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Youtube/SonyEntertainment

Hackers have scared Hollywood into not releasing Seth Rogen's new North Korea film

It comes after cinema chains all over the US dropped plans for ‘The Interview’ from their screens.

Updated 10.19 pm

SONY HAS DECIDED to cancel the planned release of a new comedy about North Korea after mysterious computer hackers threatened attacks on theatres showing the movie.

“The Interview”, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco,  is understood to have offended North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un with its plot to assassinate him.

After hacks on Sony, the studio behind the film, and subsequent threats to cinemas, major theatre chains took a decision not to show the madcap movie.

As a result of this, Sony has this evening decided not to release the film as planned on Christmas Day.

A red-carpet premiere scheduled for this week at New York’s Landmark chain’s Sunshine Cinema had already been cancelled, industry journal Variety reported.

The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) backed chains who decided to cancel screening plans.

“We are encouraged that the authorities have made progress in their investigation and we look forward to the time when the responsible criminals are apprehended,” it said in a statement.

“Until that happens, individual cinema operators may decide to delay exhibition of the movie so that our guests may enjoy a safe holiday movie season experiencing the many other exciting films we have to offer.”

Sony Pictures Entertainment / YouTube

9/11 attack threat 

Skittishness about attending the movie followed threats by the so-called GOP (Guardians of Peace) hacking group, which invoked the September 11, 2001 attacks in an ominous warning to any movie-goers planning to see the film.

The group warned in a message written in broken English that a “bitter fate” awaits any who attend the film.

“Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear,” the statement warned.

It added: “Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you’d better leave.)”

US officials have played down the threat.

“There is no credible intelligence backing this up at this point in time,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told CNN.

Additional reporting by © – AFP 2014

Read: Hackers threaten attacks on US cinemas showing James Franco’s new film >

Read: The script for the new James Bond film was stolen in the Sony hack >

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73 Comments
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    Mute Howard W.W. Webb
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:07 PM

    Kim Jong No Fun

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    Mute thenightmancometh
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:46 PM

    Dammit I was looking forward to illegally downloading that film!

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    Mute fergalreid
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    Dec 18th 2014, 7:14 AM

    You still may. It’ll probably be leaked by someone at Sony.

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    Mute Nollaig Kelly
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:42 PM

    Hope they haven’t seen team America world police

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Dec 18th 2014, 2:11 AM

    Matt Damon… MATT DAMON!

    123
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    Mute Gis Bayertz
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    Dec 18th 2014, 7:11 AM

    Surprise, cockfags!

    68
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    Mute Macpac31
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    Dec 18th 2014, 10:26 AM

    I’m so Ronery
    So ronery
    So ronery and sadry arone
    There’s no one
    Just me onry
    Sitting on my rittle throne
    I work rearry hard and make up get prans
    but, nobody listens, no one understands
    Seems rike no one takes me serirousry
    And so, I’m ronery
    A rittle ronery
    Poor rittle me
    There’s no one I can rerate to
    Feewr rike a biwd in a cage
    It’s kinda siwry
    but, not reawry
    because, it’s fiwring my body with rage
    I’m the smartest, most crever, most physicawry fit
    but, nobody erse seems to rearrize it
    When I can the worrd maybe they’rr notice me
    And untiwr then, I’wr be ronery
    Yeaaaaah, a rittle ronery
    Poor rittle me…

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    Mute Derek
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:23 PM

    Where’s the American backbone in “Not letting the terrorists win”?

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:55 PM

    Last time I checked Sony is a Japanese company.

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    Mute Derek
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:13 PM

    It used be Columbia until Sony bought out 50% of initial share holders in ’89 and eventually its other half which was a public company and then renamed it Sony in ’91

    54
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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:25 PM

    You’d do well in politics, Derek.

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    Mute Derek
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:42 PM

    So I’ve been told, ha but fear I couldn’t stomach the stench at the trough

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:54 PM

    Derek, this is Sony’s call. The FBI are investigating but they don’t see it as a credible threat.

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    Mute Derek
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    Dec 18th 2014, 12:06 AM

    I would have assumed the decision was always with them, Declan. It’s of little worry to any other party.
    It’s doubtful the hackers are a threat but in saying that Sony’s record of data/network security has been well, dismal to date. The product of outsourcing and cutting staff in business critical departments.

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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Dec 18th 2014, 1:59 AM

    This is not the first time. Check out south oark episode 200 and 201. It’s south park’s masterpiece and it features and rips on the fear western media has around portraying Muhammad. The episode is fantastic but under threats of violence from fascists, the studio censored the episodes much to the dismay of the creators.

    It’s laughable because Muhammad featured in an earlier episode called super best friends alongside other religious figures and nobody said a word.

    Western Media vs Fascism. We blinked first. Shame.

    44
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    Mute Darren Turner
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:35 PM

    Was kind of interested in seeing this, now I’m definitely going to see this. Streisand effect at work. Online release the most likely option now.

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    Mute Glen
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:02 PM

    This is beyond stupid… Pure fear mongering since when do hackers blow up cinemas … Great publicity for the movie tho hmmm

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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:05 PM

    “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”

    H. L. Mencken

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    Mute Glen
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:11 PM

    Yes
    And then when they are scared enough convince them to give up some freedoms and liberty so they can be better protected from an imaginary bogeyman !!
    Problem
    Reaction
    Solution

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:25 PM

    This is the most stupid reaction ever…. Hackers are glorified masturbators….. Let them jerk themselves to kingdom cum.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:41 PM

    Glen, a few weeks back you were critical of Sony making this movie and you were for North Korea retaliating. Now you’ve changed your tune. Don’t lie glen.
    It must be confusing not knowing what side of the fence your on.

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    Mute Frank
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    Dec 18th 2014, 12:45 AM

    Declan Noonan We also know who’s side of the fence Sony is on.

    Manufacturing components for Israel’s War smart missile offensive on GAZA. No doubt Sony is in cahoots with the US Zio machine to gain world governance. Sony being a part of the US Zio war machine is only provoke DPNK.

    Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanjahu’s dictatorship is thousands of times a greater threat to world peace than any Kim Jung Uns.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Dec 18th 2014, 8:26 AM

    Not going to answer me glen? Is it because you’ve been caught in a lie!

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    Mute Glen
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    Dec 18th 2014, 8:35 AM

    That’s BS Declan
    Post the link

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    Mute Chris
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    Dec 18th 2014, 12:16 PM

    Declan,

    I don’t see where Glen praises Sony or is critical of North Korea retaliating in his post, can you clarify?

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    Mute Glen
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    Dec 18th 2014, 4:28 PM

    You have had all day Declan
    Can’t back up your own BS .. Now the next time you try to lie I will post a link to this article

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Dec 19th 2014, 12:34 AM

    Glen, I told you before that I work during the day and I can’t be bothered to respond to everyone of your comments.
    Now go back to the original story on this on December 7th and see your comment.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Dec 19th 2014, 12:36 AM

    Chris, glen was critical of Sony and supportive of North Korea. As I just said to glen go look up the Sony article on December 7th and see glens comment for yourself.

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    Mute Fergus McC
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:06 PM

    “Gosh Father you managed to make this the most successful film since Jurassic Park!”

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:44 PM

    They should stick the film on Netflix and let everyone see it

    136
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    Mute Glen
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:51 PM

    Not everyone has Netflix tho

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    Mute Robert Rusk
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    Dec 18th 2014, 10:12 AM

    just leak it as a torrent and it’ll get around.

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    Mute James Ó Cianáin
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    Dec 19th 2014, 9:51 PM

    They could blow up Netflix!

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    Mute One Human Being
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:01 PM

    Publicity stunt???

    119
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:11 PM

    By who?

    61
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    Mute Mark G
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:58 PM

    Has to be given the publicity it’s gotten. Definitely a publicity stunt. More will watch when it does hit screens. Pretty impressive really.

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    Mute Conor
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:52 PM

    Every single time you choose to take offence, you march with those who would take all our freedoms.

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    Mute Plantation Watch
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    Dec 18th 2014, 8:31 AM

    Arent the Govt here trying to bring in hate speech laws soon?

    9
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    Mute Tricia Golden
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    Dec 18th 2014, 10:11 AM

    Ireland already has a Blasphemy Law. Another ridiculous piece of legislation.

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    Mute James Creaney
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:35 PM

    Durka durka durka sherpa sherpa sherpa

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:42 PM

    I’d say now that North Korea has the computing power of a digital watch available to it.

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    Mute Irene Millar
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:42 PM

    Team America, fook yeah

    63
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    Mute Liam O'Brien
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    Dec 18th 2014, 12:24 AM

    Maybe they could do the same for the next Mrs. Brown’s Boys movie? ;-)

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    Mute James Morris
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:28 PM

    National association of theatre owners = NATO ?!! Ironic.. Haha!!

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    Mute Silver Planet
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:24 PM

    This is kinda funny, I suppose, but moreover it’s yet another attack in free speech which is one of our most precious values. It’s an attack by a brutal dictator and we shouldn’t concede an inch to him.
    .
    .
    .
    Every cinema that decides not to show this is a defeat for civilisation and a victory for totalitarian bullies. I’m going to see the film purely on principal.

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    Mute Aaron O Connor
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:52 PM

    This news is probably the only thing with Seth Rogen in that i’ve found funny.

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    Mute James kavanagh
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    Dec 18th 2014, 1:06 AM

    I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a movie where some one from another country wants to kill murder the american president and british prime minister there’s literally hundreds of movies made on killing presidents and kidnapping there family’s , but as soon as someone makes a movie about a world leader outside of America or Europe people go crazy threatening on what they’ll do .double standards.

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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    Dec 18th 2014, 2:00 AM

    The American or British lad nearly always survives while the evil pinko commies meet their maker.

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    Mute Larry Ryan
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    Dec 18th 2014, 10:45 AM

    Don’t forget Killing Bono

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Dec 18th 2014, 2:15 AM

    You are worthress, Arec Barwin!

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    Mute Frank
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:13 PM

    The only ones to fear blowing up cinemas would be the White House.

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Dec 18th 2014, 12:41 AM

    Im pretty sure if Russia released a similar movie with a plot to kill Obama, we would have the same reaction just different countries… Movie was made in very poor taste.

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    Mute Gary Mason
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    Dec 18th 2014, 6:07 AM

    Why would we? We’re not America.

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    Mute littleone
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:21 PM

    Sure Kim can’t be that funny . Sony made mistake in making a movie about him. They could have got a trilogy easy making a movie of the jokers here running the country. Would have been best comedy in a long time. Enough soundbites from our comedians in the dail to have won Oscars.

    24
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    Mute Paul Cherubini
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    Dec 17th 2014, 10:52 PM

    Can we not have one article without Irish politics dragged into it? There’s plenty of other articles to voice your opinion on that topic, it’s completely unrelated here

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    Mute Mark Byrne
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:04 PM

    Always one!

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    Mute RI Twing
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    Dec 18th 2014, 12:14 AM

    A little one in fact

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    Mute Graham Carrick
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    Dec 18th 2014, 12:18 AM

    There should be a “F*ck off” button on the journal for this comment.

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    Mute Dylan Kearns
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    Dec 18th 2014, 12:23 AM

    Yeh but what about the water charges banning the new aquaman movie ?

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    Mute Frank Barry
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:16 PM

    Looks like shit

    19
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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:22 PM

    It will be interesting to hear the speeches at Oscar time about how all of Hollywood are behind the USA and it’s war on terror – but I wonder if any of them will point the finger of blame at the Japanese for giving into threats?

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    Mute Tsar N Khan
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:26 PM

    Marketing stunt.

    15
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    Mute Amy Wallis
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    Dec 18th 2014, 12:25 AM

    In fairness, what did they expect?? Did they expect no one to care about it? Especially a country like North Korea..

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    Mute Andrew Doyle
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:29 PM

    Wimps

    10
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    Mute Live Long
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    Dec 18th 2014, 10:02 AM

    It’s a Sony “comedy” staring Seth Rogen, I don’t think Kim Jong should be worried about it winning any Palm D’Ores or Oscars

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    Mute Keith Byrne
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    Dec 18th 2014, 6:32 AM

    “There is no credible intelligence backing this up at this point in time,” that’s a bad intelligence!

    8
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    Mute Sternn
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    Dec 18th 2014, 12:07 PM

    Best marketing ploy EVER!

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    Mute Andrew Matheson
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    Dec 18th 2014, 8:50 AM

    Calling #Anonymous……
    I would think NK will be on the receiving side of a massive hack. Especially since they’re opposing expressive and free creativity which most of the big hackers are big supporters of.

    *gets popcorn*

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    Mute pZTahAXy
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:16 PM

    .

    5
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    Mute Malachy
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    Dec 18th 2014, 10:42 AM

    Sony are gonna make a fortune on this movie.

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    Mute Leviathan
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    Dec 17th 2014, 11:09 PM
    3
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    Mute William Bayle
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    Dec 18th 2014, 2:51 AM

    2 kids in their bedroom boosted their new play stations ?

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    Mute Níamh Rock
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    Dec 18th 2014, 10:23 PM

    There is already a massive damaging flood of hacked personal data from Sony on the internet. I bet Sony are busy looking at what films they have in the pipe line. A pretty stupid idea for a film anyway, but I bet FOX will run the movie as part of their war on terror.
    Meanwhile the world holds its breath as the man of the moment Obama has promised a considered response in a long cue of his many considered responses.

    1
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