Yeah a unspoken agreement to not review said movie, but I guess it was ok to make enough hooplah about it on news sites, and such that anyone with a smidge of curiosity might be tempted to find it to see it themselves. How about instead of blasting people who reviewed it blast the media which plastered it everywhere so people can easily know about it then find it.

Well said, Muldfeld! I find it ironic that the article says 20th Century Fox and Foxnews.com are "separate units in Rupert Murdock's media empire." They're both still in the same "empire" -- it's like two stepchildren fighting.

As for Roger Friendman, sounds like someone's trying to make a name for themselves...

Its almost certainly a case of viral marketinig. A deliberate leak in order to get people talking about the film. Something like this is risky in terms of raising profile but it almost always works unless the film is bad of course. I doubt it will be I'm really looking forward to this film. LOL. I suppose I have to I own and run a comic shop. LOL.

Kristian

This guy should catch flack, it is pretty scummy thing to do. I mean, he did engage in an illegal activity first of all, secondly, the movie's incomplete. Yeah, maybe only a tiny little bit might be different, but you don't know that, and you don't know how that tiny bit might affect what you think of the movie. Think of the ending to the sixth sense, imagine if that were edited just a bit differently. Not that Wolverine will likely be that good, just pointing out that every bit counts.

@Justo - sorry to burst your bubble. Downloading torrents are not illegal, or the MPAA/RIAA would be throwing people in jail. Why do you think they go through CIVIL court? Now, the person(s) who initially acquired the movie, they are the one(s) who can and will be charged with breaking the law.

The MPAA/RIAA doesn't throw people in jail . . . they get the legal system to do it. Secondly, posession of stolen property IS a crime (the stolen property being the intellectual property of the film). I wouldn't use the fact you don't see them throwing people in jail for downloading torrents as a litmus test for the legality of downloading torrents as I have several friends who got cease and desist letters for doing that very thing. MPAA/RIAA have a limit to their resources and they're probably not going to turn in EVERYONE who ever downloaded a torrent as it would not be viable financially to do so.

I think they're actually doing this to hype the film as there are a lot of great films coming out about the same time and they need an edge to make the most money off us.

Talked to a friend last night who watched the film. Said it was a complete pile of crap, and wouldn't be surprised if Fox knows this and is just going to use the leak as cover.

@smeg: Forgive us for not taking "my friend thinks it's crap" as a serious review. 1. It's your friend. 2. You didn't elaborate as to what made it crap or if your friend even likes that type of movie. 3. If he saw it, it was the unfinished version. Many times, a few tweaks make a film go from uncohesive crap to a thing of sheer beauty.

He should be fired! A review of a unrelasd moive is well bum! I one thing to watch and not tell anyone but to reivew it WOW. well that is fox for you!

1. It was bad for him to review a pirated technically unfinished copy. Lord knows director's make changes cut and even when the film is almost completely done.
What was he thinking? oh I know.......He wasn't thinking.
2. With today's news and viral marketing and web postings you have to be careful what you say. lately More newscasters should pause and think before they say things. Probably goes for politicians too, but they have press secretaries to fix things for them.
3. I probably won't go see Wolverine, mostly because it doesn't look quite as good as X-men. and by piecemealing in other x-men, I'm kinda thinking it's gonna be bad already the way the trailer depicts it.

I for one am looking forward to the new 'Star Trek' which to me has a better trailer and seems to be having a better buzz. There are probably other more worthy movies that can have my money.

@ Comic Guru don't see this as a case of viral marketing. i think you are giving viral marketers too much credit. 20th century is in no way happy about this. roger friedman is a tool and deserves to be fired. either way, i'm ready to see this in the theaters where it was meant to be seen.

Lestat, considering your name's sake is from a well loved book series I'm surprised you didn't realize that what I was quoting wasn't just a typo. The 'libral' post also has some wincable (not an actual word but it's mine now) grammatical errors. My mistake was a typo. Their error was based on poor pronunciation.

geesh people, get a life!

who cares about the legal stuff. They dont want the reviews because the movie is going to tank, and they at least want the first weekend money.

I'd like to read this article. I'd like to know if this movie is going to be lame like every other piece of crap that has been coming out lately. Illegal or no, I'm sick of the thieves in Hollywood.

friedman's fired. not surprised. good call on fox's part.

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/exclusive-fox-news-fires-showbiz-columnist-for-encouraging-piracy/

So, did the guy's rip the film a new plot hole or something?

Thanks to @brndnlpz for the link to Deadline Hollywood. We've noted it in a new story on SCI FI Wire.

Maybe Fox should do a better job of making sure the film doesn't get out to the public before intended instead of kvetching like a pack of whiny babies over someone writing about a newsworthy event.

"@smeg: Forgive us for not taking "my friend thinks it's crap" as a serious review. "

Well, iv'e now watched 2/3rd of it myself. And I think it's crap. And I don't have the time or patience to give all the reasons, as it would take as long as to watch the movie itself.

And no, a few missing special effects - and that's all that is missing - will save this film. It is a steaming pile of couldn't give a rat's ass as to what happens or to whom.

Bleh, that should say that a few special effects will NOT save this film.

The review said it was not a very good movie. And Fox was hoping people would ignore how bad the film was because it was a X-Film and about Wolverine. Why else do you think they kept mentioning and showing X-Characters?

Emma Frost, Deadpool, Ghost, Silver Fox, Sabertooth, Cyclopes, Gambit, etc. It is all about the characters now not the plot. I knew it. Why I planned not to spend a red cent to see it in the theaters anyway.

Imagica, are you talking about Friedman's review? If you are, you are wrong. Friedman's review was very positive. You'd know that if you actually read it.

The copy I downloaded and watched was definitely unfinished, but I thought the movie was very good none the less and fully intend to go see it when it is released.