Movie Websites Launches for March 20 - March 26

March 26, 2003

During the past week 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. This week no site stuck out and screamed, ‘Give me an award!’ They either didn’t have enough information, or didn’t format the information well, or just didn’t strike me as special. I was tempted to simply not give an award this week, but I instead gave it to the best of the rest, so to speak. If you know of any new movie websites not on this list feel free to e-mail me with the details, please.

Assassination Tango
Current Content: Not much here to see, just the bare basics (Synopsis, trailer, etc.) Granted, there might not be a lot of their target audience in cyber-space. But the website still could have been much more engaging


Basic
Current Content: The flash site has a long intro that hits most of the points the trailer does. After that, too much of the focus is on the making of the movie instead of trying to sell the movie. The flash site only has the trailer, while the regular site have the trailer, a photo gallery and six preview scenes. Why these six specific scenes where chosen is a bit of a mystery as they weren’t particularly intriguing. A minor annoyance was the way the buttons expanded on the flash site. If you move from right to left the expanding and contracting buttons become a hindrance.


The Core
Current Content: Quite a lot of information, with all the usual suspects present (Synopsis, Trailer, Cast and Crew Bios, etc.) However, the user interface seems to be based more on ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if …’ rather than what would make a better website. Also, the website would have been a perfect place to explain the science behind the movie, as this is the biggest complaint given in the various reviews, previews, etc. I’ve seen. On the plus side, if you click the panic button you can play a game of pong.


Envy
Current Content: None. Just a placeholder image till the official site is activated later on. Look for an update here when it does.


Head of State
Current Content: Has a lot to offer, but for some reason never seems to come together as a cohesive whole. Which is too bad, cause if it did it would have won the Weekly Website Award. As it is, it’s still worth your time to watch the clips and interviews, read the synopsis and production notes, and make the old white people dance, etc.


Lara Craft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life
Current Content: The first movie’s site is now the new movie’s site. Just launched, there are more features marked ‘Coming Soon’ then there are currently on the site, but that’s a good thing as it will entice surfers to come back for more. Among the site more unusual features is a countdown to the release accurate to 1/1000th of a second. Hopefully my entertainment planning never needs that kind of precision. On a side note: The sign up form assumed I lived in the United States, and there was no way to change that.


The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Current Content: In addition to the synopsis and the trailer, this website now has a photo gallery, wallpaper and a music video of Why Not by Hillary Duff. There’s also a poster, but you need to agree to Term of Use to download it. I’ve never seen that before. There are more features marked, ‘Coming Soon.’ Not the best site I’ve reviewed, but has good content with no flaws. So it’s the winner of the Weekly Website Award.


Sweet Sixteen
Current Content: Simple site with a good layout. Includes a synopsis, trailer and cast and crew bios. Hopefully as the release date nears more information will be present, especially in the press and awards section.


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Filed under: Head of State, The Core, Basic, Assassination Tango