Have you seen "Iron Man?" If so, you probably watched the secret scene after the end credits. For those that knew about it ahead of time, chances are you read about it on the Internet. If you were one of the unlucky few who left the theater once the film faded to black, chances are you've had this scene ruined for you by the Internet.

The Internet giveth and taketh away.

The power of the Internet and what it has done for the film industry is no doubt significant. But is the Internet still good for movies, or has it turned to the dark side?

In 1999, the Internet was still very much in its infancy. That same year, Haxan Films released a small little movie titled "The Blair Witch Project." Shot on video with a budget of just $60,000, the film went on to gross over $248 million dollars worldwide. The key to its success was indeed the Internet. In 1999, the film was heavily marketed on the World Wide Web, leading many to believe that the film depicting three young students who document their exploration through the woods to discover a local legend may have in fact been true. There was heated debate by many across cyberspace, and the heightened interest led to box office success.

Nowadays, it's easy to see that the movie industry uses the Internet to its benefit. Log onto Myspace.com, and you'll likely see the homepage decked out in a background promoting "Speed Racer," with the film's trailer attached. Head over to www.ibelieveinharveydent.com, a highly detailed website that promotes the character of Harvey Dent in the upcoming film "The Dark Knight." Watch a video of Rachel Dawes endorsing Dent for District Attorney. Comb through the website even more, and you'll see press releases, press conferences, and even supporters across the country proudly holding Harvey Dent signs. Is this viral marketing, or a 2008 Presidential campaign? It's art imitating life, for sure.

It's not all positive, though. The Internet is also a hotbed for negativity when it comes to films. Oddly enough, it's not always intentional. Sticking with "The Dark Knight," there are many message boards on the internet that have been excited about this film for over a year. In fact, head over to DVDtalk.com, and inspect the movie forum. Fans originally started an enthusiastic thread about the film in July of 2006. The first post is an article titled "Ledger confirmed and it's called THE DARK KNIGHT!" Seems harmless, right? Just typical excitement? Well, sure, at first. But delve deeper. After a while, fans begin to pick apart the movie before they have even seen a trailer. Debates about casting ensue. People discuss every minute detail about the film's pre-production. Photos from the set begin to leak out and fan boys dissect them to no end.

Once the trailer for the film debuted, all hell broke loose. Some were riveted, others weren't. Some can't wait for the summer; others voice their displeasure because of Batman's voice. Or his suit. Or the specific kind of knife The Joker is seen holding. The internet becomes a breeding ground for people to spread their petty thoughts for mass consumption.

While the Internet is no doubt a wonderful tool that has allowed easy access to information and connection with people across the globe, one has to wonder if it is harmful in regards to movies today. Remember how you used to truly anticipate a film? The trailer would debut in theaters and you couldn't wait to discuss it with all of your friends and family. Today, people watch trailers on a 4x6 window on their computer in YouTube-like picture quality. If you're excited and want to hear other people's reactions, the internet can be a scary place. It's not that fans have dissenting opinions, it that judgments are so quickly made on such little known information, that it can kill fans' excitement.

In a recent Entertainment Weekly article, Steven Spielberg talked about his highly anticipated sequel "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." He mentioned that while he was filming, there were people attempting to sneak onto the set and video tape the shoot. Soon, the Internet was inundated with shaky, blurred footage of Harrison Ford wearing that famous Fedora--with whip properly in hand. Fans were buzzing about this, and the speculation and criticism soon commenced. "Has Indiana Jones gained weight?" "What's that set piece in the background?" "Who's that girl with him?" "Why is his whip in his left hand and not his right?"

At some point, it gets to be too much. Fans are only hurting themselves because they are building up expectations that are impossible for the film to match. If one is always on the Internet playing Monday Morning Quarterback when a new photo, article, or trailer is released, isn't one setting themselves up for massive disappointment?

Once a film is indeed released, dissatisfaction runs rampant like the plague. While there are no doubt fans that enjoyed the film, there are always ones who want to pick apart the film to everyone's detriment. Whether it is the mention of inaccuracies in the story, plot holes, unrealistic moments, or just spoilers, one who enjoyed a given movie might be apt to think twice now. They might second guess their own assessment of what they just witnessed on the big screen due to such dissenting and bitter comments on the computer screen. Once a movie is dissected in front of you as if you were a student in a Tisch School of Arts film class, the allure of the movie begins to fade.

The easy answer to all of this might simply be to avoid the Internet in general. But can most Americans really do this? Sure, one could certainly choose to avoid reading news on upcoming films, but sometimes people are simply curious to learn more about a film without having to read people dismembering a movie trailer or posting a spoiler. Other times, one might simply log onto an MSN.com homepage, and see information posted about an upcoming film. Other times, a friend on Facebook or at work might share a bit of information they read off the Internet. In many ways, avoiding the mass hype of films on cyberspace is a mission impossible.

The question becomes, can films simply go back to being entertaining again? Can the Internet foster genuine enthusiasm for films rather than pessimism and frustration? Can people wait and judge a movie once they see it instead of being disappointed based upon a two minute trailer online? Can fans not jump to conclusions based upon a press release, casting choice, or movie rating? If so, the film industry and the Internet can have a healthy relationship in the future. If not, it's time to throw away our computers.

Story by Michael Langston Moore

Starpulse contributing writer