♪ (ragtime music) ♪
- (in video: phone rings) - (man) Hello? Who dis?
(in video) This is the Secretary of Communication for North Korea.
Our Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un is interested...
I saw this movie.
- ...in an interview with Dave Skylark. - Oh my god.
Uh oh, it's The Interview!
I swore I wasn't going to see it.
(in video) Did you just say China?
And did you just say Dong? (snickers)
Three weeks from tonight, I will be traveling
to Pyongyang, North Korea
- to interview President Kim Jong-un. - Pyongyang?
Kim Jong-un!
I am so glad they released this.
I'm so glad they didn't cave on it.
(in video) I'm Agent Lacey with Central Intelligence.
I love these actors.
(Lacey) You two are going to be in a room alone with Kim
and the CIA would love it if you could take him out.
(in video) Hmm?
- (chuckles) - (Lacey) Take him out.
- For coffee? - Dinner.
Take him out for what? (laughs)
Drop him like a bad habit.
(in video) You want us to kill the leader of North Korea?
Yes!
(in video) Whaaaaat?
(cracks up)
I wanna watch it because I keep on hearing so much stuff about it.
(Lacey) Gentleman, please remember Kim Jung-un is a master manipulator.
He's crazy. He's totally insa--
(cooing)
- (in video) The dog is killing me! - It's a cute doggie.
(in video) He's-a crazy cute.
Heh.
It's such a stupid idea.
Doesn't sound very inspiring.
(Skylark) Nice tank!
It was a gift to my grandfather from Stalin.
In my country, it's pronounced "Stallone".
(laughing)
(Skylark) You have a sound system in here?
Oh, no, no, no. Don't-don't-don't touch.
♪ You're a firework ♪
Katy Perry?
I've never heard this before in my life.
I love Katy Perry!
Really?
(singing along) ♪ As you shoot across the sky, sky, sky ♪
Oh, god.
It's supposed to be a Russian tank.
It's an American tank.
It is a good movie. It's a bit funny.
(Skyler) ...Kim and I think he's not a bad guy!
You cannot pull out of this!
- I'm pulling out. - But we're too deep to pull out.
- I'm pulling out! - No, you're not!
- They're making pull out jokes. - I've been pullin' out for years, son!
Heh. What was that?
"Pulling out for years". I don't get it.
Wait, it didn't come out at Christmas.
There was a few problems in-between.
(movie reel rolls)
(Finebros) So before we dive into everything,
what movie was that and what's the very basic plot?
Um, The Interview.
Two idiots are recruited to take out the most evil dictator
in the world today.
We use these guys on the premise of doing an interview
to assassinate the North Korean president.
And now it's become an international issue! (laughs)
Even the government involve.
I wonder if Sony anticipated this
and they're either jerks or geniuses.
(Finebros) And what do you think of a movie's plot
to kill an actual sitting leader of a country?
I don't see anything wrong with it 'cause the guy's a dick anyway.
This guy deserved to die a long time ago.
I mean-- (scoffing) He's a disaster.
I don't think it should have been made just because, you know,
that's a big power over there.
They should not have made a movie about killing a world leader.
They could have, like they did with The Great Dictator
and so many other films, they could've changed the name.
People would've known what they were referring to.
- (Finebros) Did you watch the movie? - No!
No.
No. This kind of comedy doesn't appeal to me at all.
I haven't seen it yet.
I haven't had a chance. I wanna see it.
Oh, yeah.
I saw it on a Pay-Per-View thing at home.
(Finebros) So as you probably know, Sony was hacked by a group
called the Guardians of Peace, who released company emails
and movies early and demanded that The Interview not be released
in theatres, otherwise there would be
attacks on those movie theatres.
As this was all happening, how did you feel about the situation?
Absurd. It's a silly movie.
How can anybody take it so seriously?
Release the effing film. F the terrorists.
First thing I thought of, personally, was that Sony did it
so they'd get publicity for their movie.
(Finebros) Initially, Sony ended up saying they're not even going
to put the movie out because all the movie theatre chains
said they weren't going to show the movie.
When Sony made that decision, what did you think at the time?
I think they overreacted.
Baloney! They ain't gonna do nothin'.
I thought it was a very unwise decision.
If we become frightened of a terrorist attack
and stop doing things then our country really is in trouble.
I was so mad. I was yelling at the TV.
You wussies! Why did you even make the picture
if you don't have the balls to release it!
With some of the horrendous things that have happened in our country
in movie theatres, I feel like Sony was trying to protect people.
All those theatres who didn't to take it,
it's not because they were scared.
They saw the movie and thought, "You know what?
We're gonna lose money."
The movie probably isn't that good.
(Finebros) So ultimately they did release the movie
to about 300 theatres and also made it available on the Internet.
What do you think about their decision?
I think that's great.
It shows that they have some balls left.
It would have been a horrible decision not to do it.
Screw North Korea. You know, to hell with them.
I thought it was a good decision because look how many people
are looking at it now and are gonna keep looking at it?
I read somewhere that they spent $75 million.
They want to get back something. That's all.
(Finebros) Well, it's done fairly well.
For its opening weekend, estimates are that it made $3 million
in limited theatrical release, and $15 million online,
which broke all sorts of records for an online movie release.
Why do you think so many people decide to check this out?
To be defiant. To celebrate freedom.
Because of the scandal, because of Sony not putting it out.
Just like reading books that were banned years ago,
anything that's forbidden should be good.
It's all about the Internet. It is, you know.
It's going to a movie theatre and the hassle and the expense of it--
I'd rather pay my money and see it on Hulu or Netflix
or stream it or whatever you do. (laughs)
(Finebros) A lot of people were saying that they felt it was a patriotic duty
- to see this film-- - Oh, bull [bleep]. (laughs)
(Finebros) What do you think about that?
That's going a little far.
I think that's a bunch of baloney.
Killing another person's a patriotic duty.
Awesome!
Patriotic, I don't know about, but I think it's their duty
is now we have to show the rest of the world
we're not going to be backed into a corner.
Yeah, I can understand that.
I'm free. I can see this movie and I'm gonna do it.
(Finebros) This is a pretty big deal for the movie industry
that this made that much money online, but some people think
it only did that well because of the controversy,
and the only way for a movie to be a huge hit still
is to be in movie theatres. What do you think?
Well, it's just like bookstores falling by the wayside.
Of course, they used to say that about television.
"Oh, nobody will watch it on the small screen!"
I think there's still a certain element of people
who just enjoy going out to movie theatres.
I like going to the movies. I hope it never goes out.
It's a night out. It's a social thing to do.
I'd rather see it at home because it's getting so expensive
to go to the show now. It's ridiculous.
You pay, I don't know how much, $5.00 for a movie online.
Five, six, seven, eight people can watch it!
In the movie, I think it start from $12 and up.
(Finebros) So, bottom line, should people see this film
- or is it not right? - They should see the film if they want to.
No problem!
I believe, absolutely, they should see this film if they want to.
I don't think it's right.
Even if you're a dictator, you're still somebody's son!
Go ahead. I thought it was great.
Yes, go see the picture.
If that kind of humor appeals to you, go see it!
If it doesn't, don't go see it.
See it if you're interested. Nobody should tell you what to do.
(Southern drawl) My fellow Americans,
(emphatically) go see The Interview!
It's your duty as patriotic citizens.
Thanks so much for watching another episode of Elders React.
Let us know in the comments what movie trailer
we should react to next.
New videos come out every week, so make sure you're subscribed.
Goodbye, guys!
It's been a pleasure and you're a treasure. Bye.
♪ (ragtime music) ♪