If it's crap... We'll tell you
Wolverine Leak: FOX RESPONDS
Well gang. This was the story of the day. And no matter where you stand on the issue, this thing is a lumbering beast that's going to be with us for a while. We'll be feeling the shockwaves of this for quite some time as the studios freak out over the possibility of losing another blockbuster to the web early. I mean, could you imagine if the same thing happened to Ice Age 3 or Star Trek...or Harry Potter? The studios would lose their fucking shit.
Well, tonight FOX responded to the issue and pretty much summed up everything I talked about last night. Here's what they had to say, confirming a lot of the rumor floating around:
Last night, a stolen, incomplete and early version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine was posted illegally on websites. It was without many effects and had missing scenes and temporary sound and music. We immediately contacted the appropriate legal authorities and had it removed. We forensically mark our content so we can identify sources that make it available or download it. The source of the initial leak and any subsequent postings will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law - the courts have handed down significant criminal sentences for such acts and the last person who committed such a crime is still in jail. The FBI and the MPAA also are actively investigating this crime. We are encouraged by the support of fansites condemning piracy and this illegal posting and pointing out that such theft undermines the enormous efforts of the filmmakers and actors, and above all, hurts the fans of the film.
This kind of release is kind of a big deal for FOX. They hate fansites - so for them to acknowledge us at all is a big step. It's especially notable because most of us have been busting their balls for years over the decline of their studio's quality and yet we pretty much stood up with one united voice about how shitty this was. This might have been the event needed to change some minds at FOX about the nature of the movie blogs. After all, there were only a few boneheads around the net functionally retarded enough to think that the movie blogs posting about it did more harm than good. After all our first blog entry about the leak came at 11pm last night - two hours before I talked about it and two and a half hours before that same blogger reviewed it complete with full spoilers. One way or the other, the flood was coming. At least now everyone knows what they're looking at: reviews of an incomplete, illegally obtained film.
The latter of that statement is of paramount importance. After all, there's a difference between a work print that is publicly screened because they want feedback and one that was never meant to be seen by the public at all. From the less than stellar reviews floating around today, you can kind of understand why.
Well, tonight FOX responded to the issue and pretty much summed up everything I talked about last night. Here's what they had to say, confirming a lot of the rumor floating around:
Last night, a stolen, incomplete and early version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine was posted illegally on websites. It was without many effects and had missing scenes and temporary sound and music. We immediately contacted the appropriate legal authorities and had it removed. We forensically mark our content so we can identify sources that make it available or download it. The source of the initial leak and any subsequent postings will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law - the courts have handed down significant criminal sentences for such acts and the last person who committed such a crime is still in jail. The FBI and the MPAA also are actively investigating this crime. We are encouraged by the support of fansites condemning piracy and this illegal posting and pointing out that such theft undermines the enormous efforts of the filmmakers and actors, and above all, hurts the fans of the film.
This kind of release is kind of a big deal for FOX. They hate fansites - so for them to acknowledge us at all is a big step. It's especially notable because most of us have been busting their balls for years over the decline of their studio's quality and yet we pretty much stood up with one united voice about how shitty this was. This might have been the event needed to change some minds at FOX about the nature of the movie blogs. After all, there were only a few boneheads around the net functionally retarded enough to think that the movie blogs posting about it did more harm than good. After all our first blog entry about the leak came at 11pm last night - two hours before I talked about it and two and a half hours before that same blogger reviewed it complete with full spoilers. One way or the other, the flood was coming. At least now everyone knows what they're looking at: reviews of an incomplete, illegally obtained film.
The latter of that statement is of paramount importance. After all, there's a difference between a work print that is publicly screened because they want feedback and one that was never meant to be seen by the public at all. From the less than stellar reviews floating around today, you can kind of understand why.
Comment
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Comment by Mouse on April 5, 2009 at 12:51pm - I just saw CNN headline news use a quote from the spill site, regarding the wolverine leak.
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Comment by Amlure on April 4, 2009 at 3:04am - my dad got a bootleg dvd of this thing, I can't wait to see it in theathers with the full effects. and if it wasn't for my dad I'd have seen it in theathers before anyway so it didn't change whether we were going to see it. but still the douch who released that copy should be put up as an example to other copyright violators. I have my issues with copyright but this case was black and white and that guy should go down.
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Comment by Ozma of Oz on April 3, 2009 at 7:56pm -
Wow, FOX acutally thanked us! Its amazing!
Maybe they'll start listening to us when it comes to making movies and who needs to be casted.
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Comment by joannajax on April 3, 2009 at 5:37am - I forgot to add that if these corporations don't figure out a way to keep up with the new age then they will go bankrupt and they will lose and other, more innovative companies will take their place.
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Comment by joannajax on April 3, 2009 at 5:30am
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Fungusmonkey, silly name, is right.
I almost *wish* that Harry Potter were leaked b/c you know what? That wouldn't do shit for the amount of money it will make. Even if I did view it illegally I would still be first in line at the theater to see it.
I think the people that d/l movies are seeing movies they would never have paid to see in the theater or even bothered to rent b/c it's easier to d/l than to get off your ass and do these things.
What companies don't realize is that we're in a new era. They need to stop being so goddamn old-school and figure out new ways to provide us with entertainment.
I used to watch NBC shows on nbc.com, I used to watch movies streaming from Netflix, but now I live overseas and b/c of archaic business bull shit I can't support any of those companies and I have to get my shows elsewhere.
It's the same with movies, movies don't come out in Japan (except really really big name movies). If I could stream from a website and either pay for it or be forced to watch commercials (like nbc, abc.com, etc.) I would be FINE with that and I would do that OVER illegally downloading, but it's not possible.
These businesses and corporations need to figure out a way to avoid people illegally downloading (i.e. better distribution online) rather than try to punish people.
You will never stop illegal downloading, but you can definitely curb it.
P.S. The Wolverine movie looks awful, I wouldn't pay to see that in a theater or rent it whether or not I'd seen it illegally online.
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Comment by MDS on April 3, 2009 at 4:11am -
@nightshadow...
Only someone that has no respect for the film-making art, the film-making companies, or the film-going audiences.
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Comment by Nightshadow on April 3, 2009 at 1:44am - who reviews a unfinished illegal copy of a movie
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Comment by David on April 2, 2009 at 10:01pm - Worse than fired. There will be serious jail time for this. Garen damn teed.
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Comment by PFreaky PFister on April 2, 2009 at 5:47pm -
I bet one of Fox's employees decided to pull one big April Fool's joke on them
too bad he's probably fired now
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Comment by IMAXcinema on April 2, 2009 at 3:54pm - my stepdad downloaded it from bittorent lastnight buts its rough draft.no cgi and no music
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