Hulu.com offers free streaming movies

No, this isn't just a link to a bittorrent site or a marginally legal streaming video site. As proof of that, here's The Big Lebowski in its full-length, F-bomb-laden glory:

The feature is courtesy of Hulu.com, a website working with Fox, Universal and Lionsgate to provide streaming films and television shows online—with minor commercial interruptions. Many of the moving pictures are even provided in 480p resolution for those with hi-def monitors. While the selection isn't that large so far, that it exists at all is what's impressive, and presumably Hulu's catalog will only continue to grow.

This likely comes as a response by the studios to both inevitable, widespread online piracy and the legal, streaming films available through Netflix. We'll have to wait and see, but with any luck, competing sites will emerge from all the major studios. Thank God the film industry is finally getting into the 21st century. Now, if only the music industry could follow suit...

Related links:
Hulu.com
IMDB: The Big Lebowski
CNN: Online video venture Hulu joins game

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