The Interview

[Mark of Zorro]

I cannot believe this $#!Tstorm being generated over this movie The Interview. Not that I can't believe there is a $#!Tstorm, but I can't believe where its going and where it didn't go.

It did not go to the beginning, at least not in America. And the beginning is that you DO NOT make movies about murdering living people, especially if its a comedy. For F's sake! If it was a comedy with a scene showing Obama getting murdered with his face melting, (har har) there would not be many cries about free speech. It would mostly be about hate speech and perhaps even considered a threat to Obama's life....possibly followed by arrests. Yet Obama only stands up to condemn the hacking.

Next, the press is screaming that America got cyberattacked. (sigh) No, Sony got hacked....yet AGAIN. And we don't know who did it, but THIS time, it just HAS to be North Korea. Has to be! (facepalm)

And let's face it. If that film about killing Obama was made, and somebody hacked Sony over it, it would be suggested that the hackers get a medal. In fact, Anonymous would be ASKED to hack Sony!

And it seems that Sony did not pull the film. Theaters refused to show it, citing the potential for attacks on theaters. Well it should have been that they came to their senses about how WRONG the film was, but, the threat is real enough. But if only Americans could take it to the beginning, they could see that the threats were DESERVED and to be EXPECTED.

Seems to me, as ever, the world if full of morons, and they are spoiling for a fight. They think the freedom of speech is the freedom to annoy for the purpose of starting a fight and no other. And its not that I worry America will get attacked. I worry our ally South Korea is going to get it first. And its always like that. First on the list of deserving attacks are the makers of the film, and that is not really Sony. Next on the list should be the one's defending hate speech, but it won't be enough of them or only them. South Korea should not even be on the list. Neither should Japan, but I suppose it is. I even have doubts Sony should be on the list, because I doubt they were actually paying attention to the details of the film.

Your thoughts?

 

[letianchen]

Hi, I just finished watching the movie. I come from a different perspective. I think the movie is great and it shouldn't be taken off air. The depiction of the assassination of the leader is merely a joke, of course it is 99.99% certain that the producers would realize there would be an outrage over the topic, they have every right to make a movie about it. Obviously something like killing someone, raping etc is extremely horrible, but I honestly don't see a problem if its a joke. Now the reason I will presume (correct me if I am wrong) you are against this is because it causes the hackings, and could potentially cause violence. However this is non- sequitor, the first amendment and constitution clearly state without any obfuscation that freedom of expression also licences the freedom to offend, designed more specifically for the critic of religion however it does extend into other situations. The north Korean people can be offended, and my response is hey grow up. Of course were it up to me I would not consider making the movie because it is not worth people potentially fighting and dying for something. But they have the right to make the movie as they please and anyone who argues otherwise views the constitution as an technicality.
I am offended by many things like the totalitarian regime of many religions and the oppression of women in particularly Islamic states, I do not go around doing things like hacking or violence for that matter. However yeah making this movie is pretty much asking to start a huge controversy with North Korea.

I have to ask, do you have any particular issue with the movie other than how "wrong" it is? As this cannot be attributed to say why the movie is bad rather than emotional prejudice. If many people were for a particular idea in society ( that would be considered immoral in most developed countries) and would rebel against this with possibly violence would you be contentious with the idea? The main point is even if 10000000000 people get offended one persons perspective or comedic movie should be protected. This is the beauty of the constitution.

 

[alecgraham]

If it was a comedy with a scene showing Obama getting murdered ... there would not be many cries about free speech.

I think you're right about that, Zorro, but I tend to agree with letianchen for the most part.

Kim Jong-un is not just an ordinary head of state. He's a despot. I don't think I recognize the sovereignty of nations with the same respect that you do. And yes, the U.S. supports despots when it serves their purposes. There is no doubting the hypocrisy and opportunism. Still, this movie is going to be air dropped into North Korea and you never know, maybe it'll be the end of the Kim regime.

I've always been interested in NK, but because of this film, which is hilarious and beautifully filmed, by the way, I've reviewed essays by defectors, articles, videos. I can't be the only one. This silly film has raised awareness! It's a beautiful thing.

I'll save my outrage for the sheer hell going on in North Korea, especially in the prisons and labor camps, and for the person responsible for their existence, not for a film that mocks and shows the assassination of that person.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

Have to agree with the two posters above. You have no freedom from being offended. If some representative of free expression offends you, don't look at it.

Not too long ago someone made a fake film about George Bush being assassinated. It offended some people, but too bad.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Have to agree with the two posters above. You have no freedom from being offended. If some representative of free expression offends you, don't look at it.

Due to hate speech laws, I think you do have the freedom from being offended on a case by case basis. Not that I agree with that method of doing it.

Not too long ago someone made a fake film about George Bush being assassinated. It offended some people, but too bad.

That was a very different film though. I did not actually see it, but what I have read indicates that it was exploring the scenario of "what if GWB got assassinated" in documentary style.

Death of a President (2006 film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And it seems that it in no way was advocating his assassination, but it seems that those who took offense did not see the film but felt it advocated his assassination anyway.

It also was not using his imaginary assassination for comedic effect.

 

[alecgraham]

I don't think the interview was advocating Kim's assassination. Do you?

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

The US has no hate speech laws, if I understood your use of the term.

Frankly, N. Korea is an enemy of my nation. They remind us of that relationship every time they threaten the US or one of our allies. I have nothing but good wishes for the N. Korean people, but I don't care in the slightest about the hurt feelings of some crackpot dictator and his minions.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

I don't think the interview was advocating Kim's assassination. Do you?

Indirectly, yes I do. And frankly, I would have endorsed it if it were a direct advocation in a serious speech, movie, book or opinion piece rather than making light of it in a comedy. Why? Because those small of mind will watch the comedy and get the message, but not the vital details.

This is serious explicative and it should be taken seriously. There are lots of assassinations I would endorse. But, I would not endorse the assassination of Kim because I think the results would be horrific, not because I have one single ounce of respect for Kim.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

A funny adjunct to this thread is that Seth Rogen who co-wrote this movie, and Michael Moore who endorses it from afar, both had some interesting things to say about Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper".

Rogen said it reminded him of the fake propaganda film shown toward the end of Inglorious Basterds (although he later said it was not meant as a criticism of the film, but just that the film brought that to mind) and Moore exclaimed that snipers are cowards if they are also invaders.

This time, I actually liked Rogen's and Moore's comments. So let it be a reminder that I don't take sides and I don't blindly follow people. Its principles all the way.

Just a name like "American sniper" makes me want to barf given the way it smells like the "wrapped in the flag" style faux patriotism your average nationalist and scoundrel among patriots tends to favor. Its even worse than "patriot act" and fatherland....excuse me....homeland security.

BTW, I saw a lot of comments about Moore dodging the draft for the Vietnamese Civil War and how he is not one to talk. These people were more enamored with the movie than any fascist could have been with any war movie.

It was nice to listen the crickets chirp when I pointed out that Clint Eastwood dodged the draft for the Korean War!

Some might not want to talk about John Wayne either! Not that I am going to bad mouth a draft dodger. They get my approval.

 

[alecgraham]

Rogen has since clarified his comments. He is pro-veteran, and his grandfather was a veteran. Michael Moore...lost cause.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Jesse Ventura labels Kyle a liar, says that therefore Kyle had no honor, and also labels the film as propaganda.

No fan of Ventura, and I think he should ashamed of his participation in those two blights on humanity called the U.S. military and the WWF, but, that does not mean he can't be right about anything ever. Ventura successfully sued Kyle for lies Kyle put in his book about punching Ventura out in a bar in 2006.

Jesse Ventura: Chris Kyle Is No Hero, He's a Liar - The Hollywood Reporter

You know, its going to be interesting when the trial of the man who killed Kyle gets underway this month. I suspect some more character faults of Kyle are going to be revealed.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Rogen has since clarified his comments. He is pro-veteran, and his grandfather was a veteran.

I clarified his comment earlier. Also, I would be truly shocked if someone who could co-write something as crude as that assassination scene were NOT pretty much pro-war-anything.

Michael Moore...lost cause.

I might not agree with Moore on everything, but he says some things that need to be said when no one else as the guts to say them. And when I say "guts" I especially mean the almighty guts it takes to stand up to your friends. I applaud the man for staying in America and fighting for American values that have been left by the wayside for all this pro-war explicative.

Me? I just got up and left.