The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers)

[Skywalker]

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever... Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ...a simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

The time is almost upon us. One week from today, the first part of Peter Jackson's prequel trilogy (yes, it's a trilogy now, get over it ) will be released in the United Kingdom, with the rest of the world soon to follow. Reviews from the recent world premiere in Wellington have been coming in over the past couple of days, so I decided it's time to get the grading thread up.

Enjoy the movie, everyone!

RottenTomatoes
Yahoo! Movies
IMDb User Guide
Metacritic

[Emh]

I'm flying from Japan to North Carolina on the 14th and while it'll still be the 14th when I finally arriving in North Carolina, I'm probably going to be too tired to go see that evening. But I will definitely be going to see it on the 15th!

[Samuel Walters]

Already have my tix for the midnight showing. I don't think the theater supports 48fps, so I'll have to check that out on a repeat viewing.

[Tom Hendricks]

I'm seeing it Sunday at 7:15 in IMAX 3D, real IMAX not the fake imax.

[Dart]

Luckily enough I have a 48 fps cinema an hour away, so I may venture there during my Christmas holidays.

[Professor Zoom]

Curious, for those with a choice between 48 fps or 24, which will you choose? I can't say I'm hugely excited to see The Hobbit, but I am VERY curious of the 48 fps experience.

[Tom Riker]

From what i'm reading make sure your theatre doesn't have the HFR camera's. The 48fps makes it look like a Soap Opera. Unfornately that means I have to avoid my favorite theatre in town

[Mach5]

This is the part where I'm officially getting... A little bit worried. I really don't want this movie to be boring.

[davejames]

Professor Zoom wrote:

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Curious, for those with a choice between 48 fps or 24, which will you choose? I can't say I'm hugely excited to see The Hobbit, but I am VERY curious of the 48 fps experience.

I'm sticking with the 24. I'm not opposed to the idea of 48, but too many reviews are calling it a distraction-- and it sounds like the movie is already enough of a tough slog as it is.

Don't want to make it even harder to sit through.

[Emh]

I plan on seeing it a couple of times with 24 FPS before going to see it with 48 FPS (assuming the IMAX theater in Kawasaki, Japan can support it).

[Samuel Walters]

Professor Zoom wrote:

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Curious, for those with a choice between 48 fps or 24, which will you choose? I can't say I'm hugely excited to see The Hobbit, but I am VERY curious of the 48 fps experience.

First viewing will be in 24fps, but there's merely out of convenience. There's a theater near work, and since work ends at 10:30 ... it's a no brain-er to head there for the midnight showing. After that, I'll seek the 48fps. I'm still not thrilled about 3D and the "new look" frame rate, simply because I'd prefer The Hobbit to match, visually, as closely as possible to LOTR. But I do want to see the film as Jackson intended it to be seen.

[Neroon]

I've had tickets for the midnight premiere at 48fps, but then later that evening we'll be seeing it at 24fps. The closeness of the viewings ought to give me a decent enough chance to evaluate. Although I think I understand what the detractors are saying about the 48 fps being a "distraction", I doubt it really will for me. That's in part due to having an LED tv with motion smoothing.

[JarodRussell]

HFR gives me headaches, and I hope the fad will die soon.

[Tom Riker]

JarodRussell wrote:

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HFR gives me headaches, and I hope the fad will die soon.

That's what they said about 3d after Avatar.

[Vanyel]

A friend of mine wrote this to me specifically about the 48 fps. He's been a video Audio tech for more than 20 years so I'll be inclined to take his advice and stick with the 24 fps:

Check-out this video on MSN about The Hobbit at 48FPS:

http://entertainment.msn.com/videopr...e-1605321cbf69


Everything I told you is mentioned, specifically how the motion looks "unnatural" because of the lack of the "motion-blur," an anomaly (or artifact if you will) caused by 24FPS and which we are accustomed to. I enjoy watching movies because they look just like that...MOVIES! If I want to see this picture without the motion-blur, I would go out to the set and watch it being filmed or, (and this would be more cost effective) I would purchase a new LED TV; either of which would eliminate the whole cinematic effect of watching a movie. I sincerely hope more people get on the "film-wagon" and keep the cinemas at 24FPS. I wish these silly-assed, bored, too-much-time-on-their-hands movie directors would just DIRECT the movie instead of trying to implement THEIR ideas on how we should watch their films or anyone else's films for that matter. They should not follow the government's example: "If it ain't broke, keep fixing it 'till it is!"

In conclusion, (and in my opinion) there has been only six technological improvements or advancements made to motion pictures since the movie industry began.
These are (and in order):

1. Sound. However, some pianists and organists of that era (if any are still alive) may disagree with this statement because the "talkies" put a lot of them out-of-work.

2. Color. Apropos, some films did not "translate" well into color, Ted Turner!

3. 70mm and improved film-stock.

4. Magnetic audio recording. Pioneered by Ampex working with Todd A-O and used for 70mm
prints. This would later lead to multi-track audio.

5. Stereo.

6. Digital, Multi-Channel Audio. AKA Dolby Digital, DTS-HD or "lossless" Audio