|
2004-05-03
Five movies opening wide in one weekend is just too many for one weekend. Combined with the horrible reviews and its no wonder all but one film flopped. Fortunately that one film had one of the best April openings ever so we saw a pretty good increase from last weekend at 4%. However, this time last year was the beginning of May, which marks the official start of the Summer Blockbuster season, so it is no surprising that this weekend is down a huge 33% from last year. In fact X-Men United opening was just shy of the top 10's total. And if you add in The Lizzie McGuire Movie and their combined debuts are higher than the weekend's total box office.
|
2004-04-30
It's a busy last weekend in April with five movies opening wide. However, it is uncertain if any of these films can take top spot. This is partly due to the competition but it is also due to the weakness of the reviews; just one film has overall positive reviews and the other four films have combined reviews under 15% positive.
|
2004-04-29
During the past week promotional websites for several movies were launched and some older ones added additional content. Here the list of this week's releases, a couple of new sites and few updates including the winner for the week, Mean Girls - Official Site. If you know of any new movie websites not on this list feel free to e-mail me with the details.
|
|
2004-04-23
During the past week promotional websites for several movies were launched and some older ones added additional content. Here the list of this week's releases, a couple of new sites and few updates including the winner for the week, Van Helsing - Official Site. If you know of any new movie websites not on this list feel free to e-mail me with the details.
|
2004-04-01
During the past week promotional websites for several movies
were launched and some older ones added additional content. Here the list of this week's releases, a couple of new sites and few updates including the winner for the week, Hellboy - Official Site. If you know of any new movie websites not on this list feel free to e-mail me with the details.
|
2004-03-28
With summer just around the corner ... Yes I know Spring started a week ago, but this is the movie industry, we do things differently. So with Summer just around the corner it's time for the Summer Movie Preview, Part 1 - April. In April we have nearly 20 films opening wide over 5 weekends, or almost 4 per weekend. That much variety should please moviegoers, but that much competition will kill the chances of half the movies released.
|
|
2004-01-26
There seems to be a pattern developing for 2004. The number one movie surprises, but the overall box office is lower than expected. This week was no different. The total box office was down from last weekend's 3-day total, which is not surprising as last weekend was a long weekend. But it dropped by a massive 24.7%. The performance compared to last year that is more troubling. Before the weekend 2004 was 7% behind 2003 and at first glance this weekend was almost flat compared to last year, down less than $200,000 or just 0.002%. But this weekend last year was Superbowl weekend, so the performance is really more equivalent to a 10% drop.
|
2003-11-20
k promotional websites for several movies were launched and some older ones added additional content. Here’s a list of highlights, plus one last look at websites for films opening this week. If you know of any new movie websites not on this list feel free to e-mail me with the details.
21 Grams
Current Content: First of all, your body doesn't lose 21 grams when you die. That's just one of those urban legends about death, (another one being your hair and finger nails continue to grow after you die.) Now that that's out of the way we can talk about the website, which launched this week. Unfortunately, the urban legend surrounding the title is more interesting than the site itself. There are no sounds and only a tiny amount of animation outside the trailer. And while there was quite a bit of information in the synopsis, cast and crew, and production, it seemed to take an unacceptably long time to load. Other, flash heavy sites, loaded in a fraction of the time it took to load just the production notes.
Along Came Polly
Current Content: Just the placeholder site so far with the synopsis, trailer and photo gallery.
Anchorman
Current Content: Placeholder site with some exclusive clips.
The Barbarian Invasions
Current Content: Typical Miramax site. The movie opens tomorrow and the trailer isn't even up.
The Big Empty
Current Content: As promised last week, this site added a lot more information. It's mostly just text, with dozen or so images and the trailer. Considering the unusual nature of the movie, one would hope that the website would be less static.
Cat in the Hat
Current Content: The movie opens on Friday, but not much has changed since the flash site first launched.
Cheaper by the Dozen
Current Content: The flash site launched this week and to no one's surprise much of it is dedicated to introducing the characters. The rest of the site has all the regular features, including synopsis, both the teaser and full trailers, cast and crew bios and so forth. There are a few extras, like wallpapers, AIM icons and two e-cards, as well as movie clips that are still marked coming soon. Unlike many of the site on today's list, this one has plenty of sound and animation. There are also clips from three songs that play in the background, which takes care of the repetitiveness although makes the looping a bit harder.
Cold Mountain
Current Content: What's this? A Miramax site that isn't just a short synopsis on a dull beige background? How can this be? Of course the current site isn't much better than the ordinary Miramax site, as it only has the trailer while the Enter Site button only takes you to the Miramax home page.
The Cooler
Current Content: The background music for this site really sets the right mood. Sort of a depressing, smoke filled lounge atmosphere. The site itself is understated, which fits well with the style of the movie. Only the most common of features are there, synopsis, cast and crew bios, trailer and image gallery.
Envy
Current Content: The old VaPOOrize info site is back, with a new flash intro and opening page. Right now the only other feature is the trailer.
Gothika
Current Content: Just in time for tomorrow's release, two clips were added to the already award winning site.
The Great Raid
Current Content: It's a Miramax site. That's all you need to know.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Current Content: The site just launched and so far there's only the trailer and Sirius Black sightings.
The Hebrew Hammer
Current Content: This site is something that has to be seen. An exploitation film, The Hebrew Hammer uses a lot of stereotypes in the same vein as Shaft did. So there's a lot here that could offend those who take it too seriously. While there's almost all the usual suspects, (the trailer is marked coming soon) it's the extra's that steal the show. Including a parody of Space Invaders called Gentile Invaders in which you're a menorah that shoots Star of Davids at 'Gentiles' that drop Swastikas for matzo balls. You can also test how Jewish you or look up important Jewish words like, ' Tuchis' and 'Boca Raton.' I also recommend downloading the theme song to listen to later. The sheer audacity of the site makes it this week's winner of the Meshugge Weekly Website Award.
Laws of Attraction
Current Content: Placeholder site with just the trailer so far.
The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
Current Content: The film is a parody of the 50's low budget sci-fi horrors and the site takes advantage of that genre. It's so cheesy, but in a good way. I especially like the virtual collectibles, or skelectables as they call them. The site has all the usual features, including very extensive production notes and a F.A.Q. in case you were confused about the parody aspect of the movie.
Pride & Prejudice
Current Content: This site has most of the usual features, synopsis, trailer, image gallery and cast bios, (but no crew bios.) There are still a few things marked coming soon, for instance, not all the cast bios are on the site yet. Also marked coming soon is the behind the scenes, video clips and additional downloads. The site has good animated menu / intros with sound effects, audio clips and background music. Background music is just a little too happy for my liking, but that's a matter of taste.
Timeline
Current Content: Some more features were added, but it's getting more and more difficult to spot them on such a huge site. There's still some interview clips and the Donner Q&A yet to be added.
Torque
Current Content: Typical WB placeholder site with quite a few images, including the poster.
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton
Current Content: None. It's just a placeholder site with only the name and the release date.
You Got Served
Current Content: Typical Sony placeholder with just the trailer so far.
Submitted by:
|
2003-08-07
k promotional websites for several movies were launched and some older ones added additional content. Here’s a list of highlights, plus one last look at websites for films opening this week. Felt like a slow week, I don't know if that's cause it is a slow week, or that fact that I moved this week meant I didn't have time to really research website updates. If you know of any new movie websites not on this list feel free to e-mail me with the details.
Beyond Borders
Current Content: None, just redirects you to Paramount's movie page.
Calendar Girls
Current Content: The movie is still months away but there is considerable content on the site already. Synopsis, trailer, poster and cast and crew (no bios.) There's are background music and a few audio clips, but they don't repeat so you only hear them once.
Cabin Fever
Current Content: New design, new URL. Right now there are only two clips and without any context they make no sense. There are two other clips coming soon so hopefully they will help explain things.
Cheaper By the Dozen
Current Content: None, just redirects you to Fox's movie page.
Cold Creek Manor
Current Content: None, just redirects you to Touchstone's movie page
Envy
Current Content: The VaPOOrizer site was removed last week and now we know why. Its theatrical release has been pushed back to 2004, or perhaps never. Word is it could go direct to video at this stage.
Freaky Friday
Current Content: Just in time for its release the last few features were added. These include the bios and party planner and lots of clips, (a few scenes, some behind the scenes and two music videos.) Overall, this site has a good format and good content to match. The only thing its missing is background music, but it has plenty of sound to make up for that. It's this week's winner of the inescapable Weekly Website Award.
Le Divorce
Current Content: While lacking any really unusual features, this site does present the usual features in a good fashion. Also, the background music fits well with the theme of the movie and avoids becoming repetitive.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Current Content: You can now submit questions for the cast interviews that will be part of the site when it launches later on.
Passionade
Current Content: The seafood recipes are finally up. A bit beyond my cooking expertise, but they look good.
The Princess Blade
Current Content: This site has quite a bit of features, but none that are really unique. However, the way they all come together helps. Sound effects, a bit of animation for the segues and good background music are all pluses.
S.W.A.T.
Current Content: I can't give a review of this site since some features do not work with my browser, and some actually cause it to crash.
School of Rock
Current Content: Just a placeholder site with no actual content.
Step into Liquid
Current Content: Because this is a documentary some of the regular features aren't here, like synopsis. But they do have the trailer and cast bios of sorts. (There's bios in the surfers shown in the movie.) Besides the trailer there is a clip of behind the scenes shoots. Definitely a plus is the background music, it's long enough and loops well enough to not become repetitive and is effective without being overwhelming.
Thirteen
Current Content: The old placeholder site is gone and now it redirects you to the trailer on Apple.com.
Timeline
Current Content: Right now there is just the trailer and several audio clips. But their presentation is very cool and hopefully as new content is added this site it will only get better.
Submitted by:
|
|
2003-07-30
k promotional websites for several movies were launched and some older ones added additional content. Here’s a list of highlights, plus one last look at websites for films opening this week. Strange mix this week with mostly placeholders plus a few minor changes. If you know of any new movie websites not on this list feel free to e-mail me with the details.
American Wedding
Current Content: Nothing has changed since I reviewed it last week. TV Spots and clips are still marked coming soon. But you can still check out the trailer, 'Bubble Clips', games, etc.
And Now Ladies and Gentlemen
Current Content: All the usual features are here, presented in a simply fashion with nice animated segues. There is, unfortunately, no sound. The inclusion of background music would have really helped this site stand out.
Anything Else
Current Content: Just a placeholder site. Currently it just has the name and release date. ... Wait a second, the trailer was just added. How's that for up to the minute updates.
Bollywood/Hollywood
Current Content: It was just learned that the movie's American release was pushed back a month, but the site has been up since it's Canadian release last year. A Bollywood Musical by way of Canada, this site naturally has a lot of music. There are six clips including Rocky's Song, which pays on the home page. Now the music is very much Bollywood themed so it's probably something you've never heard before, but it grows on you. There's also the synopsis, cast bios, the trailer and animation on every page. It's the little touches like the animations that helped this site win the wondrous Weekly Website Awards.
Bubba Ho-Tep
Current Content: Most of this site is dedicated to the press this film has received, and there is a lot of it. Reviews, stories, audio clips, etc., it's all there. There's also a synopsis and a trailer, but there should have been some more sounds as well. I would have loved to hear some Bruce Campbell as Elvis quotes.
Envy
Current Content: The VaPOOrizer site was removed and replaced with the old placeholder site.
Freaky Friday
Current Content: A few more features were added, the Wild to Mild personality test, Fortune Cookies and Teenage Translator. The bios, party planner and auditions are still marked coming soon.
Freddy vs. Jason
Current Content: New images from the Weight In were added to the site.
Gigli
Current Content: This movie opens this week and Sony still hasn't launched a flash site. The last time that happened was with Hollywood Homicide, and we all know how that turned out.
Grind
Current Content: This site has an impressive amount of behind the scene clips. However, it is missing some of the regular info, like synopsis and cast and crew bios. There is some info on the characters and images and a game to play.
Gothika
Current Content: Typical Warner Bros. placeholder site with just a single image and a synopsis. Full site should be launched as the release date nears.
Intolerable Cruelty
Current Content: The site just launched but the movie doesn't come out till October. So right now there's just the synopsis, trailer and a few photos.
The Magdalene Sisters
Current Content: It's a Miramax site. So you know what that means.
The Run Down
Current Content: Slightly different format for the placeholder site. The trailer was added, and so were some animation and quotes for the transitions.
Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Current Content: Placeholder site with just the poster, photos (two of them) and news from the set.
The Secret Lives of Dentists
Current Content: This site screams for sound, which is too bad cause it has pretty much everything else. All the usual suspects are here, including not only the trailer bur four clips. There's even a section for the music, but no actual music.
Under the Tuscan Sun
Current Content: Placeholder site with trailer, poster and 20 images.
Wonderland
Current Content: Another placeholder site with just the trailer.
Submitted by:
|
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
