Movie Website Updates for July 15 - July 21

July 21, 2005

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, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Official Site.

9 Songs
First a warning, this site contains nudity and should not be viewed at work. The site did do a good job selling the movie, I'm no more interested in seeing the movie now than before I saw the site.

Aeon Flux
There's a preview for the new comic book coming out.

Bad News Bears
Cast bios were added to the site leaving just the interviews marked coming soon. Still early in the day so I'll check back later. ... Nope.

Bailey's Billion$
All the usual features are on the site, including pretty extensive production notes, but there's not enough style to keep a person's interest long.

The Brothers Grimm
You got to love a site that tells you about every update in the news section. This week the rest of the usual features were added, (synopsis, cast & crew bios and image gallery.)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The last two games were added to the site, including one that is a Centipede clone.

Corpse Bride
The placeholder site underwent a complete redesign, but there's not much in the way of new features.

Curandero
Miramax site, 'nuff said.

The Devil's Rejects
I have mixed feelings about this site; on the one hand, it is a huge site that had regular updates since it first launched, (for instance, more than a dozen clips were added to the site this week including a clip hidden in Charlie's Frontier Town webite.) On the other hand, almost everything requires proof of age to visit and I'm not giving out that much information over the Internet. I can't be the only one who feels that way, which means the site is losing out on potential surfers and that doesn�t make much sense.

The Dukes of Hazzard
Rebel Makeover was added to the games section leaving just the cast & crew bios and production notes left marked coming soon.

The Edukators
There's less here about the movie than there is about the political statements being made. On the one hand, this does make the site stand out, on the other hand, it doesn't really sell the movie, at least not to me.

Grizzly Man
This is a great site that does an excellent job at selling the movie. The usual features for a documentary site are here and the extras includes excerpts from the video diary and even some facts about bears.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The flash site launched this week, and while 99% of the site is still marked coming soon I was tempted to give it the Weekly Website Award now because there's no chance this site will be anything but amazing. So far the only features on the site are some information on the Triwizard Tournament including an audio clip of Dumbledore describing the tournament and a look at the contestants and the schools they represent. There's also the old features from the placeholder site, (poster and teaser trailer) as well as some animation, (intro and a fire-breathing dragon.) Oh to heck with it, it may be mostly marked coming soon, but it's still the best site on this week's list and deserves to win the mystical Weekly Website Award.

Hustle and Flow
Just in time for tomorrow's opening, a dozen clips were added to the site.

Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
Just the synopsis and the teaser trailer. Again, it's too much teaser and not enough trailer for my liking.

The Island
This is a massive site, or should I say sites. In addition to the regular site there are extra sites for Merrick Biotech, Clone Watch, and more. This week the main site saw the addition of 8 clips and the two TV spots hit the internet.
Get Ready: Quick Time, Windows Media or Real Player
Dream: Quick Time, Windows Media, or Real Player

Junebug
Another new flash site that launched this week, this one has a lot of information on everything from the characters to the music and the art. (On a side note, looking at the paintings at work may not be a good idea as some of them are sexual and disturbing.) There's a lot here and those interested in the movie should find plenty interesting here. There are a couple of problems, most importantly the music doesn't loop and it stops well before you can finish exploring the whole site.

Last Days
No real changes since the site first launched.

The Legend of Zorro
There's a new international trailer, but it's not on the site, you have to surf to Apple.com to see it. I liked the oroginal, it was good swashbuckling fun, but this one seems too serious and doesn't have the same lighthearted side. They try, but the jokes fall flat. Of course, it's a little hard to judge the film based solely on two very similar trailers, but that's the impression that I get.

Lord of War
Just a short animated intro.

Monster House
No real content, although there is more animation here than on most placeholder sites.

Must Love Dogs
The activity section was added to the site with two features: Rate-a-Date and Personal Ad Libs. Cute, but nothing too special.

Oliver Twist
The flash site launched this week but it's far too early to judge it. All but four features are marked coming soon, (synopsis, image gallery, downloads and educators' guide.) There animated transitions are great and bode well for the final rating.

Saw 2
The placeholder site underwent a complete redesign just in time for the unveiling of the teaser trailer, which it way too much teaser and not nearly enough trailer. It's sole purpose is to get the base excited without converting any new fans.

Sky High
Class registration began this week, but when I try the site just hangs on me. Can't judge a site if it doesn't work for me.

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
This is easily one of the best teaser sites I have ever seen and yu simply must check out the Hell O'Clock News video clip. Warped beyond description.

The Thing About My Folks
Just the trailer so far, and as a fan of both Paul Reiser and Peter Falk the trailer left me intrigued. I'm not saying its going to be award winning, but watching it should be a good use of an evening.

Two for the Money
Just the synopsis, image gallery and a trailer that I can't watch cause I use Firefox.

Underworld: Evolution
Just a text intro so far, there's enough style that I'm hopeful, but it's way too early to tell.

Valiant
The Activities and Download section went online this week. There's one game and a bunch of stuff to print while the downloads section has the usual suspects: wallpaper, screensavers, and AIM Icons.


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Filed under: Movie Website Updates, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ice Age: The Meltdown, The Dukes of Hazzard, Monster House, Underworld: Evolution, Corpse Bride, The Legend of Zorro, Must Love Dogs, The Brothers Grimm, The Island, The Bad News Bears, Lord of War, Hustle & Flow, Valiant, The Devil’s Rejects, Junebug, Oliver Twist, 9 Songs, Aeon Flux