Readers React: Don’t let North Korea have the final say on ‘The Interview’

You might have heard there’s a film out there so offensive to North Korea’s dictator that hackers connected to his regime spooked a major Hollywood studio into scrubbing the movie’s Christmas Day release.

Sony Pictures, listen up: Free-expression fans have ideas for rescuing “The Interview.”

Sprinkled in with readers’ denunciations of Sony for either kowtowing to cyberterrorists or green-lighting the assassination-depicting comedy in the first place are several mostly implausible but highly entertaining proposals for heroically releasing the film in spite of Pyongyang’s characteristic bellicosity. And since we’re talking about Hollywood, it’s entertainment that matters.

Michael Sanchez of New York City takes a swipe at President Obama before suggesting a coordinated response by the studios:

No one should be surprised by the Obama administration’s weak response to North Korea’s cyberterrorist attack. It’s par for the course. But Hollywood’s weak response is a huge surprise because its future depends on its ability to protect the art it produces, regardless of the quality.

The first step to reverse the effects of North Korea’s terrorist attack is a strong, unified response. A deal to flood the market with a free, wide theatrical release of “The Interview,” as a joint venture between all studios, will make a bold statement. Together, Hollywood power players can make it clear that anyone attacking one studio attacks them all.

Hopefully, the Obama administration would follow Hollywood’s lead with a powerful response of its own.

Redlands resident Howard Hurlbut says “The Interview” should be paired with North Korean propaganda:

Sony Pictures should release “The Interview” together with the North Korean propaganda video that imagines a missile attack on the United States.

The two films balance each other quite well. Interest in the Sony movie is burgeoning, and too few Americans have seen the North Korean missile video.

The Sony film is only a spoof, whereas the North Korean video portrays an intended military threat. Hence, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would have no room to complain.

It’s a win-win-win deal. Sony grosses a windfall. Freedom of speech is upheld. And American moviegoers get to watch some thought-provoking fare.

Irving Burg of Corona del Mar offers up a small-screen solution:

Sony now has a film with the must-see power of a Super Bowl. It should sell 30-second commercials, splice them into “The Interview” and give the film to every TV network.

Sony becomes a public service hero and maybe breaks even, and North Korea sucks its thumb.

John Julis of Riverside has a similar idea:

Why not release the movie on pay-per-view? I’ve spoken to many who would pay to see it, and those North Korean cowards cannot bomb every house in the country. Let us all enjoy the movie while you make something for your outlay.

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