The past few weeks there’s been a lot of media attention about Sony Pictures Entertainment’s political comedy movie “The Interview.” It is reportedly a satire about two American journalists who go to North Korea. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency persuades them to assasinate current President Kim Jong-un, who is portrayed negatively. They do, and the film shows them blowing up the President’s head. Crass! When the North Korean government learned of the film, it called it an “act of war.”
Sony was going to release the film in theaters on October 10. Then someone or a group hacked Sony and put a lot of its data and films online, some of it embarrassing and costly to Sony. Sony delayed releasing the film. On December 16, the group announced it would conduct some very serious terrorist acts in some theaters that showed the film. Some theater chains then announced they would not show the film due to the safety of his customers. Sony then decided not to release the film in theaters. Two days ago, Sony announced it will show “The Interview” for free on a streaming video channel called Crackle that Sony owns.
The FBI believes the group responsible for the hacking and threats is connected to the North Korean government. On December 19, U.S. President Barak Obama said during his end-of-year, televised press conference that Sony “made a mistake” in being intimidated by North Korea by pulling the film. Thus, he endorses the FBI’s conclusion of its investigation that the North Korean government orchestrated the hacking and threat.
C’mon Mr. President. Sony made a mistake all right–they never should have made the stupid film in the first place. Put the shoe the on the other foot! I’d like to see what Americans would say if the tables were turned. I don’t care whether or not we think Obama is a cool guy and Kim Jong-un is a freak.
I like humor–but there is a limit, especially when it comes to sensitive international politics concerning a rogue, nuclear, Communist, boisterous dictatoriship like North Korea. This reminds me of the film the guy made about Muhammed. Free speech in our democracy has its limits. How about international politics? Here in the U.S., you can’t slander people without exposing yourself to suffering legal consequences. We should exercise our free speech with wisdom regarding international affairs, even in the arts. Yeah, whoever is responsible for this hacking and threats have crossed a line and should pay for it somehow. But I think Sony crossed a line too in making the film.
That’s my two cents. What say you?
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