Let's Finally Address the Leaking of 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'
No one wins in this situation
When news first broke of Fox's upcoming May 1 summer tent pole X-Men Origins: Wolverine leaking online it was April Fools Day and most sites were posting one or two spoof stories so I wasn't immediately positive it was true. Of course, the story made all the major dailies as well as television news programs and was obviously not a joke. The news was coming fast and furious, and I decided to just let it all die down and see how the dust settled. Well, the dust certainly hasn't settled as stories continue to surface claiming exclusive news and interviews with those in the know.
Entertainment Weekly just ran an interview with Tom Rothman, chairman of Twentieth Century Fox, in which he says, "The version that went out is unfinished. It's about 10 minutes shorter, doesn't have key scenes, it wasn't edited, and none of the effects shots were in any remotely final form," Rothman tells EW. "It's a complete misrepresentation of the film and is deeply unfair to the people who have worked on it for years."
On top of Rothman's comments, Fox released the following statement late on Wednesday, April 1:
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.
Personally, I hope they find those responsible and do prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. I know it is popular for the fanboy hate-mongers to look at this as Fox screwing up yet again, but such a notion is silly and I have to deal with it firsthand. As one of the few online critics in Seattle, Fox screenings are always closely guarded, even with press and especially with online press. The difference being, these screenings are guarded merely because they don't want an onliner to leak an early review of their films. Considering this is a studio so intent on protecting their films in this manner I have a very hard time believing Fox specifically left any gaping holes in their post production pipeline.
The only explanation, and the avenue it appears the FBI and MPAA are looking into closest, are the post-production houses assisting with the completion of the film. I have no idea why someone would do this, some have speculated it as some sort of middle-finger to Fox by a potentially disgruntled employee, but if you work in the industry (and how can this not be an inside job?) don't you realize you are only hurting yourself? As a matter of fact, I wonder if the online rubes throwing the middle finger to Fox and the ones downloading and bad-mouthing the movie realize this hurts all movie lovers.
I have never understood how people can find satisfaction in downloading illegal copies of films whether they are supposed DVD quality or not and how they find the time to do it. Downloading a four-minute song from iTunes oftentimes takes longer than I want it to, I couldn't imagine downloading a 90 minute movie and then having to sit at my computer and watch it would make it even that much worse. And then to find out the effects aren't even completed? Where is the enjoyment in that?
I know I am in the minority when it comes to thinking Wolverine looks like a lot of fun based on the Comic Con footage I saw and the trailer. I guess right now I am just curious to see how this whole thing plays out considering this isn't like 2007 when copies of Hostel 2 leaked online. By comparison Hostel 2 cost about $10 million to make… Wolverine has got to be at least $150 million.
As far as how much this will hurt the box-office potential, I think it all depends on how much people like the film. I personally believe opening weekend is going to be just as big, if not bigger than it would have been originally. Whether you saw the leaked work-print or not if you are someone that goes to blockbuster movies on opening weekend I don't see how you skip this one. After all, don't you now want to see what was in that empty space where something cool was supposed to be and what it actually looked like?
However, this is where the film will be judged as well. If Wolverine is deemed a good movie I don't see the box-office getting hurt one bit. Those that watched it illegally and would have normally gone will still go and I believe those that watched it illegally and wouldn't have gone will now be more likely to go. But, if the movie is considered to be bad it is going to suffer miserably. However you look at that is up to you, but I can't help but believe the entire movie industry from the filmmakers to the audience were hurt by this incident and only time will tell how much.
NOTE: The video above is of Wolverine director Gavin Hood addressing the stories spawned from movie websites suggesting Rothman was pressuring him to make Wolverine a lot less dark and a lot more kid-friendly. It comes from The Hollywood Reporter.
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I don't think there will be a big difference in the box office either. I doubt anybody would watch the illegal copy INSTEAD of going to see it at the theater. I think fans will still be out in full force. The only difference is that most of them will already know the ending.
Sorry, my theory is FOX leaked it, and now it's in every major news outlet in America. That's why it was not a finished copy.
You are so clueless. I watched it and it was fine. I didn't "download" anything, just watched it stream on on my PC. Maybe if you upgraded your dial-up connection to cable like everyoen else did ten years ago….
Sour grapes, I agree, Fox leaked this because while the movie has a few good scenes it's mostly superhero dreck and the story, if you can call it that, has such huge plot holes it's more like swiss cheese.
Let me just say before my comments that yes piracy is stealing, plain and simple, and it should be treated as such. But what's even more deplorable is that the movie presented in the leak is incomplete. What a slap in the face to those who worked hard on it! Regardless of it's finished 'artistic'/narrative qualities, it's a violation of artistic control and integrity. Anyways… even as a respectible home 'theater', a/v nerd, how can you *not* purchase a vastily superior copy (and legal) for a more satisfying viewing experience?
That being said: More often that not, a pirated movie can be burned onto a DVD-R and played on any modern/standard DVD player nowadays — Who says you're stuck watching it on your computer?
I have a friend who is a complete ditz when it comes to computer basics but she can download and burn movies with ridiculous ease and speed on 2 widely available programs; amassing binders and binders of DVD-Rs that are played and borrowed between our network of friends constantly; and i'm talking about standard def all the way to 1080i blu-ray files so audio/video quality isn't even an issue for a majority of the time.
Also, what is wrong with your internet connection that makes an iTunes download take a longer time to acquire than say getting into you car, dealing with traffic to purchase a hard copy at Best Buy, etc.? Psh, I tell ya, you old-timers… ;D
It's so dumb to watch an action movie by illegal downloading. Why the hell would you want to? You miss the grand bigness that make it so fun. Most people would much rather see this kind of movie in theaters than on their computer.
I don't think the box office is going to be hurt by this. First off, the film isn't completed, so people should not be satisfied that they have seen Wolverine. They know they haven't. Secondly, movies like this are the type you see with a group of friends, and people tend to go to theaters to do that. At the very least, they'll wait until DVD because they sure as hell don't want to be crowded 'round a computer screen staring at a crap-quality illegal download.
I mean, it doesn't matter whether this was a finished product or not. Eventually, the finished product will be leaked and people who want to see it for free will be able to.
count me in the minority group of those who have seen the leaked version and will NOT see it in theaters. I've seen leaks before and every single time, without fail, I paid to see the movie in theaters again because I felt bad. But as a diehard Xmen fan since near-birth, not really happy with this series of bastardizations (and very not happy about a certain fan-favorite character in this movie). And honestly, I'm more about story than action..I got the gist of the action and even if there was 15 mins missing from the story, it wasn't crucial.
What makes me lean towards the presupposition that Fox is behind the 'leaking' of WOLVERINE? How about the fact that – despite maligning, threatening and bullying online critics like us – one of Fox's own 'online personalities' has posted a glowing review of the (admittedly 'illegally downloaded') work print.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,512139,00.html
A case of rampant hypocrisy, or offensively arrogant and highly suspect marketing?
Unfortunately, the studio chief over at 20th Century Fox is dead wrong. I've seen the "workprint" version of this film: believe me, it includes LOTS of crucial scenes. Frankly, I'm not really sure what suprises those 10 missing minutes actually include.
However, after seeing this version, and as a longtime fan of X-Men, you can bet I'll be heading to a-theater-near-me to purchase a ticket for this film. I really enjoyed Gavin Hood's (dir.) take on Wolverine's origin story. This film will fit nicely into the canon of X-Men films (in my book, only 3 X-Men films exist: X-Men, X2 & now, Wolverine).
Why would I want to see the theatrical version? Because lots of the visual effects weren't completed, alotta the music was unrefined, and I wanna see those extra 10 minutes.
I would never watch an illegally downloaded movie, but if I did watch Wolverine I would say… "I don't understand all of the idiots dogging the movie on the internet. It was great! And like others I still plan to see it at the theatre on opening day! I think this may actually help the Box-Office with positive word of mouth. I know I will be telling everyone to go see it, because the finished product can only improve on what was already a fantastic movie. I believe the film will save the X-Men franchise from the downhill slide that Brett "Please God don't let him direct Conan!" Ratner put it on. It was really cool seeing how the special effects are put into place. It was almost like going to film school for a couple of hours. I was able to easily forgive any shortcomings, because the rest of it was a solid 2 hours of enjoyable popcorn entertainment!" That is what I think I would say if I saw it, Luvy! — Will they include this version on the DVD Extras?
@Steve: Warner Bros leaked it, bez they had to share the Watchman's box office revenue with FOX
the only problems with the upcoming comicbooks superhero movies is that most fans demand the quality of the movie will be as good as TDK!
i saw the links posted everywhere for the work print… i have stayed away from it so far… i am a huge x-men fan and although the third movie was not 'x-men'ish it was still a whole lotta fun! and i am huge hugh jackman fan- there couldnt have been a better wolverine honestly!
it coming out on my b'day and i am sure to catch it in theatre opening day. might take some frnds along to make sure jackman earns his bread!
i cannot believe how much time the haters are wasting by posting negative reviews which have very little to do with reviews ( of trailers of all the things!!!) than their own rant!
i am sure the movie will do well… whats with all the fox hate as well?
i am sure fox wasted more money in legalities than watchmen would have made… i was left underwhelmed. but maybe that was just me
inside job. or marketing ploy. i say ploy. look at how much press this is getting. nice move. trust me they would know who leaked the film. check the tape. the janitor clearly transfered it to his lap top.
I saw the workprint and as far as I can say I loved the story, and I can also say that I will the making line to watch the premier when it hits theatres, I'm into the movie production industrie so for me, watching this was like seeing one of the productions I make, seriously nobody has the right to say negatives thing about the movie because you can't judge an unfinished movie! is't ilogical.
As for the plot, yeah ditto, I think someone was very pissed off at fox and decided to make this public, though I'm also open to the fact about the marketing strategy. It reminds me when the Ring was coming out, I was at comic con and there were these boxes with video tapes outside when u were making line to buy your tickets, the tapes had no labels so I just grabbed one, when I played it I tought it was a sick joke becuase it had creepy bizzar footage, turned out it was a copy of the video tape shown in the movie… that was the rings marketing stragety at comic con that year.. freak people out haha! good times.
@Mary Jane Yitalsky:
"You are so clueless. I watched it and it was fine. I didn’t “download” anything, just watched it stream on on my PC. Maybe if you upgraded your dial-up connection to cable like everyoen else did ten years ago…."
Just to clear up a common mistake, if you watch a stream of video, any video, in fact any internet content at all, you download and create a local copy of that content. (Because that's just a part of the way these things work.)
I've heard a great number of folks try to sooth their conscious by saying something along the lines of, "I didn't make a copy, I just watched it online." But in a worst case situation, for example being prosecuted, this defense will get you nothing but snickers, snarky comments, and a guilty verdict.
I think the movie should have been just titled "Wolverine"…….. because he have become an icon in comic book…… just like Superman or Batman.
But that is my opinion.
for me…….. because I'm Korean……. i'm going to the theatre to support Daniel Henney (he played Agent Zero), who is half Korean
If you're doing it in your own personal space without selling it how is it stealing exactly? You go to the store, you buy a DVD, sit down and find you get bombarded with Anti-Piracy ads. 'Pirates' or 'thieves' (or whatever you want to call them) will just remove those Ads in their 'DVDRIP' release. Granted if you sell Pirated movies for a PROFIT, it should be punishable.
I don't want to spend $10 for a movie ticket to see a movie that's completely shit (cause that's all Hollywood seems to be coughing out now). Sure, you can say you're gonna go support them by watching it, but everyone has downloaded something from the internet illegally, perhaps without knowing it. You're going to get 'prosecuted' for wanting to 'trial' a movie before say buying it or seeing it at the movies. It's like buying clothing at a store. When you want to see if it fits, it might have some funny texture or it might be perfect for you. Sure a trailer can make up for that, but trailers have this tendency to ruin a movie and a lot of people avoid them.
America, land of the free. Sure, keep telling yourself that.
"Just to clear up a common mistake, if you watch a stream of video, any video, in fact any internet content at all, you download and create a local copy of that content. (Because that’s just a part of the way these things work.)"
If it's Flash, it streams. If you're using a new browser, it clears 'cache' i.e. files. I'd like to mention that if someone got a hold of say your cellphone or even a secret diary you've been writing since you were 5, how would you feel if they raided and looked through it?