This is even more disturbing than Sony's pulling the film under threats of violence. I'm guessing the scapegoating of that unknown YouTube video about Mohammad has put the fear in filmmakers, so they're voluntarily submitting their product to the government for pre-censorship.
From the article: “The Daily Beast has unearthed several emails that reveal at least two U.S. government officials screened a rough cut of the Kim Jong-Un assassination comedy The Interview in late June and gave the film—including a final scene that sees the dictator’s head explode—their blessing.”
So presumably if the government had told them it was unacceptable, they would have changed it. I guess the Sony execs are worried about being hustled away to jail in the middle of the night, as was done to Nakoula Nakoula.
Routine, voluntary censorship. Media kowtowing to government. Frightening stuff.
When I heard of this a few days ago, it gave me the chills. Then comes Obama saying they should have checked with him first…surreal…somebody please wake me up from this nightmare. This whole episode is very disturbing.