The Beginning of a Fallout Over "The Interview"....and Sony Pictures

James Franco and Seth Rogen at the L.A. premiere of "The Inteview"
Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison © Getty Images
Source: nydailynews.com

Writer's Note: I was originally title this post "The Confusion and Frustration Over "The Interview", but I felt that this post didn't fit the title so I figured that I changed it. Please note: Almost all links are open in a new window.

Okay, I didn't pay attention to movies that much since...gosh I don't know, September 2013. I was locked in a room. Slightly locked. No punishment or anything, just don't want to get distractions. And this holiday season, I didn't pay attention that much on which movie will be released...like "Annie" released this weekend. Or the final chapter of "The Hobbit", which I believed it released on December 12th. Or a new "Night at the Museum" movie (I don't know what that squeal is called and I don't want to look it up)...which is release...well I don't know. Maybe the movie is competing with "Annie", I don't know.

© Columbia Tristar Movie Group
Sony Pictures Entertainment

But I focused on one movie that is the talk of a nation.

Okay I'm not a fan of Seth Rogen...because they're too gross. But I like him. I think there's one Seth Rogen film that I know mostly and that is "The Guilt Trip" which also stared Babara Streisand. I know James Franco from the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy. But I first heard his name when I was watching the CinemaSins videos; I was never a fan of the Spider-Man films nor the superhero genre as a kid. Nor I didn't watch any of them. But since I'm writing this, I have to kudos to him for his best performance as Harry.

However I'm not quite interested in seeing "The Interview" because it's...gross (I even see a just-now deleted tweet containing bathroom humor, which disgust me), though I wanted to see if any movie theater to reserve a decision or if any online store, cable company, video retailer, or a video-on-demand provider willing to STEP UP!

Even though I may not like "The Interview" - though I kinda like the logo...and maybe the poster - I would be disappointed that a movie like this will never exists at all. I'm still looking through Google News anxiously wanted to see if whether Sony Pictures will successfully distribute this movie in some way or another.

If you're not caught up to what's going on, here's the explanation.

On Tuesday, November 25th, 2014, while I was browsing through an article from Deadline, I looked on the top of the page to find other interesting articles. That day, I click on the Sony hack. It was an interesting read; there was also an image saying that they have been hacked and warned that their data have been stolen and leaked without a demand request.

Let's be clear, whatever they demanding, I and some people believe that the hackers' original motive is not canceling the theatrical release of "The Interview".

As days past, I Google 'Sony Pictures' for updates. And what I found is still interesting: some employees download torrents for TV shows that are not owned by the company, credentials stolen, and an article featuring the hackers saying that they want equity and how Sony Pictures treats them badly.

Still no sign of "The Interview".

It wasn't until Thursday, December 1st, that someone - and I mean someone - from Recode suggests a possible theory that North Korea is behind the attack because you know North Korea hate this movie, about the assassination of a dictator.

Sony Pictures denied it and neither is North Korea, although they praise the hackers for doing this. Even the hackers said that "The Interview" isn't the motive. Unfortunately, I believe that the media gave the hackers an opportunity to stop the movie; They started telling this on December 8th. I would have to agree with that blogger over there.

As days and days gone past by, the hackers release many parts of the large data day by day. Many news people believe maybe it's an inside job - which that blogger I aforementioned, said - but they list North Korea as prime suspect. Why? well if the press would have sleesy enough, ... oh, whatever.

At the same time, the American press relies on what Sony Pictures says is 'private information'. Repeat: 'Private Information'. Instead of focusing a lot on who hacked it, the press spends some time digging through Sony Pictures' leaked inbox, including the worries over "The Interview" among Sony executives, racy jokes on President Obama, and the tension surrounding who should helm the upcoming Jobs movie, which makes Aaron Sorkin an victim of the hack.

But Aaron Sorkin - the screenwriter of "The Newsroom" who I like for the way he writes or co-writes every single episode* and so is David E. Kelly in his early years of TV - wasn't concerned being a victim. Instead he had written an opinion on the New York Times (which I never read), saying that the American press is helping the hackers. He also said it on the Today show (which I watched on NBCNews.com). He believe so as he said that he wasn't interesting in the aforementioned racy jokes on President Obama, which is a major story to the press even though its, once again, private information. Honestly, right now, I would have to agree with Aaron Sorkin. (Though, he shouldn't write the leaked emails into his article; The press will skim through it and not read the entire article completely)

*Except for the last three seasons of "The West Wing" and a few episodes of "Sports Night". By the way Aaron, why do you want to end "The Newsroom" after three seasons?

But after that point, there's a debate on whether or not the press should report on private stuff. Right now as I'm writing this, the press should've just thought about it when Sony Pictures have hacked. In fact, Sony Pictures have sent a lawyer sending a letter through news organizations on DECEMBER 14TH, rather than the day it hacked. If Sony Pictures had ever thought that its leaked date would be covered by the press, they should have already just sent it before it's too late. It's too late, so sorry.

But then someone made the final blow. As I'm reading through the analysts at Risk Based Security, I believe I found a man who made the blow: Howard Stern. He said '9/11'. He said that he compares the Sony attack to '9/11'. Some press slammed him...for idiotic reasons. The very next day, the hackers sent another not. Not only they finally mention "The Interview" but the hackers also mention '9/11' and written it as terrorist threat. I would believe that Howard Stern was completely unaware that he was one of the press helping the hackers and that he should have keep his mouth shut on the story.

© Getty Images

Which is kinda ironic because the stars of "The Interview", Seth Rogen and James Franco, were on his namesake show, "The Howard Stern Show". They even said...well it's actually Seth but they said "It's stolen information that [the press] is profiting of" and even added that the press "is doing what these criminals want". They also make appearance on "Good Morning America", which they tell George Stephanopoulos didn't know if the hack was anything to do with their movie. Let me tell you Seth and James, the hack is initially nothing to do with the movie, I believe that the hackers use your movie as an opportunity to cancel it after someone suggested it. And I really believe that the

The day when the threat was issued, Seth and James cancel their appearances and Sony, despite beefing security up on the L.A. premiere (photo above), cancel the New York premiere. But here's something interesting: movie theater chains start pulling out of "The Interview". Let's repeat that: movie theater chains start pulling out of "The Interview". Why? Were they really scared of the threat? ... Because the Homeland Department of Security said there is no credible threat.

Movie theater chains such as AMC Theaters, Regal Entertainment Group, and Cinemark, instead of beefing up security around its movie theaters with local police officers and security guards up (and front) forward with some help from the Homeland Department of Security until every single movie theater finished its run of "The Interview, they just...you know...pull the plug. That decision is not a brave one. They're scardy-cats. No really, they're scardy-cats. They said they're pulling the plug on "The Interview" because they want to have a safe holiday experience for families going to the movies.

I have a question: Why can't they do that by hiring local police officers, bodyguards, and security guards to safely guard every movie theater until the domestic run for "The Interview" is over? Huh? That way, the movie theaters will have a safe holiday experience while the security officers will look for bomb threats and suspicious package around, inside and outside every movie theaters. Why can't the theater chains work with the Homeland Department of Security on this threat? Well apparently they don't want to get lawsuits like what the Aurora theater have after the mid-July 2012 shooting...because I believe they don't know how to handle lawsuits.

Movie theater chains are scardy-cats. Not brave enough.

Moreover, rival movie studios also want Sony to pull "The Interview". Don't you guys - I'm taking to movie studios - think that you should've support Sony? Michael Lynton will be very happy for that. So rival movie studios are also scardy-cats. It sums my suggestion that Hollywood is so scared and so afraid that they're unwilling to help or support Sony Pictures.

Apparently, Sony Pictures doesn't have control over movie theaters and, unfortunately, they had no choice but to pull the plug on the Christmas Day release for "The Interview". I even first saw the news on CNN while I was sitting down at a lobby waiting to see a doctor.

Aaron Sorkin feel so sorry for the people working behind "The Interview" including Randall Park, who played Kim Jung-un. But Aaron also blame the media for helping the hackers.

Which sums up to my question: The American press, what were you thinking?

Thanks for reading. I hope you guys enjoy it. I will write "The Fallout" tomorrow.