No doubt people have heard of major movie theaters nationwide canceling their screening of an edgy Seth Rogan and James Franco flick called The Interview, which pillories North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un.
Deadline Hollywood reported on the cancellations:
Ultimately, The Interview didn’t go well, and Sony’s controversial film appears dead. Regal and Cinemark said today that they will not screen the Seth Rogen-directed comedy, and other major exhibition chains including AMC and Cineplex are expected to follow suit.
And they did. This follows a vague threat of ‘9-11 style’ attacks on movie theaters (that doesn’t make much sense, but I digress) and President Obama even telling people to “go to the movies.”
One Hollywood actor who isn’t shy about speaking his mind is Rob Lowe, who posted the following viral comment on Twitter:
Needless to say, the director Judd Apatow was furious with the decision:
I think it is disgraceful that these theaters are not showing The Interview. Will they pull any movie that gets an anonymous threat now?— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 17, 2014
Then the director put it in perspective how ludicrous it is:
We also don't know that it isn't a disgruntled employee or a hacker. Do we think North Korea has troops on the ground in the US? Ridiculous— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 17, 2014
Apatow followed up with:
'Are we not allowed to make a movie where ISIS is the bad guy now?' -Judd Apatow http://t.co/gxneibARVl— neiL Munshi (@neiLmunshi) December 18, 2014
But then he consoled audiences:
This only guarantees that this movie will be seen by more people on Earth than it would have before. Legally or illegally all will see it.— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 17, 2014
Some notable people were appalled by the knee-jerk decision:
. @JuddApatow I agree wholeheartedly. An un-American act of cowardice that validates terrorist actions and sets a terrifying precedent.— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) December 17, 2014
No one should kid themselves. With the Sony collapse America has lost its first cyberwar. This is a very very dangerous precedent.— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) December 17, 2014
Canceling "The Interview" seems like a pretty horrible precedent to set.— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) December 17, 2014
We are all @Sethrogen— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 17, 2014
#TheInterview Is that all it takes – an anonymous threat and the numbers 911 – to throw free expression under the bus? #PussyNation— Bill Maher (@billmaher) December 17, 2014
The rest of the Twittersphere weighed in:
I went from having zero desire to see #TheInterview to wanting to watch it while waving an American flag.— Andy Netzel (@Andy216) December 18, 2014
First they came for the bad movies…and I did nothing.#theinterview— Brian S Hall (@brianshall) December 18, 2014
BREAKING: Kazakhstan threatens retaliation over release of BORAT#TheInterview— Harold Itzkowitz (@HaroldItz) December 18, 2014
Just a reminder that they dropped a bomb on Saddam Hussein in 'Hot Shots!': #TheInterview http://t.co/i43crsSLWq— TrivWorks (@TrivWorks) December 18, 2014
— frankyarriola (@frankyarriola) December 18, 2014
Let's face it. . .it's not every day we can successfully appease both#Cuba and #NorthKorea. #TheInterview #tcot RT— Stephen England (@stephenmengland) December 18, 2014
It's unimaginable anyone would make a film about assassinating a world leader. Except for that one about W, amirite?http://t.co/T3ysnlVyzd— Kyle Becker (@IJReviewEditor) December 18, 2014
On the one hand, I'd just like to point out that these are the same people doing and saying stupid things like American soldiers are evil/horrible creatures guilty of the worst atrocities in the known world. These are also the same people who like to defend ISIS and other terrorist nations, uttering the non-sensical claims that if we would just listen and talk to them, they wouldn't want to kill us so much. Isn't it amazing, then, that when the same political realities that give them a virtually automatic microphone and built-in audience to speak their own banal thoughts to the masses as informed experts suddenly turn around and harm "their work" they suddenly find something objectionable about caving to politically correct whims?@stephenmengland Posted the following "Satirical Analysis"pic.twitter.com/NFjM4yhsIk— Kyle Becker (@IJReviewEditor) December 18, 2014
Just thought that was worth pointing out. In this case, I happen to agree with most of the thoughts above - this was a terrible, terrible precedent to set, and absolutely the wrong move. Time will tell if other situations turn out differently, or if this will morph into a new form of negotiating with terrorists and/or terrorist sponsoring nations. I suspect Apatow is probably correct that more people will ultimately see the film now, but has the damage already been done?
I sincerely hope not.
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