MOOSIC -- The owners of many movie theaters in our area said they wouldn't show "The Interview" even if Sony did decide to release it, and we asked moviegoers at one of the theaters in Lackawanna County if they're upset about Sony's move to pull the film.
UPDATE: Sony is releasing The Interview on Google Play, YouTube Movies, Xbox Video and a dedicated website SeeTheInterview.com starting Wednesday. Also, The Interview will be airing at the Pocono Community Theater in East Stroudsburg.
One of the busiest times of the year at theaters like Cinemark in Moosic has begun, but among the movies hitting the big screen for the holidays, "The Interview" will not be one of them.
"I thought it would be a really funny movie but whatever," said Matt Dubaskas of Edwardsville.
Sony's move to pull "The Interview" after a massive cyberattack and threats against theaters showing it has rocked Hollywood and is getting strong opinions nationwide, including those going to other movies on Montage Mountain.
"We have freedom of speech. We should be able to show what kind of movies we want in this country," Dubaskas said.
Many people don't like the idea of a movie maker or anyone in America giving into anyone, including North Korea.
"I don't believe we should cave to terrorists no matter what, bottom line," said Lee Wotanis of Mount Cobb.
Cinemark is one of the largest theater chains in the country and one of the ones that said it wouldn't show The Interview even if Sony released it.
Some moviegoers we talked with said safety should come first.
"Sony is going to lose a lot of money but sometimes money isn't all that's important," said Marie Littell of Clarks Summit.
Littel of Clarks Summit is glad Sony is not releasing the movie. She and some others also question Sony's wisdom even making a movie mocking an unstable dictator.
"Sometimes they don't really think it through. You have to look at the whole context of the time we're living in and the risks involved."
"I think they should have held off on that really," said Nate Bifano of Moscow. "It's too frightening of an issue, really."
But the decision to make the movie has defenders, too.
"First amendment, creative, whatever they want to do is up to them," added Wotanis.
"The Interview" isn't the only movie scrapped by this situation with North Korea. Cnn is reporting that New Regency has now nixed a Steve Carell film called "Pyongyang."
