Posted on 12/18/2014 1:09:10 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Oh, the irony. After Sony cancelled the release of The Interview, a few theaters declared that they would show the 2004 hit Team America: World Police in its place as a protest against threats to free expression. That film also derided the government of North Korea, as well as the liberal Hollywood establishment that catered to anti-American despots in what was a prescient (if irreverent and very R-rated) satire.
As if to emphasize the latter critique, two cinemas have announced that Paramount Pictures has forbidden them to show the film publicly:
At least two movie theaters say Paramount Pictures has ordered them not to show Team America: World Police.
Breaking Plaza news : Team America World Police pulled from all theatres as per Paramount Pictures .
— Plaza Atlanta (@PlazaAtlanta) December 18, 2014
Please note: Our Late Shift screening of Team America: World Police has been canceled by Paramount Pictures. pic.twitter.com/TlPVzIeICW
— Capitol Theatre (@CapitolW65th) December 18, 2014
You might think that this would be a moment for some in Hollywood to stand up for free expression. You would, apparently, be wrong. In this case, it’s all the more ironic, as TAWP features this send-up song that actually has the perfect message for this week. Freedom isn’t free, folks. Sometimes it costs a lot more than a buck-oh-five, but in this case Paramount stood to make a lot more than a buck-oh-five, and still caved.
The video’s NSFW because of language, but this week I’m willing to say, “f*** it.”
If Paramount — which stood to gain in this transaction — won’t throw in its buck-oh-five, who in Hollywood will?
Updated: Gizmodo calls this “a staggering act of cowardice“:
Terrorist threats are no laughing matter, of course, but the Department of Homeland Security has found no credible threat and evidence that the Guardians of Peace have any sort of manpower that could do anything within the boundaries of the United States (much less at thousands of locations simultaneously) is practically non-existent. This sort of panicked cowardice would be laughably absurd if it wasn’t so damn sad.
No kidding.
Well, as long as Hollywood keeps pushing porn and atheism, the masses should be gratified. /s
"The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth
...The foreigners who reside among you will rise above you higher and higher, but you will sink lower and lower. They will lend to you, but you will not lend to them. They will be the head, but you will be the tail.
All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you." - Deuteronomy 28:25, 43-45
if it’s a garden variety hack, why the obvious over reaction? Why would a company like Sony shelf a movie unless they had solid information that it was for real?
We, the US, altered how we expressed our freedoms out of fear of retaliation for practicing what we understand is a God given right. I probably would not have gone to see this because I don’t like these actors but to shut the whole thing down over what you say is no evidence sounds a little shortsighted, unless there is more to the story.
That would be a spoonerism.
We, the US, altered how we expressed our freedoms
It is a Japanese company that made the decision
Rent the unrated director’s cut of “Team America”. It’s filthy and hilarious.
LOL!!!!!! Good one!!
What is REALLY going on here? It makes no sense.
Team America has been available on DVD for a decade. What’s keeping anyone who owns a legal disc from showing it for free to whoever they want, as long as they’re not turning it into profit?
At this point, I’d like to see that movie shown for free on big screens and buildings all over the country.
Yes, I am angry. The stupid NKorea movies aren’t the issue, just the final straw.
What happened to tend the other cheek? All of a sudden antigun moralizing liberals do not dare confront for fear of getting slapped disarmed.
We are going the way of Auswitch. America is toast.
Hollyweird is also retroactively pulling another film that lampoons a dictator...
There’s something else afoot...
when is the last time two movies - with similar story lines- showings have been banned?
Whaaaaaaat????
That unrated one is also for sale ....
Another thought :
Remember Shakespeare, in one of his plays there was the line
“the plays the thing,
that will catch the conscience of the king “
Is there something in “the interview” and “team America:world police “ that skewers or implicates 0?
If you swap the c in the first word with the r in the last, you have a rather nasty spoonerism.
Who cares about Sony Pics and their tail between their legs PC policies? It is not an American Co. Let the Japanese duke it out with the North Koreans. Most of the stuff from these movie companies should require that they pay the public to watch.
Secondly, as the owner/operator of a movie distribution center for Southern California (physical prints), it used to be that once a theater booked (rented) a print of a given movie, they had an implied contractual right to book it again...providing they pay again and don't do anything against the studio's rights. Maybe things have changed since the 90's.
That said, what kind of cowards are now running Paramount and Sony Studios? I used to know executives at MGM, Universal, Disney/Touchstone/Buena Vista, Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox, Columbia, Tri-Star, New Line, Miramax, now defunct United Artists, etc. They were all hard asses who would never let this Nork threat stop them.
I find it amazing that these 2 studios have become so gutless. The studio heads of my time were fearless. Sony, I can somewhat understand because of the hack, but Paramount not allowing Team America to be screened I don't get.
Hollywood movie types preach free speech. Guess that only works if you're not threatened. That's why they rarely make Muslims the villain. Think about Clancy's, "Clear and Present Danger" novel, that the studio changed the Islamist nuke threat to a nazi type right wing domestic threat. Pfft.
Hollywood sucks and most everyone that lives in that area are gutless self-centered useless sh*ts. Hollywood/Westwood is the Frisco of Los Angeles. Good luck finding one person in that area that has ever served in the military, or has any idea about the values this nation was built upon. As long as they can get their latest gadget or shoes or watch the latest inane reality show or hang at the new trendy club hoping to mingle with feckless celebrities, they're good. End rant.
Not to get off topic, but I see this as an extension of Obambi's weakness regarding international affairs. When you do an "apology tour" and bow to everyone, why should anyone be surprised that our true and potential enemies would not take advantage?
I know he's a marxist and has no respect for America's greatness and historical accomplishments, but I also think he is just damn stupid when it comes to foreign policy. His foreign policies don't really forward his own socialist/communist leanings. He thinks they do, but in reality, those policies give more determination to those who would happily over-run his socialist/commie America. People give him too much credit.
As Sean Connery said in the movie, The Rock, "Personally, I think he's a fucking idiot".
I’m so ronery
So ronery
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.