The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

It’s over. It’s done. We don’t need to make anymore Lord of the Rings movies.

From what I hear, Peter Jackson is saying this as much as the fans are.

I think this series can go hand-in-hand with the Star Warsprequels to signify why prequel trilogies are even worse ideas than prequels. Not only are prequels hard to make as good as the original movie, to tell that story in three parts is nearly…

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

It’s over. It’s done. We don’t need to make anymore Lord of the Rings movies.

From what I hear, Peter Jackson is saying this as much as the fans are.

I think this series can go hand-in-hand with the Star Warsprequels to signify why prequel trilogies are even worse ideas than prequels. Not only are prequels hard to make as good as the original movie, to tell that story in three parts is nearly…

So I saw The Hobbit last night.  It was pretty fun.  We went to the 3D/48fps version so as to get the full experience.  It was definitely an experience.  There's been a lot of whoopla about the shooting format, so I was curious to see the results for myself.  I'm not so keen on 3D but I thought the decision to shoot in 48 frames per second was cool if not totally successful.  You know what--props to them for taking a chance.

So the 48fps might look like a high budget Masterpiece Theatre video game.  I think that Peter Jackson is playing with a look that blurs lines between hyperrealism and illustration.  Who else can claim that?  Furthermore, the 48fps definitely enhanced the 3D experience.  

Okay, granted on the one hand the look doesn't really go over.  It takes you out of the moment too much.  But on the other hand, as an artistic decision I appreciate that.  I think that Peter Jackson is making films that are self-reflexive to a certain extent.  There are meta-narratives within the diegesis as well as without.  To have filmed this first installment of the Hobbit to look like a soap opera is interesting, whether you like the end result or not.

The 48 frames per second was so weird!! But so fucking clear and amazing!!! It just took a while to get used to it but damn I've never seen anything like it before! 

VISUAL SPRINTING: EXTRAS ON THE 48 FRAMES PER SECOND HOBBIT CONTROVERSY

How fast do you like your movies? For the past 80 years, movies have been filmed at 24 frames per minute. But Peter Jackson, the director of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, decided to film Bilbo Baggins at 48.

“If watching a 3D movie is like looking through a window, then [with this] we’ve taken the glass out of the window and we’re staring at reality,” filmmaker James Cameron said of the new frame speed technology in a presentation on the Future of Cinema.

Does this new speed make the action more lifelike? Less blurry? More emotionless? More dizzying? Will cinema owners upgrade their projection equipment to accommodate the accelerated film speed? Will audiences rejoice or flee?

Cinema buffs (and critics) are exploring the new technique — and what its impact will be. Here are some Culture Craver “extras” on the new trend:

'The Hobbit' at 48fps: Frame Rates Explained

By Jamie Lendino in PC Magazine

The Hobbit at 48fps: Too Much Information and the Science of Eye Movement

By Alex Knapp in Forbes

CinemaCon 2012: Dim reaction to high-def look of Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit'

By Anthony Breznican in Entertainment Weekly

'Hobbit' high frame rate getting bad buzz online

By Ben Fritz in the LA Times

You and Your Precious 24 fps: In defense of The Hobbit’s increased frame rate

By Daniel Engber in Slate

'The Hobbit' to play in high frame rate at 450 theaters                

By Ben Fritz in the LA Times

48 fps HFR 3D Theater List                     

Certain critics disagree however, saying it makes it look unpolished, like a visit to the set. Others say it makes the film in 3D "much easier on the eyes" and a "more genuine experience".