Site of the Week -- June 21, 1999
hen it comes to fans, few are more enthusiastic or exacting than the followers of the BBC's legendary SF series Dr. Who. So it almost goes without saying that the official Dr. Who Web site had better be good. Really good.
And, luckily for both fans and the BBC, it is.
The Official Dr. Who Web Site combines the design of a professional
site with the fannish elements of an amateur one. It forgoes a slick,
Flash-filled look for a simple, newsy design. There are the standard nuts-and-bolts elements visitors expect from an official site, but it also features episode guides, write-ups on the series' multiple Doctors and a much-used discussion forum.
One of the site's best elements is its 60-plus-episode television compendium. Going beyond simple episode reviews, the compendium includes "things to watch for" snippets and "myth-busters" sections that debunk some of the crazier stories surrounding various Who episodes. The front page includes links to current discussions in the forum and, for truly rabid fans, there are even printable collector cards featuring the series' myriad aliens.
-- Kenneth Newquist
Site of the Week -- June 14, 1999
eru Lars may only have a few moments onscreen in Star Wars, but
that's enough to grant her an immortality of sorts on the Web. Aunt Beru's Place chronicles the life and death of Luke
Skywalker's kind and reassuring "aunt." The site captures all of Beru's
idiosyncrasies, from pride in her cabbage stew to her frustration at losing
an annual bake off to Huff Darklighter's wife.
The Carol Brady of the Star Wars universe introduces visitors to her
family, including her grumpy-but-lovable husband Owen and her whiny,
rambunctious nephew. She explains why Tatooine milk is blue (clue: Banthas
aren't just for riding) and drops hints about her love life with Mos Eisely
bartender Wuher.
But what has to be one of the best parts of the site is Beru's very own
action figure--a very limited release (complete with blue milk) from
Kenner. The only question remaining is, does she have a kung-fu grip?
-- Kenneth Newquist
Site of the Week -- June 7, 1999
tanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey was a
landmark for science fiction filmmaking. Likewise, Underman's 2001,
an exhaustive, independent Web page devoted to the movie, is an evolution beyond the typical film site. Underman's is saturated with little-known and often fascinating explanations and anecdotes about 2001's planning, production, and promotion, and it also includes rare images of pre-production artwork, programs, and even long-lost scenes cut from the film by Kubrick himself.
Even Underman's data shortfalls add to the 2001 ethos. For example, the attempt to augment comprehensive cast bios with where-are-they-nows ran into odd roadblocks, such as the unwillingness of Douglas Rain--the voice of HAL--to discuss the film at all. There's also a complete transcript of all of HAL's dialogue, an analysis of the Soviet "answer" film (Solaris), and a rundown of key 2001 events since 1968. Extensive essays explore the film's legacy.
Underman's 2001 has so much to offer that even 2001's most ardent fans are bound to find something new.
-- Mark Wilson
