There are bad reviews and then there are bad reviews that push a nation to the brink of war. North Korea Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un clearly does not like “The Interview.” The movie about a talk show host and his producer killing Kim Jong-un seemed a bit too counterrevolutionary so the government has declared its release to be an act of war and threatened a “merciless” response.
Frankly, I felt the same way after seeing Battlefield Earth but I lacked the weapons of mass destruction.
The question is whether this makes James Franco and Seth Rogen “enemy combatants” under our own quasi-legal principles.
The North Korean spokesman declared the movie “the most blatant act of terrorism and war and will absolutely not be tolerated.” This was followed by denouncing the film as “reckless US provocative insanity” by a “gangster filmmaker.” It makes Roger Ebert’s reviews a bit less riveting in retrospect.
The North Korean government warned that “If the US administration allows and defends the showing of the film, a merciless counter-measure will be taken.” Presumably, the government intends to re-release Ishtar and shower the West with the DVDs.
Source: BBC
Obviously, this has to do with the Honor of the Supreme Leader. But after watching several documentaries about World War I this weekend, I found that speeches defending the HONOR of the British Empire, the King, and God were the catalyst needed to propel the UK into war in 1914. Therefore, we shouldn’t underestimate how this insult could precipitate an incident.
https://www.facebook.com/nknewsorg
make sure to like North Korea on facebook.
Release it, unblock the restrictions. How can you know what you are against unless you know what you’re for.
In related news, there is an outbreak of measles in North Korea with at least three children dead this week: “Deadly Measles Outbreak in North Korean Province Bordering China.”
And in the country next door, China, at least 300 children have become ill with lead poisoning due to the deadly fumes being emitted from the Meilun Chemical Materials Co.: “China Suspends Officials After Lead Poisoning in Hunan Children.”
Chinese journalist Zan Aizong said that big polluters are rarely held to account by local governments.
Both stories can be found at http://www.rfa.org.
It’s a wonder that libertarians / Tea Party members, i.e. most of the people reading JT’s blog, are not flocking to China and North Korea due to the lack of vaccines and government regulations.
Finally I hear someone ask the right question. “The question is whether this makes James Franco and Seth Rogen “enemy combatants” under our own quasi-legal principles.”
If we can go into a sovereign nations and kill and or kidnap real or imagined “enemy combatants” without so much as a trial, why can’t another country do the same thing?
Thanks for asking the question Professor Turley.
Enjoy Dear Leader, enjoy….
Quick, name one form of film criticism they don’t teach at the New School?
In North Korea, when we talk about deconstructing a film…
Three film critics walk into a bar….
Where was this guy when they released ‘Love Story’?