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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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2004-03-01
Every week films get a second chance at success from the home market; or, in some cases, a first chance at success. Here is a list of wide releases, limited releases and a few from the growing TV on DVD section. A bit of a slow week, which means I was able to reduce my choices for DVD pick of the week to just one: School of Rock - (Buy from Amazon.) I'm not counting Father Ted - The Holy Trilogy, because it was one of my Picks of the Week when it was originally supposed to be released.
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2004-02-10
After crossing $250 million international some time during the mid-week, The Last Samurai opened in another 10 markets pushing its weekend total to $17.7 million. Most impressive is the film's run in Japan; it was first in its 10th week of release and it crossed the $100 million mark in that nation. If Ken Watanabe wins the Oscar it should outperform its domestic run in Japan. It is very unusual for a Hollywood film to earn more in a single international market than it earned domestically.
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2004-01-25
With the awards ceremony only hours away, here's one last look at the theatrical nominations for tonight's 61st annual Golden Globes awards.
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2003-10-20
to October, the last two weekends have shown amazing growth especially when compared to last year. Overall the box office was up 4.5% from last week and an amazing 25% from last year.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre just missed becoming the second biggest opener in October as its $28.1 million was $1 million less than Sunday's estimates. Reviews for the film also suffered dropping to just 36% positive. With poor reviews, a weak internal multiplier, fanboy effect and the horrow genre The Texas Chainsaw Massacre will have trouble hitting $70 million. However, it only cost $13 million to make and even with an advertising budget closer to $30 million, this movie will make a profit during it's domestic run. Needless to say, there is a sequel in the works. But given how the sequels to the original performed, this is probably not a good idea.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 held up better than expected to walk away with $12.4 million and a second place finish. That's a drop of just 43.8%, not a bad result normally, and very good considering the rest of the year.
It turns out The Runaway Jury won't quite turnaround John Grisham Hollywood career. Its opening weekend of just $12.1 million was weak, and with reviews that were good, but not great, it probably won't have the legs to succeed.
The School of Rock added another $11.0 million to push its total past $50 million. It is now tracking ahead of Freaky Friday's weekend numbers, but with school kids in school its weekday numbers are really dragging it down.
Helped by great reviews, including 100% from the cream of the crop, Mystic River landed in fifth place with $10.4 million. But with a per theatre average of just $7,120 and the MPAA screener ban, that's probably not enough to make it a serious Oscar contender.
After doing well in its native country of Ireland, Veronica Guerin came crashing down this week. Opening in less than 500 theatres, it was only about to make $611 thousand or roughly $1300 per theatre. That was much lower than expect, and even the mediocre reviews don't explain it.
As expected, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl cross $300 million on Friday. It now sits behind Star Wars: Attack of the Clones on both the domestic and worldwide charts.
Submitted by: C.
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2003-10-17
remake of a 1973 horror classic, the return of John Grisham, the not quite wide release of a docu-drama and the expansion of last week's Per Theatre Average Chart topper. With so much new, the top five will mostly be new movies with holdovers only occupying a couple of places.
Having the best shot at top spot is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a remake of the 1973 movie of the same name. First of all, the advertising campaign claims that this movie is 'inspired' by a true story, which is overstating the facts. It is inspired by real life events in the same way Who Framed Roger Rabbit is inspired by real life events. Also, these crimes involved were also the inspiration for both Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs, both of which are superior movies. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is following in a long line of low budget horror movies released this year starting with Darkness Falls in January and with the most recent example, House of the Dead, opening just last week. The most successful of these movies this year was Freddy vs. Jason and Texas Chainsaw Massacre hopes to duplicate its success. And while it is opening in roughly the same number of theatres (3016 to 3014) and has roughly the same reviews (43% to 41%), it isn't opening at an as lucrative time of the year. So look for a $22 million opening.
In the early 90's John Grisham was one of the hottest Hollywood properties. Three of the first four movie based on his novels passed $100 million at the box office, with the fourth just missing that feat. But after that, the next three movies made just over $60 million combined. The Runaway Jury is the first John Grisham movie in over five years, and granted it won't break any personal bests for him in either reviews or box office. However, it should pull in $18 million during its opening weekend and have a total closer to the first four than the last three.
The School of Rock will continue its strong performance at the box office. It will drop to third in its third week adding another $11 million to its already impressive total.
With direct competition and the lack of opening weekend hype, Kill Bill: Volume 1 will drop a little more than 50% at the box office to just under $11 million.
Rounding out the top five is Mystic River, which expanded into over 1400 theaters on Wednesday. Reviews have been great for the film and its box office should jump up to $10 million. It will need another jump in its theatre count and continued success at the box office for it to become a serious Oscar contender.
The last movie opening in more than a few cities is Veronica Guerin. Opening in less than 500 theatres to moderately positive reviews it should earn around $3 million but may or may not make the top ten.
On final note, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl should cross $300 million this weekend. It will be only the second movie to do so this year, and the 16th all time.
Submitted by: C.
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2003-10-13
ekend for new releases with four movies opening wide. New releases generally performed above expectations, but not by a large margin. The overall box office was up by 19% from last week but a mere 1.8% from last year. The year to year box office increase was much smaller that the increase in average ticket prices.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 had by far the best opening for a Quentin Tarantino movie at $22.1 million. By the end of the weekend, reviews were at the same level as Jackie Brown, and if its legs are the same it will get close to $100 million. If so, expect a re-release when Volume 2's release date nears to push it over that milestone.
As expected, School of Rock's box office bounced back after weak weekday numbers. In fact, it bounced back so well that it took second place with $15.5 million. That represents just a 21.1% drop, much better than fellow surprise hit Freaky Friday. But without the strong summer weekdays, School of Rock won't have the same shot at $100 million.
When I first predicted Good Boy! would open with $8 million it was only expected to open in 2500 theatres when in fact it opened in over 3200. So it is no surprise that the film beat expectations with $13.1 million. On the other hand, reviews dropped over the weekend finishing with just 47% positive.
Going the opposite direction was Intolerable Cruelty which failed to match expectations with just $12.5 million for its opening weekend. The George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones darkly romantic comedy did see an impressive improvement in its reviews with a final result of 80% positive. Still, it was the best opening for a Coen Brothers' movie and if it has the legs to match that pedigree, then the film will be profitable before the final box office is done.
Out of Time almost matched predictions with $8.6 million, a drop of 47%. Good for its genre, especially given how most movies have faired during their second weekend of release. But it is not good enough to help this movie become profitable before the home market.
The House of the Dead managed slightly more than predictions with $5.7 million. But given its genre and the fact that out of 13 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes not one was positive, don't expect it to earn more than $5.7 million for the rest of its run.
Lost in Translation slipped slightly faster than expected, but managed to stay in the top ten for one more week. Its $2.8 million raised its total to $18.1 million, impressive compared to its very humble production budget of $4 million. Focus Features should be happy even if no Oscar nominations are in the future.
Submitted by: C.
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2003-10-13
ning this weekend, but only two of them have a serious shot at top place. The other two will be fighting for the scraps and a place in the top five.
Note: This is how the story was written on Wednesday. I was planning on revising my estimates on Friday before publishing it. However, that was not to be, so here present the unrevised story with the weekend wrap up to follow shortly.
Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill by Quentin Tarantino opens this week in over 3000 theatres. The fourth film directed by Quentin Tarantino, or fifth if you count Quentin Tarantino's segment in Four Rooms, or sixth if you count My Best Friend's Birthday, which Quentin Tarantino directed but was partially destroyed before it was ever shown. It’s a testament to Quentin Tarantino's work that Miramax is using his name so prominently in its advertising campaign. The biggest question mark is how the public will react to the decision to split the movie into two parts. Either the shortened length will make for a more enjoyable movie going experience, or there will be a backlash for being asked to pay twice for one movie. Reviews are the weakest for any of Quentin Tarantino's previous full-length movies, but it is also the widest by far. Look for about $21 million opening weekend.
After major hits in 2000 and 2001, George Clooney stumbled with Solaris and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Look for him to rebound with Intolerable Cruelty, which should make more in its opening weekend than either of the above films did in their total run. Granted, this will not be due to George Clooney alone as Catherine Zeta-Jones is a proven box office star as well. Reviews are average, but not poor enough to have a major effect on the box office and a $16 million is the target for the weekend.
School of Rock's box office has plummeted during the weekdays, but given its target audience that is to be expected. It should bounce back on the weekend to take $13 million, which's a drop of just 33%.
Out of Time will drop much more due to its genre, dropping to $9 million. That is in the mid-40s percent wise, much better than the average this year.
A kids' movie is the third movie to open this week, Good Boy! With reviews that are just straddling the 60% needed for an overall positive rating, and an average theatre count Good Boy! will have to settle for $8 million. That is nearly half its production budget, so the news isn't all bad.
The last new movie to open wide this week is The House of the Dead, based on a popular video game. Movies based on video games have generally performed very poorly at the box office. And since this is the fourth of five low budget horror movies released this year the market place could very well be saturated. Reviews are sparse, and generally very bad. Look for it to make about $5 million this weekend before dropping out of theatres by Halloween.
Spending what will likely be its last week in the top ten is Lost in Translation. While it gained more theatres this week, it's not enough for it to hold onto its box office. $3 million this week and fading hopes for Oscar nominations.
Submitted by: C.
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2003-10-10
ery short version of my weekend predictions because I'm out visiting my family for Thanksgiving, (in Canada we celebrate it in October.)
I already wrote the full story on Wednesday and was going to return home today to upload, but plans changed at the last minute and I couldn't make it.
Normally I'd just rewrite the story in full and publish it, however, I'm stuck on my parents'
computer. It's a Pentium 166 with 24 megs of ram and a 33.6k modem, it's like living in the stone age.
It took so long just to login to the site that I decided to write this version now and when I get back on Sunday
night I will post the original story that has more commentary. But for now, just the raw predictions.
#1 - Kill Bill Volume 1 with $21 million.
#2 - Intolerable Cruelty with $16 million
#3 - School of Rock with $13 million
#4 - Good Boy! with $11 million
#5 - Out of Time with $10 million
And The House of the Dead will finish out of the top five with $5 million.
Submitted
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2003-10-07
e for top spot was not as close as initially thought. However, even with two movies doing well we saw a decrease of 2% from last weekend. And without a record breaker like last year's Red Dragon there was a substantial 17.5% drop from last year.
Jack Black is best known for supporting work in films like High Fidelity, even in his first staring role he was a secondary draw to Gwyneth Paltrow. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that School of Rock won this weekend's box office race with $19.6 million. It comes as a much bigger surprise than it won over so many film critics; its 91% positive rating at Rotten Tomatoes is the second best for a wide release this year. Given its reviews and target audience, it may have an outside shot at $100 million.
While Out of Time failed to meet expectations this weekend, $16.2 million for an October opening weekend is still in the top ten all time. Overall the reviews are just above the level needed to be overall positive, however, its cream of the crop score is much better at 79% positive. Its legs won't be as strong as School of Rock, but $70 million or more should be attainable.
There was a little bit of good news for The Rundown this weekend, it fell less than 50% at the box office to $9.7 million. But that's too little, too late for a movie with a reported production budget of $85 million.
While Under the Tuscan Sun fell just over 20% to $7.7 million at the box office this week, that was mainly due to an increase in theatre count. On a per theatre count it was more than a 40% drop.
Secondhand Lions just beat expectations with $5.2 million this weekend. And its total box office is now just ahead of its reported production budget of $30 million.
Lost in Translation climbed three places into 7th this week with $4.2 million. Unfortunately, most analysts agree that its per theatre take is dropping too fast for it to be a serious Oscar contender.
Submitted by:
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2003-10-03
o movies open wide and to good reviews. And for the first time in nearly a month, there could be a battle for top spot.
I'm a fan of Jack Black, so much so that I own I Still Know What You Did Last Summer cause he's in it. But I never thought I'd see the day when he'd star in such a critically acclaimed movie. School of Rock is currently sitting at 90% positive over on Rotten Tomatoes and even more for the Cream of the Crop. That's one of the best wide scores for a wide release this year. Still, surprisingly high reviews didn't help The Rundown last weekend so look for $19 million this week with good legs in the coming weeks.
Denzel Washington has made a career with movies released at this time of the year. In 2001 it was Training Day, the year before that it was Remember the Titans, next year it's The Manchurian Candidate. His movies generally open well, if unspectacularly, and rely on strong legs to become hits. Expect Out of Time to be no exception. While the reviews are not as strong as some of his previous work, at 65% positive they are not going to be a liability either. $18 million opening weekend and similar legs to School of Rock.
Despite good reviews, The Rundown wasn't able to match predictions last week. And the mid-week numbers have not been kind to the action movie. Look for it to lose a little more than 50% in its second weekend dropping to $9 million.
Unlike the previous movie, Under the Tuscan Sun beat expectations and was rewarded this week by adding nearly 500 more theatres to its count. This increase will counter most of the drop in its per theatre average leaving it with just under $9 million for the weekend.
With the novelty of the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King trailer gone, Secondhand Lions will drop more this weekend than last weekend. It will still be left with $5 million and a fifth place finish.
Lost in Translation adds almost 400 theatres this week and will again finish in the top ten with $4 million.
Submitted by: C.
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2003-10-02
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.
Beyond Borders
Current Content: The flash site launched this week with only half the content in place. The synopsis is there as is the trailer (both Quicktime and Flash), however, the production notes, bios for cast and crew are marked coming soon. There are animated segues, audio clips and background music, so all the extras are there.
Concert for George
Current Content: This is a very simple and subdued site, which is for the best as anything flashy would have been tacky given the subject. The site has the trailer, a description of the concert itself, some images and wallpapers and a store to buy some mementos.
The Event
Current Content: Unfortunately, there isn't a separate site for this film, you just have to go to Think Film's site and look for it there. Watch as the movies scroll by and eventually the link got The Event will pass by. Once you get there you'll find a rather simple site with the synopsis, trailer, cast and crew bios and production notes (in .pdf format.) There are animated segues, but no sound.
Good Boy
Current Content: The last section, (The Scoop: cast and crew bios and production notes) was added this week.
Gothika
Current Content: A new placeholder site was launched this week, expect the full site to be up for the next update.
Jinx
Current Content: None, just a redirect to the MGM movie site.
Kill Bill
Current Content: Three new sections were added to the site, Cast and Crew, Locations and Press Notes. All that's left marked coming soon are the last three character intros.
The Last Samurai
Current Content: Slight change to the format with a couple of sections added. There are two choices under desktops and an image gallery marked coming soon.
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Current Content: After months of just the teaser site, the flash site finally opened. But I was expecting more … animation. In fact, I was expecting a little more everything. They do have the teaser trailer and some other information, but no synopsis or cast and crew bios. There are sound effects, but no audio clips and no background music. And with only one section marked coming soon, I don't expect major changes.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Current Content: The trailer was added to the site, as were a photo gallery for The Two Towers Extended DVD and a new poster / e-card and a Q&A session with Miranda Otto. Of course most people only read to, 'The trailer was added …' before clicking on the link. Overall this is a beautiful site and well worth checking out on a daily basis in order to heighten your excitement for December 16th marathon showing of all three films! I can't wait.
Madagascar
Current Content: Placeholder site with no content outside the name and a vague release date.
The Matrix Revolutions
Current Content: Theatrical trailer and some TV spots were added. From now until its release this site will most likely have weekly updates.
Out of Time
Current Content: Not much has changed since the flash site first launched, just the rest of the downloads were added. It is a very well done site and is worth checking out.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Current Content: The placeholder site is now up. Typical of Sony placeholder sites, it has the synopsis, image gallery and the teaser trailer. The trailer is shown in a mock pop-up ad for Regenerate, which was a fun touch.
Returner
Current Content: There's little multimedia on this site. Outside the intro and the trailer the only sounds are a few beeps for sound effects. There are animated intros, but they are relatively short and simple. The rest of the content is well done if unspectacular.
School of Rock
Current Content: The rest of the site was added this week, and if you pardon the pun, it rocks. This site has everything a site should have. Regular features like synopsis, trailer, cast and crew bios. It also have all the extras like sound effects, audio clips, animated segues, etc. There are even interactive features like the Rock Aptitude Test, Stage Diving and the ability to doodle on the cast and crew bios and such. And not surprisingly for movie centered on Rock'n'Roll there's a lot of music on the site. There is a music video, two complete songs, clips from the other songs on the soundtrack and music accompanies most features. I have two complaints with this site and they are both about the music. First, there's no background music and you can't have either of the two full songs play while you are surfing the rest of the site. Secondly, Prince is not Funk. (No I won't let that go.) Still, despite this blatant miscategorization this is clearly the winner of the incontrovertible Weekly Website Award.
Shattered Glass
Current Content: The trailer and a small picture of the poster have been added to the site.
The Station Agent
Current Content: This looks like a truly unique movie, too bad the site is just another Miramax site.
Tupac: Ressurection
Current Content: The placeholder site replaced the redirect. The only content so far is the trailer.
Wonderland
Current Content: I'm still getting the script error when I try to launch this site, so I can't review it.
Submitted by:
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2003-09-17
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.
Alien: The Director's Cut
Current Content: Just the intro and the trailer but hopefully more will be added before its release.
Anything Else
Current Content: The movie is being released this week, but there's nothing new to report since the site was last reviewed. There's still plenty of multimedia, but with quite a lot of redundancy and overlap.
Brother Bear
Current Content: The placeholder had been up for a long time, but the flash site finally launched this week. As with the preview two characters from the movie, Rutt and Tuke act as guides of sorts to the site. They pop up every once and a while a talk about practically everything but the website. Also on the site joining more traditional features like synopsis and trailer are character bios, games and image gallery and several clips.
Bubba Ho-Tep
Current Content: Opening this week in limited release the site was a disappointment to me. It's not that it's a bad site, but with such an original premise to the movie I was hoping that the site would be more original. There is a lot of news, reviews and previews as well as the synopsis and trailer, but the site screams for audio clips and animated intros.
Cold Creek Manor
Current Content: Last week's winning website had one last update before being released this Friday. The House is a single image you can explore and clicking on certain parts brings up short clips from the movie. It's intriguing without giving away too much information.
Fighting Tempations
Current Content: The site is an excellent mix of regular and unusual features. Like almost all sites it has the synopsis, trailer, cast and crew bios and production notes. Some less usual features include a music mixer, musical beginnings (information on music stars that got their start in gospel choirs) and Winamp player skins. But at central feature of the site is the music. Too many sites have no music at all, those that do usually only have a short clip that loops in the background, The Fighting Temptations has clips from the entire soundtrack on their site and six full songs. The music alone almost puts it ahead of the rest of the sites this week, and the overall site win the sentimental Weekly Website Award.
Godsend
Current Content: Still a placeholder site, but it’s a different placeholder site.
Good Boy
Current Content: The last two sections were added, almost. The Scoop will have all the cast and crew bios plus the production notes, but right now it just has the introduction. Playtime has a memory game with audio clips from the movie. Unfortunately, to hear all the clips you must play for all long time.
Honey
Current Content: Yet another release date on the site, this time December 5th, 2003. It's probably not the last release date we'll see.
Hypnotic
Current Content: It's been a while since this site first launched and since then there have been no updates. Where used, the background music is good. Unfortunately it is only used in one section.
Mambo Italiano
Current Content: No changes since the site was last reviewed. Still an effective but simple site in need of some more flash.
Run Away Jury
Current Content: Another flash site that launched this week, and with a movie like this mood is of the utmost importance. And the video clips do a good job setting the mood, but the music seems to counter it. Which is a shame as the background music is otherwise very well done. In addition to the video clips, there's the synopsis, trailer, cast and crew bios, image gallery and sections of the four main characters. So far only two are currently up, Rankin Fitch which has details on the jurors (just #3, #4 and #9 so far) and Wendall Rohr (3 video clips.) The last two characters are marked coming soon, as is the section for clips.
The Run Down
Current Content: Dangers of the Amazon, a series of humorous warning signs, was added to the site.
Second Hand Lions
Current Content: There were no new format changes since the site was last reviewed, but there was a learning guide added for parents and teachers.
School of Rock
Current Content: I've got a bone to pick with this site. Why is Prince listed under Funk? Prince? Come on. But I won't hold that against the site. This site has a fun atmosphere with little touches like being able to doodle in the notebook where most of the content is presented. It has a short synopsis, trailer, cast and crew bios, production notes, image gallery and news. There are also a few sections marked coming soon, the Music (hopefully they'll explain why they put Prince under Funk), video clips and games and download. Combined with the sound effects and segues, this should be an award winning site. But Prince isn't Funk so they're disqualified.
Underworld
Current Content: Another site that has previously won the weekly website award, there's been very little in the way of updates since then. Plenty more user sightings have been added as has more usual features like cast and crew bios.
Submitted by:
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2003-09-03
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. It seemed like a slow week this week, not for a lack of site updates, (there are two dozen of them.) But most of them were either placeholder sites, or minor changes. This made handing out the weekly award more difficult. If you know of any new movie websites not on this list feel free to e-mail me with the details.
Carnage
Current Contents: Another silent, still site. In fact, as of writing this, there wasn't even a trailer yet (it is marked coming soon.) This site could also use some additional formatting to split up some of the longer sections into separate pages.
The Cat in the Hat
Current Content: Placeholder site with the synopsis, teaser trailer and cast and crew (no bios.)
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
Current Content: With the movie opening this week, this site hasn't changed much since it first launched. A few clips were added to Dickie's Family Diary, and some more might be added later on. One feature I neglected to mention last time was the audio clips. There are a few audio clips that play when you visit the site, some are from the movie, while others were made specifically for the site.
Dogville
Current Content: This site is very unusual, which makes it match the movie quite well. While the usual features are all present most of them are presented in an avant-garde way. Not sure if this is good or just strange for the sake of being strange. It does have some nice background music that is long enough not to become repetitive.
Dummy
Current Content: Just the placeholder site with the trailer, however, there's also another page with additional clips. Both pages are worth checking out.
Good Boy
Current Content: The placeholder was replaced by the flash site this week, although the flash site is still incomplete. Every section introduces one of the dogs that were in the movie, including facts about its breed. Every section also has animation and a short clip from the movie. Sections on the site include synopsis, trailer and image gallery and downloads. Two more sections (Scoop and Playtime) are still marked coming soon.
Home Room
Current Content: Like too many other sites, this one has no sound or animation outside the trailer. This is too bad cause it is otherwise a good site. It hits all the major areas a site should have and does it in a compelling way. But it needs music to set it apart.
In the Cut
Current Content: Redirect to Sony Pictures movie page.
Jersey Girl
Current Content: It's a Miramax site. Hopefully Kevin Smith will make a more elaborate site before the release date.
Kill Bill
Current Content: The old site is gone and has been replaced with e new placeholder site. Of all the content of the previous site, only the teaser trailer and the message boards came across.
The Last Samurai
Current Content: The second trailer has been added to the site.
Luther
Current Content: More information has been added, mostly in the History section.
Millennium Actress
Current Content: There is plenty of animation and music in the background of this site. The music even matches what is happening in the background animation, a very nice touch. In addition, all the regular features are here, synopsis, trailer, cast and crew bios, and production notes. There's also an interview with the director and screenwriter, but it is just a transcript and not a video clip.
The Order
Current Content: Nothing has changed since the site was last reviewed and the problem with the sound levels is still there.
Out of Time
Current Content: Placeholder site with just the synopsis and trailer.
Party Monster
Current Content: For a movie focused so much on the New York Party scene, this is one quiet website. Outside the trailer there are no sounds at all, and the trailer is the only animation on the site as well. The most unusual, and biggest, feature on the site is the production diary. These are not just a few notes, this is page after page of text (and quite a few images) detailing the making of the movie from the initial idea to the wrap party. Still, without sound or animation it is hard for a site to rise above the rest.
Prey for Rock and Roll
Current Content: I love a site with music and this site has three complete songs. Hell, you can even play all three songs at once. The site also has the usual features, synopsis, cast bios, trailer and three clips. If there were just some animated intros it could have been an award winning site.
The Run Down
Current Content: The flash site launched this week, and it has almost everything a site should have. Synopsis, trailer (including one in Spanish), cast, crew and character bios, image gallery, sound board, it even has a game. And there is another features marked coming soon, and some additional clips should be added before the release date. With animated intros, audio clips, background music and interactive features this site takes home the unpretentious Weekly Website Award.
School of Rock
Current Content: The trailer, which was released a while ago, was added to the placeholder site.
Shaolin Soccer
Current Content: Despite being a Miramax site, this is not the same as all other Miramax sites. But somehow there is less content than usual. Just the two trailers, no synopsis and cast and crew (no bios) like other Miramax sites.
Spider-Man 2
Current Content: The full site is now up, but a lot of features are still marked coming soon, and there should be regular updates till the movie opens in mid-2004. So far the synopsis is up and so are the cast and crew bios, character bios are marked coming soon. Just a note, many features require you to sign in before you can view them. This includes the polls and webisodes, but it's worth it.
Taking Lives
Current Content: Typical Warner Bros. placeholder site, this time without any pictures. Release date is early 2004, so there's plenty of time for more features to be added.
Zero Day
Current Content: This film opens tonight, however, the website is very Spartan with just the synopsis and trailer. Most of the information is 'off-site' at the Essex County Sheriff's Report. This helps give the film a more real feeling.
Submitted by: C.
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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.
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