Day: December 17, 2014

THE INTERVIEW was set to be the raunchy comedy for Christmas night.. but now that the GUARDIANS OF PEACE scared theater chains across the country with a ‘remember’ September 11th threat, SONY has pulled the film altogether..

This statement now from SONY:

“Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale – all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like,” the statement reads.

“We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public,” it continues. “We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.”

While there is not yet a decision on how the movie will be released or if theaters will ever show it, this news is major.. This is unprecedented.. a major movie company losing a battle in the cyber war theater..

The decision by SONY came after major movie theater chains decided today not to show the film on Christmas day..

Pakistan has begun three days of mourning in the aftermath of one of the most disgusting attacks on children that has taken place in humanity’s recent history.. The Taliban attack on the government school yesterday in Peshawar ended with 145 dead. Most of those brutal killings including shots in the head and beheadings were suffered by children..

Today the Taliban is attempting to provide justification for the senseless atrocities committed on the most innocent.. They said that the children murdered ‘aspired to follow their fathers’ footsteps’ and join into the army to target militants..  Even more, they say that the killings were to avenge the deaths that children in tribal areas suffered at the hands of other fighters.

Others believe that it may be a sign of desperation.. attackers targeting the most vulnerable and easily able to prey on isn’t brave or courageous, but instead horrendous in theory.

Others believe that the attack could very well be a response to Malala Yousafzai’s Nobel Peace Prize..
Speaking of Malala, one piece of text that she said to the United Nations on her 16th birthday is July 2013 has truth:

We realise the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realised the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns. The wise saying, ‘The pen is mightier than the sword.’ It is true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them

Books and pens. And children reading and writing, developing common sense and a higher sense of being. That does scare people with an alternative view of reality–one stuck in prehistoric times of bloodshed and tribalism that has no place in the modern world..

But this is the world we live in..
The gates of hell wide open. the demons abound to prey on the souls of the innocent.

So often I stare into the blazing stars of the night sky and ask if there is a God.. I also cry out to him and hope my prayers and words are heard.. Now and then I wonder if aliens are watching, too.

Either way, God or extraterrestrials, I hope someone makes an appearance soon to remind us of how we need to act in our ant farm called Earth. Bloodshed has becoming stifling to growth.. in the 21st century, the barbarism of the 15th has no place.

Imagine no religion?
How about this: Imagine aliens landing on the lawn of the White House. Maybe we’d start to think twice before killing our fellow human beings..

Or maybe not.

 

Last night we reported that Seth Rogen and James Franco canceled public appearances in the wake of the SONY hacker threat attacks on movie theaters that showed movie THE INTERVIEW. Now, only days before the planned Christmas day release of the North Korea parody film, SONY’s screening of the movie at Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema in New York City has been called off..

Sony was not planning on canceling–it was the theater that made the call.

In a sick sense, the publicity this film is getting ensures it will be a blazing box office success. If theaters decide to show it.. Either way, it will have a long shelf life if there are still shelves that house movies. Otherwise a streaming success for future years to come..

The Guardians of Peace threat has garnered more attention than even the Sony hacked documents–perhaps that’s equally fine for Sony since they don’t have to be as worried and red-faced about embarrassing or even racist emails being exchanged by top executives..

But now the big decision is coming: Will theaters across the nation begin pulling the plug on plans to show THE INTERVIEW no Christmas day, thumb their noses at hackers and terrorists, or submit to the demands and hide the film away from the countless number of Americans suddenly intrigued by the raw comedy?

That answer is developing and will undoubtedly come after much thought is put into it..