Note: Disney has decided to make all their website non-viewable by browsers other than Internet Explorer and Netscape. Since I, as well as a growing number of people, use Mozilla, I will be unable to review these website until they change their policy back.
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 this week's winner Hotel Rwanda - Official Site. If you know of any new movie websites not on this list feel free to e-mail me with the details.
Alone in the Dark
Current Content: The flash site launched this week, but aside from the synopsis and the image gallery, every other feature is marked coming soon.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera
Current Content: With the movie opening yesterday, a Q&A with Gerard Butler was added to the site.
Beauty Shop
Current Content: Some of the extras were added to the site including the Make-Over and Tip of the Week. Half of the features are still marked coming soon: Queen for a Day, Hair-o-scope and Beaus of the Beauty Shop.
Boogeyman
Current Content: The flash site launched this week and there's a focus on interactivity with a story submission section, word scramble and a flash game. Unfortunately, I'm having problems getting the flash game to work. I'll come back to it in a while. Most of the usual features are also there, but the cast and crew bios are marked coming soon and there's a section for the origins of the Boogeyman.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Current Content: The placeholder site has undergone a redesign, but the content is the same.
Colour Me Kubrick
Current Content: Just the very short teaser trailer so far.
Darkness
Current Content: Not your typical Miramax movie website, but with only the trailer it has even less content. The original website was better.
The Devil's Rejects
Current Content: Another new flash site on this week's list. And like most of the rest, this one has mostly the same content as the old placeholder site with some features marked coming soon. The synopsis is new and the four character bios are marked coming soon.
Emile
Current Content: I'm still being told that the site has exceeded its bandwidth.
Fat Albert
Current Content: In time for Saturday's release, the Concentration-like game has been added to the site.
Hitch
Current Content: The next new flash site on the list and it's no surprise that a movie that focuses so much about relationship advice would have a website that does the same. In fact, the only movie related features so far are the trailer and the image gallery. However, the synopsis, cast and crew bios, production notes are marked coming soon, (as are the soundtrack and Putting it All Together.)
Hotel Rwanda
Current Content: When it comes to websites for movies based on real life events, it could sometimes be a real boon to have additional background information. This is one such site. While the site has all the usual features, synopsis, cast and crew bios, image gallery and trailer, it is the focus on the the historical and background information that makes this site so impressive. (Although I cringe at calling it, 'Historical' information, since the events only took place 10 years ago.) Also impressive is the multimedia used on the site with many clips and interviews with the director. There's also a small amount of animation and effective background music to add to the site making it the winner of the poignant Weekly Website Award.
In the Realms of the Unreal
Current Content: Typical Wellspring movie site.
Madagascar
Current Content: Another new flash site on today's list. This one has a lot of potential, but almost all of the new content in marked coming soon with just the synopsis, image gallery and trailer on the site.
Meet the Fockers
Current Content: Just in time for yesterday's release, the flash site finally went live. There's plenty of sound and animation on the site, and a few interactive features. The usual features are there, synopsis, cast and crew, etc. as well as lots, and I mean lots of video and audio clips from the movie, so many in fact, that after surfing the site I felt like I no longer needed to see the movie.
Melinda and Melinda
Current Content: The site now just redirects surfers to the trailer on Apple.com.
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Current Content: The trailer and poster were added to the site. The poster is identical to the image that was already on the site and the trailer reminded me why it's a bad idea for Sandra Bullock to do sequels.
Racing Stripes
Current Content: Characters bios return and a couple of games were added to the site. So far I'm seventh in the Claim the Crown game.
Sky Blue
Current Content: There's some amazing artwork on this site, but unfortunately, there's little else.
Tideland
Current Content: So far the site just as the synopsis, cast list, image gallery and a video message from director Terry Gilliam.
Travelers and Magicians
Current Content: Good site with all basics, synopsis, cast and crew bios, production notes, several image galleries, (one for Bhutan, one for the cast, two for behind the scenes, one for the premiere), and three videos, (trailer, behind the scenes and premiere.) There's enough animation and I particularly enjoyed the background music.
The Upside of Anger
Current Content: The trailer was added to the site. Despite my aversion to Kevin Costner movies, this one looks like it could be worth checking out, especially with how strong the female side of the cast is.
The Weather Man
Current Content: The trailer was added to the site.
The Woodsman
Current Content: No changes since the site first went live.
Submitted by: C.S.Strowbridge
Date posted: 2004-12-23
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Monday, November 23, 2009
