Sony Pictures has pulled the Seth Rogen film, The Interview, caving to North Korean pressure. CNN Money. Sony had little choice after most of the nations theater chains decided to not show the movie, but Sony had given them that option. The U.S. Government believes that the massive information hack and threats of violence comes right from the top of the North Korean government. A shadowy unit of hackers, called Bureau 121, was probably behind the attack. Meanwhile, celebrities and film executives widely condemned the pulling of the movie.
My Comment:
What a gutless move by Sony Pictures. This kind of cowardice is only going to encourage further attacks. And it will have a chilling effect on creative people, not just in the film industry but in literature, video games and television as well. What happens now? Are the North Koreans going to go after previously released movies like Team America: World Police or the Red Dawn remake? How about the video game Homefront? What about documentaries and news? Will anyone ever be able to criticize North Korea in the media again?
Again, this move is completely gutless and will have serious consequences. Of course the government has its role in this too. They need to do something to strengthen the defenses of internet networks. Too bad the NSA has the opposite goal. The government could increase sanctions against North Korea, and start hacking them back but the best offense in this case is a strong defense. And the NSA has no desire to make computer networks hack proof.
On a more personal note, I had planned on going to a movie this weekend, but now I am not so sure. I don't know if I want to directly support an industry that caves at the first sign of a threat.
Um, it's not that North Korea can't take criticism. They have on many occasions, and never made any threat near as bold as they have regarding this film.
ReplyDeletePut yourself in their perspective: A large country totally capable of pulling off infiltrating all the way to the top level of our government using a ruse of journalism, with the goal of murdering the president and then making a film, even a comedy, about it seems like a threat. Sure US industry and government aren't specifically the same thing as they are in N.K. but there is a revolving door even up to the highest levels of government with industry, and massive collaboration.
Let's say England didn't like the US, and decided to widely publicize a similar film about killing our Head of State. How would we respond?
Korea decided they would take it as an act of war, which by the way means tho they compare it to 9/11, it would not be terrorism. Terrorism is done by non-state actors. Making threats against the families of the working class folks involved in the production of the film is not appropriate, but it was also not appropriate to make this film in the first place (even as a comedy) when national security interests (regardless my personal views on the meaning of that term) are in line with easing relations with N.K. It was foolish to write the screen play, it was misguided to consider creating the film, and it was irresponsible to actually go through with it. It shouldn't have taken until now to stop this film from coming out; right minded folks should have decided that, what seems like a threat to assassinate a H.o.S., would be a bad idea for a massive publicity and media campaign.
On that note, though I disagree with the premise of the film, I was looking forward to watching it too.