, the people whose jobs are now on the line because of those leaks, Sony's counterattack against torrent websites sharing its stolen data, etc. lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Signature

    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      IRONIC, HUH!?!?!? The VERY one I said Kim Jung Il was rumored to hate before! HEY, it IS funny!

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Sony's capitulation over this damn film is what they used to call "appeasement", over here, in the late 1930's.

        And if you were running some sort of "terrorist state", somewhere else on the planet, wouldn't you be looking at this fine mess and thinking something like "Hmmmm ... these guys do actually capitulate, sometimes, in the face of terrorism"?

        The reviews of the movie have been so bad that it's probably no great loss to anyone(?), and it's Sony's decision to make as they see fit, I suppose, but I find it all pretty concerning, to be honest.


        .
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        • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          Sony's capitulation over this damn film is what they used to call "appeasement", over here, in the late 1930's.

          And if you were running some sort of "terrorist state", somewhere else on the planet, wouldn't you be looking at this fine mess and thinking something like "Hmmmm ... these guys do actually capitulate, sometimes, in the face of terrorism"?

          The reviews of the movie have been so bad that it's probably no great loss to anyone(?), and it's Sony's decision to make as they see fit, I suppose, but I find it all pretty concerning, to be honest.

          .
          The lessons the world should have learned from the years leading up to WWII seem to have been lost. Most world leaders today are more like Chamberlin than Churchill. As are their country's citizens.
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          • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
            According to the hacker's latest demands, they don't want the film to ever see the light of day.

            "Now we want you never let the movie released, distributed or leaked in any form of, for instance, DVD or piracy."

            "we still have your private and sensitive data" and claims that they will "ensure the security of your data unless you make additional trouble."

            "And we want everything related to the movie, including its trailers, as well as its full version down from any website hosting them immediately."

            Sony Hackers Issue New Threat In Wake 'The Interview' Cancellation, Says CNN - TheWrap
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            • Profile picture of the author seasoned
              Originally Posted by Midnight Oil View Post

              According to the hacker's latest demands, they don't want the film to ever see the light of day.
              GOOD LUCK on this!!!!!!! Just this afternoon, I watched a film, from Deutsche Welle talking about this. It included scenes! The title was something like "North Korea can't take a joke"!

              Steve
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              • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                Banned
                Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

                GOOD LUCK on this!!!!!!! Just this afternoon, I watched a film, from Deutsche Welle talking about this. It included scenes! The title was something like "North Korea can't take a joke"!

                Steve
                The Sony CEO has already said folks are going to see the movie so I guess we shall see what the hackers next move will be shortly thereafter. Supposedly the U.S. may try to block the internet access of Bureau 121 and the other hacker groups that participated, but that seems quite far fetched unless they plan on shutting down the access for an entire country. I have heard a few cyber security guys saying the U.S. has some pretty far reaching cyber capability to shut down networks, but to shut down a network of hackers spanning several countries will be quite difficult, if not impossible.

                I think a giant exercise of the cat catching the mouse is just beginning for the U.S., but the bad news is the grid, the stock exchange etc. etc. etc. may be just as vulnerable to a major hack. They were saying today that the hackers did not gain initial access from a password that was super simple, but somehow did gain access to a system admin's credentials. These threats were going on for months so of course this is far past the game playing stage.

                Cheers

                -don
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    This article in the LA Weekly gives a good overview of the movie and why it's supposedly so scary to North Korea. It seems inevitable that this incident will cause 10x as many people to see The Interview, even if not right away. For me, it's the kind of movie I'd watch once it hits cable or Netflix.

    Seth Rogen
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Quite a few people are pointing the finger at Bureau 121 --> and many are saying that North Korea may have just won it's first cyber battle against the U.S.

    Info on Bureau 121...

    North Korea deep into cyber warfare, defector says - CNN.com

    Sony Hack: Secrets Of Unit 121, North Korea's Elite Hackers Who Live Like Stars In Luxury Hotel

    The North Korean genius state-sponsored hackers believed to be behind the Sony take-down | Daily Mail Online

    Gingrich on the cyberwar...

    http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/18/opinio...cyberwar-sony/

    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    Posters for the movie are already collector's items.

    Movie Posters For 'The Interview' Are Going For $550
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    @Alexa

    The top five North American theater chains decided not to show the film so Sony had little choice. In-fact it has been said that some of those theater chains were worried that people may stay away from the other movies they were showing if they ran The Interview due to those "911" threats.

    I agree though, many of the reviews so far have not been that great, and this event may empower other terrorists to try similar.

    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.

    "Due to the wavering support of the film The Interview by Sony Pictures, as well as the ambiguous nature of any real or perceived security threats, Regal Entertainment Group has decided to delay the opening of the film in our theatres," Regal said in a statement to THR Wednesday.
    Several other chains have also announced that they will not be showing the film at this time. Bow Tie Cinemas, based in Connecticut, confirmed earlier today that "saddened and angered by recent threats of terrorism in connection with the movie," it had decided not to present the film out of safety concerns. Classic Cinemas, based in Illinois, also has dropped the movie, explaining in a statement, "We believe holiday moviegoing is a time-honored tradition that should bring loved ones closer together in a safe environment. We feel there is enough uncertainly surround The Interview that the distraction would take away from the spirit and joy of the season.
    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...ircuits-758843

    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      We've had movies in poor taste since movies began. What we have here is cyber crime - an attack on an American industry by hackers thought to be acting at the direction of a foreign nation.

      SONY could have - and perhaps should have - immediately released the movie on DVD.
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      what it is instead of what you think it should be.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    12 innocent people were randomly killed here.

    Cinemark acquired the Century chain 2006, but the Aurora
    theater still carries the Century name. I think the cost to the
    theater chain over this one incident by one, lone crazy man is still
    unknown. I believe there are still active civil suits filed by
    surviving family members against the theater chain....

    Can you imagine the legal and financial impacts, if something bad
    happened, after they proceeded to show this stupid movie while knowing there
    were state backed threats?

    Can you imagine the personal impact, if something bad did happen,
    and you were a theater or Sony exec who decided to go ahead after hearing
    the information that the FBI likely provided?

    2012 Aurora shooting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Cinemark Theatres - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Century Theatres - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    We laypeople don't know North Korea's capabilities - nuclear or not.
    Would we want find out over a stupid movie?

    We have no border security.

    As a nation, we do need to get feared and respected again.
    In an intelligent way.

    Dan

    PS - I pretty much agree with Newt in this one. Our government did not respond swiftly and strongly enough.
    Corporations are not supposed to, or able to, defend themselves against nation states.

    http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/18/opinio...Most+Recent%29
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      As a nation, we do need to get feared and respected again.
      Sorry. You can't be both.

      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      Corporations are not supposed to, or able to, defend themselves against nation states.
      Wait until the ink is dry on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Nation states will then fear corporations, and with good reason.

      Air, water, land, people and whole ecosystems will be sacrificed to allow corporations the "right" to make money.

      If you want something to be scared of, the TPP is the mother of all of them.
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      So that blind people can hate them as well.
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    • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      12 innocent people were randomly killed here.

      Cinemark acquired the Century chain 2006, but the Aurora
      theater still carries the Century name. I think the cost to the
      theater chain over this one incident by one, lone crazy man is still
      unknown. I believe there are still active civil suits filed by
      surviving family members against the theater chain....

      Can you imagine the legal and financial impacts, if something bad
      happened, after they proceeded to show this stupid movie while knowing there
      were state backed threats?

      Can you imagine the personal impact, if something bad did happen,
      and you were a theater or Sony exec who decided to go ahead after hearing
      the information that the FBI likely provided?

      2012 Aurora shooting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Cinemark Theatres - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Century Theatres - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      We laypeople don't know North Korea's capabilities - nuclear or not.
      Would we want find out over a stupid movie?

      We have no border security.

      As a nation, we do need to get feared and respected again.
      In an intelligent way.

      Dan

      PS - I pretty much agree with Newt in this one. Our government did not respond swiftly and strongly enough.
      Corporations are not supposed to, or able to, defend themselves against nation states.

      Newt Gingrich: U.S. lost cyberwar over Sony (Opinion) - CNN.com






      As a nation, we do need to get feared and respected again.




      This ought to accomplish what you want...


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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    So give up our freedoms because our politicians are allowing any crap over the border than wants to slither in here. Good idea.

    As you pointed out - there is no safety guarantee anywhere you go. The one shooting was just a random case of a drugged out walking nut farm. It doesn't even compare to a terror threat.

    We've already seen what bending to terror and PC crap has done. We've lost some of our most basic rights because so many were ready to cower after 9/11. "Ho -I don't do anything wrong, so let them collect every fact about me and every conversation I have." People who are scared don't seem to understand the social profiling that can be done via this information farming. They don't seem to be able to use enough logical thinking to understand that once your rights are gone, anything can instantaneously be made illegal and they could end up prosecuted and punished for something that seemed very moot and was very legal because they will be considered a "threat" under the new proclamations.

    Many in here just condoned censorship because they think it's a good idea to bend to terrorism. What will be the next attack on us? Now that Kimmy sees he has power over the gutless, he's going to be back. That's what terrorists do. That's how it works.

    I have a better analogy for you than a lone nut in a theater and a terrorist threat.
    When a rapist approaches a woman - if she shows fear instead of standing up and showing she will fight back if attacked - she is around 97% more likely to be raped, and possibly even killed. (why 97% you ask? Because 3% are actually looking for a struggle - only 3%).

    It's the same for bullying. Either stand up for yourself, or ignore them, and almost always they will go away. If you bend in fear, you will be under attack any time you are in proximity of the bully unless someone else stops them. Now that Kimmy has succeeded in getting the movie pulled - do you think his little inflated ego is going to stop making proclamations about what he's going to attack other countries over? Now that everyone cowered to his threats (for safety, you understand) we're going to have to count on big momma China to Shut him up for us. Great huh?

    Letting a terrorist win in not one way or in any stretch of imagination has ever or will ever make anyone safe.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post



      You are right but the top bit of the head could be the forehead and it's bald and shiny.

      Mother of God, I'm talking about the whale here in case anyone gets the wrong impression.
      Terra won't be pleased!

      Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

      Okay, this is really weird. When I go to use my mouse to highlight a block of text here, it works fine each and every time. But when I go to Photoshop and try to highlight a section of a photo to crop it, it keeps breaking connection before I get to finish my highlight. I have to do this sometimes 5 or 6 times before the entire highlight will take. At first I thought it was my mouse. Now I'm not so sure what the problem is. Seems to only happen in Photoshop and I've never had this problem before until today.

      Oh, I'm sorry...Am I in the wrong forum?
      (Damn I hate these ugly smilies)
      Sounds like it is time to clean your hard disk again? Photoshop software doesn't like it when the hard disk is a mess!

      Or if you go to the Pen tool, and it doesn't show the nib, then it is time to clean up, or take your chances and hope that it behaves!

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    • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      So give up our freedoms because our politicians are allowing any crap over the border than wants to slither in here. Good idea.

      As you pointed out - there is no safety guarantee anywhere you go. The one shooting was just a random case of a drugged out walking nut farm. It doesn't even compare to a terror threat.

      We've already seen what bending to terror and PC crap has done. We've lost some of our most basic rights because so many were ready to cower after 9/11. "Ho -I don't do anything wrong, so let them collect every fact about me and every conversation I have." People who are scared don't seem to understand the social profiling that can be done via this information farming. They don't seem to be able to use enough logical thinking to understand that once your rights are gone, anything can instantaneously be made illegal and they could end up prosecuted and punished for something that seemed very moot and was very legal because they will be considered a "threat" under the new proclamations.

      Many in here just condoned censorship because they think it's a good idea to bend to terrorism. What will be the next attack on us? Now that Kimmy sees he has power over the gutless, he's going to be back. That's what terrorists do. That's how it works.

      I have a better analogy for you than a lone nut in a theater and a terrorist threat.
      When a rapist approaches a woman - if she shows fear instead of standing up and showing she will fight back if attacked - she is around 97% more likely to be raped, and possibly even killed. (why 97% you ask? Because 3% are actually looking for a struggle - only 3%).

      It's the same for bullying. Either stand up for yourself, or ignore them, and almost always they will go away. If you bend in fear, you will be under attack any time you are in proximity of the bully unless someone else stops them. Now that Kimmy has succeeded in getting the movie pulled - do you think his little inflated ego is going to stop making proclamations about what he's going to attack other countries over? Now that everyone cowered to his threats (for safety, you understand) we're going to have to count on big momma China to Shut him up for us. Great huh?

      Letting a terrorist win in not one way or in any stretch of imagination has ever or will ever make anyone safe.
      Hey HeySal,

      I assume you're addressing my post, and we are not all that far off on standing up against
      this crap. NK appears to have won this cyber attack, but not the war.

      What I'm saying is:

      Our borders should have been as secure as possible long ago

      Our military needs to be stronger against all the kinds of threats we have today; cyber, electromagnetic pulse, financial and banking systems, nukes in the hands of terrorists or stable or unstable governments, terrorism, traditional threats...

      Our intelligence community needs to be stronger

      Sony and all allied governments should have taken swift action the day of the cyber attack
      so it maybe did not have to become a personal and business and liability decision for the theater chains.

      The Aurora Theater shooting was a terrible emotional and financial tragedy by a lone, untrained individual.
      We can't imagine what a trained, state supported soldier could do. We do not know what the actual threat was ( I just overheard someone who works for the sheriff's department say it was a 911 level attack
      on an island or coastal city.)

      We just have to fight intelligently, strategically, militarily and diplomatically. Maybe not today, but tomorrow with a better plan and pieces in place. I don't think Kim is strongly supported (some out of fear and ignorance, and some out of plain greed) and toppling that government is IMO the more likely and smart thing to happen.

      On a case by case basis, sometimes it's best for the woman to fight the rapist and win and bring him to justice that day. Sometimes it's best for her to run to save her life and identify him and bring him to justice in a week.


      Dan
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

        Hey HeySal,

        The Aurora Theater shooting was a terrible emotional and financial tragedy by a lone, untrained individual.
        We can't imagine what a trained, state supported soldier could do. We do not know what the actual threat was ( I just overheard someone who works for the sheriff's department say it was a 911 level attack
        on an island or coastal city.)

        We just have to fight intelligently, strategically, militarily and diplomatically. Maybe not today, but tomorrow with a better plan. I don't think Kim is strongly supported (some out of fear and ignorance, and some out of plain greed) and toppling that government is IMO the more likely and smart thing to happen.


        Dan
        Sure we can. It could be a complete bloodbath.......unless.......there are a lot of concealed carriers in the crowd to stop the person instantly. There's a reason that a theater of unarmed civilians is a good target. With maybe a third of the audience packing, it makes it a tough go for anyone, trained or untrained to just open fire. It can be remembered that millions of our concealed carriers are also military trained professionals.

        Now answer this. What is the likelihood of a real attack taking place after being announced out loud that it would be? Attacks are generally not announced for any reason other than creating fear and cow-towing people into submission. Actual attacks are surprises for the sole purpose of being able to pull them off at all. We know theaters were threatened (gee, right when net neutrality is being threatened). So how likely is it that an attacker should be able to get through DHS, FBI, CIA without being noticed? If I remember rightly, they are bleeding billions on billions of dollars out of us just to be able to prevent this kind of thing. If they can't - why are we wasting our money.

        Next - what makes someone think that it's ever safe to be in a theater unarmed? What makes it safe to be unarmed in a crowd anywhere on any occasion? It's not. Just because someone isn't yelling "kill the Yankees" in your face, it doesn't mean it's safe.

        This whole damned thing is nothing but more trumpeted fear mongering. Do you think Kimmy is stupid enough to not know that if he sent people to blow up a few of our theaters full of citizens that he could do so with no repercussions, including very possibly a real life re-enactment of him being blown to smithereens? Do you think China is willing to allow this kid to run around attacking countries?

        You do realize that this is not the first time he's threatened other nations with physical damage? He threatened to nuke us just a few years back and he was more or less laughed at. Now he makes a similar threat and they start shutting stuff down over him?

        What is going on that we're not supposed to see? It's pretty clear that there's a man behind a curtain pulling strings on this one.
        Signature

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        • Profile picture of the author The 13th Warrior
          The lemmings continue to follow....,

          Making of a movie to assassinate a leader of a country , WHILE HE IS STILL ALIVE, and making mockery of their country is textbook totalitarian propaganda at its finest, under the guise of "just foolin" for fun and entertainment.

          How bout somebody make a "just foolin" movie of assassinating your 3 year old niece with some serious artillery? Would that be "funny" and cute?

          Only a bully, a psychopath, a racketeer, a tormentor would do to others that they believe CANNOT be possible done back to them.

          Don't be a Manchurian candidate of the masses and don't be a hypocrite.

          Communist and Nazi's did propaganda and thats supposed to be an example of whats B-A-D, but when we do the EXACT same thing, its called patriotism and rallying the troops and country to fight.

          Watch the 1930/40 bugs bunny/popeye banned cartoons and look at the racist filth they call patriotism..., really?

          The reason for most wars are lies anyhow.

          The truth of what really starts incidents is lost and drowned in a sea of lies, false flags, government outsourced provocateurs, covert experiments for future metrics, counterfeit events, corporate owned media that simultaneously owns military manufacturing, innuendo, here say, theories, circumstantial evidence, fictional predictions with no basis to cause paralyzing fear , and simply repeating an UNPROVEN lie 100,000 over the air waves until idiots assume it HAS to be true.

          BIG TALK from armchair soldiers as long as someone else is fighting and dying but if you feel THAT strongly about killing, you are free, there is nothing stopping you and your entire family, from anyone that can walk and hold a gun....,

          ....to take your money, savings and salary, sell your stuff, fly over into whatever country, war and citizens you want to kill, buy some weapons or join some outsourced mercenaries and have at it, theres plenty to choose from.

          Why are you wasting time arguing over a keyboard if it is the right thing to do?? Go do it and shut up.

          Leave the rest of us and our money out of your ideology and start packing, if you believe so strongly.


          The 13th Warrior
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          • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
            Banned
            Originally Posted by The 13th Warrior View Post

            The lemmings continue to follow....,

            Making of a movie to assassinate a leader of a country , WHILE HE IS STILL ALIVE, and making mockery of their country is textbook totalitarian propaganda at its finest, under the guise of "just foolin" for fun and entertainment.
            I couldn't agree more.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    And YEAH, the whole idea of terrorism is:

    1. Get what you want.
    2. Have the ones you don't like cower at the POSSIBILITY.
    3. Have them destroy themselves and limit others.

    It IS an old concept. It is also COMMON for communists and other dictators. That IS one reason to limit communication. You don't know who your friends are, how far the control extends, and feel alone.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    It seems that "Team America" which featured Kim Jong Il has been pulled as well.

    At one theater, 'Team America' replaces 'The Interview' - CNN.com
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    We know that North Korea is behind the hacking and threats because an anonymous government spokesperson said so.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Where's Dennis Rodman when you need him?
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      Where's Dennis Rodman when you need him?
      OTO:
      Congratulations, now you're the leader of a country, but this is NOT COMPLETE!!!

      If you want to be taken seriously and GAIN RESPECT, hang out with Dennis Rodman while you can...before he is gone.

      The legendary basketball player and SHOWMAN will show YOU how to be seen, make waves, grab press time. He'll even sing a song for you in front of the masses.

      HERE'S YOUR CHANCE

      INVITE HIM NOW or the CLOCK will RUN OUT!.
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      Project HERE.

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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Senator Chris Dodd, the Chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), says the amount of material stolen in the Sony hack was many times greater than the volume of all the printed material at the U.S. Library of Congress. Talk about a lot of stolen material! Good grief...

    FWIW --> Back in June, North Korea said this film was an act of war and that they would retaliate.

    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

      Senator Chris Dodd, the Chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), says the amount of material stolen in the Sony hack was many times greater than the volume of all the printed material at the U.S. Library of Congress. Talk about a lot of stolen material! Good grief...

      FWIW --> Back in June, North Korea said this film was an act of war and that they would retaliate.

      Cheers

      -don
      From what I understand, the US LOC includes nearly every picture made for DECADES from MANY countries, including Japan, along with a lot of software, patents, trademarks, books, etc... After all, THAT IS where the actual copyrighted work recognized by the USPTO, and the copyright office is supposed to be stored?

      What is the Library of Congress?
      The Library serves as the research arm of Congress and is recognized as the national library of the United States. Its collections comprise the world's most comprehensive record of human creativity and knowledge. Open to those age 16 and older without charge or special permission, it is the world's largest library and a great resource to scholars and researchers.

      How does the Library acquire its holdings?
      Through exchange with libraries in this country and abroad, gifts, materials received from local, state and federal agencies as well as foreign governments, purchase, and copyright deposits. Materials are added to the collections of the Library at a rate of 12,000 items per working day. Selection officers review materials and decide which should be kept and added to the permanent collections. Copyright deposits make up the core of the collections, particularly those in the map, music, motion picture, and prints and photographs divisions.

      General Information | Library of Congress

      HOW was that much stuff stolen without nobody noticing? BTW If Dodd said the sky were blue, I would be running to the window to see what color it was! The US would likely be a better country if he had never been born.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
        Banned
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        HOW was that much stuff stolen without nobody noticing?
        Supposedly the hackers were able to exfiltrate around 100 terabytes of data over a period of months without being detected. Some of the same malware, procedures and tecniques were used against Sony that were used against some of the major banks and financial institutions. In-fact the attack was quite similar to the recent attack against the South Korean Nuke plant.

        I have heard that these types of hacks began against major corps and countries back in 2006. The U.S. Gov has already stated this is the largest hack in U.S. history.

        Cheers

        -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    George Clooney says Sony stood alone...

    Hollywood Cowardice: George Clooney Explains Why Sony Stood Alone In North Korean Cyberterror Attack
    Clooney...

    A good portion of the press abdicated its real duty. They played the fiddle while Rome burned. There was a real story going on. With just a little bit of work, you could have found out that it wasn’t just probably North Korea; it was North Korea. The Guardians of Peace is a phrase that Nixon used when he visited China. When asked why he was helping South Korea, he said it was because we are the Guardians of Peace. Here, we’re talking about an actual country deciding what content we’re going to have. This affects not just movies, this affects every part of business that we have. That’s the truth. What happens if a newsroom decides to go with a story, and a country or an individual or corporation decides they don’t like it? Forget the hacking part of it. You have someone threaten to blow up buildings, and all of a sudden everybody has to bow down. Sony didn’t pull the movie because they were scared; they pulled the movie because all the theaters said they were not going to run it. And they said they were not going to run it because they talked to their lawyers and those lawyers said if somebody dies in one of these, then you’re going to be responsible.

    Clooney was circulating a petition for those in power to stand with Sony. Below is the letter:

    On November 24 of this year, Sony Pictures was notified that it was the victim of a cyber attack, the effects of which is the most chilling and devastating of any cyber attack in the history of our country. Personal information including Social Security numbers, email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers and the full texts of emails of tens of thousands of Sony employees was leaked online in an effort to scare and terrorize these workers. The hackers have made both demands and threats. The demand that Sony halt the release of its upcoming comedy The Interview, a satirical film about North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Their threats vary from personal—you better behave wisely—to threatening physical harm—not only you but your family is in danger. North Korea has not claimed credit for the attack but has praised the act, calling it a righteous deed and promising merciless measures if the film is released. Meanwhile the hackers insist in their statement that what they’ve done so far is only a small part of our further plan. This is not just an attack on Sony. It involves every studio, every network, every business and every individual in this country. That is why we fully support Sony’s decision not to submit to these hackers’ demands. We know that to give in to these criminals now will open the door for any group that would threaten freedom of expression, privacy and personal liberty. We hope these hackers are brought to justice but until they are, we will not stand in fear. We will stand together.
    Unfortunately for Sony and U.S principles, nobody would sign... You can read the full Clooney interview with Deadline here:

    https://deadline.com/2014/12/george-...on-1201329988/

    In related news, the hacker group says they will stand down if the movie is never released in any form. The U.S. has now confirmed North Korea was behind the attack and President Obama has vowed to respond to the attack, proportionally.

    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
      On Christmas, every major movie studio, and every theater, should join in showing The Interview. For free. Everyone should go to show North Korea it cannot dictate our First Amendment rights.

      .
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

      Unfortunately for Sony and U.S principles, nobody would sign... You can read the full Clooney interview with Deadline here:

      Cheers

      -don
      Well Clooney was one of the actors that Sony apparently loves, unlike all the actors and actresses and Amy Pascal and Aaron Sorkin, Sony execs ridiculed in emails that were hacked and released....Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Hart, Willow and Jaden Smith, Cameron Crowe, Alex Trebek,etc. "An incendiary email exchange between Amy Pascal and Scott Rudin, joking about President Barack Obama's race, was posted on Dec. 10. In the messages."

      Apparently, except for conjuring up stupid ideas for movies, Sony execs have little else to do but gossip about actors and directors and ridicule them via email.

      Sometimes idiocy is punished. But if I were Sony, I'd release that movie on DVD and mail it to everyone in the US. But Sony won't do that. They've already been hacked and embarrassed to death by the stupidity of their emails about actors, actresses and directors.
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    ...and President Obama should kick things off with a White House screening.

    Unfortunately, our president is scolding Sony for "pulling" the movie. Obviously he did not get the memo that the top 5 North American and many other theater chains dropped the movie. They flat out refused to show it. Sony planned to release the movie in the U.S. on Dec. 25th and it is the theaters that pulled the plug, not Sony. Sony DOES NOT own the distribution pipes.

    But here is Mr. Uninformed on this issue...

    "I wish they had spoken to me first," he said in a news conference. "I would have told them do not get into a pattern in which you're intimidated by these kinds of criminal attacks."

    Obama said he was sympathetic to the damage and threats Sony has dealt with. " "Having said all that, yes I think they made a mistake," Obama said.

    "I wish they had spoken to me first," he said in a news conference. "I would have told them do not get into a pattern in which you're intimidated by these kinds of criminal attacks."

    Obama said he was sympathetic to the damage and threats Sony has dealt with. " "Having said all that, yes I think they made a mistake," Obama said.

    "We cannot have a society in which some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship here in the United States," he said. "Because if somebody is able to intimidate folks out of releasing a satirical movie, imagine what they start doing when they see a documentary that they don't like or news reports that they don't like."
    http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2...-gop/20635449/

    The Sony Pictures CEO has done a in-depth interview with CNN that is already in the can which will be airing soon. The Sony CEO said that film may be released later, and the fact remains that nobody would show the movie when it was released on the 25th.

    Sony has talked to the White House and has been working with government officials for weeks. The Sony CEO says he has every desire to have the American public see the movie.

    It sounds like negotiations are ongoing to stream this movie or offer it on VOD. Supposedly they have even discussed releasing the movie on YouTube.

    According to the Sony Pictures CEO...no major VOD distributors or ECOM sites have stepped up to deliver the movie for them. The Sony CEO says he would make the movie again...

    So as it stands now, according to Sony --> Netflix, On Demand and/or another major VOD distributor(s) need to step up. According to some sources, these entities are afraid of getting hacked if they run the movie.

    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

      ...and President Obama should kick things off with a White House screening.

      Unfortunately, our president is scolding Sony for "pulling" the movie. Obviously he did not get the memo that the top 5 North American and many other theater chains dropped the movie. They flat out refused to show it. Sony planned to release the movie in the U.S. on Dec. 25th and it is the theaters that pulled the plug, not Sony. Sony DOES NOT own the distribution pipes.
      OK, I made a mistake there, but legally Sony *******DOES******* own the rights and supplies the content. So if they say DON'T SHOW, they have that right and power. YEAH, they should compensate theaters, but that is about as far as it goes.

      I am ALL FOR having it shown everywhere, to FORMALLY SPITE any terrorists, but understand why all did it.



      But here is Mr. Uninformed on this issue...



      Obama: Sony "did the wrong thing" when it pulled movie

      The Sony Pictures CEO has done a in-depth interview with CNN that is already in the can which will be airing soon. The Sony CEO said that film may be released later, and the fact remains that nobody would show the movie when it was released on the 25th.

      Sony has talked to the White House and has been working with government officials for weeks. The Sony CEO says he has every desire to have the American public see the movie.

      It sounds like negotiations are ongoing to stream this movie or offer it on VOD. Supposedly they have even discussed releasing the movie on YouTube.

      According to the Sony Pictures CEO...no major VOD distributors or ECOM sites have stepped up to deliver the movie for them. The Sony CEO says he would make the movie again...

      So as it stands now, according to Sony --> Netflix, On Demand and/or another major VOD distributor(s) need to step up. According to some sources, these entities are afraid of getting hacked if they run the movie.

      Cheers

      -don
      So THIS film may end up like another "Master George"(AKA 'Innocence Of Muslims' )! A straight to youtube silly concept movie that may, or may not, have something to do with terrorism from a foreign "society".

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
        Banned
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        OK, I made a mistake there, but legally Sony *******DOES******* own the rights and supplies the content. So if they say DON'T SHOW, they have that right and power.
        Sony did not say --> don't show <-- some theaters wanted to pull the plug on early screenings and Sony said O.K. After the "911" threat occurred all of the major chains said they would not show the film on the Dec. 25th U.S public release date, and supposedly some (if not all) of those were doing so on advice from their attorneys to avoid legal liability if something did happen. So Sony cancelled the Dec 25. theatrical release and the do not yet have any other means to deliver the movie.

        I did hear some of the chains were fearing people would not come to watch the other movies they were showing if the played The Interview at the same cineplex.

        Now it has been said the major VOD and Streaming Services have not stepped up yet for fear of a hack. Sony has been negotiating to have the movie distributed by a major distributor.

        Cheers

        -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned

    In a later snippet he says NO digital delivery platforms (VOD or Streaming) have stepped up to deliver the film (probably for fear of getting hacked). Fareed says even Walmart and other DVD distributors are probably scared to distribute the DVDs because of the same concern.

    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Of course as things usually go these days. This movie has been kissed (or given a boost) with controversy and mixed with hoopla.

      So, if the movie is ever shown or cloned (bad concept/script and all) - it will probably break earnings records, illegal downloads, most pirated copies or some similar record.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Originally Posted by The Niche Man View Post

        Of course as things usually go these days. This movie has been kissed (or given a boost) with controversy and mixed with hoopla.

        So, if the movie is ever shown or cloned (bad concept/script and all) - it will probably break earnings records, illegal downloads, most pirated copies or some similar record.
        There is no question with everything that has transpired, if this movie ever gets into any kind of distribution's hands, it is going to break earnings records just out of morbid curiosity. It could be the worst movie ever made and it won't matter. Everybody's going to want to see the movie that had major movie chains cowering like mice.

        Even I want to see it now and I had absolutely ZERO interest in seeing it prior. In fact, I didn't even remember that this was the movie about the assassination plot, which is why I initially asked what this thread was even about. That's how little I cared when I first saw the promo on TV a week or so ago, or whenever it was. Don't even remember.

        If I want to see this now, I can't even imagine how many millions of people will be willing to pay just about anything to see what this thing is all about.

        This should get very interesting if Sony can ever find somebody...ANYBODY...who is willing to distribute this to the masses.

        Get out your popcorn folks. This could be one hell of a ride.
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Here he is saying no online distributors are yet willing to distribute the movie.

    sdf - CNN.com Video

    This will probably display a playlist so you may need select: --> Will Sony release "The Interview" online <-- to see that particular snippet.
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    I just hear Fareed say that what he took away from his interview with Sony Pics CEO Michael Lynton is that we will be seeing this film relatively soon, not in 6 months, but more like within the next month.

    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      I just listened to the Sony Pictures CEO say it himself on CNN.
      So did all the rest of us watching CNN today
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      • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        So did all the rest of us watching CNN today
        Evidently Tim was not tuned in.

        Originally Posted by Midnight Oil View Post

        According to the hacker's latest demands, they don't want the film to ever see the light of day.
        Yeah, in post #121 I had mentioned that the hacker group will stand down if the movie is never released in any form. They are trying to play hardball, no doubt.

        Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

        In related news, the hacker group says they will stand down if the movie is never released in any form.
        Cheers

        -don
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

      I just hear Fareed say that what he took away from his interview with Sony Pics CEO Michael Lynton is that we will be seeing this film relatively soon, not in 6 months, but more like within the next month.

      Cheers

      -don
      Some may. I still have zero interest in the film.
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      • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
        Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

        Some may. I still have zero interest in the film.
        I'm sure that would change, or you would at least watch it, if Johhny Depp
        wanted to watch it with you.
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        • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
          Banned
          Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

          I'm sure that would change, or you would at least watch it, if Johhny Depp
          wanted to watch it with you.
          That goes without saying, but I assure you that my interest would not be in the movie. lol.
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      • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
        Banned
        Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

        Some may. I still have zero interest in the film.
        A lot will. I am not a big fan of Seth Rogen or James Franco, and I am not a huge fan of comedy flicks in general. I do support freedom of expression and the right to make a movie like this, therefor I may watch it just to poke one more finger into Kim's eye.

        Cheers

        -don
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        • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
          Banned
          Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

          A lot will. I am not a big fan of Seth Rogen or James Franco, and I am not a huge fan of comedy flicks in general. I do support freedom of expression and the right to make a movie like this, therefor I may watch it just to poke one more finger into Kim's eye.

          Cheers

          -don
          I support freedom of expression also but don't feel at all obligated to act on behalf of Sony Corp. They're big boys and thought this movie was a good idea and have plenty of money to fight their own battles. Me personally watching a movie that never interested me won't bother Kim Jung Dung one bit. The ball is in Sony's court now. Their move.
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          • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
            Banned
            Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

            Me personally watching a movie that never interested me won't bother Kim Jung Dung one bit. The ball is in Sony's court now. Their move.
            North Korea has been pressuring Sony not to release the move for months. Sure, they don't want their people to see their leader ridiculed but I don't mind helping sending him the message that a lot of folks did see the movie.

            As far as the ball being in Sony's court....as soon as they find a major distribution channel that is willing to broadcast and/or deliver the movie it will be released. I'd bet on it.

            I don't mind supporting Sony, they have done a good job in a lot of areas.

            Heck, I shoot a Sony mount camera and own thousands of dollars worth of lenses, I own a very good Sony television, and of course I went through many a Playstation....

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Co...d_subsidiaries

            Cheers

            -don
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            • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
              Banned
              Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

              North Korea has been pressuring Sony not to release the move for months. Sure, they don't want their people to see their leader ridiculed but I don't mind helping send the message that a lot of folks did see the movie.

              As far as the ball being in Sony's court....as soon as they find a major distribution channel that is willing to broadcast and/or deliver the movie it will be released. I'd bet on it.

              Cheers

              -don
              I hope they do, since they already bothered to make it and thought it was a great idea. I personally also wouldn't go see a movie created by some genius that wanted to ridicule Americans and their leaders. This is no different. I don't think about N. Korea on a daily basis and don't care about them or their government. I wouldn't consider this entertainment and if I'm not entertained, I'll keep my money or spend it on something that does entertain me.

              I think it's commercial success should rise or fall on it's entertainment value ... not on Americans feeling the need to watch it because it has caused Sony so much grief and they think that supporting that movie will hurt N. Korea in some way.
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              • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                Banned
                Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

                I hope they do, since they already bothered to make it and thought it was a great idea. I personally also wouldn't go see a movie created by some genius that wanted to ridicule Americans and their leaders. This is no different.
                Some of the so-called news networks do this on a daily basis...and much of the time the ridicule is unfounded. In-fact networks like MSNBC do this for a living...I sure hope you are not tuning in.

                So you don't watch Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and some of the others that ridicule Americans for a living? Michael Moore loves to ridicule America and Americans...are his films are completely out of bounds for you?

                I don't think about N. Korea on a daily basis and don't care about them or their government. I wouldn't consider this entertainment and if I'm not entertained, I'll keep my money or spend it on something that does entertain me.
                They have been quite active against South Korea lately, and while I don't think of North Korea on a daily basis, I do pay attention to that area of the world. I have not yet seen the movie so I don't know if it will be entertaining or not. If the movie sucks I'll turn it off. I doubt I will run out to a theater to see it though. Not because I am scared...because I am not that interested in goofball comedy flicks.

                I think it's commercial success should rise or fall on it's entertainment value ... not on Americans feeling the need to watch it because it has caused Sony so much grief and they think that supporting that movie will hurt N. Korea in some way.
                Sure, entertainment value should be the standard, but this not about just causing Sony grief. This has caused the theaters grief, the third party production people grief, distributors grief, actors and actresses grief, the US Gov grief, the FBI grief, Americans grief, movie goers grief, etc. etc.

                For me it's not so much about Sony, it's about an American's right to make a movie, watch a movie, and not cowering to some North Korean idiot's demands. Right now it appears as if North Korea is dictating what we can watch (at least with regards to this movie and other similar), other movies are being cancelled because of this, and if garbage like this is allowed to stand it may seriously limit the amount of films that are produced that could be considered controversial, including legit documentaries, compelling films about other areas of the world, controversial topics etc.

                This sets a bad precedent, a precedent that should not be allowed to stand.

                Again, I consider this more of an attack on America, and Sony Pics America just happened to be the victim this time. Who's next?

                Cheers

                -don
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    It's still far from clear who was really behind this and we'll probably never know -as with many big events. I've noticed, though, that terrorist related news seems to occur in groupings. There was the recent attack in Australia, which happened to coincide with the anniversary of Sandy Hook. Then we had the North Korea thing. I can't tell you what it all means, but I'm sure we are only seeing a small piece of the picture and probably a very distorted one at that.

    Evan Goldberg wonders if the Sony hack was an inside job | Georgia Straight, Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly

    Then today, this:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/1...n_6353190.html
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    • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
      Banned
      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

      It's still far from clear who was really behind this and we'll probably never know -as with many big events.
      The FBI and most others say it was North Korea. It's possible they outsourced some of the work...

      The FBI officially blamed North Korea for the unprecedented Sony hack in a statement on Friday morning.

      From the statement:

      As a result of our investigation, and in close collaboration with other U.S. Government departments and agencies, the FBI now has enough information to conclude that the North Korean government is responsible for these actions. While the need to protect sensitive sources and methods precludes us from sharing all of this information, our conclusion is based, in part, on the following:

      · Technical analysis of the data deletion malware used in this attack revealed links to other malware that the FBI knows North Korean actors previously developed. For example, there were similarities in specific lines of code, encryption algorithms, data deletion methods, and compromised networks.

      · The FBI also observed significant overlap between the infrastructure used in this attack and other malicious cyber activity the U.S. Government has previously linked directly to North Korea. For example, the FBI discovered that several Internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with known North Korean infrastructure communicated with IP addresses that were hardcoded into the data deletion malware used in this attack.

      Separately, the tools used in the SPE attack have similarities to a cyber attack in March of last year against South Korean banks and media outlets, which was carried out by North Korea.
      Read more: FBI BLAMES NORTH KOREA FOR THE SONY HACK - Business Insider

      Cheers

      -don
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      • Profile picture of the author LarryC
        Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

        The FBI and most others say it was North Korea. It's possible they outsourced some of the work...


        Read more: FBI BLAMES NORTH KOREA FOR THE SONY HACK - Business Insider

        Cheers

        -don
        So if you consider the FBI a credible source then it's all settled.
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        • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
          Banned
          Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

          So if you consider the FBI a credible source then it's all settled.
          I do consider the FBI much more credible than you are on this subject. Other entities were involved in the investigation, and President Obama said publicly it was North Korea, so I am quite confident that North Korea had something to do with the hack.

          Let us not forget that as far back as June, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman issued this warning:

          "If the U.S. administration allows and defends the showing of the film, a merciless countermeasure will be taken."
          It's been widely reported that China has been training North Korean cyber warriors, and some are now reporting that a number of the IP addresses used in this hack were located in China. Of course the administration has not yet implicated China and may not ever do so publicly. China has the "great firewall" so it has been said that someone in China had to see the back and forth traffic between China and North Korea with regards to this attack.

          It's basically unprecedented for a president to acknowledge a specific nation state as the source of a cyber attack...but in this case our president has already done so.

          Cheers

          -don
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          • Profile picture of the author LarryC
            Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

            The FBI and most others say it was North Korea. It's possible they outsourced some of the work...


            Read more: FBI BLAMES NORTH KOREA FOR THE SONY HACK - Business Insider

            Cheers

            -don
            Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

            I do consider the FBI much more credible than you are on this subject. Other entities were involved in the investigation, and President Obama said publicly it was North Korea, so I am quite confident that North Korea had something to do with it.

            Cheers

            -don
            Given how rarely governments ever lie or cover up the truth, you're probably right. It must have been North Korea.
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            • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
              Banned
              Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

              Given how rarely governments ever lie or cover up the truth, you're probably right. It must have been North Korea.
              Keep on keeping on... Maybe you and a brigade of 911 Truthers should be running the cyber show and leading the investigation into the largest hack in U.S. history and the related threats. Have fun with your government conspiracy theories and false flag posts.

              Cheers

              -don
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              • Profile picture of the author LarryC
                Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

                Keep on keeping on... Maybe you and a brigade of 911 Truthers should be running the cyber show and leading the investigation into the largest hack in U.S. history and the related threats. Have fun with your government conspiracy theories and false flag posts.

                Cheers

                -don
                Unlike you, I don't blindly believe anything, including conspiracy theories. I'll even admit North Korea might really be responsible. I just don't believe it just because the president or some spy agency tells me so.

                The problem is, many of these so-called conspiracy theories end up becoming established truth later on. For example, the FBI, your trusted source, was implicated in not only spying on Martin Luther King but also in trying to blackmail him and convince him to commit suicide. That is merely one example.

                https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/1...d-surveillance

                It's easy to make fun of false flags and conspiracy theories in the abstract if you don't bother to examine the evidence. People have a way of downplaying information that is dated, but why should we believe that authorities with a long history of lying are telling us the truth now? But if you prefer to believe that the media and government are giving you the real story about anything, enjoy your life in the matrix.
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                • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                  Banned
                  Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

                  Unlike you, I don't blindly believe anything, including conspiracy theories.
                  You really do need to get a clue! You have no idea what I believe and why I believe it. In-fact I may have less confidence in the government than you do. Jump off of whatever horse you think you are riding in on.

                  I’ll even admit North Korea might really be responsible. I just don’t believe it just because the president or some spy agency tells me so.
                  Hahaha...and you think nobody that knows cyberwarfare inside and out has looked at this. Give me a break!

                  The problem is, many of these so-called conspiracy theories end up becoming established truth later on. For example, the FBI, your trusted source, was implicated in not only spying on Martin Luther King but also in trying to blackmail him and convince him to commit suicide. That is merely one example.
                  We are not talking about MLK...we are talking about the largest hack in U.S. history and threats on American citizens.

                  It's easy to make fun of false flags and conspiracy theories in the abstract if you don't bother to examine the evidence.
                  I am relatively confident that I have examined much more evidence than you have on a wide variety of subjects. I just don't automatically shout out a bunch of conspiracy theory BS when the information comes from the experts, the gov, the media, and companies like Sony.

                  People have a way of downplaying information that is dated, but why should we believe that authorities with a long history of lying are telling us the truth now?
                  Go ahead and think they are lying to you most of the time...nobody is going to convince you otherwise. Obviously you are one of those hardcore conspiracy theory guys.

                  But if you prefer to believe that the media and government are giving you the real story about anything, enjoy your life in the matrix.
                  You sir are living life in the comic books. I believe what I believe after weighing as much of information that I can get my eyes, ears, and hands on. Since usually I have a considerable amount of time available to do the research, often times the information that I gather is substantial, comparatively speaking.

                  I do not live in a "the media and the government is lying to me all the time" world. This isn't North Korea for gosh sake. You may think it is, but you thinking it is does not make it fact.

                  Cheers

                  -don
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    There's a sad irony in the fact that one of the great tests of America's freedom of speech should involve a movie that, according to some reviewers, utterly sucks.

    Variety calls "The Interview" an "alleged satire that's about as funny as a communist food shortage, and just as protracted."

    ....

    The tragedy is that all this fuss isn't about something approaching a serious work of art. But aside from being trashily commercial, modern Hollywood also has a bit of a blind spot when it comes to making movies about bad people overseas...
    With 'Interview' pulled back, N. Korea wins?(Opinion) - CNN.com

    The Daily Beast has unearthed several emails that reveal at least two U.S. government officials screened a rough cut of the Kim Jong-Un assassination comedy The Interview in late June and gave the film—including a final scene that sees the dictator’s head explode—their blessing.

    The claim that the State Department played an active role in the decision to include the film’s gruesome death scene is likely to cause fury in Pyongyang. Emails between the Sony Entertainment CEO and a security consultant even appear to suggest the U.S. government may support the notion that The Interview would be useful propaganda against the North Korean regime.
    Interesting new article

    North Korea denies hacking Sony, U.S. stands by its assertion
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    In related news...

    President Obama said he has not seen the film, and the Sony Pics CEO says he would send him a copy if asked. I'm anxiously awaiting the presidential review...

    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Mark Stroh, a spokesman for the National Security Council said this:

    If the North Korean government wants to help, they can admit their culpability and compensate Sony for the damages this attack caused.
    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Tons of films have been made that "his most fervent followers" probably find offensive. This of course has nothing to do with the largest hack in U.S. history. Not only was it a devestating hack, it was directed by a nation state --> and then of course we have the related threats.

    Vampire hunting anyone? Quite a few people liked this comedic flick...


    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Remember when the literary world and many, many others stood behind Salman Rushdie? It was Valentine's Day 1989 when the Ayatollah Khomeini issued that Fatwa on him.

    Salman Rushdie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    The Satanic Verses controversy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Looking back at Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses | Books | The Guardian

    The inspiring truth behind Salman Rushdie's exile - Telegraph


    It's time to stand tall and not cower to terrorism --> freedom of speech and expression must rule the day!

    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

      It's time to stand tall and not cower to terrorism --> freedom of speech and expression must rule the day!

      Cheers

      -don
      Be my guest. I'll leave it to Sony to stand up tall for their work of art, thank you. I could care less about Sony or N. Korea, but if they think this was an epic that everyone must see, let them stand tall and not cower. Personally, I think it was an ill conceived piece of trash. Freedom of speech ..... Yay! .... only I don't care to stand up for or watch a stupid movie that pokes sticks at a leader I could care less about.
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      • Profile picture of the author positivenegative
        I can't believe this thread has gone on so long. Talk about going over the top, and all about a trash movie that most don't give two shits about.

        All this bullshit about rights, freedom of speech, and standing up for yourself. What utter and complete nonsense. I hate North Korea and the barbaric dictator who runs it, but lets not get away from the fact that this was a movie made in poor taste about the assassination of a country's leader who is still alive. I can just imagine the outcry if a similar movie were made about the Queen, Obama, or some other senior Western figurehead.

        The movie was obviously made with the explicit intent of courting controversyand simply to attract viewers, and I for one couldn't care less if it never gets seen in it's entirety.

        To all those who are taking umbrage about freedom of expression, honestly . . get a life.
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        • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
          Banned
          Originally Posted by positivenegative View Post

          I hate North Korea and the barbaric dictator who runs it, but lets not get away from the fact that this was a movie made in poor taste about the assassination of a country's leader who is still alive. I can just imagine the outcry if a similar movie were made about the Queen, Obama, or some other senior Western figurehead.

          <snip>

          To all those who are taking umbrage about freedom of expression, honestly . . get a life
          I think you may be the one that need's to get a life! A fictional mockumentary has already been made and released by a British filmmaker while the president the filmwas about was still in office ---> in-fact the movie won the International Critics' Prize at the Toronto Film Festival

          It's called "Death of a President" and George W. Bush was assassinated in Chicago.


          Maybe you don't mind North Korean dictators deciding which movies we can and can not make and watch...many of us do.

          Cheers

          -don
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          • Profile picture of the author positivenegative
            Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

            I think you may be the one that need's to get a life! A fictional mockumentary has already been made and released by a British filmmaker while the president the filmwas about was still in office ---> in-fact the movie won the International Critics' Prize at the Toronto Film Festival

            It's called "Death of a President" and George W. Bush was assassinated in Chicago.
            I'm fully aware of that fact, but that doesn't mean an isolated instance of poor taste film making has to set a precedent.


            Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post


            Maybe you don't mind North Korean dictators deciding which movies we can and can not make and watch...many of us do.
            You've absolutely no proof of the above statement. No-one has.

            You know, I've often agreed with you in the past, despite your holier-than-thou attitude to most subjects - which inevitably involves you posting zillions of graphs and charts to try and support your often isolated opinions.

            In this instance you're completely wrong. Stating that "you don't mind North Korean dictators deciding what we can and cannot make and watch" shows exactly how you try to twist things . . . as this thread shows that I NEVER said that. It also illustrates just how far up your high-horse you are, and is a perfect example of your inane ability to project a constantly blinkered outlook on anything and everything that's posted in the OTF.

            No doubt you'll come back with some more cock and bull. You always do. Being perfect is a full-time occupation.
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            • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
              Banned
              Originally Posted by positivenegative View Post

              You've absolutely no proof of the above statement. No-one has.
              Sure I do. North Korea threatened serious consequences if the movie was shown as far back as June. The hack has been linked to North Korea, and hackers have threatened 911 style consequences if the movie is shown. That has caused the movie to be forced out of the theaters and that is enough proof for me at this time.

              You know, I've often agreed with you in the past, despite your holier-than-thou attitude to most subjects - which inevitably involves you posting zillions of graphs and charts to try and support your often isolated opinions.
              Wow, holier than though and isolated, eh? Not really...maybe just slightly more informed on some subjects than less informed posters. I am relatively well informed on subjects that deal with freedom of speech and expression in America.

              In this instance you're completely wrong. Stating that "you don't mind North Korean dictators deciding what we can and cannot make and watch" shows exactly how you try to twist things . . . as this thread shows that I NEVER said that.
              No twisting intended, here are your words.

              Originally Posted by positivenegative View Post

              All this bullshit about rights, freedom of speech, and standing up for yourself. What utter and complete nonsense.

              <snip>

              To all those who are taking umbrage about freedom of expression, honestly . . get a life.
              Obviously you don't think this is a freedom of speech and expression issue, even though the movie is not being shown due to threats from North Korea and terrorist hackers.

              It also illustrates just how far up your high-horse you are, and is a perfect example of your inane ability to project a constantly blinkered outlook on anything and everything that's posted in the OTF.
              Hey, glad to see you using the term high-horse, how original. Blinkered outlook, eh? Much of America is outraged that North Korea has forced the film out of theaters, including President Obama --> hardly blinkered.

              No doubt you'll come back with some more cock and bull. You always do. Being perfect is a full-time occupation.
              Maybe you have traded your horse for an un-American bull.

              Cheers

              -don
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              • Profile picture of the author positivenegative
                Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

                Sure I do. North Korea threatened serious consequences if the movie was shown as far back as June. The hack has been linked to North Korea, and hackers have threatened 911 style consequences if the movie is shown. That has caused the movie to be forced out of the theaters and that is enough proof for me at this time.



                Wow, holier than though and isolated, eh? Not really...maybe just slightly more informed on some subjects than less informed posters. I am relatively well informed on subjects that deal with freedom of speech and expression in America.



                No twisting intended, here are your words.



                Obviously you don't think this is a freedom of speech and expression issue, even though the movie is not being shown due to threats from North Korea and terrorist hackers.



                Hey, glad to see you using the term high-horse, how original. Blinkered outlook, eh? Much of America is outraged that North Korea has forced the film out of theaters, including President Obama --> hardly blinkered.



                Maybe you have traded your horse for un-American bull.

                Cheers

                -don

                Pathetic.

                I expect Santa will leave you the usual mole-hills under your tree again this year. You so like making mountains out of them.
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            • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
              Banned
              Originally Posted by positivenegative View Post

              All this bullshit about rights, freedom of speech, and standing up for yourself. What utter and complete nonsense.

              <snip>

              To all those who are taking umbrage about freedom of expression, honestly . . get a life.
              Originally Posted by positivenegative View Post

              You've absolutely no proof of the above statement. No-one has.
              I addressed these points in my earlier posts but I think President Obama does a pretty good job of it here...


              Cheers

              -don
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              • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
                Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

                I addressed these points in my earlier posts but I think President Obama does a pretty good job of it here...

                WATCH: Barack Obama Criticizing Sony For Canceling The Interview Movie | Obama On Sony Hack - YouTube

                Cheers

                -don

                But yesterday, in post #123 of this thread, he was Mr. Uninformed...
                Signature

                "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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                • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                  Banned
                  Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

                  But yesterday, in post #123 of this thread, he was Mr. Uninformed...
                  Right.

                  He seemed uninformed about the chain of events that led to the pulling of the movie as it was the large theater chains that caused the Dec. 25th theatrical release to be yanked. That should not be very difficult to understand if you check the timeline of events and listen to his full comments.

                  I did not call him out on his other comments because he was spot on. Supposedly what he meant by the Sony comment that I called him on was that he would have contacted the theater chains to try to get them to run the movie if asked to do so by Sony. That said, the Sony Pics CEO was speaking with high level white house officials but no calls to the the theaters from the White House happened, and the Sony CEO said it was not discussed.

                  Would President Obama have been able to get the theater chains to run the movie? I don't know the answer to that question. If he really thinks he can do something to change the minds of the theater chain execs and their legal departments, he could be doing that now.

                  As I mentioned above, basically everything else he spoke about was spot on and that's exactly why I posted the video.

                  It's not a very complex concept. I don't have to agree with everything he says, and I am not one to discount everything he says. When he was talking about freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and not allowing a foreign dictator to cause the censorship of, or inhibit the making of our movies and documentaries etc. I am with him 110%.

                  Cheers

                  -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    I consider it more than just standing up for a single movie or company, but to each their own!

    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Remember when Kim Jong was reduced to a cockroach? Many of us do...




    Cheers!

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

      Remember when Kim Jong was reduced to a cockroach? Many of us do...

      Cheers!

      -don
      No, I don't remember ... I guess I just have no fascination whatsoever with watching movies about Kim Jong, but speaking of Death of a President ...

      Not everyone will remember "Death of a President," the 2006 movie that included a controversial scene in which President George W. Bush was killed by a sniper. (I, on the other hand, can't forget it because my fiancé is an actress and had a big role in that movie).

      Another thing I can't forget is the outrage that DOAP sparked among some xxxx commentators, including some of those very same people who are now defending Sony's film "The Interview," about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

      "Death of a President" won an award at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival and was slated to play in several theater chains in America. That is, until some on the xxxx went ballistic over it.

      Rush Limbaugh slammed the movie, reportedly calling the film's director a "sicko" and saying the movie was part of an "age of insanity." Fox News' Michelle Malkin denounced the film in an article she penned for the conservative website, "Town Hall" titled, "Kill Bush Mania." Matt Drudge used the word "SHOCK" (all in caps) to describe the film on the front page of his Drudge Report. And Sean Hannity grilled the film's director on his Fox News show with questions like "Do you not have a responsibility to think of the impact, the impressions that could be made on people" by depicting the shooting of Bush?

      The outrage wasn't confined to the media. Rep. Peter King of New York, then chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, dubbed the film disgusting, claimed it "could incite real violence" and reportedly warned that the filmmakers "would have blood on their hands if anything should ever happen." King went on to call for no movie theater or TV network in America to show the film: "Any theater that would show this, any TV station that would show this, is acting irresponsibly. It would be a disgrace for it to be shown anywhere."

      In response to this outrage, the film was indeed pulled from the big theater chains and relegated to a handful of art house theaters. As a then-spokesperson for Regal Entertainment Group, one of the movie theater chains that caved into the pressure, reportedly stated, "We do not feel it is appropriate to portray the future assassination of a president, therefore we do not intend to program this film at any of our cinemas."
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      • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
        Banned
        Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

        No, I don't remember ... I guess I just have no fascination whatsoever with watching movies about Kim Jong, but speaking of Death of a President ...
        Not a big South park fan, eh?

        Famous people depicted as puppets, and lampooned, in the film include Michael Moore, Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Helen Hunt, George Clooney, Liv Tyler, Martin Sheen, Susan Sarandon, Janeane Garofalo, Matt Damon, Samuel L. Jackson, Danny Glover, Ethan Hawke, Kim Jong-il, Tony Blair, Queen Elizabeth II, Peter Jennings, and Hans Blix. With the exception of Jennings, Tony Blair, and Queen Elizabeth (and Sheen, whose death is not shown despite being involved in the F.A.G. vs. Team America battle), all are killed in dramatic and extremely violent ways.
        Team America: World Police, a paramilitary anti-terrorism force, has a home base located inside Mount Rushmore. The team comprises Lisa, a psychologist; Carson, her love interest; Sarah, an alleged psychic; Joe, a jock who is in love with Sarah; and Chris, a martial arts expert who harbors a deep mistrust of actors. The team is led by Spottswoode and a supercomputer named I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E.. Having tracked down a group of terrorists in Paris, France, the team inadvertently destroys the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and The Louvre during a gun battle. Carson proposes to Lisa, but a surviving terrorist guns him down. As a replacement, Spottswoode recruits Gary Johnston, a Broadway actor with college majors in Theater and World Languages. Unbeknownst to the team, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il is supplying international terrorists with weapons of mass destruction.

        Using his acting skills, Gary successfully infiltrates a terrorist group in Cairo, Egypt. The team manages to kill the terrorists and foil their plot, but the city is left in ruins. For their actions regarding Cairo, the team is criticized by the Film Actors Guild (F.A.G.), a union of liberal Hollywood actors led by Gary's favorite actor, Alec Baldwin, and also consists of Matt Damon, Liv Tyler, Samuel L. Jackson, Janeane Garofalo, George Clooney, Susan Sarandon, Ethan Hawke, Helen Hunt, Martin Sheen, Danny Glover, Sean Penn, and Tim Robbins. As the team relaxes following their victory, Gary tells Lisa about his childhood: his acting talent caused his brother to be killed by gorillas. While the two express their feelings and have sex, a group of terrorists blow up the Panama Canal as retaliation for what had happened to Cairo.
        Team America: World Police - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


        Re: Death of a President

        The point is it actually released in theaters, remained in some theaters, and can still be purchased today. Feel free to download your copy...the buy button is displayed on the YT video. I don't remember anyone hacking the studio and making 911 style death threats on the movie goers either.


        The film was released on DVD in the UK and the US while he was still in office.

        The Region 2 Code widescreen edition of the film was released on DVD in the United Kingdom on 30 October 2006, followed by the Region 1 Code version in the United States on 3 April 2007. Special features include interviews and commentary with screenwriter Simon Finch, editor Brand Thumim, line producer Donall McCusker and director Gabriel Range. A theatrical trailer is also included with the extras.
        In-fact the movie was shown on TV in the UK while Bush was sitting president.

        In Europe, it was broadcast in the UK on 9 October (More4), 19 October 2006 (Channel 4), in Finland on 18 October 2007.
        And the movie played in 143 U.S. theaters while Bush was in office.

        Sure some of the right wingers were going to take offense. It was a film made in an allied country that was thought to be in poor taste by some. North Korea is not our ally.

        Cheers

        -don
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        • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
          Banned
          Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

          Not a big South park fan, eh?
          Correct. I'm not. So, is there something wrong with that? I mean ... I do have the "freedom to not watch" don't I?

          Here's the rest of that Death of a President article that I find interesting

          Yet fast forward to 2014, and The Drudge Report reads, "SURRENDER: SONY PULLS 'INTERVIEW." (Apparently Drudge's computer is stuck in "caps lock" mode.) Malkin's Twitter feed, meanwhile, is filled with retweets that denounce Sony's puling of the film.

          But the award for the biggest flip-flopper of them all goes to Peter King. The man who in 2006 called for theaters to not screen the film that portrayed Bush being assassinated sang a far different tune when interviewed earlier this week by CNN's Wolf Blitzer. When Blitzer asked King if it was appropriate for a film to depict a world leader being assassinated, King responded, "There's no reason not to do it."

          King went on to state -- as if he had no recollection of what he said in 2006 -- that there have "been terrible things said about our presidents and our leaders in movies. ... This is something that, in a free society, we tolerate."

          Look, if you are going to credibly defend freedom of expression, it requires that you be consistent. You can't just defend the words or images you agree with. That's not how freedom of expression works. And deep down, I know that King and the pundits on the right know this. But too often they are playing to their political base or the consumers of their media outlets at the expense of intellectual honesty. (And to be candid, some on the left are just as guilty, though typically not in the area of freedom of expression.)

          Will the future bring any changes? Tough to say, although to be honest it seems unlikely. It's how some of them remain in office and attract fans to their websites and TV shows.

          But thanks to a thing called Google we can discover in a matter of minutes the selective outrage and outright hypocrisy of these people. At least then we can dismiss their words as being nothing more than hollow pandering.
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          • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
            Banned
            Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

            Correct. I'm not. So, is there something wrong with that? I mean ... I do have the "freedom to not watch" don't I?

            Here's the rest of that Death of a President article that I find interesting
            Sure...and nothing is wrong with it at all.

            I wonder how many news broadcasts, television shows, and documentaries have been made that show North Korea and their fearless leaders in a bad light? I wonder how many of those have called it a horrible dictatorship? An evil dictatorship? A terrible place to live? How many have told of the countless atrocities human rights violations? How many of talked about somehow forcing regime change? I think you get my drift...

            Yeah...and now some folks are all upset about a silly comedy. Give me a break!

            Cheers

            -don
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            • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
              Banned
              Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

              Sure...and nothing is wrong with it at all.

              ....

              Yeah...and now some folks are all upset about a silly comedy. Give me a break!

              Cheers

              -don
              To be clear, I'm not upset about the movie, Kim whatshisface or Sony. I just plain don't care about any of it. Sony was asked if they'd do it again and they said yes ... so there it is. They believe in their movie. It's theirs to defend. I don't take a stand on issues that don't matter to me, and while freedom of speech is great (although it's not really quite as free as you might think), this movie is not important enough to me to stand with them.
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    A presidential sized molehill, no doubt.


    So did you love Billy Bob in Bad Santa or what?


    And I have your pathetic right here --> without a doubt it's one of my all-time favorite Five.Bolt.Main tracks!


    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Ahhhhh. The important thing is, we haven't strayed from the thoughtful, objective, friendly posts that have come to define the OT Forum.

      Please, nobody change.
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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    God @TheTweetOfGod
    It's a sad day when the North Korean government can keep a Japanese corporation from making money off the American people.
    .................................................. .....
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    So that blind people can hate them as well.
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

      Quote:
      God @TheTweetOfGod
      It’s a sad day when the North Korean government can keep a Japanese corporation from making money off the American people.
      Sad indeed ... and such a promising, well thought out film to be released on Christmas Day. I mean who didn't want to see Kim whatshisface's head explode on Christmas Day. It was right at the top of my list of Christmas must dos ... even taking priority over visiting my children and playing with my grandchildren.

      Nothing says Christmas like the smell of Christmas cookies baking, the pine scent of a Christmas tree in the house, friends and family gathering together, the joy of watching children opening their presents ... and uh ... Kim whatshisface's head exploding.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    I have decided to drop "The Review" from my movie chain.
    This consists of my living room and my bedroom.
    That will be all.
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  • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
    Let's face it folks, this was a dumb idea for a comedy movie in the first place. I very much doubt it would've made the studio back any of the money that was invested in it.

    Ironically, now they may be able to recoup some of the money due to the publicity it's received, as people will buy copies of it to see what the fuss was all about. I also doubt very much that anyone who does finally get to see it will consider the experience worthwhile.
    Signature
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    So that blind people can hate them as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    The latest is that Sony plans to release the movie on a streaming service. First it was supposed to be Crackle, but that story was apparently premature. So we will soon be able to do our patriotic duty and watch this masterpiece for free!

    Sony Hasn’t Decided Where to Stream “The Interview” — Meaning Not on Crackle (For Now) | Re/code
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
    This is now turning into a comedy in its own right. Get me some popcorn because I have a feeling the best is yet to come. LOL
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      OH! SAY IT AIN'T SO JOE! Maybe someone is "jiggling the wires"! ALSO, websites are relatively forgiving about flaky connections. Each hit opens, processes, and closes. Transfers, and hacking often aren't. A broken connection may mean starting an operation from scratch.

      And one wonders about anonymous! I MEAN SERIOUSLY? Trying to claim a violation of FOIA? FOIA was created to facilitate transparency in the US government! A lot fo good it has done(sarc), and there are a lot of loopholes, but that is what it was for. Unless the comedy was for some government propaganda that THEY helped facilitate, or maybe funded by the government in some way, you would probably just give someone a good chuckle.

      FOIA.gov - Freedom of Information Act

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        I think Doctor Evil has the right take on this;

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        • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
          Banned
          Art House Convergence, a coalition of 250 independent theaters, has stepped up and told Sony they are willing to show The Interview on Christmas Day.

          We, the independent Art House community, will gladly exhibit “The Interview” as a special, one-day showing without pecuniary expectation, or as a regular part of our cinema programming. We do this to express the value and power of freedom and to support you, our artistic and business colleagues, during a time of great vexation
          An Open Note to Sony’s Michael Lynton & Amy Pascal | Art House Convergence

          The Plaza in Atlanta is one of the first theaters to announce Dec 25th showings.

          The Plaza Theater on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta’s Poncey-Highland neighborhood has announced via Twitter Tuesday it would be one of a few movie houses in the country to show the controversial film ‘The Interview’ on Christmas Day.
          Atlanta



          https://twitter.com/plazaatlanta

          The Alamo Drafthouse Theater in Austin is another that will be showing the film on Christmas Day.



          https://twitter.com/timalamo

          http://www.click2houston.com/news/al...eater/30370580

          http://drafthouse.com/movies/the-interview/dfw

          Seth Rogen tweet...



          https://twitter.com/sethrogen

          Cheers

          -don
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          • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
            Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

            Art House Convergence, a coalition of 250 independent theaters, has stepped up and told Sony they are willing to show The Interview on Christmas Day.

            Cheers

            -don
            It's about time. After that, let's see what North Korea does so we can have a reason to go to war with them and wipe them out once and for all.
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            • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
              Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

              It's about time. After that, let's see what North Korea does so we can have a reason to go to war with them and wipe them out once and for all.

              I think you forgot or don't know that NK has at least atomic weapons that many people believe can reach the continental U.S.

              So if you're talking about doing something to NK in a military type of way - on their home soil - I don't think so. But there are diplomatic and economic sanctions that can be brought to bear on the situation - if we haven't already sanctioned them dry.

              They may feel they have nothing to lose and will count on us not striking first because of NK's proximity to both China and Russia.

              So we find more ways to sanction them etc. and they get to continue talking trash.
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              • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                Banned
                Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

                I think you forgot or don't know that NK has at least atomic weapons that many people believe can reach the continental U.S.
                The chance of them hitting us with a nuclear warhead atop an ICBM is basically NONE. If you believe they can reach the States with a multistage rocket, and do a large scale nuclear detonation when the rocket arrives here, you have not been paying much attention to the (mostly failed) testing they have been doing, or the technology.

                North Korea is not going to commit a blatant act of war like that...their country would be annihilated within hours or days. I doubt they will attempt a physical attack on a single theater because that would also be a obvious act of war which would warrant severe retaliation.

                Cheers

                -don
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                • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
                  Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

                  The chance of them hitting us with a nuclear warhead atop an ICBM is basically NONE. If you believe they can reach the states with a multistage rocket and do a large scale nuclear detonation when the rocket arrives here you have not been paying much attention to the (mostly failed) testing they have been doing, or the technology.

                  North Korea is not going to commit a blatant act of war like that...their country would be annihilated within hours or days, depending on what we decide to hit them with. I doubt they will attempt a physical attack on a single theater because that would also be a obvious act of war which would warrant severe retaliation.

                  Cheers

                  -don
                  There could be a few other actors in this play.

                  We are not going to invade NK in any way shape or form - militarily and they know that. We will not drop anything even close to a tactical atomic or nuke on that country so I don't know what you mean by we can annihilate them in hours or days.

                  So they continue to talk trash.
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              • Profile picture of the author seasoned
                Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

                I think you forgot or don't know that NK has at least atomic weapons that many people believe can reach the continental U.S.
                BELIEVE is ****NOT**** good enough! If the US tried to attack them, military bases would be the *****FIRST***** targets! If the US used atomic weapons, the palace, or whatever, might be the first target after all the military is wiped out. The US is really not allowed to strike them, but if the NK tries to strike, the US is certainly allowed to strike in kind! So if they send up a nuclear missle that leaves the area the US defined LONG AGO, and looks like it is near ANY US interest, or on its way, they can expect a special package. The US reminded them of that only a few years ago when they came dangerously close. That wasn't close to the US, but I believe it was south korea, a US interest, at the time. Thanks to agreements like NATO, and the allies, etc... such interests are all over the globe!

                So if you're talking about doing something to NK in a military type of way - on their home soil - I don't think so. But there are diplomatic and economic sanctions that can be brought to bear on the situation - if we haven't already sanctioned them dry.

                They may feel they have nothing to lose and will count on us not striking first because of NK's proximity to both China and Russia.

                So we find more ways to sanction them etc. and they get to continue talking trash.
                Well, many think the US knocked out their internet. I hadn't thought about it until this morning, but if the US knocked out the NK connection to the US, which is EASY to do, A lot of NK sites would not be reachable even INSIDE of NK! The US IS directly connected to THE major TLDs, and at least indirectly connected to a lot of others. ALL may suddenly start failing in NK! Software could start failing. Most antivirus routines, of course, would FAIL! And the NK could only SUSPECT that the US did something.

                Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

    I think you forgot or don't know that NK has at least atomic weapons that many people believe can reach the continental U.S.

    So if you're talking about doing something to NK in a military type of way - on their home soil - I don't think so. But there are diplomatic and economic sanctions that can be brought to bear on the situation - if we haven't already sanctioned them dry.

    They may feel they have nothing to lose and will count on us not striking first because of NK's proximity to both China and Russia.

    So we find more ways to sanction them etc. and they get to continue talking trash.
    Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

    There could be many other actors in this play.

    So they continue to talk trash.
    Like China or Iran is going to start a World War because of this Seth Rogen comedy. Give me a break! President Obama is not worried about it...have another listen to his comments, and note what he says at about the 1:00 mark.


    We are not going to invade NK in any way shape or form - militarily and they know that. We will not drop anything even close to a tactical atomic or nuke on that country so I don't know what you mean by we can annihilate them in hours or days.
    Did you forget what you just said? You posted some junk about about North Korea hitting us with a Nuke. Good grief! If North Korea hit us with a Nuke we would wipe several cities from the face of the earth. If they attempt to hit us with a Nuke and fail, we will bomb them back to the stone age. If we tie a physical attack on a theater showing this movie to North Korea we will launch a bombing campaign against them that will set them back decades.

    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

      Like China or Iran is going to start a World War because of this Seth Rogan comedy. Give me a break!

      Cheers

      -don
      I don't know why you dragged Iran into this as IMHO, the other countries in question are China and Russia and I'm sure both have advised us that they will not take kindly to a tactical weapon dropped in NK.

      Of course we reserve the right to do what we think we have to do.

      Even if a theater is attacked by anyone, we are not going to launch a military war against NK.
      Signature

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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

        I don't know why you dragged Iran into this as IMHO, the other countries in question are China and Russia and I'm sure both have advised us that they will not take kindly to a tactical weapon dropped in NK.

        Of course we reserve the right to do what we think we have to do.

        Even if a theater is attacked by anyone, we are not going to launch a military war against NK.
        Of course not. But that won't stop the demand for it. Lots of saber rattling.

        A lion doesn't roar before he attacks..
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        • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          Of course not. But that won't stop the demand for it. Lots of saber rattling.

          A lion doesn't roar before he attacks..

          Reports are the POTUS #2 was not reelected because he would not declare war on France.
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        • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          Of course not. But that won't stop the demand for it. Lots of saber rattling.

          A lion doesn't roar before he attacks..

          We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out.

          Don seems to think, if a theater is attacked - then we're going to war.
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          • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
            Banned
            Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

            Don seems to think, if a theater is attacked - then we're going to war.
            I didn't say we are going to get involved in a world war, I said if we are attacked, we will respond militarily. As an example, we have done hundreds and hundreds of drone strikes in Pakistan and we are not at war with Pakistan.

            Cheers

            -don
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      • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
        Banned
        Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

        I don't know why you dragged Iran into this as IMHO, the other countries in question are China and Russia and I'm sure both have advised us that they will not take kindly to a tactical weapon dropped in NK.

        Of course we reserve the right to do what we think we have to do.

        Even if a theater is attacked by anyone, we are not going to launch a military war against NK.
        Do you not realize Iran and North Korea are sharing military expertise and nuclear technology? On top of that, North Korea has been supplying arms to Iran since the 80's. If North Korea were to successfully execute a large scale physical attack on a U.S. theater full of people we will respond militarily, you can count on it. Russia can barely blow their own nose right now, and China is not going to risk world relations backing a North Korean attack on a U.S theater based on Kim's dislike of a Seth Rogen comedy. China has much better things to do these days.

        Cheers

        -don
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        • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
          Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

          Do you not realize Iran and North Korea are sharing nuclear technology? North Korea has been supllying arms to Iran since the 80's. If North Korea were to successfully execute a large scale physical attack on a U.S. theater full of people we will respond militarily, you can count on it. Russia can barely blow their own nose right now, and China is not going to risk world relations backing a North Korean attack on a U.S theater based on Kim's dislike of a Seth Rogan comedy. China has much better things to do these days.

          Cheers

          -don

          Are you saying that if any theater in the U.S. is attacked, we will retaliate militarily?

          What do you mean by large scale attack?
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          • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
            Banned
            Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

            Are you saying that if any theater in the U.S. is attacked, we will retaliate militarily?

            What do you mean by large scale attack?
            If the nation state of North Korea is implicated in a physical attack on a U.S. theater that causes a substantial number casualties, the U.S. will respond militarily. As long as we can connect the dots with real proof, we will respond. Who, when, where, how, and with what amount of force we will respond is the real question. That question will only be answered, if God forbid, we do have an attack.

            Cheers

            -don
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            • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
              Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

              If the nation state of North Korea is implicated in an attack on a U.S. theater that causes a substantial number casualties, the U.S. will respond militarily. As long as we can connect the dots with real proof, we will respond. Who, when, where, how and with what amount of force we will respond with is the real question.

              Cheers

              -don
              That is the question - "real proof."

              If nothing happens, I guess NK punked out and the threats from their surrogates was idle.

              We'll see...

              And I'd like to thank Sony Corp for their role in this since they were warned about this film back in June I hear and maybe sooner.
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              • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                Banned
                Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

                And I'd like to thank Sony Corp for their role in this since they were warned about this film back in June I hear and maybe sooner.
                The news agencies, the production companies, the documentary film makers, the historians, the politicians, the educators etc. etc. have labeling North Korea as evil, and have been accusing them of serious human rights violations and unspeakable atrocities for decades. Also, let us not forget the countless number of comedians that love ridiculing the North Korean leader(s).

                To get all bent out of shape over a Seth Rogen comedy is a severe overreaction if you ask me. America is a place that allows freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and I and many others stand tall on that fundamental concept.

                Camp 14 --> 3 generations of punishment. (Anderson Cooper interview)



                Cheers

                -don
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                • Profile picture of the author seasoned
                  Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

                  The news agencies, the production companies, the documentary film makers, the historians, the politicians, the educators etc. etc. have labeling North Korea as evil, and have been accusing them of serious human rights violations and unspeakable atrocities for decades. Also, let us not forget the countless number of comedians that love ridiculing the North Korean leader(s).

                  To get all bent out of shape over a Seth Rogen comedy is a severe overreaction if you ask me. America is a place that allows freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and I and many others stand tall on that fundamental concept.

                  Camp 14 --> 3 generations of punishment. (Anderson Cooper interview)

                  North Korean prisoner escaped after 23 brutal years - YouTube

                  Camp 14: Total Control Zone - YouTube

                  Cheers

                  -don
                  Yeah, as I said, there was a RUMOR that kim jong il was upset about the team america thing. I don't think I EVER heard of an attack, etc... NOW, THIS is portrayed as a comedy with these people that most wouldn't believe, and kim jong un is supposedly so INCREDIBLY upset?

                  Almost ANYONE will be ridiculed. It is pretty much a GIVEN. The more famous, evil, etc... the more likely it becomes. Fascist and Communist people KNOW this, and it is why they outlaw it, put spies everywhere, and limit communication with others. Kim Jong whatever, is NO exception! So why worry about people practically on the other side of the planet?

                  Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Rick Rodd
    Just noticed the discussion has been on-going for a long-time, and the title of the movie is The Interview and not The Review
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by Rick Rodd View Post

      Just noticed the discussion has been on-going for a long-time, and the title of the movie is The Interview and not The Review
      The NKs changed it to "The Review"...They are everywhere!
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    While blaming North Korea fits nicely into the simplistic narrative so many people are eager to embrace, there are good reasons to be skeptical.

    A Lot of Smart People Think North Korea Didn't Hack Sony
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

      While blaming North Korea fits nicely into the simplistic narrative so many people are eager to embrace, there are good reasons to be skeptical.

      A Lot of Smart People Think North Korea Didn't Hack Sony
      Whenever something like this is the main news story on all the outlets I always look for what is really happening that will actually effect us. This time it was congress passing a 1.1 trillion dollar budget many parts of which will naturally screw us (the tab for one) and parts that are going to benefit the "to big to fail" banks and corporations.
      While it's impossible to miss anything on the news about the movie, you have to pay real close attention to hear anything about the budget, and then it's only that one was passed by both houses and the President will sign it.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        Whenever something like this is the main news story on all the outlets I always look for what is really happening that will actually effect us. This time it was congress passing a 1.1 trillion dollar budget many parts of which will naturally screw us (the tab for one) and parts that are going to benefit the "to big to fail" banks and corporations.
        While it's impossible to miss anything on the news about the movie, you have to pay real close attention to hear anything about the budget, and then it's only that one was passed by both houses and the President will sign it.
        Well, I KNEW about that PIECE OF GARBAGE, but you ARE right that it causes people to forget. I NEVER understood why the democrats SUPPOSEDLY hated it. It seemed like it was EXACTLY what they wanted. Conservatives ALL OVER have hated the idea that it was even INTRODUCED to the house, let alone that it PASSED. There were three things ALL conservatives wanted! 3 things ALL republicans elected this time, AND LAST, for THAT matter, promised. This broke EVERY one!

        From what YOU are saying, I guess they were telling yet ANOTHER lie and the democrats DID love it. If that were the case, in a DAY they could EASILY pass the bill. ONE of the three points that they wanted was that this be a bill that would be good only until the end of this congress. IIRC, it extends PAST that.

        Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        Whenever something like this is the main news story on all the outlets I always look for what is really happening that will actually effect us. This time it was congress passing a 1.1 trillion dollar budget many parts of which will naturally screw us (the tab for one) and parts that are going to benefit the "to big to fail" banks and corporations.
        While it's impossible to miss anything on the news about the movie, you have to pay real close attention to hear anything about the budget, and then it's only that one was passed by both houses and the President will sign it.
        Yes, it's another circus to distract the masses. I have to admit that your message here helped snap me out of a media-induced trance and ground me. The North Korea/ Sony situation is too much like a comic-strip James Bond style global villain scenario to be something other than a movie being projected to hide something behind it. I wouldn't be overly gobsmacked if it turned out that they're all following the same script, actors in the same movie (thought I don't really believe that).
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    • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

      While blaming North Korea fits nicely into the simplistic narrative so many people are eager to embrace, there are good reasons to be skeptical.

      A Lot of Smart People Think North Korea Didn't Hack Sony

      But the FBI claims they are responsible.


      Let's hope this doesn't become another "slam dunk" situation.
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      • Profile picture of the author LarryC
        Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

        But the FBI claims they are responsible.


        Let's hope this doesn't become another "slam dunk" situation.
        Call me cynical or even paranoid (I'm sure many do, lol) but if the FBI claims something I'm less likely to believe it.

        Here's another dissenting opinion:

        No, North Korea Didn
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        • Profile picture of the author The 13th Warrior
          Jeez, again with the uber-patriot bullcrap, practicing communist ideals under the guise of Democracy...,

          Yelling "FIRE"! in a crowded theater is NOT freedom of speech...,

          If the President of The United States or any political leader was walking by, and someone yelled " don't shoot the so and so", a defense in court, once apprehended, of free speech and "just having some fun" won't go far at all, if anywhere.

          Teaching kids and numerous ad campaigns about BULLYING, yet , if BULLYING is presented as "entertainment", it gets a pass???

          Most bullies start out making fun of their intended victim BEFORE it gets physical.

          Morals? Ideals? Integrity? A mock assassination/attempt is freedom of expression?

          Then a swastika spray painted on a building should only be graffiti/vandalism charges, not hate crime.

          So when sunnis or shiites or others BURN the American flag or set our President or other political leaders on fire in effigy , or burn pictures of our leaders and their children in effigy, where are all the "freedom of speech" crowds warm sentiments of democracy when that happens?

          Why is there not a ground swell in t.v. , internet, interviews, books, videos, text, blogs,newspapers , essays and other american mediums of "patriots" standing up, tall, and clapping for them practicing THEIR freedom of speech and exercising the one of the cherished ideals of democracy such as freedom of expression???

          Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.

          Typical archetype of a coward and bully.., love to go hunting for things that can't fight back or fire back, because if you ask some of these jokers, fighting someone in a wheel chair is a fair and square brawl.

          A lot of people sport wood & getting their rocks off practicing hypocrisy...., it's a sport of its own with a one-of-kind flavor.



          The 13th Warrior
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          • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
            Banned
            I wouldn't pay 50¢ to watch this in the comfort of my own home but I would gladly drive to Manhattan and pay $12 to watch it at a theatre in Times Square.

            I'm quite sure the movie is crud. It's not about the movie.

            Cheers. - Frank
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            • Profile picture of the author SilentBase14
              Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

              I wouldn't pay 50¢ to watch this in the comfort of my own home but I would gladly drive to Manhattan and pay $12 to watch it at a theatre in Times Square.

              I'm quite sure the movie is crud. It's not about the movie.

              Cheers. - Frank
              Agreed 100%.

              I'm not a Seth Rogan movie fan. He seems like a cool guy, but his movies just aren't my kind of humor.

              That said - this movie needs to be seen.
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              • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                Banned
                I am not sure how comprehensive these are, but they are fairly decent sized lists of theaters that are showing The Interview as of now.

                https://deadline.com/2014/12/intervi...st-1201334486/

                http://gizmodo.com/every-movie-theat...mas-1674850364

                http://news.moviefone.com/2014/12/23...iew-full-list/

                NYC specific:

                http://www.nydailynews.com/entertain...icle-1.2055757

                http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runnin...n_new_york.php

                As I had mentioned above, Google Play, YouTube and Xbox Video are also showing the movie. Sony has also made it available here and I think I will pay the $6 to watch it at home when my brother and his family arrive in a couple of days.

                Cheers

                -don
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              • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
                Banned
                Originally Posted by SilentBase14 View Post

                Agreed 100%.

                I'm not a Seth Rogan movie fan. He seems like a cool guy, but his movies just aren't my kind of humor.

                That said - this movie needs to be seen.
                Sure it does. All really ill conceived, poorly done, artless movies need to be seen. lol.
                I personally am glad that Sony was hacked and this movie has cost them a fortune and won't bring any profits. I'm glad that it's now being distributed by every torrent site and streaming site on the Net. That takes care of any 1st amendment issues for the US based branch of a Japanese company that originates in a country that doesn't actually have a first amendment. [they have their own version of "freedom of speech and the press" which gives access to news only by "News Clubs" in Japan (and not to foreign or independent journalists) and only the news that the gov. wants the news clubs to have.]

                I'm glad that the actors and actresses and directors that have contributed to Sony's profitability now actually know what the company thinks of them, due to the hacking.

                I'm glad that this movie has brought into the light, the lack of talent, good judgment, and brilliant ideas that this company has.

                I'm glad my brother went to a friend's house to watch the movie and loved it. I normally hate most movies that he loves, so that confirms my suspicions that it isn't worth wasting a minute of time on.

                Resource: The Sony Group (ソニー・グループ Sonī Gurūpu?) is a Japan-based corporate group primarily focused on the Electronics (such as AV/IT products and components), Game (such as PlayStation), Entertainment (such as motion pictures and music), and Financial Services (such as insurance and banking) sectors. The group consists of Sony Corporation (holding and electronics), Sony Computer Entertainment (games), Sony Pictures Entertainment (motion pictures), Sony Music Entertainment (music), Sony/ATV Music Publishing (music publishing), Sony Financial Holdings (financial services) and others.
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          • Profile picture of the author LarryC
            << Typical archetype of a coward and bully.., love to go hunting for things that can't fight back or fire back, because if you ask some of these jokers, fighting someone in a wheel chair is a fair and square brawl.

            A lot of people sport wood & getting their rocks off practicing hypocrisy...., it's a sport of its own with a one-of-kind flavor.

            The 13th Warrior>>

            There is a disturbing tendency to take pleasure at punishing much smaller and weaker "evil" nations, while overlooking the evils of allies such as Saudi Arabia (where people are regularly beheaded). Think of the exuberance in the American media early in both Iraq wars, when it appeared there would be a fast victory simply by launching lots of missiles.

            Focusing on foreign villains is also useful as a distraction from what our own "leaders" are doing. North Korea makes for a convenient bete noir, an oppressive society with a leader who is practically a caricature even without a movie being made about him.
            However, there are much bigger threats to our freedom right here at home.
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            • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
              Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

              However, there are much bigger threats to our freedom right here at home.
              You mean like paranoia?
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              • Profile picture of the author LarryC
                Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

                You mean like paranoia?
                But who are really the biggest creators of paranoia? It's actually the mainstream media and government. If you buy into everything they peddle, you are constantly living in fear -this week it's North Korea, last week it was ebola, next week it might be Iran. Most of what they are selling is fear so we support things like bloated military budgets.
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                • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                  Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

                  But who are really the biggest creators of paranoia? It's actually the mainstream media and government. If you buy into everything they peddle, you are constantly living in fear -this week it's North Korea, last week it was ebola, next week it might be Iran. Most of what they are selling is fear so we support things like bloated military budgets.

                  This is where rational thinking comes in handy. Separating the nonsense from the plausible. It isn't the "Mainstream media". It's the most extreme commentators on FOX and MSNBC. It's conspiracy theory websites. These "theories" create paranoia...in susceptible minds.

                  And Paranoid minds are paranoid...before they see the news.


                  Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

                  Just watched it. Not the worst movie I've seen. However, you know a movie is bad when you think, "Boy, I could have used more Seth Rogan."
                  Dan. Honestly, if you insist on fantasizing about a man, you can do better than Seth Rogan.
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                  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
                    << This is where rational thinking comes in handy. Separating the nonsense from the plausible. It isn't the "Mainstream media". It's the most extreme commentators on FOX and MSNBC. It's conspiracy theory websites. These "theories" create paranoia...in susceptible minds.

                    And Paranoid minds are paranoid...before they see the news.>>

                    Terms like "paranoia" and "conspiracy theory" have become knee-jerk phrases that are meant to quell dissent. All I did in this thread was point out that some intelligent people don't believe that North Korea was responsible for the hacking. This isn't a conspiracy theory. It's simply pointing out that the jury is still out on this. For those who'd rather say "The FBI told me something so it's a fact and I don't have to think about it anymore," that's fine. But that doesn't make it paranoid to at least keep an open mind.

                    Contrary to what some, such as our self-styled "Forum Guru" said, I did not categorically state that North Korea wasn't responsible. Nor did I link to conspiracy sites. I just pointed out that other possibilities are still plausible. I'm not a big fan of North Korea, so I have no stake in defending them. I just think skepticism is healthy, especially when we consider the tendency of governments to lie and cover things up. Some may call that paranoia, I just consider it to be common sense.
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                    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

                      << This is where rational thinking comes in handy. Separating the nonsense from the plausible. It isn't the "Mainstream media". It's the most extreme commentators on FOX and MSNBC. It's conspiracy theory websites. These "theories" create paranoia...in susceptible minds.

                      And Paranoid minds are paranoid...before they see the news.>>

                      Terms like "paranoia" and "conspiracy theory" have become knee-jerk phrases that are meant to quell dissent. All I did in this thread was point out that some intelligent people don't believe that North Korea was responsible for the hacking. This isn't a conspiracy theory. It's simply pointing out that the jury is still out on this. For those who'd rather say "The FBI told me something so it's a fact and I don't have to think about it anymore," that's fine. But that doesn't make it paranoid to at least keep an open mind.

                      Contrary to what some, such as our self-styled "Forum Guru" said, I did not categorically state that North Korea wasn't responsible. Nor did I link to conspiracy sites. I just pointed out that other possibilities are still plausible. I'm not a big fan of North Korea, so I have no stake in defending them. I just think skepticism is healthy, especially when we consider the tendency of governments to lie and cover things up. Some may call that paranoia, I just consider it to be common sense.

                      You're taking this discussion way more seriously than I am. I was speaking in generalities, and mostly just playing.
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                    • Profile picture of the author positivenegative
                      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

                      Contrary to what some, such as our self-styled "Forum Guru" said, I did not categorically state that North Korea wasn't responsible. Nor did I link to conspiracy sites. I just pointed out that other possibilities are still plausible. I'm not a big fan of North Korea, so I have no stake in defending them. I just think skepticism is healthy . . .

                      . . . Contrary to what some, such as our self-styled "Forum Guru" said, I did not categorically state that North Korea wasn't responsible. Nor did I link to conspiracy sites. I just pointed out that other possibilities are still plausible . . .
                      I agree with that Larry, but Don (Forum Guru) does have a particular penchant for twisting the facts and accusing people of saying things that never happened. He's done it to me, in this very thread, and he's done it to many others in plenty more threads. You see he likes to support his personal viewpoints and stances with multiple graphs and stats but even when proved wrong, he can react like an embittered ex-spouse who lies to all who'll listen . . . purely out of revenge. There's no debate with Don. He'll just keep coming back at you pushing his own views.

                      Don likes to be portrayed as patriotic and gung-ho, but he also has to be right about everything. He's obviously intelligent, but much of his intelligence is misguided . . . a bit like the creators of the pathetic film that Don's got his panties in such a twist over.
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                      • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                        Banned
                        Originally Posted by positivenegative View Post

                        I agree with that Larry, but Don (Forum Guru) does have a particular penchant for twisting the facts and accusing people of saying things that never happened.
                        Wow, you must not have a clue. I guess you are in the business of posting bull$hit this holiday season.

                        He's done it to me, in this very thread, and he's done it to many others in plenty more threads.
                        It appears as if you are practicing your trolling skills, eh? If you post a bunch of nonsense you are likely to get called on it.

                        You see he likes to support his personal viewpoints and stances with multiple graphs and stats but even when proved wrong, he can react like an embittered ex-spouse who lies to all who'll listen purely out of revenge
                        .
                        You are about as lost as it gets, eh?. Revenge? You are in the land of the absurd...

                        There's no debate with Don. He'll just keep coming back at you pushing his own views.
                        One thing I don't post is lame attempts at personal attacks. I prefer to stick to the facts and the subjects at hand. On this thread apparently you have run out of facts, so you have decided to jump the rails and make a lame personal attack attempt on a fellow member.

                        Don likes to be portrayed as patriotic and gung-ho, but he also has to be right about everything.
                        I am patriotic, my entire family is, and I have served in the U.S. military. I have U.S. flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol displayed so that all who enter my home through my front door will see it. One of your big problems on this thread is you are having a difficult time staying on topic. I am not the topic, The Interview is. If you have some relevant points to make about the movie, the hackers, or Sony then make them and stop with the lame BS directed towards me.

                        He's obviously intelligent, but much of his intelligence is misguided . . . a bit like the creators of the pathetic film that Don's got his panties in such a twist over.
                        You are are a really big man behind your keyboard, eh? I have not yet seen the movie but I do believe in the right to produce, show and watch the movie. The concept is not that difficult... I believe in freedom of speech and expression so it's an easy topic for me.

                        Cheers

                        -don
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Nobody covers politics in depth except the political outlets.

    The network nightly news always covers big political news but never goes really in depth and allegedly tries to avoid any political slant in the story - to a fault IMHO.

    All the political outlets on the net and on TV covered the budget deal in detail with straight news and also with their opinion arms.

    If people want to know what's going on in politics there are plenty of ways to find out.

    So was this Sony stuff cooked up to hide the budget deal? I doubt it. Things happen.
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Back to the business of the Movie --> Note to the hackers, the movie is going to be widely distributed TODAY.

    Sony has cut a deal with Google Play, YouTube and Xbox Video starting today as early as 1PM. The movie will cost $6 to rent and $15 to own. Sony has also made it available through this special page.

    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Apparently, NK is STILL down! So it looks like SOMEONE there, here, or in between, did SOMETHING to the connection! It could be as simple and non invasive as excluding ports on a firewall, or pulling all the connections out. Due to the government of NK and all, it is probably not overly redundant, and it may be just one little connection. Last I heard, NOBODY is claiming responsibility.

    BTW Apparently someone thought the NK did a DDoS attack on Sony. NOPE! A DDoS attack is a one way and relatively benign attack to disrupt their ability to handle connections, and sony had FAR bigger problems. And the current problem with the NK apparently isn't a DDoS attack either. They probably COULD, if they wanted, have someone hookup a connection using SK resources though. I bet SK is 100% AOK! Of course, if NK did that, it COULD be looked at as a violation of the treaty.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Here is the last report I caught from Dyn...connectivity has been spotty. The entire country of North Korea has roughly 1,024 IP addresses.



    Someone Disconnects North Korea - Who? - Dyn Research | The New Home Of Renesys

    North Korea only has four official networks that connect to them to the Internet and they are completely reliant on a single internet provider, China Unicom.

    This is the update that was posted:
    Update: All four North Korean prefixes have been restored to service at 01:46 UTC, after a national outage of nine and a half hours. Traffic is routing through China Unicom, just as before.
    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Salman Rushdie tweets...





    https://twitter.com/SalmanRushdie

    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    WOW! ONE provider! Maybe china told them "WE DON'T WANT THIS", and they simply disabled the account. It takes only SECONDS, and BYE BYE! China may hate the US as much as NK BUT, economically, socially, and in other ways, they have more to lose.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Yeah, some have speculated that after the U.S. reached out to China they may have sent North Korea a message by blocking them for a bit. On the other hand, while they have condemned the attack, China has said (at least through public channels) that they have no evidence that N.K. was involved in the hack.

    Cheers

    -don
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    Just pirated it and watched it. It sucks. I probably would have liked it in high-school. But this bad publicity is by far the best thing that could have happened for this film. I would have never paid to see it before - and I'm glad I didn't pay for it this time.
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    And by the way - most of the online streaming movie rental sites have it. You can see it from any Roku.
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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      We haven't got it in AU, but sure to get it in time!

      My brother works at an independent chain of cinemas, and when Sony spit the dummy, and said no release, he quickly got one of the posters, time will tell if it is worth something one day?

      His boss also waiched it, (this is allowed, since the codex of the 200 odd gig memory module allows the owner one screening, so he or she can decide to put it in their cinema or not) so it was screened technically, but not in the true sense?

      Then the software seizes up and it is unwatchable until Sony releases an undate!


      Online is good, they can only attack Sony directly and not a Cinema!

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      • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
        Banned
        Google (Play & YouTube), Microsoft (XBox) and many others are delivering the film so any of those companies doing digital delivery could theoretically be attacked by hackers.

        Cheers

        -don
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    Just watched it. Not the worst movie I've seen. However, you know a movie is bad when you think, "Boy, I could have used more Seth Rogan."

    One thing I learned: Youtube's VOD sucks.
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    To me, the silliest aspect of this whole issue is how much attention this movie is getting. I haven't seen it but from all reports it's just an ordinary Hollywood lowbrow comedy. But now it's becoming a bold political statement and an expression of free speech to see it.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

      To me, the silliest aspect of this whole issue is how much attention this movie is getting. I haven't seen it but from all reports it's just an ordinary Hollywood lowbrow comedy. But now it's becoming a bold political statement and an expression of free speech to see it.
      From the commercials for it that I have seen, calling it an ordinary Hollywood lowbrow comedy is a complement.
      Makes me wonder if this wasn't all a publicity stunt to get people to watch it because, amurica
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        From the commercials for it that I have seen, calling it an ordinary Hollywood lowbrow comedy is a complement.
        Makes me wonder if this wasn't all a publicity stunt to get people to watch it because, amurica
        Well, I'm sure many have thought that, but such a claim HERE, if found to be false, could be problematic.

        As for reviews? Apparently it is good for a laugh, and generally considered well done, it didn't exceed the expectations many have. Of course *I* haven't seen it yet.

        Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author LarryC
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        From the commercials for it that I have seen, calling it an ordinary Hollywood lowbrow comedy is a complement.
        Makes me wonder if this wasn't all a publicity stunt to get people to watch it because, amurica
        Well, whether it was intended as a publicity stunt or not, that was the effect.

        Sony Should Send A Thank You Note To North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-un - Forbes

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        • Profile picture of the author AleksanderSuave
          Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

          Well, whether it was intended as a publicity stunt or not, that was the effect.

          Sony Should Send A Thank You Note To North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-un - Forbes
          definitely the cheapest promotion possible, by way of cyber-terrorism
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          • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
            Banned
            Originally Posted by AleksanderSuave View Post

            definitely the cheapest promotion possible, by way of cyber-terrorism
            Sony Should Send A Thank You Note To North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-un - Forbes

            Absolutely ... only the next time they want to create an international crisis between countries at Christmas for the hope of a profit, I'd prefer that it was between their own country and on their own holidays.
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          • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
            Banned
            Originally Posted by AleksanderSuave View Post

            definitely the cheapest promotion possible, by way of cyber-terrorism
            Not exactly, this hack has caused Sony a serious hit to their reputation and many are estimating the hack will cost Sony in excess of 100 million dollars.

            "Usually, people get over it, but it does have a short-term effect," said Lewis, who estimated costs for Sony could stretch to $100 million.

            It typically takes at least six months after a breach to determine the full financial impact, Lewis said.

            Sony has declined to estimate costs, saying it was still assessing the impact.

            The company has insurance to cover data breaches, a person familiar with the matter said. Cybersecurity insurance typically reimburses only a portion of costs from hacking incidents, experts said.

            People claiming responsibility for the attack posted yet-to-be-released Sony films online, including holiday musical "Annie." Macquarie Research analysts projected Sony would likely take an impairment charge of 10 billion yen ($83 million) related to the incident.

            Mark Rasch, a former federal cyber crimes prosecutor, estimated costs could run up to $70 million.
            Sony's Hacking Scandal Could Cost The Company $100 Million - Business Insider

            Cheers

            -don
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            • Profile picture of the author ThomM
              Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

              Not exactly, this hack has caused Sony a serious hit to their reputation and many are estimating the hack will cost Sony in excess of 100 million dollars.



              Sony's Hacking Scandal Could Cost The Company $100 Million - Business Insider

              Cheers

              -don
              All that makes me wonder how much the movie would of lost if it just came out without all this happening.
              Bottom line is it could lose that much from poor box office sales for being a crappy movie.
              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_box_office_bombs
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            • Profile picture of the author WalkingCarpet
              Banned
              Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

              Not exactly, this hack has caused Sony a serious hit to their reputation and many are estimating the hack will cost Sony in excess of 100 million dollars.



              Sony's Hacking Scandal Could Cost The Company $100 Million - Business Insider

              Cheers

              -don
              100 million would be a coupla CGI shots for their next blockbuster.
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              • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
                Banned
                Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

                Bottom line is it could lose that much from poor box office sales for being a crappy movie.
                Originally Posted by WalkingCarpet View Post

                100 million would be a coupla CGI shots for their next blockbuster.
                Top quality CGI can get fairly expensive on extended scenes, no doubt. Sony Pictures is making money, but big Sony reported a $1.3 billion dollar loss for the fiscal year ending March 31. The Interview cost 40-45 million dollars to make and the original promotional budget was something like 35-45 million dollars.

                Cheers

                -don
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    For Sony's next trick they will do a movie about the profit Muhammad and pit the non Muslim world against the Muslim world.
    Signature

    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

      the profit Muhammad.
      So just how much is a Muhammad going for these days?
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

      For Sony's next trick they will do a movie about the profit Muhammad and pit the non Muslim world against the Muslim world.
      They'll have to get Salman Rushdie involved, to work on the script, for that ...
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post


    It's simply pointing out that the jury is still out on this. For those who'd rather say "The FBI told me something so it's a fact and I don't have to think about it anymore," that's fine. But that doesn't make it paranoid to at least keep an open mind.

    <snip>

    Contrary to what some, such as our self-styled "Forum Guru" said, I did not categorically state that North Korea wasn't responsible.

    <snip>

    I just think skepticism is healthy, especially when we consider the tendency of governments to lie and cover things up..
    We get you drift...the government and the media lie and you are keeping an open mind. Got it. You have made your "the government lies" and "conspiracy theory" points several times on this thread already, and the majority of those were made after the U.S. announced North Korea was behind the attack.

    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    Then again, this could also be a publicity stunt to generate interest in the movie or even a false flag to generate interest in our next military action.
    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    We know that North Korea is behind the hacking and threats because an anonymous government spokesperson said so.
    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    It's still far from clear who was really behind this and we'll probably never know -as with many big events.
    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    So if you consider the FBI a credible source then it's all settled.
    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    Given how rarely governments ever lie or cover up the truth, you're probably right. It must have been North Korea.
    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    While blaming North Korea fits nicely into the simplistic narrative so many people are eager to embrace, there are good reasons to be skeptical.
    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    Call me cynical or even paranoid (I'm sure many do, lol) but if the FBI claims something I'm less likely to believe it.
    Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

    But who are really the biggest creators of paranoia? It's actually the mainstream media and government.
    Allow me to balance those statements with this one from the FBI.

    Today, the FBI would like to provide an update on the status of our investigation into the cyber attack targeting Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). In late November, SPE confirmed that it was the victim of a cyber attack that destroyed systems and stole large quantities of personal and commercial data. A group calling itself the “Guardians of Peace” claimed responsibility for the attack and subsequently issued threats against SPE, its employees, and theaters that distribute its movies.

    The FBI has determined that the intrusion into SPE’s network consisted of the deployment of destructive malware and the theft of proprietary information as well as employees’ personally identifiable information and confidential communications. The attacks also rendered thousands of SPE’s computers inoperable, forced SPE to take its entire computer network offline, and significantly disrupted the company’s business operations.

    After discovering the intrusion into its network, SPE requested the FBI’s assistance. Since then, the FBI has been working closely with the company throughout the investigation. Sony has been a great partner in the investigation, and continues to work closely with the FBI. Sony reported this incident within hours, which is what the FBI hopes all companies will do when facing a cyber attack. Sony’s quick reporting facilitated the investigators’ ability to do their jobs, and ultimately to identify the source of these attacks.

    As a result of our investigation, and in close collaboration with other U.S. Government departments and agencies, the FBI now has enough information to conclude that the North Korean government is responsible for these actions. While the need to protect sensitive sources and methods precludes us from sharing all of this information, our conclusion is based, in part, on the following:

    · Technical analysis of the data deletion malware used in this attack revealed links to other malware that the FBI knows North Korean actors previously developed. For example, there were similarities in specific lines of code, encryption algorithms, data deletion methods, and compromised networks.

    · The FBI also observed significant overlap between the infrastructure used in this attack and other malicious cyber activity the U.S. Government has previously linked directly to North Korea. For example, the FBI discovered that several Internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with known North Korean infrastructure communicated with IP addresses that were hardcoded into the data deletion malware used in this attack.

    · Separately, the tools used in the SPE attack have similarities to a cyber attack in March of last year against South Korean banks and media outlets, which was carried out by North Korea.

    We are deeply concerned about the destructive nature of this attack on a private sector entity and the ordinary citizens who worked there. Further, North Korea’s attack on SPE reaffirms that cyber threats pose one of the gravest national security dangers to the United States. Though the FBI has seen a wide variety and increasing number of cyber intrusions, the destructive nature of this attack, coupled with its coercive nature, sets it apart. North Korea’s actions were intended to inflict significant harm on a U.S. business and suppress the right of American citizens to express themselves. Such acts of intimidation fall outside the bounds of acceptable state behavior. The FBI takes seriously any attempt – whether through cyber-enabled means, threats of violence, or otherwise – to undermine the economic and social prosperity of our citizens.

    The FBI stands ready to assist any U.S. company that is the victim of a destructive cyber attack or breach of confidential business information. Further, the FBI will continue to work closely with multiple departments and agencies as well as with domestic, foreign, and private sector partners who have played a critical role in our ability to trace this and other cyber threats to their source. Working together, the FBI will identify, pursue, and impose costs and consequences on individuals, groups, or nation states who use cyber means to threaten the United States or U.S. interests.
    Cheers

    -don
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by ForumGuru View Post

      We get you drift...the government and the media lie and you are keeping an open mind. Got it. You have made your "the government lies" and "conspiracy theory" points several times on this thread already, and the majority of those were made after the U.S. announced North Korea was behind the attack.

      Allow me to balance those statements with this one from the FBI.

      Cheers

      -don
      I don't really care either way who hacked Sony, and I don't care about Sony's losses. Stupidity is ofen punished. But allow me to balance your undying belief in everything the government says. Makes for some very amusing reading.


      10 Nefarious Conspiracies Proven True - Listverse

      All these domestic political organizations and movements, as the FBI labeled them, were deemed threats to national security. If he had done his thing in America in the 20th Century, it is probable that the FBI would have considered Jesus guilty of the same kind of sedition. In general, COINTELPRO targeted the entire left wing of political thought; anyone liberal was seen as a danger to American society and slandered in print, sued or threatened with imprisonment, imprisoned, and illegally wiretapped.

      What may well be the FBI's most shocking atrocity occurred on 4 December 1969, when the home of Fred Hampton, a Black Panther Party officer, was invaded by the Chicago Police, who used deadly force against him and Mark Clark. Clark was shot first, and Hampton was unable to wake to the sound of gunfire because FBI agent William O'Neal had infiltrated their organization and spiked Hampton's supper with barbiturates. The police shot him to death while he slept unarmed in bed.
      Conspiracy theorists like to point out that the government (usually the U. S. government) is poisoning the national populace, which is blissfully unaware, via chemtrails and/or flouridation. How laughable, most of us say, and yet, although there is no proof of these two, the FBI did, in truth, poison liquor stores during Prohibition for the purpose of "dissuading" people from that demon hooch.

      ...

      Once Prohibition went into effect, the FBI saw fit to enforce it as well as possible, since the law is the law, and, by adding potentially fatal impurities to it, endeavored to teach the public that it was going to lose with Mr. Booze. These impurities included methane, formaldehyde, ammonia, and even arsenic and kerosene. But the FBI's usual method, without informing the populace, of course, was to denature drinkable alcohol, which is called ethanol, by adding rubbing alcohol, which is made of water and propene. Propene is distilled from natural gas and oil; rubbing alcohol does a fine job cleaning wounds and preventing infection, but will destroy your intestines, kidneys, and liver if you drink it. The FBI also added acetone, which is paint thinner.

      Not surprisingly, people started dying quite readily from what seemed alcohol intoxication, and this only fueled the Temperance Movement's assertion that alcohol is the Devil.
      The straw that was seen in the West as breaking the camel's back was when, on 2 and 4 August 1964, in the waters between Vietnam and Hainan, China, U. S. naval vessels were attacked by Vietnamese naval vessels and defended themselves, killing some Vietnamese sailors.

      American public sentiment called for immediate retaliation, and the Congress resolved that Lyndon Johnson could defend any Southeast Asian nation from Communism. The war was on.

      What the public was not told for a long time was that the incident on 4 August did not take place. The first incident was a legitimate naval battle, in which the USS Maddox fought off three Vietnamese torpedo boats and killed 4 Vietnamese sailors. But two days later, the Vietnamese were engaged in salvaging their vessels and no hostilities erupted. Nevertheless, Johnson informed the public that the Maddox and the USS Turner Joy had been attacked in separate battles. The Turner Joy had not been attacked.
      ....
      Today, we know that the misinformation was spread by the National Security Agency, and not for political reasons, but to cover up genuine mistakes they made during the second incident: their radar showed what they thought were approaching enemy warships, but which were, in truth, tricks of light that confused their equipment.
      Nayirah al-Sabah was a woman in Kuwait who, in 1990, testified on the floor of the House of Representatives that she had personally witnessed Iraqi soldiers invade Kuwaiti hospitals and take newborn infants out of their incubators and throw them onto the cold floor to freeze to death. Nayirah was invited primarily by Tom Lantos, who had made no secret of his desire that the U. S. retaliate against Iraq for its offenses against Kuwait.

      It was Nayirah's testimony that provided the largest part of the foundation for American public opinion in favor of military force against Iraq, and the CIA was responsible for organizing the funds and advertisements to disseminate Nayirah's testimony. They enlisted the help of Hill & Knowlton, a global public relations corporation that specializes in marketing, to reach the masses.

      It was not until 1992 that John MacArthur of the New York Times discovered Nayirah was the daughter of the Kuwaiti Ambassador the U. S., and that her story had been utterly fabricated. Thus was it shown that the CIA assisted a few powers-that-were in America in waging war with Iraq for another purpose, and that purpose was oil. The Iraqis did invade Kuwait and should not have done so, but they did not throw babies out of incubators. The nurses and doctors who supposedly witnessed this with Nayirah had already fled, and most of them stated that she was lying. The CIA had paid her to lie, and even paid for her to attend acting classes to appear convincing. It worked.
      Mockingbird began the same year that the Office of Special Projects was founded by Frank Wisner. In 1951, the OSP, renamed Office of Policy Coordination, merged with the CIA and became the agency's covert paramilitary branch. Its first and principle assignment was to influence national media toward the hatred and fear of Soviet Communism. The CIA funded the operation with money from the Marshall Plan, and bribed journalists and newspaper editors who grew wise to their ulterior motive. Mockingbird led, directly and immediately, to Senator Joseph McCarthy's rise to power.

      The operation became so widespread that the CIA started influencing international media and even international politics. It was due in large part to Mockingbird that Guatemala staged a coup d'etat against Colonel Jacobo Guzman, whom the CIA deemed communist. Mockingbird was responsible for $300,000 of the funding of the 1954 Animal Farm cartoon. They asked Walt Disney if he wanted to make the film, and he balked at the prospect. He was anti-Communist, but the novel does not end happily, and Disney wanted nothing to do with such a story.

      Mockingbird also incited the 1953 Iranian coup d'etat and the Bay of Pigs Invasion. David Bruce, appointed by Dwight Eisenhower to investigate this covert propaganda, stated that Mockingbird is responsible for over 50% of international politics over the last half of the 20th Century.
      The FBI referred to this as COINTELPRO, or Counter Intelligence Programs, specifically those targeted at activists of almost any organization from 1956 to 1971. During those years of turmoil, Martin Luther King was the primary spokesperson for civil rights in America, and the FBI considered him and his movement equivalent to the Black Panthers, the American Indian Movement, the NAACP, the Congress for Racial Equality, and dozens of others all striving to attain equal rights for all races. COINTELPRO referred to all of these groups and movements as "black hate groups," even the American Indian Movement, and spent 85% of its money on attempts to subvert them; the remaining 15% it spent on the subversion of "white hate groups" like the KKK.

      ....In general, COINTELPRO targeted the entire left wing of political thought; anyone liberal was seen as a danger to American society and slandered in print, sued or threatened with imprisonment, imprisoned, and illegally wiretapped.

      What may well be the FBI's most shocking atrocity occurred on 4 December 1969, when the home of Fred Hampton, a Black Panther Party officer, was invaded by the Chicago Police, who used deadly force against him and Mark Clark. Clark was shot first, and Hampton was unable to wake to the sound of gunfire because FBI agent William O'Neal had infiltrated their organization and spiked Hampton's supper with barbiturates. The police shot him to death while he slept unarmed in bed.
      The Joint Chiefs are the 5 generals and admirals in charge of the 5 branches of the U. S military. In 1962, those men were George Decker (Army), David Shoup (Marines), Georg Anderson, Jr. (Navy), Curtis LeMay (Air Force), and Edwin Roland (Coast Guard), along with a few others, all chaired by Lyman Lemnitzer (Army). The entire board of the Joint Chiefs of Staff proposed, drafted, and agreed on a plan to concoct a casus belli for war against Communist Cuba, under Fidel Castro. Their collective motive was to reduce the constant threat of Communist encroachment into the Western Hemisphere, per the Monroe Doctrine.

      This plan was named Operation Northwoods, and entailed the most impossibly indifferent cruelty ever envisioned by a government against its own people. In order to sway public sentiment in favor of the war, the Joint Chiefs planned to bomb high pedestrian-traffic areas in major American cities, including Miami, New York, Washington, D. C., and possibly Chicago and Los Angeles; to frame U. S. citizens for these bombings; to shoot innocent, unarmed civilians on the streets in full view of hundreds of witnesses; to napalm military and merchant vessels in port, while people were aboard; to sink vessels carrying Cuban refugees bound for Florida; to hijack planes for ransom.

      Not only did every single member of the Joint Chiefs sign his approval of this plan, they then sent it to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara for his approval, and then to President Kennedy. McNamara claimed years later never to have seen it, but that he would have rejected it. Kennedy, however, did receive it, and promptly called a meeting of the Joint Chiefs, in which he threatened, with severe profanity, to court martial and incarcerate every one of them. The President cannot actually do this, but can order the Congress and military branches to do so, and in these circumstances, they most certainly would have. But Kennedy decided that it would cause irreparable disrespect around the world for the U. S. military.
      The CIA's Heart Attack Gun

      This weapon exists. The CIA actually invented it with taxpayer money in the late 1960s to early 1970s. It was not disclosed until 1975, when Senator Frank Church displayed it to a subcommittee investigating the CIA's illegal activities. They are specifically forbidden from directly killing anyone in the performance of espionage and intelligence-gathering. The gun was designed to be untraceable. It fires a bullet made of ice, about 0.11 inches wide, less than the diameter of a BB, which has been brushed with a minute amount of shellfish toxin. This toxin induces a myocardial infarction in any human, regardless of size or physical fitness. The bullet then melts leaving no trace of any kind. Autopsies would discover the presence of shellfish toxin in the bloodstream, but if the victim has died of a legitimate heart attack, unnaturally induced or not, an autopsy is unlikely. The entrance wound of the dart would appear about as minor as a mosquito bite.
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    Don, I'm glad you find my statements so fascinating that you took so much time to collect them. I'm starting to see why you are a "Forum Guru." Forums are obviously a major part of your existence.
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    Content Writing, Ghostwriting, eBooks, editing, research.
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    • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
      Banned
      Originally Posted by LarryC View Post

      Don, I'm glad you find my statements so fascinating that you took so much time to collect them. I'm starting to see why you are a "Forum Guru." Forums are obviously a major part of your existence.
      LoL!

      Larry, you are a funny guy. I don't know if you intend to be such a funny guy, but your posts read like a slightly troubled comedy to me. I operate a hundred of my own websites, run my photo biz, and currently this forum is the only forum that I am active in.

      So no, you have missed the mark by a country mile. Just so you know, I am fairly certain it took me less time to multi-quote you than it took you to write the posts. How much time? Maybe 60-80 seconds to grab them all.

      You are worth it Larry...as you are one of my favorite false flag conspiracy theory guys on the forum.

      Happy New Year!

      -don
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  • Profile picture of the author ForumGuru
    Banned
    @ Suzanne

    You really don't have a clue on how much of what the government tells us that I believe. In-fact, IMO, a large percentage of politicians are full of shi$ and tell lies for a living. Do I think that, at times, parts of the gov pitches us a bunch of bullshi&?..of course I do.

    So you can stop with the I have an "undying belief in everything the government says" because it's a lie. A big fat lie. I worked for the government long enough to know the deal from the INSIDE so please stop with that line of B.S.

    As far as the Sony hack goes, yes, I believe the U.S. Gov when they tell us they believe they have linked the hack to North Korea...and we all know North Korea had threatened an an attack for months if the picture was released.

    This thread is about The Interview --> but it's obvious some of you members want to turn this into a "the government lies to us" conspiracy theory thread.

    Knock yourselves out.

    Cheers

    -don
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