Saturday, December 20, 2014

The movie no one was talking about is now the movie everyone wants to see...



I've been watching this Sony movie controversy with a little bit of amusement, anger, frustration and astonishment.

To hear people talking about Sony being an American company has amused me.  To see Sony cave to the threats of terrorist has angered and frustrated me.  Ditto with the reaction from the White House that did a "finger in the wind" response to the issue after everything was said and done.

What is astonishing is where we are now.

Lets be honest.

This movie was (by all appearances) idiotic.  No one was going to see it except some teens (if Sony was lucky).  It was almost a straight to DVD grade movie and that's where it was going to make bucks.  But now?  People want to see it as a protest if nothing else.

The funny thing?

This movie will see the light of day.  Its just bound to happen.  When it does you can bet that it will be on file sharing sites and its going to be downloaded by millions.  N. Korea might have bullied one corporation but in the end they're going to lose because of the digital age that we live in.

It won't make money or win awards but it will be one of the most watched flicks in the next 6 months.  I almost guarantee it.

40 comments :

  1. That would be some... crazy PR deal. That movie would be in cinemas, some would see them, then it would go out and be another "movies" you may watch in TV but go to cinema? nah.

    Now, EVERYONE will want to see it. This will be the most watched piece of mediocre movie in this and next year. Those hacks want to "destroy" this movie... but they made it SHINE! :D

    But ot was a bad move from SONY, very bad move... this create a precedes. Now every jut job or other hacks will see this action as proof that they can demand from everyone or everything... well everything. Don't like the movie, hack the studio and demand not to show it, don't like some coffee in Starbacks, hack them and demand remove it. Don't like a book... ect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Expecting Sony to fight this battle borders on lunacy.
      Its like saying whoever owned the WTC should have been responsible for invading Afghanistan.

      If you don't want Sony to bend over, you're going to have to make a credible case that you can protect Sony.

      Or at least punish the Norks.

      Delete
    2. Sony is an corporation... as corporation it should protect it's ow assets by own power. It's not like they are under gov' cyber protection, they rich enough to have own cyber security detachment. As all BIG company's should had. Now they will go to knees before everyone... they in simple ways, became a some hacks "bitch".

      But do this fall under the "industry espionage"?

      Delete
    3. Walmart police, courts and jails doesn't sound like a road we should go down...

      Delete
    4. Sony needs to hire some mercenaries to actually do a real Interview with Kim.

      Delete
  2. It looks like Sony arranged this "Korean hackers attack" all by itself just to promote a new movie. It seems movie quality is so low that it can be promoted only by such cheap PR stunts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is not cheap PR, it's pretty good... but I doubt it. The fallout of this is too big for SONY to be only an PR action. Losing a credibility, face... this is a death sentence for smaller company's.

      Delete
    2. Maybe Sony was paid by govt to use this PR stunt also to squeeze more funding to cyberwarfare military programs.

      Delete
    3. This too much conspiracy mumbo jumbo lad.

      Delete
    4. "...what a tangled web we weave..."

      Delete
    5. Nahhh... there was some time an mega squeeze after LM was hacked. SONY is not neither US company or vital to US defense.

      Delete
  3. This is a good blog loved it
    Regards,
    sirisha,
    www.phplearnersplace.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. 'Ditto with the reaction from the White House that did a "finger in the wind" response to the issue after everything was said and done.'

    I think you hit the nail on the head with that Solomon. Obama said something after George Clooney did!

    Given the Hollywood support of Obama I wonder if this movie would have even been made had it been about Obama.

    I don't see many new movies anymore; I watch older movies. I think a lot of what comes out of Hollywood these days is crap. Look at all the sequels and remakes and 'reboots'. I had no intention of seeing this movie and still won't after all this.

    ReplyDelete
  5. In the U.S., news has become entertainment, and entertainment has become news. Newspapers and TV (and Fox on the web) have shucked their foreign correspondents and fail to examine real domestic issues fairly, in favor of tabloid-style second-grade entertainment. Meanwhile Hollywood, with big national-campaign money donators, worked with the Pentagon and the services to glorify US adventures overseas and promote the Pentagon's welfare.

    China hacking corporate welfare targets for F-365 specifications? Not an issue. Hacking Sony Entertainment for emails, only the last in fifty-plus such hacks on Sony? The FBI makes up their "evidence" and the president speaks to it. And as has been suggested above, it probably was a designer issue, done by people who know how to make up stories, and a government that wants to appear to be "doing something."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "In the U.S., news has become entertainment, and entertainment has become news. Newspapers and TV (and Fox on the web) have shucked their foreign correspondents and fail to examine real domestic issues fairly, in favor of tabloid-style second-grade entertainment."

      You hit the ball right out of the park with that one Don.

      Not only do I see people unaware of federal issues but also state and local issues as well. Yet knowledge of the Kardashians seems widespread. We're doomed.

      Delete
  6. Never mind Sony's emails, how about military secrets at Edwards AFB, for example?

    DailyCaller
    U.S. military training facilities are vulnerable to foreign spies, and experts are saying the Department of Defense has done almost nothing about it.

    A government oversight report detailed the threat and the inadequacy of the Defense Department’s response.

    “Some DOD officials stated that they are concerned about foreign encroachment, which may provide an opportunity for persistent surveillance of DoD test and training activities,” the report states. “However, DOD has not prioritized its ranges or assessed such threats because, among other things, there is no clear guidance on how to conduct assessments of the risks and threats posed by foreign encroachment.”

    ReplyDelete
  7. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2880370/North-Korea-infiltrated-terror-squads-1990s-attack-nuclear-power-stations-war-broke-out.html

    Revealed: North Korea terror squads infiltrated the US in the 1990s - and were ordered to attack nuclear power stations if war broke out
    Rogue state had five commando units on US soil
    They were trained to attack nuclear plants and terrorise major cities
    At the time North Korea had no missiles capable of hitting the US
    Recently declassified report dates from 2004

    North Korea sent special forces teams to the US in the 1990s to target nuclear power stations and conduct terror attacks on major cities in the event of war, a declassified intelligence report has revealed.

    The rogue state successfully infiltrated five units of highly-trained commandos onto U.S. soil ready to strike at key installations, according to a Defense Intelligence Agency report dated September 13, 2004.

    http://perezhilton.com/2014-12-18-seth-rogen-the-interview-bodyguard-beef-up-security

    Seth Rogen Has Hired A Former Special Forces Bodyguard Amidst North Korean Terrorist Threats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ten years and no strike? What are they waiting for? Or did the team members simply disappear into the Korean community and become American's?
      Seth Rogan is a chicken shit.

      Delete
  8. For all those interested in these things, India's Naval LCA successfully completed a simulated carrier take off today:

    http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?243268-India-s-N-LCA-successfully-completes-a-simulated-carrier-take-off

    Some nice pics/vids in that link.


    Soloman, might want to cover this in a post?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The rolling distance is too long. A meaningful STOBAR launch must be made in 180 m or less, considering the runway length of India's indigenous carriers for which this jet is intended.

      Delete
    2. India's USS Langley moment, next up a catapult system and super carrier?

      Delete
  9. they could make a shit load of money but letting people buy or rent from amazon, google play, etc. then the threats against people in theatres goes away while making sony millions, sony could make more money off of this movie than the N. Korean economy! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And then the next terrorist threat to theaters over some other movie?
      and the next, until only movies suitable for dictators and Islam are shown?
      That is not a plan that is a disaster in the making.

      Delete
  10. Solomon, I know it's off topic, but.. about this thing Obama did with Cuba, what you guys opinion about that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The US will absorb Cuba under a crushing load of capitalist goods and money OR, Cuba will just remain Cuba while the US gets absorbed by immigrants from Cuba in the tens of millions.
      The democrats get a solid Latino base to ensure Latino's vote for them for a thousand years and the republican's die a quick anonymous death.
      One party socialist system and communism.

      Delete
    2. actually cuban immigrants hate the move beause they hate castro, younger cuban immigrants tend to be more supportive, and latinos arent a lock for dems, repubs just need better reach out to them.

      Delete
  11. Off topic as well but time maybe to post something on terrorist knife
    Attack in police station in France : three officers injured by attacker who walked into station shouting "Allah u akbar" before being shot dead by other officers present.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sony is (mainly) a Japanese company. North Koreans are taught to hate Japan because of a brutal Japanese occupation of North Korea in the early 1900's, and Japan is surely aware of this. The Japanese also know they're within range of North Korea's missiles and their smallish arsenal of nuclear weapons.

    So put yourself in the shoes of Sony's leadership. North Korea is a rogue state and your country (Japan) has tasted the fire of nukes before. Do you release the movie and hope to make a little money while angering North Korea above and beyond the existing historical reasons? Or do you shun the responsibility of adding flames to the historical fire against your culture and country?

    As an American I don't agree with Sony's decision and take a "no negotiation" approach, but then it's less about what I want and more about what Sony and Japan wants. They control rights to the movie and how or whether to release it. Will Japanese companies fold to further terrorist demands in the future? Perhaps, and the end result probably won't be good either. If there are countries like Israel at one end of the spectrum, then it makes sense there would be companies like Sony on the other. If Sony does release the movie and there is an attack we should dish back any hits three-fold (or ten-fold if you lean toward Israel). If the initial Sony decision was a publicity stunt it will certainly work: expect the DVD to appear in stores soon. Time will tell if Sony is mostly scared or clever.

    Bottom line: a rogue state with nuclear weapons trying to defend its outdated system of dictatorship will not let you come out clean on the other side no matter what path you take. As with most controversial issues, firmly picking sides often means skipping the whole picture.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So, If The Israeli's decide to dislike Exodus: gods and kings does Hollywood pull that movie?
      I think not.
      If the Muslim's decide or Egypt decide a little terror might be an answer for the same movie will Hollywood stop showing it?
      You bet your happy ass Hollywood will shut it down.

      Delete
  13. Actually Obama was right so is Clooney, this has the real chance to destroy Hollywood movie making.
    Wait till the Muslim's threaten movies with uncovered women in them.
    Gay lifestyles, something a liberal Hollywood really cares about.
    Watch them throw their PC beliefs under the bus along with their business.
    Hollywood is on the brink of complete ruin if they continue to cave in to any dictator, religious movement that threatens them.
    Tort and lawyers fears of lawsuits will end movie making as they know it.
    Think not? The airlines that flew the jet that was blown up over Lockerbie was sued because a passenger accepted a boom box from a strangers that was a bomb. They were a third party judged responsible for all those who lost their lives not the terrorist, not the stranger and it cost them money.
    Hollywood, Sony just surrender their first amendment rights to the North Koreans and to hackers, that sets a precedent and every other terror group, hostile nation or just a bunch of ass holes will take advantage of this fact.
    No Great loss.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If Obama is serious, then he can announce to the world that either the US will support this film being seeded in BitTorrent (and US will STOP TRACKING users who share this film) or the US can host the file and anyone can go about downloading the film.

      This film is already dead. Sony can't get movie theatres around the world to show this. Sony will and might have difficulty selling this in DVD/BD. Sony will most likely NOT find any internet streaming company (like Netflix) from showing this. Sony might as well cut their loses and let everyone have this for FREE.

      You want to insult DRPK? I say, "Seed this film in torrent".

      Delete
    2. I still say China is "involved" or the hack was done or originated inside PRoC.

      The hackers took away terabytes of data. Some say a whooping 5 terabytes of data. DPRK does not have any fibre optic cable interconnect inside the country. Chinese companies have won "tender" to set up mobile phones in the country and still find it difficult to bring fibre optic in.

      5 terabytes of data is not easy. Do you know how long it takes to download 5 terabytes of data over the internet?

      * On a 100 Mbps link it takes 111 hours and 6 minutes.
      * On a 1 Gbps link it takes 11 hours and 6 minutes.
      * It takes slightly above 1 hour and 6 minutes on a 10 Gbps link.

      Go HERE for a list of submarine cables. You'll notice that China has a number of landing points with direct link to the US and Japan.

      Hacking and downloading requires skills and meticulous planning. Downloading file(s) this large will require not just knowledge in scripting but routing as well. You want to make sure your session is on a high-speed link. I don't believe the hack was done on a 1 Gbps link. I am suspecting it was done on a 10 Gbps link. Not a lot of "hackers" have access to 10 Gbps link. Not a lot of corporations have this kind of link. Government organizations yes.

      Delete
    3. Any nation or anyone operating outside a national command and will with the expertise could have done this hack.
      Anyone, hell Snowden, Assange anyone.
      Even Sony may have seen the loss coming when this silly ass excuse for a Christmas movie died well short of the cost to make it and done the deed to themselves.
      The sad fact is, Seth Logan and James Franco are even absent from the DTV in any movie they ever made.
      That's how far this has gone to financial ruin.

      Delete
    4. Actually the only thing Obama did by criticizing Sony in that press conference is further erode any credibility he has with people who actually retain information!!!

      When Benghazi happened he and his people both in press conferences and at the funerals for the dead blamed the incident and their deaths pretty much directly on the first amendment. Now when NOONE DIES and Sony caves he gets up and condemns their actions?

      How is that anything other than a disgustingly disingenuous scumbag using a situation that when it was his ass on the line he blames the rights Americans have and "racism" for "causing the incident"

      It's funny how short peoples memories seem to be lately.

      It's also very assbackwards that moral turpitude in your private life or career of al ridiculously minor nature can and DOES disqualify people for normal jobs in a position of public trust, yet our president just BLATANTLY stood up there and made a speech solely aimed at taking advantage of someone else's no win situation. That's pretty much the definition of moral turpitude.

      Delete
  14. the thing is this, whoever the hacker is , or any other future hackers, they can lie about their cause, saying they are north korean while leaving tracable breadcrumbs that can lead to NK , or they can pretend to be a moslem defender or they can pretend to be the new Aryan nation or they can pretend to be Green Peace...

    whoever theses hackers sre, they always cover up , muddle up, diverting attention , from themselves.. it is standard practice in hacking to leave misleading footprints in multiple layer. Im in IT business and i understand the "leaving false track leading to someone" method..

    dont get suckered by hating these scapegoats.. NK might be blameless in this.. heck if NK wanted some kind of public revenge , they can easily kidnap the actors and killed them ISIS style complete with video.. now that what i call scary...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cui Bono?

      We may never know the identity of the hackers, but we do know who has benefitted from their actions.

      Kidnapping and beheading actors would be an overreaction that would completely turn public opinion against NK and risk war, or something just short of it. Airing the dirty laundry of a scummy Hollywood media company? Well that's just entertainment, and America loves entertainment.

      Delete
  15. The "Streisand Effect" this is.

    You generate controversey over not showing something, or over the effort of trying to take it down, you only motivate people further to see it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. An old MASH episode about a Hawkeye sought after movie "banned in Boston" comes to mind.
      OMG! Don't look!
      Looks anyway.

      Delete
  16. from China Matters:
    On technical grounds, there’s problems like this, pointed out by Jeffrey Carr (h/t to “@SaiGonSeamus), who wrote a book on cyberwarfare:

    The White House appears to be convinced through "Signals intelligence" that the North Korean government planned and perpetrated this attack against Sony:
    In one new detail, investigators have uncovered an instance where the malicious software on Sony’s system tried to contact an Internet address within North Korea.
    There is a common misconception that North Korea's ITC is a closed system therefore anything in or out must be evidence of a government run campaign. In fact, the DPRK has contracts with foreign companies to supply and sustain its networks. Those companies are:
    Lancelot Holdings
    Loxley Pacific
    Shin Satellite Corp
    Orascom Telecomms Holding
    Loxley Pacific provides fixed-telephone lines, public payphone, mobile phones, internet, paging, satellite communications, long-distance/international services, wire or wireless in the Rajin-Sonbong Free Economic and Trade Zone. Star JV is North Korea's internet service run as a joint venture between the North Korean government and Loxley Pacific.....One of the easiest ways to compromise the Internet backbone of a country is to work for or be a vendor to the company which supplies the backbone. For the DPRK, that's Loxley, based in Bangkok....

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.