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| Once a silly movie, now a martyr. |
Some day soon, I promise to start writing reviews again, but that day is not today. This last year in politics has been surprising. My “hope for the world” meter traveled a couple notches until the Sony Pictures Entertainment hack; then it plummeted right back to zero. The repercussions for the whole company will be problematic as best. For their movie division, it seems a lot worse. I understand why Sony would pull The Interview from theaters, especially after the Guardians of “Peace”—I mean North Korea— released a terrorist threat demanding termination of the film. Since then Sony has been pulling everything related despite a lack of credible threats.
The Interview is just a movie, but impact of its removal makes a greater statement about our culture. When folks discovered North Korea was behind the attack, this movie should have been in every theater across the nation; just to shove it up Kim Jong-Un’s sorry ass. North Korea denies any involvement in the hack, but excuse my severe disbelief. Terrorists are people who already deem their victims as worthless and deserving of death. Negotiating with them is meaningless because chances are they’ll kill people, appeased or otherwise. Yet, I understand why Sony and all major theater owners refused to show The Interview, but I don’t like it.
When did people in the U.S. become so frightened of cyber attacks? Has cowardice taken the place of bravery? George Clooney had some scathing comments about certain folks in Hollywood. I share his sentiments. The Kim family are in good company among dictators like Pol Pot, Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Castro. Their regime has literally brained washed twenty two million people into adoring only the Kim family. Anyone who dissents is killed or enslaved for the remainder of their lives. People starve to death on a regular basis because their government’s greed and incompetence. These people are evil, but we don’t have enough balls to show a satirical movie about them? That’s pathetic and depressing. And people wonder why I think the United States is screwed. Censorship issues arise as well.
Unlike Target Australia pulling GTA 5 from their shelves, refusal to show The Interview is legitimate censorship because there are no alternative means to view it. I shouldn’t need to explain why censorship is wrong. Unfortunately, Jamileh Lemieux feel this censorship was justified because of “white privilege.” The stupidity of her claim defies rationality. Yes, the North Koreans are known as fierce advocates of freedom and social justice. Jamileh and others who agree with her are endorsing “ends justify the means” logic which is always dangerous. State initiated terrorism is acceptable provided they are fighting for a proper cause, as defined by the “socially conscious.” All kinds of humor will offend someone, but comedy makers shouldn’t worry about that. Humor is a great medium to digest harsh realities and encourage rational conversations. If we can laugh at ourselves, then progress will occur.
George R. R. Martin and a few others have volunteered to show The Interview in their own theaters. I don’t care if this movie wasn’t any good; I’d watch it on principle alone and I hope most of the free world seconds that emotion. Sony, please release this movie digitally or direct to DVD and get better cyber security. Theater owners, don’t let liability concerns keep you from protesting terrorism. Take a stand again Guardians of Peace and North Korea. Do all of you really want to be remembered for buckling to false threats? Now is the time to stand by our principles, not hide in holes.
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