Sony, North Korea, and Hacking

[john]

'Team America: World Police' screenings canceled
Following Wednesday’s news that Sony was canceling the Christmas release of The Interview, now another movie lampooning a North Korean dictator will not be seen in theaters: At least two theaters have said their upcoming screenings of Team America: World Police have been canceled by Paramount.

On Wednesday, the Dallas/Fort Worth Alamo Drafthouse explained on Twitter that it would have continued showing The Interview despite the fact that a number of theater chains had dropped screenings—but because Sony had now pulled The Interview from all theaters, the Drafthouse would show Team America, which features a villainous Kim Jong-il puppet, in its place...

Alamo Drafthouse said in a statement, “We can confirm that the screening of TEAM AMERICA was cancelled as the film was pulled from release...

The Cleveland-based Capitol Theatre, tweeted earlier today that it was planning to show the movie from the team behind South Park in June, but then later reported: “. . . we just received word: Paramount has pulled all future screenings of Team America. Ours is canceled. .” ...

Blackmail seems to be working, along with additional threats. As far as The Interview goes, five large theater chains have said they won't run it, even if Sony releases it.



Back on November 28 Yahoo ran this:

North Korea Is Still Trying to End 'The Interview'

North Korean government-controlled website Uriminzokkiri released a statement on Friday condemning The Interview, ahead of next month’s opening of the film by James Franco and Seth Rogen.

A statement, published under a pen name, denounces the film that depicts a farcical mission to assassinate Kim Jong Un, as an “evil act of provocation” that deserves “stern punishment.”
Related: Kim Jong Un Is Quite Lovable in Final Trailer for ‘The Interview’

"The cheekiness to show this conspiracy movie, which is comprised of utter distortions of the truth and absurd imaginations, is an evil act of provocation against our highly dignified republic and an insult against our righteous people," it says, going on to criticize the filmmakers.

"The trashy filmmakers, who, won over by a few dollars thrown to them by conspirators, have compromised the dignity and conscience of filmmaking and dared to produce and direct such a film. They must be subject to our stern punishment."...

I find many aspects of the situation quite disturbing.

From Team America (strong language)
#irony

Trailer for The Interview (I'm sure it won't be up long)