Movie Websites Launches for May 21 - May 27

May 27, 2004

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, Baadasssss! - Official Site. If you know of any new movie websites not on this list feel free to e-mail me with the details.


Alien vs. Predator
Current Content: AIM Icons were added to the Downloads sections.


Anchorman
Current Content: As expected, all the dates were removed from the sections still marked coming soon, although they were replaced with brief descriptions so that's a plus. Also added was a PSA with Ron Burgundy.


Baadasssss!
Current Content: I love this site, not only does it have an excellent 70s style, it has some of the best background music I've heard in a while. Most of the usual features are there, synopsis, cast bios, trailer, image gallery, etc. But it is the production notes that take center stage. But calling them production notes isn't a fair and accurate representation. It talks about Hollywood's treatment of minorities before "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song." It talks about the difficulties Melvin Van Peeples had making that film and how it changed the way Hollywood portrayed minorities. It also talks about how those struggles were paralleled in other areas of the civil rights movement. There is still a few sections left marked coming soon, like Black Cinema and reviews, but that's not enough to stop this site from winning the funky Weekly Website Award.


The Chronicles of Riddick
Current Content: I do believe the character bios were added. However, the cast and crew bios have still not been added, nor have the production notes, behind the scenes, clip or interviews.


The Day After Tomorrow
Current Content: I don't get this, the movie opens tomorrow, but there are still way too many features still marked coming soon. Many of the cast bios and the entire One on One questions are still not there. One of the montages is still missing and half the ones originally promised are not there anymore. Add in a navigation system that struck me as unnecessary and you have a site high on potential but poorly executed. Much like the film itself.


Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Current Content: Another game, Target Practice, was added to the site.


Facing Windows
Current Content: There is very little animation on this site and no sound. However, the image gallery is the envy of most sites: 58 high-res images. The site also has most of the usual information, synopsis, production notes, cast and crew bios.


Franky and Johnny are Married
Current Content: The main page of this site comes across as a little untamed and the lack of sound and animation is always a problem. However, this site does have plenty of information, mostly behind the scenes. Interviews with the editor, DP, etc. talked about working with Digital Video, shooting a low budget movie, etc. and were enjoyable to read.


Garfield
Current Content: The memory game was added to the site.


The Green Hornet
Current Content: Looks like there could be weekly news updates on this site. And it also looks like there'll be talking as much about other Kevin Smith films as they will about The Green Hornet.


Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
Current Content: A rather large clip about the Craver Hall of Fame was added to the site. I'm not sure I can accurately describe what the Craver Hall of Fame is, at least not in a way you'd believe me, so you'd better check it out.


The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Current Content: Didn't notice this the first time, but there are several ways the Earth is destroyed in the intro.


I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
Current Content: The usual features were added to the site, synopsis, cast and crew bios and the trailer.


Ju-On: The Grudge
Current Content: Just the placeholder site with no content.


Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Current Content: The image gallery was added to the site, as was another eye to collect.


Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Current Content: Just the placeholder site with the synopsis and cast and crew, (no bios.)


Raising Helen
Current Content: A behind the scenes featurette was added to the site just in time for tomorrow's opening. It is an impressive length for a website.


Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Current Content: Audio introductions were added to the main site and each subsection.


Saved!
Current Content: This is a good site with plenty of animation and audio clips from the movie. Also on the site are all the usual pieces of information, synopsis, production notes, cast and crew bios, etc. There is even a personality quiz.


She Hate Me
Current Content: Just a placeholder site with about a dozen stills and the press kit in .pdf format.


Sleepover
Current Content: Big update this week as several new features were added. Some interactive features like a Whack-a-Mole like game and a personality quiz. Others new features include Sleepover essentials, which includes tips for holding a sleepover party.


Solitary Fracture
Current Content: One of the simplest sites I've seen, it is just the single page with a brief description of the plot, filmmaker and production. Also worth noting that the first screening is free. So if you live in Southern California, it might be worth checking out.


Soul Plane
Current Content: There have been no new changes in nearly a month.


Spider-Man 2
Current Content: There were a couple of articles added to the site, including the first Spider-Man 2 interview by Tobey Maguire.


The Stepford Wives
Current Content: Huge update this week as the rest of the online extras were uploaded. This section contains recipes, beauty tips, exercise tips, etc. All of it written in the cheesy, campy fashion that is so fitting for a film such as this one.


Thunderbirds
Current Content: The international flash launched this week and hopefully will be followed by the North American version shortly. This is a large site with a lot to explore, plenty of animation and sound and lots of games to play (most of which you have to download first.) It also has most of the usual features like synopsis, trailer, etc.


THX1138
Current Content: The director's cut of this groundbreaking sci-fi film from George Lucas is being released into theatres this September but the website launched this week. The site works well presenting the content while conforming to the mood of the film. It has the trailer, synopsis, cast and crew (no bios) and image gallery. There are also plenty of animation and sounds as well as audio clips from the movie.


Two Brothers
Current Content: Another flash site that launched this week but about half of the content is still marked coming soon. The synopsis is there, but the production notes are not. The image gallery is there, but the photo journal is not. The cast and crew are listed on the site, but the bios are not. Both trailers and a short featurette are there, but the clips are not. Also marked coming soon are a section called "Take the Journey" and the activity center. There's enough animation and sound on the site, but what I really liked the background jungle sounds.


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Filed under: Spider-Man 2, The Day After Tomorrow, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, AVP: Alien Vs. Predator, Garfield: The Movie, The Stepford Wives, The Chronicles of Riddick, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Raising Helen, Two Brothers, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Soul Plane, Sleepover, Saved!, Thunderbirds, Facing Windows, How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass, She Hate Me, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead