That time X-Men Origins: Wolverine was stolen

[@JeffreyJFerguson]

My favourite thing about these kinds of Mr. Sunday Movies videos is you're never sure if Mason is going to be in the room with him and the first like ten to twenty seconds are a real nailbiter as you wait with bated breath for Mason to suddenly pipe in with "Oh, is that so?" or something. One of these days they should do one where James is by himself for the whole video and then at the end he says "What do you think about that, Mason?" and Mason just says "What a cool story!" and then it ends.

[@peterstangl8295]

I think it's kinda easy to tell when Mason will be in it, just by James' tone. When he's alone, he has a sort of "youtuber voice", and with Mason it's much more natural.

[@박시규-k4l]

They actually did exactly that in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGS2eXiHqp6XY5Y

[@VDOBubi]

@@peterstangl8295 it's like the difference between giving a presentation vs explaining it to a friend

[@krombabulusmichael]

what was that video where he was silent for like 90% of it until right at the end?

[@peterstangl8295]

​@@krombabulusmichael there isn't one. Jeff is saying there SHOULD be one.

[@BoraniumArt]

After the insomnia leak, it feels like anything involving Wolverine leaks.

[@logandh2]

Insomnia?

[@BoraniumArt]

@@logandh2 Whoops, I meant insomniac.

[@K3end0]

Ahhh I remember this. My dad had pirated it but didn't realise it wasn't the actual movie. Me and my brother watched it as kids and we didn't really figure out the audio was bad, but we did immediately figure out the movie wasn't finished when Hugh Jackman turned into a chrome silver jellyman when he was hit by the truck in the lumberyard

[@ariner19]

This exactly. Watched it on a dvd at my aunt’s and was confused by those grey CG shots and other moments with visible wires when they jumped around. Took over a decade to learn this had been leaked and I was watching a pirated dvd

[@theskyybay420]

I realized it when Wade a.K.a. Barakapool was hanging on wires after he un-alived people when he got off the elevator. "OkaaAAAY, people are *DEAD!*

[@gunjac86]

I had this copy. Jackman screamin with his fists clenched and literal text saying “claws grow” above his knuckles. What a great memory

[@Patrick-jj5nh]

This is utterly hilarious, for years they used this example to say pirates are the worst human scum and they steal everything and poor movie studios had no way of protecting themselves...turns out they were entirely to blame for the original leak...

[@CMChunk79]

Yeah, it wasn't the criminal who illegally downloaded it. 🙄

[@nathanxxvii]

​@@CMChunk79 stop victimizing the poor.

[@Lovicide]

@@CMChunk79 I bet you saw Quantumania and liked it, didn't you lil fella

[@dontworry5696]

@@CMChunk79 did you actually watch the video?

[@shrumgus5608]

@@CMChunk79 Dumb ass😂

[@Fartucus]

Watching the movie with the unfinished special effects is legit more entertaining than the actual finished movie

[@abcbcd7974]

The claws didnt even improve that much

[@moxiemaxie3543]

@@abcbcd7974 there was no point in improving them after that 😂

[@abcbcd7974]

@@moxiemaxie3543 watched it on pirated dvd and then watched the movie on the cinema when it released and was kinda shocked they didnt improve it also the ladder scene with gambit looks like a joke.

[@xperson838]

I watched the unfinished version of the movie as a kid thinking it was the finished version. I thought that all these "animated" inserts were the director's vision...

[@PhyynRR]

thats just pure facts i loved the first time i saw it and it was "that" soo much funnier than the actual movie

[@trancedoutkid]

The loss of trailer breakdowns to make room for more esoteric research/documentary style videos was 100% worth it. loved this.

[@ForeverTraitor]

I'm honestly surprised James showed that much restraint when talking about Murdoch, especially when he has even more influence over Australia than he does the US.

[@yeahokbuddy2510]

@HTP I hate Murdoch and I’m an American on the left

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

Because he's trying to appeal to a general audience on youtube. This is the kind of video that does well in the algorithm. He would be much less restrained on the podcast.

[@MrDexter337]

@@yeahokbuddy2510 "I hate Murdoch and I’m an American on the left" Lol thanks for the clarification

[@jonjacksongrieger255]

Why do people hate him?

[@ForeverTraitor]

@@jonjacksongrieger255 He's a billionaire who owns FOX and hundreds of other media companies. Basically the kingpin of the right wing propaganda machine, just makes the world a worse place for money.

[@morganleggett6118]

I wish James did more of these. I know they're time-consuming and maybe don't do as well on views, but they're so good. Well made, funny and interesting. Great stuff from a great mate

[@Razorsharp12348]

I may or may not remember excitedly watching wolverine origins way before it came out and just bewildered by how unfinished it was. The helicopter scene was my favorite, the whole thing was like static jpegs moving around with hugh jackman looking real mad.

[@niallreid7664]

Or that goddamn scene in the toilet with the obviously fake looking claws.

[@exzyyd392]

I feel like being publicly arrested and charged for stealing this particular film would be embarrassing enough. Any more punishment is overkill.

[@stellviahohenheim]

He knew what he was going into but really i don't believe no digital copies existed before he uploaded otherwise where did the "Korean" get it from? He really was a scapegoat

[@Evanz111]

I love these niche stories you’ve been covering so much on the channel, there’s genuinely no way I’d have heard about any of this stuff otherwise ^^

[@Jaydee8652]

Hey you’re the guy who exposed the Logan hacking ring thing! How’s it going?

[@TheJesselopez1981]

I just found this video on the internet and now I'm going to review it. It will be the blockbuster hit youtube video of Australian summer. So much easier to understand than The Dark Knight, Caravan of Garbage video, which was really about vampires. And I didnt have to go out in the rain to watch it. I just enjoyed it with a big sandwich, which is kind of like piracy in a way.

[@thebatmanbadass30000]

Lmao 👏 😂

[@AntonisThe]

How is your comment written one day ago when the video was out an hour ago?

[@lucasdolding6924]

@@AntonisThe Big sandwich, they even said it in their comment lol

[@J.O.R.D]

@@lucasdolding6924 👏🏽

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

Much easier to understand than The Dark Knight For Heath Ledger's Performance Alone

[@leparkin]

I was 9 years old when the leak dropped and I watched the hell out of it on a burnt dvd my dad made. Honestly was a spark for my curiosity about how movies are made because I could see so much unfinished work, now I work in film! Thanks for the deep dive and walk down memory lane James :)

[@gsampson97]

I actually saw the unfinished version, my grandma bought it at her local market and when we watched it we noticed on the scene where his brother stamps on his bone claws that you could see all the green screens and cables, I'm glad I finally know the origin of this

[@Cyklopz007]

I'm watching this very MrSunday video on a burned dvd-r right now!

[@thedys70]

the police are on their way, and have a court order for your arrest, swift trial, and execution at Gitmo...

[@lilbits1053]

My friend showed me this back when we were both in film school! We were so enthralled by the peak behind the curtain as film students but to this day I haven't seen the final cut, and I'm pretty sure I'm not missing much

[@matthewshaw3747]

Your description of Murdoch was amazingly restrained. I assumed the video would go for an additional 20 minutes when you started at him.

[@rorylynch7775]

This is a more interesting story than anything actually in the movie

[@theomnitorium7476]

I remember watching that workprint as a kid and looking foward to seeing the movie with finished effects in the cinema. You can imagine how surprised I was when many of the "finished" effects looked barely any better.

[@grkpektis]

Whoever leaked the movie is a hero, he saved me and many people's sanity by stopping us from seeing that POS movie in theaters

[@wilcohillebrand1458]

why am I getting butterflies every time I hear how upset and angry these huge mutli billion dollar companies get when they don't get all honey? Last time I checked I didn't have sadistic tendencies, now it feels like it's growing everytime I hear how butt-hurt people with millions get over the most petty shit

[@AntonisThe]

I remember my parents had bought a copy of this unfinished version. I was so confused by the inferior vfx because I thought they were final. My young mind couldn't understand piracy.

[@Fuzzy_Barbarian]

I like to think the thieves don't want to be found out not because they stole a movie, but because it was X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Might even do another crime to be arrested for to distract from this one.

[@Rougnop]

been so long since we saw a video like this… been here since my middle school days.. i’m now 21 and have a full time job.. listen to the pod almost weekly.. thanks for always being there mr sunday..

[@MotaShotta]

Still the biggest crime related to this movie was how they handled Deadpool

[@J.O.R.D]

Facts

[@logan2b]

Doesn’t make sense that nobody went to jail for that but they let a leak happen and a random guy who happened to stumble upon the movie went to jail

[@michaelthatoker7125]

Nah, it was fine and you people are just nit picky. He was great as Deadpool in the movie. They seal his face up for 5 minutes and everyone loses their mind even though it was just how he was created. You know, an origin story. His mouth was opened after the movie and he would’ve gone on to be the Deadpool people loved and there’s really no arguing that? There’s a reason Deadpool was made with the same actor and acts the same way.

[@logan2b]

@@michaelthatoker7125 bro had laser eyes and blades in his arms

[@J.O.R.D]

@@michaelthatoker7125 he was great as Wade, Deadpool doesn’t teleport, have laser eyes, or swords that come out his fists so it’s less nit picking and more of a bullshit plot point

[@xtinabeet]

Wow, this explains a distant memory I've always talked about but started to wonder how it was possible. Being in high-school and going to Pacific Mall in Toronto and buying a copy of this movie only to watch a strange unfinished version with green screen. Thank you for this. I now have answers lol.

[@angbald]

This actually is the movie that got me caught. My internet company called because the copy I downloaded was somehow traced. They knew I had it in any case. I was told to never do it again and honestly I didn't have to. Right around that time streaming really started picked up and I was always happy to pay for stuff, just didn't want to have to go to the theater for it.

[@SirSoloSoul]

Just so you know, you're legally allowed to download anything on the internet you just cant upload it. Your internet company was tricking you because you were probably downloading too much and it was costing them or downloading virus's/getting ddossed. Maybe you were slowing their servers if they were a small company. But ye, it isn't illegal so feel free to start again.

[@MyRegardsToTheDodo]

@@SirSoloSoul He's talking BS. It wouldn't have been his internet company calling him, because they don't know what you're downloading, as long as they don't monitor your internet activities, which is illegal (otherwise online-banking would be pretty dangerous). And even if they would monitor his internet activities, they wouldn't conatct him. He would get contacted by a law firm for a cease and desist and fees or by the police, if it was a criminal case. To my knowledge, this hasn't happened to anybody who just downloaded copyrighted stuff off the internet so far, the people who got in hot water for this kind of stuff generally used a download client that also turned them into a host for these files, so they also offered uploads for others to download (that's why it is called "filesharing"). He either was pranked by one of his friends or he's talking completely out of his arse.

[@SteveDice21]

@@MyRegardsToTheDodo lol what? I don't know if the dude is telling the truth but ISPs contacting users for pirated content is a common ocurrence. Usually in the form of DMCA letters.

[@SirSoloSoul]

@@SteveDice21 I think this might depend on the country you're in and the laws on internet in said country. I know in Canada it's perfectly legal to download any content you just cant upload it so the commenter above is correct. There's no reason for them to be contacted. Not all countries share the same laws on information and freedom.

[@John231984]

@@MyRegardsToTheDodo As Steve said this happens. I have recieved DMCA letters before (Mainly when I didn't have a VPN) directly from the internet provider. And yes they do have what you downloaded, so you don't know what you're talking about.

[@Jay_SGE]

Ahhh Pirated VCD’s the backbone of any Nigerian youths childhood. I remember being so excited watching this version after I watched the original in Cinema. 😂

[@timhough]

Excellent video, love these historical deep dives! I know it's been done, but I'd would love to see your take on the Nic Cage failed Superman movie!

[@outerheavengaming6196]

I love these long form editorials James! Always pumped to learn about these types of things. Particularly the Star Wars videos you've done. Excellent work!

[@starwarsnerd100]

It doesn’t surprise me that the guy who thought The Dark Knight was hard to understand is the same guy who thought it was a good idea to brag about seeing the leaked version on a Fox website while working for Fox.

[@toms5951]

Obviously this story is much more movie worthy than X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

[@michaellombardi1620]

Rupert is indeed a soulless man

[@CMChunk79]

🤡

[@thedys70]

another freemason owned by globalist NWO psychopaths; DO NOT COMPLY

[@jmace2424]

“X-Men Origins was stolen” Normally you don’t consider trash able to be stolen. But their problem was that they went into Fox’s house and stole their trash.

[@noahshafir7282]

This workprint is still the only way I've seen this movie, and frankly, I think it was more entertaining than the regular version. It's been years, but I never think I'll see the completed version ever.

[@EdWedgie]

4:20 the anti piracy ad 🤣 yo why was this in every dvd as a kid

[@Banfrid]

I remember when this happened, was too little but the KZbin videos of people saying "of course it's not going to look this bad" were made. What an hilarious time

[@youngrootv]

This whole video is a wild ride. Growing up in a low income neighborhood bootlegs were so commonplace, this could’ve happened easily to anyone from my old neighborhood lol

[@BlueLiminality]

I know, Right? Growing up I remember seeing people hawking DVDs in beauty shops, in front of McDonald's, on the subway, etc. I knew it was illegal, but not federal time illegal!

[@artness]

This is really good, James. I was trying to think of a clever way to say that but who cares. Also very good edit, Matt. You put that pin in it and came right back to it later

[@thegoofystoic]

Dammit, I love when Mr. Sunday Movies does these types of videos. I know they don't hit the algorithm like his others, but truly appreciate the work and effort that goes into these.

[@sustainablemarco]

Left a bloody like before the video even premiered got em

[@look4lec]

That version was so watchable and interesting that it was better than the theatre release... so it actually was a novel thing to see.

[@Nickle1999]

I seriously love these videos on random behind the scene stories. It’s just always super interesting.

[@JoeNoshow27]

Even when he's not in the room I can hear Mason's responses. "Just break protocol and make a copy on a DVD he said. Nothing could possibly go wrong he said."

[@robt4390]

Superb. Better story (and production) than the actual film. 👏🏻

[@_Pikalika_]

The only crime committed was releasing that movie in the first place

[@DheroBob]

We need to find a way to blow you guys up and get even more exposure. I actively chuckle or laugh at every video. Man... So good!

[@johnnych2406]

True story, used to have a guy come around peddling bootlegs in 2008-2009. He had a copy of this movie. I still have it in fact, a plain silver DVD with “Wolvering” hand written in sharpie on the front.

[@chrissullivan6572]

I had the unfinished copy. The cgi sadly still sucked when it was finished tho.

[@timhough]

The claws in the mirror!!

[@chrissullivan6572]

@@timhough One of the worst scenes in a CBM

[@J.O.R.D]

@@chrissullivan6572 just say comic book movie, instead of trying to create these unneeded abbreviations 😂 but yeah it still sucked in the finished cut

[@chrissullivan6572]

@@J.O.R.D I'm not the only person who's ever used cbm

[@J.O.R.D]

@@chrissullivan6572 most likely, but you’re the first I’ve ever seen

[@fancyf33t295]

This brings back memories. My barber had this playing on the tv and for the longest time it felt like a dream.

[@downspiral]

The most barber thing to do

[@Chvse4U]

It's not a good Sunday if I'm not starting the day with James yelling at me at 5 am.

[@Tryspark]

These solo mr Sunday content videos are always amazing. James (mr Sunday move in) does a great job at telling a story!

[@patrickmike2524]

4:13 a succulent Chinese meal?

[@downspiral]

what is the charge watching a film? a succulent Chinese film?

[@squabbbb]

I had this on a bootleg DVD and I loved it. Weird plastic Wolverine was hilarious as a kid. I honestly never looked into it I just presumed my uncle had top secret access into Fox

[@yeetus_the_feetus4858]

I had the bootleg version too. The unfinished effects made it 10x better.

[@alepenagorbe9135]

You were the real "my uncle works at Nintendo" kid all along

[@jdgrant2144]

I love it when James looks at cases from films like this!

[@KeithFraser82]

1:55 "Or at least a scapegoat..." *Insert screaming goats from Thor: Love and Thunder*

[@RainbowFishcakes]

Please do more of these Hollywood Heist Stories, I've enjoyed both videos you've put out on the subject!

[@studentessentials4738]

Great work James. You have achieved so much considering all of your setbacks (being British)

[@paulmccreery7027]

Love these videos. Hats off to you Inspector Sunday, can see how much work goes into these.

[@AidenAlias]

That's how I saw it as a kid. I don't think I've ever officially seen it

[@elliotsimon9918]

I love these! You’re like a slightly younger Jessica Fletcher as you try to crack the case! More please.

[@daddytrain9472]

The “yeah no shit” at the end of the video might be the best sounding “no shit” I have ever heard 😂😂

[@zuludoesthings9150]

"A very serious crime" what World does Hugh live on 🤣

[@thedys70]

LALA Land, with the rest of the narcissistic sociopaths.

[@OrderofthePipe]

I actually saw a bootleg copy of this, and as a student of VFX student at the time, it was actually really interesting to see!

[@richardallin7202]

I love these videos. Thanks again Mr. Sunday Essays

[@SmokeyLaBear]

James cashing in on the popularity of the True Crime genre

[@KeithFraser82]

3:58 "The curious owl hoots at midday. Hip, hip, hooray for the spinster's sister's daughter."

[@CadesComics]

I love these deep dive videos. They’re fascinating. Great work James 👍

[@jamesobrien7338]

I’m so glad to see this title as my first time watching this I was like 8 and my dad had a bunch of dvd copies from friends and this with unfinished effects was one of them, and that’s how I generally remember this movie

[@tonythesuperperson]

I remember watching this and then watching the proper film and feeling the workprint was just more interesting

[@otherwisedm7027]

"dog of a bloke" is being added to my vocabulary - thanks!

[@thedys70]

what he meant was actually "shitcunt" of a bloke

[@christophergraphia4698]

This raises the very important question- how the hell did Friedman ever get taken seriously as an entertainment journalist ever again after praising this movie as more emotional and easier to understand as The Dark Knight?

[@thedys70]

Fox have to piss on Warner at every opportunity; bias in the media.

[@fredrickum5474]

There is no funnier image to me then Rupert Murdoch and Hugh Jackman hanging out on a boat together and watching a rough cut of X:Men Origins wolverine together, preferably shirtless after swimming in the sea together 😂

[@steverogers7601]

Imagine going to prison for stealing a moving that wasn’t even that good. I can understand if it was Avatar 2, but X-Men Origins was ok at best.

[@kevinberry8832]

I bought this from a gnarly little pre-Netflix DVD shop in Leeds that when you walked in had Bollywood movies on all the shelves and on the counter were 3 folders full of movies not even out yet. This is the best way to see this movie!

[@angelmartin2243]

I was 12 at the time in Mexico and made a deal with my DVD dealer to get this for 20 Pesos, like ($2 USD) and watched it thinking “yeah I’m never buying a pirated movie again”

[@johnw9771]

Love these videos. Very intriguing mysteries and you tell them very well. Keep it up!

[@RaulGonzalez-zg5ov]

I actually saw the unfinished version but I had no idea it wasn’t finished til it got to the action scenes. Me as a kid was like “wtf is this shit?”

[@Spo8]

Absolutely love videos like this, James. Excellent stuff.

[@southweststrangla420]

i remember seeing that unfinished version. i was hype till i saw it lol

[@Nick-4K]

This is the first time I saw the movie too on my iPad touch in like 2009ish

[@StewartFletcher]

I feel like this is the first *Sunday* Mr Sunday Movies' post in a LONG time

[@user-ns3vs3bp3e]

Imagine somebody going to prison for xmen origins and it wasn’t the writers or whoever was behind those awful cgi claws. Absolutely mad

[@TrippleBPlays]

Thanks for the information. Never really had access to the internet back in 2009 so I never knew this happened.

[@mateogateoo]

I like to imagine Mason standing in the corner shut down like an android waiting for the next podcast when he’s not in an episode

[@offtankgaming1310]

Favorite Mason commentary so far - sharp insight!

[@tigrezangel]

I enjoyed the video very much. I like this type of content. Thanks for keeping it fresh.

[@alexpskywalker]

Great work, James! I loved this

[@kingfield99]

Top notch editing fellas.

[@genesisflix]

I bought a DVD copy of this at a marketplace in Baghdad about 15 years ago for $1. The effects were unfinished in the DVD and it was the first time I’d ever seen unfinished effects. It’s interesting to hear the story behind it.

[@DarthPyrusTheVirus]

I was there for this and it was glorious. The workprint is still out there if you know where to look. I prefer it over the finished product, especially the soundtrack.

[@gaxjr7137]

I'm loving these deep dives man

[@hydrakn]

I always thought it was a marketing ploy, this was fascinating. James is a legit scientist.

[@robertstoner4973]

A vfx artist who was working on this movie came to my film class and gave a presentation. After, he showed a few of us the animatic for the final fight. The biggest change was Sabertooth was the one to behead Deadpool.

[@lornadane9241]

I do love it when these types of videos drop. Who doesn't love a Hollywood mystery!? These vids are always well researched and they make an interesting watch. I'm curious what the next mystery will be....

[@PhyynRR]

that was one of the most iconic bootlegs of all time! i 100% think the unfinished vfx added to my enjoyment because watching the actual film was a worse experience imo

[@ZappBranniglenn]

The Friedman situation is so funny. "Sure beats going out in the rain!" Well if he had made that quote maybe three or four years later, it wouldn't be promoting piracy. He'd be promoting on-demand video and streaming services as we know them today. For what it's worth, I still enjoy going to the movies.

[@tylma001]

Can James please make a video about Rupert Murdoch? I feel like he would expend energy being so angry about Rupert, but that anger would in turn GIVE him energy. It's perpetual motion!!

[@ilvaritmane6724]

This is the best true crime video I've ever seen