The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers) - Page 28

stj · January 3 2013, 02:58 AM

The Mirrorball Man wrote:

I have no horses in this race but the usual complaint about the 48fps is that it makes the movie look like actors on a movie set instead of characters in a fictional universe.

Set Harth wrote:

Yeah, it's allegedly like the soap opera effect.

Thanks for the explanations.

Klaus · January 3 2013, 03:05 AM

JD wrote:

I use critics' and non-professional reviews to get an idea of the general reaction to the movie. I don't always let that decide if I'm going to see it or not though. If it was something I didn't want to see, I still won't see it even if it gets really good reviews from everybody. On the other hand, if I movie I really want to see gets horrible reviews from everybody then I probably won't see it.

Universally bad reviews are definitely a motivation not pay $10 for it for me, but wait for small-screen alternatives... and I also like to read reviews after I see it as well.

Set Harth · January 3 2013, 06:44 AM

Servo wrote:

If a film peaks my interest, I'll watch it no matter what anyone else has to say about it.

That's piques, not peaks.

Silvercrest · January 3 2013, 07:01 AM

Another nail in the coffin of the English language.

Agenda · January 3 2013, 08:29 AM

Recently saw it and thought it was far better than what the critics are saying. I'm a fan of LOTR, so maybe I'm slightly biased, but I thought it was very well done. Maybe a little long, but I wasn't bored. Didn't see it in 48fps, and I'm glad I didn't. It looked fine in the other version. I was a little surprised about those stone giants. Didn't remember that they actually appear in the book.

Servo · January 3 2013, 01:50 PM

Set Harth wrote:

Servo wrote:

If a film peaks my interest, I'll watch it no matter what anyone else has to say about it.

That's piques, not peaks.

Posted from my phone at nearly 2am and it autocorrected. That all you have to contribute?

Captaindemotion · January 3 2013, 01:53 PM

I saw it for the second time last night and enjoyed it just as much.

JeffreyAbrams · January 3 2013, 01:57 PM

Saw it two times already, both times in HFR 3D. It IS a strange experience, but I didn't notice it as much the second time.

I agree with others who said that HFR is a bit out of place in a LotR prequel/sequel, but would have been awesome for films like Avatar, Prometheus or Avengers.

I'm going to see the 2D version soon, seems to me like that one will look exactly like the LotR films.

The Mirrorball Man · January 3 2013, 02:05 PM

JeffreyAbrams wrote:

I agree with others who said that HFR is a bit out of place in a LotR prequel/sequel, but would have been awesome for films like Avatar, Prometheus or Avengers.

In my opinion, it's a bit out of place in The Hobbit, Avatar, Prometheus or Avengers, but it would look fantastic in a contemporary drama.

Neroon · January 3 2013, 05:46 PM

I have seen "The hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" four times now, covering all three formats currently available in my area. Once in 2d @ 24fps, once in IMAX-3D, and twice in HFR-3D. My conclusion is that the high frame rate is a marvelous way overall to see the movie. It creates a smoothness of motion and a vibrancy in image that isn't possible elsewhere, at least not yet. If I go back to see it again, I will be going for a HFR viewing, because the standard rate just doesn't cut it for me, now.

The problem seems to be one of viewers' perception, an admitted gamble that Jackson and company were aware of. It's very different from what most are used to seeing, so naturally it might "take you out of the story". But I wouldn't say that makes it an inferior technology, just one that might need refinement and time to get used to. All of that is not meant to sound insulting to anybody who prefers the standard frame rate. Whichever format allows you to enjoy the movie the most is what's best for that person.

Set Harth · January 4 2013, 12:01 AM

stj wrote:

Somehow I had gotten the notion that the Council was confused over whether the Necromancer was Sauron, or the Chief Nazgul/Witch-king of Angmar. Judging from the quotes from the chronology apparently not.

Actually, now that I've finally located my copy of The Silmarillion, it does seem to say what the Tale of Years does not: that in the timeframe leading up to The Hobbit it had been suspected that it was one of the Ringwraiths in Dol Guldur as opposed to Sauron himself.

Set Harth · January 4 2013, 08:18 AM

I just saw this in 3D HFR. I don't see what some people are so upset about. It looked fine.

Silvercrest · January 4 2013, 06:50 PM

Set Harth wrote:

stj wrote:

Somehow I had gotten the notion that the Council was confused over whether the Necromancer was Sauron, or the Chief Nazgul/Witch-king of Angmar. Judging from the quotes from the chronology apparently not.

Actually, now that I've finally located my copy of The Silmarillion, it does seem to say what the Tale of Years does not: that in the timeframe leading up to The Hobbit it had been suspected that it was one of the Ringwraiths in Dol Guldur as opposed to Sauron himself.

Ah, that's right! Too bad they didn't put that in the movie. Saruman would look like less of a chump (or traitor, or just plain in denial) if he voiced that kind of suspicion instead.

The Mirrorball Man · January 4 2013, 07:04 PM

Silvercrest wrote:

Ah, that's right! Too bad they didn't put that in the movie. Saruman would look like less of a chump (or traitor, or just plain in denial) if he voiced that kind of suspicion instead.

Interestingly enough, if it's in The Silmarillon and not in the Tale of Years, Peter Jackson and the others don't have the rights to film it.

Silvercrest · January 4 2013, 07:44 PM

Hmm, I wonder where the line is drawn there. This isn't exactly a plot event that could be filmed. We're talking about a concept a character thinks to be true, wrongly so, and (without my own copy of The Silmarillion to hand) probably not even stated in dialogue in the original book. With the exception of Queen Beruthiel's cats, The Silmarillion provides the entire backstory for the other books. Surely the general concepts can't all be off-limits.

For example, the film Saruman's lesson about how the orcs were originally elves is not spelled out in the written LOTR. That's from The Silmarillion too.

View Poll Results: How would you grade The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?
A+	32	16.75%
A	52	27.23%
A-	37	19.37%
B+	28	14.66%
B	15	7.85%
B-	8	4.19%
C+	1	0.52%
C	8	4.19%
C-	2	1.05%
D+	3	1.57%
D	1	0.52%
D-	3	1.57%
F	1	0.52%
Voters: 191. You may not vote on this poll

January 3 2013, 07:01 AM	#409
Silvercrest Rear Admiral Location: Lost in Moria (Arlington, WA, USA)	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers Another nail in the coffin of the English language.

January 3 2013, 08:29 AM	#410
Agenda Fleet Captain	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers Recently saw it and thought it was far better than what the critics are saying. I'm a fan of LOTR, so maybe I'm slightly biased, but I thought it was very well done. Maybe a little long, but I wasn't bored. Didn't see it in 48fps, and I'm glad I didn't. It looked fine in the other version. I was a little surprised about those stone giants. Didn't remember that they actually appear in the book.

January 3 2013, 01:53 PM	#412
Captaindemotion Vice Admiral Location: Ireland	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers I saw it for the second time last night and enjoyed it just as much. __________________ Hodor!!!!!!!

January 3 2013, 01:57 PM	#413
JeffreyAbrams Ensign Location: Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers Saw it two times already, both times in HFR 3D. It IS a strange experience, but I didn't notice it as much the second time. I agree with others who said that HFR is a bit out of place in a LotR prequel/sequel, but would have been awesome for films like Avatar, Prometheus or Avengers. I'm going to see the 2D version soon, seems to me like that one will look exactly like the LotR films.

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

January 3 2013, 05:46 PM	#415
Neroon Memory and awareness Location: On my ship the Rocinante, wheeling thru the galaxy	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers I have seen "The hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" four times now, covering all three formats currently available in my area. Once in 2d @ 24fps, once in IMAX-3D, and twice in HFR-3D. My conclusion is that the high frame rate is a marvelous way overall to see the movie. It creates a smoothness of motion and a vibrancy in image that isn't possible elsewhere, at least not yet. If I go back to see it again, I will be going for a HFR viewing, because the standard rate just doesn't cut it for me, now. The problem seems to be one of viewers' perception, an admitted gamble that Jackson and company were aware of. It's very different from what most are used to seeing, so naturally it might "take you out of the story". But I wouldn't say that makes it an inferior technology, just one that might need refinement and time to get used to. All of that is not meant to sound insulting to anybody who prefers the standard frame rate. Whichever format allows you to enjoy the movie the most is what's best for that person. __________________ “You break through the veil whenever you strap on a sword or chant the ancient verses. You escape when you write a poem or a tale that brings beauty into the world. You are set free whenever you love—even those who believe you’re crazy." ~ Jef Murray, 'Seer: A Wizard's Journal'

January 4 2013, 08:18 AM	#417
Set Harth Commodore Location: Ekkaia	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers I just saw this in 3D HFR. I don't see what some people are so upset about. It looked fine. __________________ Are you casting aspersions on my asparagus?

January 4 2013, 07:44 PM	#420
Silvercrest Rear Admiral Location: Lost in Moria (Arlington, WA, USA)	Re: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Grading & Discussion (Spoilers Hmm, I wonder where the line is drawn there. This isn't exactly a plot event that could be filmed. We're talking about a concept a character thinks to be true, wrongly so, and (without my own copy of The Silmarillion to hand) probably not even stated in dialogue in the original book. With the exception of Queen Beruthiel's cats, The Silmarillion provides the entire backstory for the other books. Surely the general concepts can't all be off-limits. For example, the film Saruman's lesson about how the orcs were originally elves is not spelled out in the written LOTR. That's from The Silmarillion too.