Tuesday, I reported on the Press Release from Warner Brothers about the film footage from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which was shown at CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO). Reports and opinions have been coming in fast and furious from around the Internet (See list at the end of this article – which is only a partial listing!) this week, which a mixed reaction to the new 48-frames-per-second technology which was exhibited.
It seems many critics were not impressed by the new technology, and weren’t afraid to say so. This prompted Variety’s David S. Cohen article, Framing the ‘Hobbit’ hubub: Think bigger, which was subtitled, Cinemacon reax aside, higher frame rates are set to become a new standard. He began the article with this statement of incredulity:
The media freakout over the mixed reaction to Tuesday’s CinemaCon preview of “The Hobbit” footage with high-frame-rate 3D had me rolling my eyes.
I don’t know if Peter Jackson was rolling his eyes, but a response from him and the studio was published on Entertainment Weekly’s “Inside Movies” last night. He points out that the footage presented was relatively short and raw. “There can only ever be a real reaction, a truthful reaction, when people actually have a chance to see a complete narrative on a particular film.” He is hoping that once people get used tot he new technology they will change their tune.
A couple of the more negative commenters from CinemaCon said that in the Gollum and Bilbo scene [which took place later in the presentation] they didn’t mind it and got used to that…. That was the same 48 frames the rest of the reel was. I just wonder if it they were getting into the dialogue, the characters and the story. That’s what happens in the movie. You settle into it.
For more on the 48fps and 3D controversy, here is an extensive list of articles to check out.
HJ’s Bagshot Row Bulletin
WB Press Release on Hobbit Footage
24 48 Frames per Second
A Perspective on the 3-D Craze
TheOneRing.net Hobbit Footage Review & MASSIVE SPOILERS: Full Coverage & Analysis!
Entertainment Weekly
Peter Jackson responds to complaints about ‘The Hobbit’ footage — BREAKING
CinemaCon 2012: Dim reaction to high-def look of Peter Jackson’s ‘The Hobbit’
Variety Framing the ‘Hobbit’ hubub: Think bigger
AP First Look: Peter Jackson unveils ‘Hobbit’ scenes
Deadline.com ‘The Hobbit’ Footage In New Format Draws Lukewarm Response: CinemaCon
IGN The Hobbit … Didn’t Look So Good
LA Times CinemaCon: Footage of ‘The Hobbit’ draws mixed reaction
Hollywood Reporter CinemaCon 2012: Peter Jackson Debuts ‘The Hobbit’ Footage, Touts 48 Frame-Per-Second Exhibition
E! Online The Hobbit Controversy: Peter Jackson Previews the Film, so Why Are Some Fans So Upset?!
Huffington Post ‘The Hobbit’ 48FPS Footage Divides Audiences At CinemaCon
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