Does anyone share my thought that we are being played in the most brilliantly conceived and executed publicity campaign for a film ever?
Now Sony has pulled the release because theatres are scared to show it after vague terror threats. The film is probably a dog that would have died a quick death after being skewered by critics and weak word of mouth. But now people will be clamouring to rent it on a streaming service or purchase it on Blu-Ray or DVD. Sony will get a nice return on its investment. And it didn't have to spend any money on TV commercial time.
While some could come up with such a theory, I highly doubt the US Government would get involved and prepare to publicly call out North Korea as the source for the Sony hacks (which is expected in the next day or so).
Leading North Korea expert Andrei Lankov tells Fox News he is “90 percent sure” Pyongyang was behind the hacking attack on Sony for its production of “The Interview.”
"It is in their style," the Seoul-based scholar said.
Lankov cited a recent hacking attack on banks and media in South Korea. They were hacked reportedly with a similar computer code used in the Sony cyberattack. There were also threats of “obliteration” against the South Korea firms. South Korean investigators confirmed it was Pyongyang.
This comes after a law enforcement source told Fox News the FBI had connected the hack attack with North Korea hours after Sony announced it had scrapped the Dec. 25 release of the movie.
Who in their right mind would believe Fox News and their cadre of security analysts. As of yesterday I am a security expert due to my extensive background in door locks, window locks, car locks, etc. As an aside the movie is probably terrible and deserves to be written off.
If it ever comes out. Right now they say no theater or VOD/DVD release.
Though I imagine if it ever comes out more people will see it just to see what all the hubbub was about
I've seen the trailer several times, it looks like a stupid comedy aimed at teens.
What ever happened to the motto though we will not negotiate / give in to terrorists demands?
The hacking has been a source of significant embarrassment to Sony and their employees. So much so that employees are suing Sony. I don't see this as a ploy by Sony whatsoever. They'll end up losing money in the end.
This is no ploy by Sony. Also, it seems nobody really knows who's behind it, yet all of the media outlets seem to have figured it out, just like they did with the missing Malaysian Airlines plane.
Now Paramount Pictures is telling theatres not to show Team America: World Police, as some were gearing up to do so.
It's a very interesting situation that has yet to be fully played out, but the fact that Sony has caved to the demands has definitely set a precedent.
The thing I find most interesting is the damage these hackers were able to inflict over such a minor issue. From what I know about North Korea, they don't have the expertise carry this out. They may have been the instigators but the attack was more likely done by a group in another country. If so much damage was done over such a minor issue, what could happen over a major international incident? What if institutions like major world banks were targeted?
But the North Korean government do not see this as a minor issue. Most human societies have had very deep and prevalent honour/shame cultures and would not get satire. Throughout history, being disrespectful has led to death - both from kings and leaders, or simply upsetting the wrong guy in a pub, gang, tribe, family or wherever.
The hacking has been a source of significant embarrassment to Sony and their employees. So much so that employees are suing Sony. I don't see this as a ploy by Sony whatsoever. They'll end up losing money in the end.
Agree 100%. This isn't the first time Sony's been hacked on an epic scale either which makes some of those potential lawsuits even more relevant. According to one report I read the security at Sony was so bad that some senior execs had passwords stored on their desktops in excel files (for easy access I presume). On top of that Social Security Numbers of employees were also stored in a similar fashion.
Sony obviously has some terribly embarrassing laundry they don't want exposed so they capitulated.
Can't say I feel sorry for them, they have been spying and suing file sharers for decades, many of them innocent of the claims made by their proxy stooges but the average person doesn't stand a hope in litigation against a behemoth like them.
You have some bizarre posts on Digital Forum and this one ranks right up there with them.
It's okay to make threats of violence to prevent the showing of movies that mrvanwinkles deems uninteresting. Probably not exactly what you meant but aside from your usual wild speculation devoid of any facts, your wording and kowtowing to censorship is atrocious. Be glad the movie bombed at the box office because it was in poor taste. Be glad it bombed because it was poorly written. But to be glad that it was not shown at all, because you think it was unworthy? Come on.
In these matters, the FBI is about as credible as TMZ. Remember the WMDs in Iraq that were never found? How about all the communists in the movie industry that, as it turned out, didn't really threaten the US? Then there were the leaders of the US civil rights movement that were claimed to be a threat. How about the deadly marijuana menace that sparked the "war on drugs." I could go on but propaganda is propaganda and that about the only type of information most of us get about North Korea. I have no doubt that the regime there is bad but I'm not going to believe everything the US or the FBI says about them.
Larry Flynt, founder of Hustler Video, said in a statement: ‘I’ve spent a lifetime fighting for the First Amendment, and no foreign dictator is going to take away my right to free speech.
‘If Kim Jong Un and his henchmen were upset before, wait till they see the movie we’re going to make.’
I have a lot of respect for Larry Flynt, despite his flaws. The man took a bullet that paralyzed him, all in the fight for free speech. It'll be interesting to see what he does.
With the hack, movies like "Annie" and "Fury" were leaked before they were released in theater. You think Sony did this on purpose to benefit "The Interview"?
From what I've read. Hacker groups have already infiltrated dozens of major companies and government organizations. They are often quietly siphoning off data, information and secrets for sale to the highest bidder. Most likely, Sony was already a sitting duck when The Interview provided a good excuse for taking it down. Maybe the excuse was a large payment from someone in NK. Maybe not.
Movies being leaked before theater showings happen every year due to copies of movies sent to voters for awards shows. People take those copies and release them.
Throughout history, being disrespectful has led to death - both from kings and leaders, or simply upsetting the wrong guy in a pub, gang, tribe, family or wherever.
That's not much different now. Pubs and gangs can be very violent. Upsetting the wrong employer can lead to death by poverty and homelessness.
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