Man of Steel Movie Poster available at the official movie website (link below)

The movie website for one of the biggest movies of the year should be fantastic, right?  It should be as SUPER as SUPERMAN!!  So, how in fact, did the movie website for the movie Man of Steel (the new superman reboot) measure up?  Well, perhaps it’s more like Clark Kent than Superman. 

When you visit the website, the focus is immediately on the movie – the trailer runs for you automatically, and aims at getting you interested and hyped for the movie.  And the movie looks like it’s going to be an epic journey through the life of a man that never really fit in.  A man that the world may or may not be ready for.  A man that helps the world be safer and better.  A man that the world calls “Superman”!  When you finish watching the trailer, you’ll be ready to see the movie….and ready to delve more into the world of the Man of Steel..but….don’t expect to find much more on the website!

Sad, but true. No games, no social networking. No Man of Steel app. No skins. Instead, here’s what you’ll find:

1. Trailer – makes movie look very good, watch it!
2. Posters link – sorry, only two to choose from…but one of them does have a closeup of the superman suit, and it’s looking quite high tech!
3. Worldwide Release Dates (Sorry Europe, you won’t see Superman until about a week after North America!)
4. Videos – There are a few different trailers to check out.  If you’ve watched the first one and you’re eager for more glimpses into what the movie will have, this is the link to go to first! No real secrets given away though!

Movie Synopses: Man of Steel is a reimagining of the movie Superman. The movie stars Henry Cavill as Clark Kent (aka Superman), Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Clark Kent’s parents, and Russell Crow as Superman’s father. The movie chronicles the growth of a young boy who grows into who he truly is – Superman, finding that as Superman he must battle the evil of villains General Zod and General Zod’s partner, Faora.

Man of Steel Release Date: June 14, 2013
Official Movie Website Here!

Sample IPad Wallpaper for Jurassic Park 3D

For the 20th anniversary of Jurassic Park, they’re bringing the movie back – in 3D!  It’s the same movie you remember  from 20 years ago (only this time it’s called Jurassic Park 3D), back in movie theaters for a whole new generation of viewers.  So, is the official website worth a visit?  Well, it’s not spectacular, but yes, you should surf on by! On it, you’ll find:

1. Create your own Photos with Dinos – The good: great idea, paste some dinosaurs in your pictures – who doesn’t love that idea?! The bad – it’s on facebook!   I personally don’t like having to access things through facebook – if you’re going to give a fun app, give it on it’s own website or at least the movie website! Unfortunately, the Dino Photobooth is in fact on Facebook (link here). Luckily, you don’t have to have a facebook account to use it!
2. A chance to win $1,000! – Who ever wins sweepstakes anyway?  Well, noone I know. But if you don’t try, you for sure won’t enter, so why not?  Just enter your name, email address, and phone number and you’ll be entered for your chance to win 2 tickets to see Jurassic Park 3D and $1,000. (sweeps expires April 15, 2013).  PS – there are 50 instant win prizes, so get ready for instant gratification!
3. Downloads – A big movie like Jurassic Park better have downloads, after all, at the time it was released in 1993, it was one of the highest grossing films! There aren’t too many downloads to choose from, but they are there, including desktop and ipad wallpapers, twitter skins, and profile icons.

You’ll also find (of course), a movie gallery, video gallery, and movie synopses.

Movie Synopses:  Jurassic Park is about a billionaire who has created an amusement park on an island – and the theme of the park is based around real live (cloned) dinosaurs. Things start to go wrong on the small island, and soon everyone is in for a fight for their lives as dinosaurs do what they do best!

Jurassic Park 3D Release Date: April 5, 2013

Official Movie Website here!

So, what is the best thing about Family Weekend?  Probably the facebook page – at least there you get a little interactivity and you can see some pictures of the actors and find out where and when they’ll be places!

There’s actually, literally not much of a reason to visit the actual website itself – there is not even a movie synopses, much less anything else to do there.  I know this movie does appear to be a low-budge limited release film, but still, they could include some pictures or movie poster or even a synopses!! Humph!

But, I’ll help you out with what the movie’s about…

Movie Synopses: Family Weekend stars Kristin Chenowith, Matthew Modine, Joey King, and Olysya Rulin and is about a 16 year old girl whose passion is jumping rope…. and when her parents miss her competition, she takes them hostage!

Family Weekend Release Date: March 29, 2013
Official Movie Website Here!

Sample wallpaper available on the movie website for the host

On the movie website for The Host you’ll find an application so that you can become a soul!!  The link is off the main page…simply click on “start” and you’ll be able to upload a picture of yourself…becoming a soul is all about the inhuman eyes, so once your picture is uploaded it asks you to find your eyes and then turns those eyes into “soul” eyes!  Your pic is then available for download as a twitter profile, desktop skin, or animated movie poster!  It’s actually quite amazing how much a little tweak to the eyes can change someone!!

You’ll also not want to miss…

• A few behind the scenes featurettes give you a better idea of what the movie is about if you haven’t seen too many trailers for it yet.
• There are also quite a few downloads available – to get to them, just click on the “choose a side” link to be taken to the character profile pages…within those pages the “downloads” link offers facebook profiles, twitter skins, twitter profiles, and desktop wallpapers!

That is the most interactive aspect of the Host website…the rest includes the movie trailer, info about the cast and crew, and photos/images from the film.

Movie Synopses:  The Host movie is based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer – the same author of the Twilight Saga.  The story takes place in the future when the Earth has been invaded by aliens who actually take over the minds and bodies of humans (their “hosts”).  The movie focuses on one person – Melanie Stryder – whose body has been taken over by an alien called “Wanderer”.  Melanie and Wanderer soon join together to save everyone Melanie cares most about.

The Host Release Date:  March 29, 2013

Official Movie Website Here!

the croods sample movie wallpaper

The movie website for The Croods is actually pretty fun and very interactive! You’ll find alot to keep you busy!

First and foremost, you’ll find free ringtones on the Croods site!! Click the link for “Belt’s Ringtone” and you’ll be able to download a ringtone for your blackberry, iphone, or android…not sure how to do it? There are instructions for the few easy steps you’ll take!

Next up, if you click on the “Downloads” link, you’ll find a nice assortment of activities including:

1. “Print and Create” Coloring Pages for different Crood characters – download a full page outline for coloring!
2. Movie wallpapers to decorate you computer desktop.
3. Moving animated email gifs that you can append to your emails as signatures – pick your favorite movie character!
4. Profile images so you can update your facebook page with a nicely sized Crood picture. 
5. Twitter skins for your twitter page!

Then there’s the Fun Activities link! If you click on this link you’ll find all kinds of games to keep you and your kids occupied, including:

1. A game called The Croods Maze Mania.  Choose your level (Easy, Medium, or Hard), and you’re taken to one of those old fashioned mazes that you would find in an activity book! Use your keyboard to navigate your way through and if you make it to the end, you can unlock things like new Coloring Pages!
2. Another game you can play is called Punch Monkey Mayhem! In this game, you take away the Punch Monkey’s bananas with your mouse.  Kind of a weird game and not so much fun, but when you win you also unlock things (I unlocked a Punch Monkey Door Hanger!)
3. Then there’s an online version of Find the Crood Paint By Numbers which actually is kind of relaxing and fun at any age! Once you finish a picture you find the creature and can print a full page image of it!
4. Then there is my favorite game – the Croods Memory Madness! It’s either Easy or Hard and once you win you can download a printable activity!

Of course, you’ll find the trailer, list of characters and movie synopses on the site as well!

Movie Synopses:  The Croods is an animated movie filmed in 3D and starring the voices of Nicholas Cage, Emmas Stone, and Ryan Reynolds.  The movie is about a family that takes a journey when their cave is destroyed.  As they travel they discover fantastic creatures and a marvelous world!

The Croods Release Date: March 22
Official Movie Website Here!

The movie website opens with nice full screen images of each of the Joe characters, and a small menu bar off to the side with what the site has to offer you:

Realhero on Instagram, Videos, Images, Story, Partners, and Characters.

Realhero on Instagram – The first thing I did of course was check out this link to see if it had anything intersting.  What it is is a place for you to submit a photo to instagram of a real hero in your life.  You can view the recent pictures uploaded in a nice gallery layout – and you’ll see some touching ones – black and white pictures of fathers, pictures of father and son, pictures of veterans…all heartwarming!

The rest of the links are pretty standard, and sadly, no, there are no games to play.  But since I was there anyway, let me give you the lowdown on some of the characters:

1. Roadblock – played by The Rock, a dedicated soldier
2. Storm Shadow – Snake Eye’s Enemy and greatest adversary
3. Cobra Commander – everyone’s favorite bad guy
4. General Joe Colton – Bruce Willis stars as the original G.I. Joe!
5. Duke – a dedicated and loyal leader
6. Snake Eyes – wears a mask and took a vow of silence!
7. Lady Jaye – an expert marskman
8. Flint – a soldier
9. Jinx – a ninja in training

There’s also a link to the movie’s Facebook page where they want you to tweet your photo to them and – I imagine – they post it on their walL! No movie wallpaper or icons which is a little disappointing

Movie Synopsis:  I’ve never heard of this movie myself, but it actually looks like it might be good! The movie stars Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin and Steve Buscemi. Carell and Buscemi star as magicians who work on the Las Vegas strip.  It looks like their act might be over as their friendship has deteriorated into hate. Carrey plays the bad “magician” that may or may not spur them back into success.  Will they be able to rediscover their magic for love?  You’ll have to watch the movie to find out!

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Release Date:  March 15, 2013

Official Movie Website here!

1.  Custom Downloads – If you’re looking for some Wizard of Oz movie wallpaper or chat icons, then you’ll find them!  Lots of great images in sizes to fit your computer, ipad, iphone, or even android.  There are also Oz background wallpapers for twitter, facebook, and google which is kind of nice because they are scaled to the right size!  Also, if you don’t quite find the background size that you like, or you want to zoom in to a particular part of an image, you can with the “Create a Custom Download” feature!

2. Games – I’m always a fan when movie websites give you games to play, and luckily Disney doesn’t disappoint! If you click on the games link, you’ll find the Journey to Oz game where your goal is to help oz get past the Wicked Witch’s army into the Emerald City!  There’s also the Yellow Brick Road Adventure game where you travel with Oz, Glinda, and China Girl down the yellow brick road!

The rest of the movie website is pretty basic – videos, info about the characters, and info about the story.  Overall, the movie website is average.  Considering this is such a great movie with such a powerful history behind it (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), I think they could have done alot more! But, it’s still worth a visit regardless!

Official Movie Website:  Oz the Great and Powerful

Release Date:  March 8, 2013

Movie Synopses:  Oz the Great and Powerful is directed by Sam Raimi and is about the famous Wizard of Oz.  It is about Oscar Diggs, a circus magician who finds himself in the Land of Oz where everyone thinks he’s an actual magician.  He meets Glinda the Good Witch, and the evil Wicked Witch of the West.  The events in Oz the Great and Powerful take place before Dorothy enters the land of Oz, so you will not see Dorothy in the story!

example of jack the giant slayer wallpaper available on the movie website

I love it when movie websites give you the photo uploads where you can be part of the movie….and Jack the Giant Slayer gives you one!! It’s not the best one I’ve ever seen, but still, it’s pretty fun…you upload a picture of yourself in the “Giant Sized photo Upload” feature of the site and it gets posted into a movie poster of the Jack the Giant Slayer movie…you can be either the small head or the big head, your choice!  You can then download the image to share it on twitter, facebook, or tumbler, or just onto your desktop for your own enjoyment!

Also on the website there are 2 games to choose from.  Yes, and one of the games on the Jack the Giant Slayer website is VERY VERY addicting.  I was just going there to try it out and I got stuck!  It’s called CLOISTER DEFENSE…your goal – unlock 10 stages to defeat General Fallon and his army!  As you play, you’ll unlock a series of achievements.  It’s very fun, basically you build defenses in strategic positions in order to defeat the giants as they attempt to attack the castle! As you get money, you upgrade your defenses! very, very addictive!

The other game on the site, Fallon’s Fury, is not nearly as fun, basically you play a huge two headed giant and stomp around trying to hit people, tents, houses and avoide flying objects and spikes.  Meh.  It’s ok.  I highly recommend the other game more!

In the downloads section, you’ll find wallpapers, facebook covers, and papers designed specifically for your ipad and iphone! (I guess they thought of everyone!)

Of course, there is also a nice gallery of images to check out, and a trailer of the movie….but I doubt you’ll get there once you’ve started playing the games!! 

Movie Synopses:  Jack the Giant Slayer is a 3D action adventure movie loosely based on the old nursery tale about Jack and the Beanstalk.  The movie is about Jack (acted by Nicholas Hoult), a young man who battles giants and fights for the love of a princess.

Jack the Giant Slayer Release Date: March 1, 2013
Official movie website here!

GAMES

The best part of the movie website is the games section.  First there is the Area 51 Game! you can play the game by clicking on the main circle when the website comes up. At first it looks like it is a video since the big link says “PLAY”, but once you click on it, you’ll be pleasantly suprised to find that you hae entered a game in which you can choose to be Gary or Scorch. The game is kind of fun, you use your arrows on the keyboard to navigate through a maze, avoiding obstacles along the way.

If you’re not crazy about that one, there is the Gnarlach Rescue game, where your goal is to rescue babies while avoiding the gnarlachs.  You play a monster and just use your mouse to avoid obstacles! (I personally prefer the Area 51 game).

ACTIVITIES / FUNZONE

Other fun things to do on the website include the Alien Activities Funzone which has a Crossword puzzle you can download, an activity where you draw a movie scene based on a scenario, and a space-themed trivia quiz.  There’s also an alien welcome zone, which is kind of funny with different “earth” things that aliens should know.

MOVIE SYNOPSES

So, what is Escape from Planet Earth about?  The movie is an animated 3D film that takes place on planet Baab, and follows Scorch Supernova and his brother Gary as they fight the evil Shanker to save the planet! The movie stars the voices of Brandan Fraser, William Shatner, and Sarah Jessica Parker.