Nov 26 2007'The Dark Knight' Has Eight Useless Webpages
The Warner Bros. intern staff is at it again, providing mildly entertaining but ultimately useless web content to keep us excited about a movie that's eight months away. Eight new Dark Knight websites have shown up online over the weekend, giving fans the chance to waste hours hunting for sad, irrelevant clues as to what this Joker character is up to, and why he's so good at Flash programming. The websites are:
The Gotham Times - The Times website can provide you with all manners of useless information about Gotham City. Could all the crime referenced in its pages somehow relate to that Joker criminal that Batman is fighting? I bet it does! Will you feel awful when someone asks you about a current event in the paper, but you've never heard about it because you instead chose to read a fictional city's fictional newspaper? I bet you will!
The Ha Ha Ha Times - Just like The Gotham Times, only defaced in the classic Joker style, which is surprisingly similar to the classic Jay Leno style. "Batman Saves Gotham Money On Car Insurance!" These headlines are hilarious!
Remembering Gina - Remember Gina? Neither do I. Apparently she was fictionally murdered by gangster Sal Maroni, leading to her receiving a fictional webpage memorial. Thus far, six people have commented that they remember her, one of which only claims a vague recollection, and one that claims Gina uses the same sassy vocabulary as Tyra Banks ("I remember your hugs and the way you would tell me to 'Grow up, girl!'").
Gotham National Bank - It only makes sense the Gotham National Bank would promote itself in as many venues as possible, considering that they're one of the few banks facing weekly supervillain attacks. Their savings accounts better be pretty great if the money will likely be stolen by The Penguin.
We Are The Answer - The official organization to report the corrupt cops of Gotham City. Only you can stop the next Batman equivalent of Rodney King.
Gotham Police Department - Their website claims they are one of the first "modern" style police departments. Apparently, in the world of Batman, most police departments are still like Keystone Cops, with about twenty guys comically scrambling to pack themselves into the paddy wagon.
Gotham City Rail - The best way to get up-to-date information on fictional trains in a fictional city, and it looks less like an old Geocities page than MTA.info.
Why So Serious Personality Profile - The Joker's personality quiz to see if you'd make a good henchman, because nothing is more sinister than a MySpace survey.
Reader Comments
1. Herner Wartzhog - November 26, 2007 2:11 PM
I think its a fun way to immerse yourself in the world of a film before it comes out. It shits all over cloverfields no dont worry we will have another name and trailer along shortly. OK actually no new name and a trailer very similar to the one you have already seen. Still we can only assume your desire to see the monster will ensure that we get your money, unless you log onto any film site or google it ..... Blast !
2. scott - November 26, 2007 2:41 PM
Geez, what a whiner! It's way better than most any other type of viral marketing that I've ever seen. And for those excited to see the new movie, it only whets their appetites even more and creates more of a buzz. The Dark Knight has a very creative marketing team on the other end of this.
3. Stu - November 26, 2007 4:17 PM
I think they're great. They set the scene for the sequel and give some info about the events since the first, like what happens to Gordon's partner. And the wearetheanswer.org one might not be entirely useless, as you can submit tips about cops, and I entered one using the names of the cops on the rememberance site, and I got an e-mail saying they were under investigation and I would be gotten back to soon, so it might lead to something else.
4. jumpin_j - November 26, 2007 4:29 PM
Boy it's a good thing they canceled the fare hike meetings. We're already paying $2 a ride, and besides, we know they keep two sets of books and pull out the one in debt when they need to increase fares. That 23rd St station hardly ever opens, and about time they made MetroCards, uh, Smartcards available. How the hell do I get to Penn Station from here? You can't tell from the timetable due to service outages AGAIN! AARGH!!!!!
God I can't wait for the writer's strike to be over.
5. jumpin_j - November 26, 2007 4:30 PM
PS: I remember Gina. She was such a ho. Yeah, good times. Good times.
6. Bobeyo - November 27, 2007 10:02 AM
Well I, for one, agree with the comments made by the editor. This is just stupid. You kids have fun though.
7. The Q - November 28, 2007 8:30 AM
Gigi and One are retarded.