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In the latest episode of the Sony hack, Hollywood Reporter says that Carmike Cinemas, which operates 278 theaters and 2,917 screens in 41 states, will not show the Sony comedy "The Interview" following threats of violence from hackers. Sony Pictures told exhibitors who had booked The Interview that it planned to move forward with the movie's release, but that they were free to decide not to show the film, and that the studio would support them in whatever decision they made.
Citing 9/11, the hackers issued a warning and said, "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 situation is also raising concerns among studios that the threat of violence could keep some movie-goers away from the multiplex over the lucrative holiday movie-going period. "This is bad for everyone. This will stop people from going to theaters, and that affects all of us," says one source at a rival studio. "If somebody called a bomb threat for a concert, and it was credible, you'd have to cancel or postpone the concert."
(Score: 3, Insightful) by WillAdams on Thursday December 18 2014, @01:30PM
just to make the statement.
Never, ever give in to threats or bullying --- once you've paid Danegeld, you're never rid of the Dane.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:18PM
Same here. Last movie I saw in a theater was Return of the King, so me being willing to do so is saying something.
Why shouldn't we judge a book by it's cover? It's got the author, title, and a summary of what the book's about.
(Score: 2) by ikanreed on Thursday December 18 2014, @04:12PM
You chose the right time to stop watching Tolkien movies, that's for sure.
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Thursday December 18 2014, @04:59PM
Or can we safely say that it applies to ALL Josh Rogin movies?
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @05:16PM
> Or can we safely say that it applies to ALL Josh Rogin movies?
Looks like you've been smoking more weed than Seth Rogen.
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Thursday December 18 2014, @07:16PM
Anyone else find it interesting that Sony has deflected all the attention off their horrible incompetence and onto North Korea?
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by ikanreed on Thursday December 18 2014, @08:25PM
I don't know, that sounds like fairly typical PR maneuvering.
1. Blame someone else
2. Fire someone responsible
3. Make a big public event of "fixing" the problem in the cheapest possible way.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by gman003 on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:21PM
At least one theater is replacing it with screenings of Team America: World Police (more will probably do so, considering the good publicity that one is getting). At the theater-level, that's probably the best they can do.
(Score: 2) by edIII on Thursday December 18 2014, @06:21PM
They're not a theater. That's the Alamo Drafthouse, which I consider sufficiently different from your average peasant experiences.
Started in Austin, Texas which might make it a little clearer why they are showing Team America for free. Not much reason to be afraid when it's Texas and there would be concealed carries all over the place on opening night.
Maybe they changed a bit, but I think you could even buy beer in a real glass at the original ones in Austin. Very upscale. Even if they lost that, they are very serious about no talking and disruptions. Which is a great feature to me, since it involves less police officers needing to be called when I stupidly attempt to visit a regular theater again. Thankfully, I've not made that mistake for almost a year.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @11:41PM
> At least one theater is replacing it with screenings of Team America: World Police
Not any more, that one has been banned too. [independent.co.uk] Paramount also cancelled a Steve Carell film set in North Korea that was going start production in March.
At this point I don't see any conspiracy here, I see hollywood execs running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Given that industry runs on fear of the next big flop causing people to lose their jobs, the stuff is exactly what I would expect.
(Score: 2) by Geezer on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:32PM
I hear ya. I'm no Sony fan, but I am a freedom fan. Fuck intimidation.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @04:52PM
No fan of intimidation, great, I shall look forward to your campaign to highlight continued ethnic cleansing by Apartheid Israel (using 200 billion of US taxpayer 'aid' to date). But it's more likely that you, like all your politicians, are far to cowardly to risk the intimidatory backlash that that would incite. But hey, maybe you can grow a spine and prove me wrong ?
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @06:04PM
Grow a dick and self-suck yourself to a Heaven of 72 Gay Virgins.
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Thursday December 18 2014, @06:55PM
They should have BANNED SCREENING: BATMAN- 'The Dark Knight Rises'
All PROPAGANDA. Nowadays? You'll fall for anything.
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by q.kontinuum on Thursday December 18 2014, @03:26PM
I am in no way sympathizing with the hackers. Especially with their terror-threat they crossed a red line. That said, I also don't sympathize with Sony Pictures (or any other part of Sony). They are acting with no respect toward their customers (DVD Rootkit), they apparently didn't do anything to protect their infrastructure, and the idea of creating a "funny" movie about the cold-blooded execution of a politician (even if it is a dictator) is a stupid idea. Probably more people would say so if it wasn't likely to be misinterpreted as supporting the hackers.
I'm against being intimidated, but more generally I'm all for freedom and democracy. If I want to spend money, it would be to support whistle-blowing-platforms, or maybe a fund to lobby for the prosecution of criminal and corrupt politicians, but not to watch a movie I'm not interested in to fill the pockets of a company I despise.
Registered IRC nick on chat.soylentnews.org: qkontinuum
(Score: 3, Informative) by FakeBeldin on Thursday December 18 2014, @01:38PM
I read about this on various news sites, e.g. ars: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/12/sony-hackers-terror-threat-prompts-movie-chain-to-pass-on-the-interview/ [arstechnica.com].
The movie has been cancelled for distribution (everywhere), not just theatres but also apparently DVD/Video on Demand.
One theatre will replace the cancelled movie for one night with "Team America: World Police" just to poke fun at NK.
(Score: 2) by urza9814 on Thursday December 18 2014, @05:28PM
Where are you getting that information? Because I haven't seen anything at all that says that, and the article you linked to doesn't either. Sony's statement just says they're not releasing it on December 25th. That's all. Could still go to DVD, could even still hit theaters in a couple weeks.
(Score: 3, Informative) by dcollins on Thursday December 18 2014, @06:04PM
"'Sony has no further release plans for the film,' a Sony spokeswoman said on Wednesday when asked whether the movie would be released later in theaters or as video on demand."
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/18/us-sony-cybersecurity-theaters-idUSKBN0JV2MA20141218 [reuters.com]
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday December 18 2014, @07:25PM
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @01:47PM
If NK is really so interested in using hacking and threats to stop people from seeing this movie, I wonder if they will also spend effort in poisoning bittorrent systems. It could be interesting to see what techniques they would use in that case and if they can be more successful than the studios at hindering copyright infringement.
(Score: 4, Funny) by rts008 on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:14PM
Now that's a fight I would actuall but tickets for!
North Korea vs MPAA
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:17PM
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:24PM
They may be crazier, but they are all emaciated and their growth stunted to about 5 feet [bbc.com] so it's not much of a fight.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @06:26PM
No matter who wins, we win?
(Score: 2) by edIII on Thursday December 18 2014, @06:27PM
Wow. I'm not sure who I want to win.
I'm inclined to vote for the brutal terrorists who do nothing but terrorize people, economies, and legislators....... but on the other hand, I really hate the MPAA.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2) by halcyon1234 on Thursday December 18 2014, @08:17PM
That, good sir, is why God invented MAD.
Original Submission [thedailywtf.com]
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:19PM
This reaction is unsurprising. After CBS & comedy central censored south park because some nobody made an off-hand comment on some obscure blog [loonwatch.com] it was obvious that it isn't the seriousness of the threat that matters but whether the media decides to hype it.
(Score: 2) by TK on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:43PM
You get my last mod point, and that article gets a half hour of my attention. Thanks for the link.
The fleas have smaller fleas, upon their backs to bite them, and those fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:25PM
I hate MPAA, but I hate Bullies too. I'd put $ in the pockets of two of the most hated corps online because I hate bullies! I'd also welcome any trouble when at the movie so I can go all "Team America" on their ass! I suspect that it's all an attempt (successful) to make Sony lose more money. If it is NK and they want to sensor this movie then I'm sad for them. They will never know the Joy of comedy when you can poke fun at public figures. Saturday Night Live would suck if they couldn’t poke fun at public figures. I weep for the wimps that back down on shit like this. Grow some balls Sony! Make another movie about NK but make it even more stupid.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:46PM
Hard to get stupider than Seth Rogen and stupider than thinking, "North Korea? Comedy goldmine!"
I've just become a Sony-hack-denier... the real point was to score Sony some corporate sympathy because they desperately need it. Add in the need to get even with certain executives, and it is clear the answer is Angelina Jolie is behind the whole thing.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @03:41PM
> Hard to get stupider than Seth Rogen and stupider than thinking, "North Korea? Comedy goldmine!"
Actually yes. All comedy comes at someone's expense. Ridicule has always been the most accessible form of political criticism - just look at the popularity of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. If there is anyone who deserves ridicule, it is the NK government. Their multi-generational concentration camps are worse than any soviet gulag. The more the west hears about it, the better and if it takes a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down then bring it on.
(Score: 1) by Buck Feta on Thursday December 18 2014, @04:06PM
I'm not giving Sony one red cent, but I'll watch their shitty movie in the comfort of my own home as a fuck-you to the North Koreans.
- fractious political commentary goes here -
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @05:05PM
but I hate Bullies too. I'd put $ in the pockets of two of the most hated corps online because I hate bullies!
And yet your tax-dollars are used to finance Apartheid Israel but you're too cowardly to do anything about it ? You're a real hero :)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @11:38PM
Ahhh..... poor musihead... can't get into the good old boys network...
(Score: 2) by moondrake on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:41PM
Did it occur to anybody that Sony might be doing this on purpose?
I mean, it is true there were threats, perhaps even made by the people responsible for the crack (no way to be sure of that), but do not forget that Sony is a multi-billion dollar industry that is very well aware of how to play public opinion. They are not stupid and know that giving in to this basically opens them for any future demands that random people but in an email.
If they cancel the movie distribution (for now, I do not believe for a second that they will cancel it permanently) they have a purpose, and I do not believe this is because of the threats (unless they have much better evidence that we know nothing about), but because it benefits them in some way.
(Score: 2) by TK on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:57PM
With a company as large as Sony, there's no doubt that this is a calculated moved. Someone in charge decided that
were worth
There is a spreadsheet on some executive's laptop that has this all quantified (correctly or incorrectly). Maybe that will get out in the next hack.
*Note how many comments (here and elsewhere) amount to "I hate Sony, but I hate NK even more, I'll gladly give money to Sony to piss off NK".
The fleas have smaller fleas, upon their backs to bite them, and those fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @04:00PM
I have a couple of not-necessarily-related thoughts on this:
(1) Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. -- The one thing that all the juicy gossip in the email that GOP liberated shows is that the people running Sony are just as afflicted by human idiocies as anyone else.
(2) If Sony changes their mind and does do a theatrical release I am totally fine with a ton of people going to see it even if they have had their belief in freedom of speech exploited - since 9/11 this country has been acting like a bunch of pussies. If Sony has found a way to monetize bravery and convictions instead of the way the entire media business has been monetizing fear since 9/11 then that is still a major improvement.
(3) I'm still going to pirate the bluray no matter what because I think the copyright business model needs to go away regardless of all this noise.
(Score: 2) by urza9814 on Thursday December 18 2014, @05:34PM
I haven't yet seen any statements from Sony that it's going straight to DVD. Only that it's not being released to theaters on the 25th. And the statement from the theaters was that they wouldn't show it until after the FBI investigated.
So sometime in January I expect the FBI will release some conclusions, Sony will release the film, theaters will run it and thanks to all this publicity it'll be one of the best selling movies of 2015. I didn't know anyone who wanted to see this until all the news exploded, now I don't think I know anyone who *doesn't*...
(Score: 2) by Alfred on Thursday December 18 2014, @03:14PM
I'm not a fan of Sony. The newest Sony gear I got was a MiniDisc player. I haven't seen a movie in theatres since ~2007 but for some reason I really want to see this one, at least a trailer. Too bad pirate bay went down :-)
(Score: 2) by cafebabe on Monday December 29 2014, @05:48PM
I'm impressed by your predictive powers and it is entirely possible that Sony leaked its own data.
1702845791×2
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:55PM
From the composition, to the hack, to the coverage, to the investigation, to the forum posts, is there any part of this that isn't a scam? Does it occur to anybody else that the film itself may not have ever existed?
(Score: 2) by TK on Thursday December 18 2014, @03:02PM
But but but but, they had a trailer! [tvtropes.org]
The fleas have smaller fleas, upon their backs to bite them, and those fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @03:16PM
So you didn't update your bookmarks [orain.org] after this story? [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by TK on Thursday December 18 2014, @07:48PM
How does the orain site compare to the wikia site?
The fleas have smaller fleas, upon their backs to bite them, and those fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum
(Score: 2) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Thursday December 18 2014, @02:56PM
As if North Korea has nothing better to do than make lame threats against a movie company. The hack was perpetrated by run of the mill every day hackers. The threat was either internet pranksters for the lulz, Sony themselves for the sympathy and publicity or the TLAs (probably in cahoots with Sony) for the OMG Terrrrists! In the unlikely event that the threat really was issued by North Korea, they have exactly fuck all power to enforce any such threat outside their own borders. What a load of shit. This is mass media pushing America's over-sensitive panic button yet again.
(Score: 2) by tibman on Thursday December 18 2014, @03:10PM
If NK was behind the the Sony hack then they have already enforced their threat outside their border. They couldn't get away with physically attacking anyone though.
SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @04:51PM
I predict that the name of the group claiming responsibility is an intentional seed for a future disruptive astroturfing campaign. The GOP party will start posting thousands of fruit loop comments calling the GOP hack a covert reference to the GOP party. In doing so they will discredit any real evidence that comes out of the investigation. As a bonus they will also discrediting anybody who is critical of the military industrial complex driven media blitz that we are about to see.
Place your bets! Place your bets!
(Score: 2) by Yog-Yogguth on Thursday December 18 2014, @07:32PM
But do most people even inside the US actually believe anything the US says? They don't have any reason to.
To me GOP sounds like a throwaway name, a double in-joke making exactly that very obvious reference just because it's silly (and maybe they actually vote R) as well as mocking their own megalomania (Guardians of Peace sounds like a He-Man movie, has to deliberate, maybe they'll call themselves Greyskull next). Maybe throw some irony on top of all that since they're attacking.
Weren't the people who hacked the Saudi oil companies and wrecked their computers also Guardian-of-something?
Anyway that's just my weird opinion and I know I'm a really strange person, as an example I'm no fan of Fuckhead Castro (except for naming a drink) or his brother but with the current knowledge if I was in charge in Cuba I would tell the so-called “Americans” to keep their distance. Who the fuck wants or needs a US embassy? And Cuba already has Guantanamo Bay: McDonalds and Dungeons. Would they also like a side order of some Ebola or lymphatic cancer with that? Or maybe they want the NSA to finance a local ITC boom? :P
Bite harder Ouroboros, bite! tails.boum.org/ linux USB CD secure desktop IRC *crypt tor (not endorsements (XKeyScore))
(Score: 2) by Yog-Yogguth on Thursday December 18 2014, @06:51PM
Completely agree.
It's like North Korea vs. North Korea with running commentary from North Korea only without any involvement in any of that by the actual North Korea! What a world! :o
I refuse to in any way feel sorry for or sympathetic towards Sony even if it comes to physical attacks. If Sony pissed off someone violent then good for Sony; they have worked hard for many years to deserve it. I only hope they start at the top because ordinary people working for Sony are either of the typically clueless sort or not evil enough to rise towards the top.
Bite harder Ouroboros, bite! tails.boum.org/ linux USB CD secure desktop IRC *crypt tor (not endorsements (XKeyScore))
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Friday December 19 2014, @07:51PM
As if North Korea has nothing better to do than make lame threats against a movie company. The hack was perpetrated by run of the mill every day hackers. The threat was either internet pranksters for the lulz, Sony themselves for the sympathy and publicity or the TLAs (probably in cahoots with Sony) for the OMG Terrrrists! In the unlikely event that the threat really was issued by North Korea, they have exactly fuck all power to enforce any such threat outside their own borders. What a load of shit. This is mass media pushing America's over-sensitive panic button yet again.
I just heard John McCain claiming this is proof the U.S. government has to do something now about cybersecurity. Look for a series of onerous legislation being introduced, or perhaps a media push to equate the TPP with this.
(Score: 2) by richtopia on Thursday December 18 2014, @04:14PM
Release the movie for free download. The movie is made, and Sony is giving up a large chunk of the revenue here. Just go the full nine yards and release it for everyone to see.
Now, being Sony I will not download anything from them because who knows what hides in that download.
(Score: 2) by urza9814 on Thursday December 18 2014, @05:37PM
Sony isn't giving up revenue. If anything they're going to get more.
A lot of news stories are running with headlines that the entire film is cancelled. But if you actually read the article and look at the statements coming direct from Sony, they never say it's cancelled. They don't say it won't be released to theaters. They just say it won't be released *on December 25th*. It'll probably be released sometime in January, long enough for people to believe there was actually a threat, but not long enough for everyone to forget. This wasn't exactly expected to be a blockbuster before all of this hacking nonsense; but now it'll probably be one of the best selling movies of 2015...
(Score: 3, Interesting) by halcyon1234 on Thursday December 18 2014, @08:29PM
Exactly.
January is not well known for being a month of good movies. Or, as RLM puts it, "Fuck you, it's January." As in "What movies are on now? Fuck you. It's January."
So they have this movie, right? It's a so-so flick. Will probably make back it's bank roll (sorry, "lose money" according to the accountants). Nothing special. Not really an award winner or a classic. It tested okay-ish in the target demo. They already know how much it'll make.
Then comes this "threat". I'm sure it was actually uttered from Insane in the NK. But now some marketing exec cums in his pants because he realizes, they don't just have a movie. They have a BANNED movie. It plays well to the right key demos!
So they lie (sorry, use marketspeak) to say the threat is "credible" (no need to define that word anymore, I guess). Sony loves you, and wouldn't put your lives at risk. I know you want to see it, but you can't. You can't eat this fruit from the forbidden tree of mystery. Why? Well, because we're at war with Eurasia, just like always. Don't you HATE them? Don't you HATE that they're trying to keep you down, and steal your freedoms? Grr! Yes, grr little sheep. GRR!!
And then when everyone's built up a good 'Merica Mouth Froth, Sony reconsiders, or declares the threat over, and finally "lets" everyone seen the movie. Hordes of True Patriots line up, chins held tall while they salute the waving flag, in utter defiance of the now broken and defeated Enemy. Hand over your money. Each good, wholesome American dollar you spend is a sheer, brave act of defiance against The Red Threat-- as patriotic and heroic as if you stormed the beaches of Normandy itself. (Normandy is now in N.Korea, for your information). Join the movement, friend. BE a citizen. STAND for God and Country and buy your ticket to The Movie North Korea Doesn't Want You To See.
Fucking marketing execs.
Original Submission [thedailywtf.com]
(Score: 2) by halcyon1234 on Thursday December 18 2014, @08:32PM
Sidenote: If, instead, a group of Sony marketing execs end up strung up in front of Sony HQ, disemboweled, castrated-- with urine-soaked posters fro The Interview shoved down their throat, I'll rescind the above. Because THAT is a credible threat.
...
Actually, I wouldn't put them past marketing execs to stage that anyways. It's sad I'd still believe it's a marketing stunt, but that is the expectation they've established. So yeah-- if you are an intern or junior at Sony Marketing, and get a sudden and unexpected promotion in the next couple weeks to a senior position-- well, I tried to warn you. Stay at home and watch The Wicker Man instead.
Original Submission [thedailywtf.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 18 2014, @07:22PM
Or is this Carmike Cinemas' plausible-deniability excuse for not having to show what looks like a steaming dump of a movie that they'll be lucky to earn enough to pay the projection costs of? Just speculatin'....
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 19 2014, @11:57AM
Oh come on.. They show worse piles than that on a regular basis.
(Score: 1) by typhoon on Friday December 19 2014, @02:26AM
Sony pull the film, and openly let it known how much the attacks have cost them. The threats to film viewers places this story at the feet of average-joe as well as the techies and industry types. Perhaps we get another round of threats or a human interest story about an average joe's loss of wages from the threat and hack fallout.
Then after the dust and spin-doctoring settle this very well publicised story is used as an example of why we need "more control" over the internet. Keep joe-average and his family safe to spend.
Who hates the "hackers" and internet-file-sharing and wishes it wasn't a thing? Film and music studios.
Seems like a very logical way for a large company to apply a lot of pressure to Gov. They were hacked. This could be a way for them to turn the events into a realm benefit for the company.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 19 2014, @02:54AM
That won't work if they continue to blame the DPRK because no anti-hacker laws are going to affect hackers in another jurisdiction.
(Score: 1) by typhoon on Friday December 19 2014, @03:12AM
The laws don't need to catch the hackers at all, they need to give new powers to the gov investigators. Harsher penalties, etc.
I take your point though.