10 Fantastic Websites for Film Fanatics
By Christina Warren (from Mashable) on June 22, 2010
The web is a great place for film buffs, and there are thousands and thousands of sites and communities geared specifically toward movie goers.
Here are ten of our favorite sites for film fanatics:
1. MUBI
If you love The Criterion Collection, you'll adore MUBI (formerly known as The Auteurs), a site that not only lets you connect with friends to bond over great films, but also lets you watch many of those films right from your laptop.
MUBI isn't really a social network, though it does connect seamlessly with Facebook. It's more of a place to find, discuss and watch high quality film. Some films are only available in certain areas, though the site does work and has agreements all over the world. The average price per film is $3-5 for a 7-day viewing window. You can also pay $12 a month to watch unlimited films.
Most films in the MUBI library come from Criterion, which means, you get a great way to stream high-quality films that aren't easy to find at the local video store.
European film fans can look forward to having the MUBI experience on their PlayStation 3 devices beginning in the fall. This will bring not just Criterion, but also other well-regarded commercial films, classics and foreign features to your living room.
2. MovieClips.com
Tired of scouring YouTube for clips from your favorite movies, only to find out that the clip you want to watch is either not available or is really crummy quality? Check out MovieClips.com, a site that is not only free, but also completely legit.
You can search the extensive archives of past films, check out clips from new films and even embed your favorite clips on your own website or blog. For instance, check out this scene from one of my all-time favorite movies, "Clueless."
3. Openfilm
Openfilm is what I consider a rarified gem in the user-generated content space. Unlike sites like YouTube or even Vimeo, Openfilm was created for filmmakers and people who love the craft of filmmaking and independent film. It's a great way for film lovers to not only discover really great content from independent filmmakers or film festivals all across the country, but for would-be filmmakers to put their content out for others to enjoy.
I talked to Dmitry Kozko, the co-founder of Openfilm earlier this year and was impressed with his vision and commitment to the site. I'm not the only one. The chairman of Openfilm's Advisory Board is none other than James Caan.
4. ScriptShadow
Want to read a detailed review of the hottest Hollywood scripts before they hit the silver screen? Then you have to read ScriptShadow.
ScriptShadow manages to not only track down the hottest scripts but break them down for us at home. The blog also offers insight into projects that either don't end up going forward or end up with extensive rewrites (see: "Moneyball" and its related drama from last summer).
ScriptShadow is also a great avenue for would-be screenwriters, because the site occasionally reviews reader submissions (the entire month of May is dedicated to reader scripts). It's an opportunity to see how real script reviewers respond to screenplays.
5. Box Office Mojo
5. Box Office Mojo There are a lot of sites that keep a tally on the dollars and cents of the movie business, but Box Office Mojo does it extremely well and offers up its information for free.
You can view the latest box office reports at the domestic and international box offices; look at historical charts; and compare films by genre, studio, actor, director and theater count.
6. RogerEbert.com/Ebert Club
6. RogerEbert.com/Ebert Club
Roger Ebert is not only one of the most well-known film critics in history, he's also one of the best writers on the subject. While his medical problems (which were recently made more public thanks to a riveting profile in Esquire and an appearance on Oprah) have prevented him from appearing on camera week to week, Ebert still writes movies reviews and in his personal blog.
Earlier this year, Ebert launched the Ebert Club, a subscription service that for $5 a year gives readers an exclusive weekly newsletter, access to Ebert's favorite Twitter items, and the knowledge that they are helping support the greater RogerEbert.com archives.
Even without the club, RogerEbert.com is a veritable treasure-trove of movie reviews spanning Ebert's entire career, movie essays and Answer Man columns.
7. Deadline Hollywood
7. Deadline Hollywood Sometimes referred to as the most-feared blogger in Hollywood, Nikki Finke can always be counted on to know everything about everything going on behind-the-scenes in Tinseltown.
Deadline is one place dedicated to breaking stories and giving readers the inside-scoop into the business side of the industry.
8. Filmsite.org
Written and edited by Tim Dirks, Filmsite.org is a website for classic film fans, students of film history and anyone who just likes the movies. It's dedicated to highlighting the greatest and "best" films and scenes in cinematic history.
There are detailed film reviews and descriptions, quote archives, commentary, photos and more movie lists than you might have thought possible. If you're interested in exploring more of a certain genre or you just need a suggestion for a good movie to rent on a Thursday night, this is the site for you.
9. /Film
9. /Film
There are so many great movie blogs on the web (we easily could have made the list just about them), but one stand-out is /Film. /Film is dedicated to all genres of film, but it has a special focus on big Hollywood hits, while also highlighting cult or indie niche films.
The site covers movie news, trailers, reviews, casting rumors, and random (read awesome) movie-related fun all over the web.
Movie theater chain AMC recently revamped their website with the goal of making it a destination for film fans to get information and news about the movies, in addition to buying tickets for upcoming shows.
The site features a news blog, interviews with cast and crew members of upcoming films, and tons of fan groups where movie fans can discuss their favorite films.
Users can even create their own movie blogs and share their opinions about what's going on the in the world of film.
[Top Image Credit: alexsaes]
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