Movie Website Updates for July 22 - July 28, 2007

July 29, 2007

Server upgrades went... less smoothly than anticipated, which delayed this column, but at least there are a huge number of sites to check out. Many of these sites are making their first appearance on the list while quite a few are making their last appearance. Unfortunately, while it's a big list, there are not many that are even close to being award worthy at the moment. 30 Days of Night - Official Site comes the closest, but I'm waiting for the missing features to be added before I make that decision.

30 Days of Night - Official Site
The flash site is up and it has all the usual features. It also has enough extras to keep people interesting including an interactive feature where you explore Barrows, Alaska. Here you get to see the town, what litter there is, and hear some audio clips, short animations, and there's even a target shooting game. Also, there is another game on the main menu that is currently marked coming soon, but so far it's a great start.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Official Site
Oh dear god! Okay folks, I couldn't even get to the trailer before I had to turn away. Just hearing them sing was enough to make me wish the world would end. The second time around I went in with my speakers off, but that didn't help much. So far there's just the synopsis and the trailer, but there's plenty of time to add more.

Arctic Tale - Official Site
All the usual features plus more style than most documentary sites get. But nothing that really makes it stand out.

Balls of Fury - Official Site
Some TV spots and a short instructional video were added to the site. The short spots don't sell the movie nearly as well as the trailer does.

Becoming Jane - Official Site
The personality quiz and the clips were added to the site.

Beowulf - Official Site
It's been a long time since the site went live, but we finally have some updates. So far there's just the synopsis, image gallery, and trailer with a link to the video game site and a section called the Experience marked coming soon.

The Bourne Ultimatum - Official Site
The last two sections were added to the site.

The Camden 28 - Official Site
A lot of information, but not a lot of style. This is true for most documentary sites.

Charlie Bartlett - Official Site
The site still says it is opening on the 3rd but it has been pulled from the schedule. The longer this old release date stays up, the worse it will be for the film as people will assume it bombed out of theaters.

Cloverfield/1-18-08 - Official Site
Another week, another picture. Also, the Slusho site was updated, but I'm not sure if it has anything to do with this movie.

The Comebacks - Official Site
Not a lot of content here and I don't like the style. It doesn't feel like a separate page of its own and just a part of FoxAtomic's main site. Movie sites should feel like separate entities.

The Dark is Rising - Official Site
The flash site launched this week, and it has potential. Right now it doesn't have enough content to judge it, but the early style is promising.

The Dark Knight - Official Site
The teaser trailer has been released but it is not officially online. I expect that to change by next week. If you can't wait, you probably know where to look.

Deal - Official Site
All the usual features are here, synopsis, bios, image gallery, trailer. Speaking of bios, they have a section for the cast and another section for the poker players featured in the movie and there's some crossover here as both Elizabeth Berkley and Jennifer Tilly are accomplished poker players. There is also a section for news that includes a behind-the-scenes clip.

Descent - Official Site
Just the basics so far.

The Devil Came on Horseback - Official Site
The movie is in theaters, the trailer is still marked coming soon.

Doomsday - Official Site
Just a text and image based look at the making of the movie.

Exiled - Official Site
Just the synopsis and image gallery so far.

Fred Claus - Official Site
The new trailer is online, and it gives a lot more information on the movie. I am cautiously optimistic about the movie, but I'm going to need to see more to be sold.

Hot Rod - Official Site
A clip was added to the site but all I got was 2 minutes of buffing.

I Am Legend - Official Site
The synopsis and three images were added to the site. Also, there are sections for the comic book and second life.

I Know Who Killed Me - Official Site
Just the basics with nothing to make it stand out.

The Incredible Hulk - Official Site
Just the synopsis.

Indiana Jones 4 - Official Site
A new look to the site and the background music alone should get the Fanboys all excited. Additionally, there are a couple videos and a few photos added to the breaking headlines. There's not nearly enough to judge either the movie or the site, but I am increasingly hopeful.

Iron Man - Official Site
New look. No new content.

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters - Official Site
The flash site launched this week but while it has a lot more style than most documentary sites, there's not a lot of content.

The Kingdom - Official Site
New look and the new trailer is online.

My Kid Could Paint That - Official Site
Nothing so far.

No End In Sight - Official Site
A lot of information and quite a bit a style. Much more style than most documentary sites.

No Regret - Official Site
No content so far.

No Reservations - Official Site
No updates in about a month. Simple site without enough style to really set it apart.

Pathology - Official Site
Just a clip inviting you to check out the movie at ComicCon as well as some news articles.

Resident Evil: Extinction - Official Site
There's a new game, but it is restricted.

Rush Hour 3 - Official Site
There's a trailer translator added to the site, but rather weak as an extras.

Shoot 'Em Up - Official Site
New look and all the usual features were added this week. Also added were some age-restricted features, which I can't get to cause I'm Canadian. I know it's possible to check to see if the person surfing to your site is Canadian, so I'm not sure why they don't allow exceptions for us. We do represent 10% of the domestic box office.

The Simpsons Movie - Official Site
A couple more locations were added to the site, however, there are still a couple that are marked coming soon. Townhall has another game, (Naked Skate), which is quite fun and a little demented.

Star Trek - Official Site
Just the teaser poster so far. At least when it comes to the movie page. StarTrek.com covers all of the franchise and there's plenty of non-movie specific information there. On a side note, I like the teaser posters. It's simple in its design but evokes the classic series.

Stardust - Official Site
The last of the residents were added to the site.

Step Up 2 the Streets - Official Site
MySpace. 'Nuff said.

Things We Lost in the Fire - Official Site
Just the trailer so far.

This Is England - Official Site
All the usual information is here with enough style to sell the movie. (I love some of the songs used for background music, but I can't image Skinheads being big fans of Tainted Love.) In addition to the regular features, there are nearly 20 interview / behind-the-scenes clips that really sell the movie.

Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard - Official Site
The usual content for a documentary site, along with the usual lack of style.

War - Official Site
More bios were added and so was some information on some of the weapons used in the movie.

Watchmen - Official Site
Just the synopsis and the cast list.

Who's Your Caddy - Official Site
Some clips were added to the site, but when a movie is this bad, you probably should avoid showing this much of it.


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Filed under: Movie Website Updates, The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Star Trek, I am Legend, The Bourne Ultimatum, Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Simpsons Movie, Rush Hour 3, The Incredible Hulk, Watchmen, Beowulf, Cloverfield, Fred Claus, Resident Evil: Extinction, The Kingdom, No Reservations, Stardust, Balls of Fury, War, Becoming Jane, Hot Rod, The Comebacks, Shoot 'Em Up, Doomsday, The Seeker: The Dark is Rising, I Know Who Killed Me, Who's Your Caddy?, Charlie Bartlett, Things We Lost in the Fire, No End In Sight, The King of Kong, This is England, My Kid Could Paint That, The Devil Came on Horseback, Pathology, Fong juk, Transformation: The Life & Legacy of Werner Erhard, Huhwihaji anha, Descent, The Camden 28, 30 Days of Night, Arctic Tale