It’s Christmas, and everyone is talking about «The Interview». When we heard the word «interview», this is what came to mind:
But it has soon changed to a more audacious meaning: a movie banned from american theatres because of hacker’s demands.
Hackers: 1 – SONY: 0
It seems absurd the idea of a giant like SONY being blackmailed by mere hackers, but maybe those «Guardians of Peace» are a bigger threat than what we think.
The hackers did what they do best, and by the end of November they had gathered an big amount of private information and important data regarding the SONY corporation and employees. On the night of December 16th the hackers, addressing themselves as «Guardians of Peace», wrote a letter to top SONY executives threatening to harm moviegoers if «The Interview» was released, besides leaking private information. The following day, SONY wrote a statement calling off the release of the film until further notice. The effect of cancelling the film was stunning: US citizens felt outraged and demanded justice. It was their pride that was harmed, but it was enough for the FBI to take action and for President Obama to assure a «proportional response» to those threats.
So who are the americans blaming? North Korea. I know what you might be thinking: «미쳤어?! Michyeosseo?!» 
But according to the FBI, North Korea was centrally involved in the cyber attack of the SONY computers. And it is not surprising, for the movie is based on two men who are asked by the CIA and the USA government to take out Kim Jong-Un while interviewing him. It is no doubt a comedy film, but it ridicules the image of the North Korean leader and the country itself. Is this Kim Jong-Un’s idea of payback?
“We cannot have a society in which some dictator some place can start imposing censorship here in the United States. Because if somebody is able to intimidate folks out of releasing a movie, imagine what they start doing when they see a documentary that they don’t like or news reports that they don’t like. Or even worse, imagine if producers and distributors start engaging in self-censorship because they don’t want to offend somebody’s sensibilities who probably need to be offended.” said President Obama Friday 19th of December, two days after SONY announced to cancel the release of the film in theatres.
The SONY who cried wolf
What if everything that has happened regarding «The Interview» and North Korea has been a marketing strategy? A
t least this is what many people think, for it has only brought publicity. After all, everyone is talking about it. Good publicity, bad publicity… it does not matter as long as it is in everyone’s mouths. What is surprising is that «The Interview» arrived in selected theatres despite it all, and right before Christmas! Also on December 24th, SONY announced the online release of «The Interview» available for rent or to buy on Google Play, Xbox, Youtube and their own website: seetheinterview.com.
As the movie streams online, the movie shoots to No.1 on Google Play in its release day. American citizens tweet and blog about their free will to watch the movie despite everything that has happened. Some of the comments and tweets were:
«I wouldn’t have had the slightest interest in seeing The Interview. Now I wouldn’t miss it for anything.» – Henry Blodget
«Freedom of speech has prevailed!» – Seth Rogen
«This movie will be awful, but it’s my choice to watch awful«
So whether SONY’s acts were brave or coward, «The Interview» has now a whole different meaning. A satire film that makes fun of a nation’s leader? A bold act of freedom of speech? A new world of possibilities opened up before us. Now the question is… what’s next?
Ray of Wisdom 