'The Interview' hits screens at hundreds of U.S. theaters

"The Interview," a Sony Pictures comedy that has drawn huge attention at home and aboard due to North Korea's alleged cyber-attack and threats against its release, hit the screens at hundreds of theaters in the United States on Christmas Day, Thursday.

   The movie, involving a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has become a symbol of freedom of expression since Sony canceled its Christmas Day release last week after hackers disrupted its computer network and threatened attacks on theaters showing the movie.

   The FBI has since determined that North Korea was behind the hacking attack.

   Thursday's theater showings were made possible as Sony reversed itself and authorized screenings earlier this week following days of public criticism for bending to threats. U.S. President Barack Obama had also criticized Sony, calling the cancellation a "mistake."

   More than 300 independent theaters have begun to show the movie across the U.S. on Thursday.

   On Wednesday, Sony also made the movie available online on YouTube, Google Play and Xbox Video, as well as a website dedicated to it.

   The satire movie, which features Seth Rogen and James Franco, tells the story of two American journalists who land an interview with the North Korean leader in Pyongyang but are then recruited by the CIA to assassinate the young dictator.

   "It was funny. That's about it," Anthony Hizu, one of the viewers at Manassas 4 Cinemas in Virginia, said after watching the movie. "North Korea's situation is not funny. But it was taking a light-hearted look at something that is really serious."

   His wife, Hannah, said the movie "was as funny and inappropriate as anything James Franco and Seth Rogen are going to ever do. Yeah, we had a good time coming out, and I'm glad that the theater showed it."

   She flatly dismissed threats of attacks that had led to the cancellation of the movie's release.

   "I don't think they have the capability to deliver on it. Next time, they want to stop an American movie, they are going to have to come and take it," she said.

   The theater's owner, Bunny Khorana, said that showing the movie was a freedom of speech issue.

   "The reason why I've showed it is, 'Why not?' It's a freedom of speech, and my community wants to watch it. The president thought that it was wrong for Sony to pull the plug, to be bullied by anybody," he said. "We don't get scared of threats. We face our threats. We fight our threats."

   Khorana said the FBI sent him a letter advising precautions.

   "We are under surveillance with the FBI. They are keeping a close watch on the independent theaters that are opening this movie. So we've got no concerns," he said. Two police cars were on standby outside the theater, which the theater owner said was unusual.

   Pyongyang has condemned the movie as the "most undisguised" sponsoring of terrorism.

   The film had originally been scheduled to be released in October, but the release date was postponed in August following strong protests from North Korea. Sony was also reported to have made some alterations, including removing some images of the North's leader and his late father from the movie.

   The North usually bristles strongly at any criticism of its leader.

   Experts also say the regime fears the movie will ultimately make its way into the totalitarian nation that has long used a strong cult of personality around its leader to control its hunger-stricken population of 24 million people.

   North Korea lauded the cyber-attack as a "righteous deed" but denied involvement in the hacking attack, calling the U.S.

allegations an "unfounded rumor." It also proposed a joint investigation with the U.S., claiming that it has a way to prove it has nothing to do with the case.

   But the U.S. rejected the North's suggestion and believes the North is responsible. (Yonhap)