What an odd few weeks it’s been in the world of movies.

For those who have been under a rock, let me try to summarize what has happened. There are far better timelines and such out there, but hey, maybe one of you is using Blast-O-Rama as your resource. If so, thank you, and I worry for you.

Back on November 24th, Sony Pictures was hacked, by a group calling themselves the Guardians of Peace.

Apparently of North Korean origins (the US is saying so for now), the hack was in retaliation due to the Seth Rogen/James Franco starring The Interview, a movie where a talk show host (Franco) is tasked by the US Government to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

This was a massive hack, which not only shut down all of Sony Pictures electronic operations, but resulted in a massive leak, which has produced everything from a number of movie screeners hitting the web, to extremely personal business email exchanges, to interesting projects in the works (such as a Sony/Marvel collaboration over Spider-Man, or a surreal Jump Street/Men In Black cross over).

In turn, it’s been a very odd time to be a movie fan. For every piece of information that grabs your eyes (YAY! MARVEL’S GETTING SPIDEY!) there’s bits that are sleazy and uncomfortable.

It brings to mind many questions about morals and ethics. Some have written far better missives about this process (looking at you, The Verge), and honestly, I’m not sure where I sit on the issue myself.

I love hearing about movie news and rumors…but the way this information came out, it makes me feel wrong for knowing what I know now. Did I need to know that Paul Reiser really wants a new Mad About You DVD Set? Did I need to know Sony Pictures head Amy Pascal is a racist?

And then, this week, things went above and beyond.

A new message emerged from the Guardians of Peace this week, threatening any and all theaters that “dared" to show The Interview. September 11th was invoked. Combined with a rumor of a “Christmas Gift", I can see why theaters decided to back out of showing the film. We can thank The Dark Knight Rises for their worries and concern.

The Interview, a movie I was interested in seeing (what can I say, I enjoyed This Is The End) - but by no means I considered an important, necessary work of art - became the center of worldwide panic.

Do we think this is what at all Rogen or Franco were thinking when they worked on this, along with Evan Goldberg?

I think its doubtful. Look at similar sophomoric political comedies like Team America or Hot Shots, look at honest to God classics like The Great Dictator. Movies have always taken shots at much higher targets. It’s the purpose of creative acts - to express a perspective on the world.

And I think that’s why Sony’s ultimate decision today, to completely bury the film, has me so concerned. Has me so bothered.

The Interview was by no means going to be an incredible, Academy Award winning piece of cinema - but it was one group’s creative outlet, their art, however you may roll your eyes at it. And today, a company decided it was best to bend to the whims of those who wish to strike fear, and snuff out the flame of creativity.

It feels weird to get so worked up about dick and fart jokes, but what can I say, I have a special place for them.

Maybe this increases the infamy of the movie - doing something that the Hackers didn’t want, making more people want to see something they “shouldn’t”. In that same breath, however - I’d never call myself super patriotic - but this move does not feel appropriately “American". We’ve censored something because it makes people uncomfortable. This could be the beginning of less gutsy, interesting filmmaking…especially as studio’s interests head internationally.

That’s why I’m hoping someone else steps in where Sony wouldn’t. Grab the rights to The Interview. Bring out the dumb comedy. VoD, iTunes, Amazon - you have my money. I need the laughs after this anyway.