April 30th, 2012
03:36 PM ET
Trailer Park: Peter Jackson defends 'Hobbit' footageTrailers for three anticipated movies are creating quite a bit of buzz in Tinseltown - and one for not-the-most-flattering reasons. According the Hollywood Reporter, “The Hobbit” director Peter Jackson is defending ten minutes of unfinished footage he showed at Cinemacon in Las Vegas last week, saying the audience’s less-than-enthusiastic response “wasn’t particularly surprising because it is something new.” Instead of shooting the 3-D "Lord of the Rings" prequel at the more standard rate of 24-frames-per-second, the filmmaker has gone with the faster rate of 48-frames-per-second, which yields a very different look.
“A lot of the critical response I was reading was people saying it’s different,” Jackson told THR. “Well, yes, it certainly is. But I think, ultimately, it is different in a positive way - especially for 3-D - for epic films and films that are trying to immerse the viewer in the experience of a story.” We'll see if Jackson's theory holds true when "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" opens December 14. Meanwhile, sci-fi thriller “Prometheus, helmed by Ridley Scott, looks like it packs some cool surprises, though aesthetically, probably not as many as “The Hobbit.” A two-and-a-half minute trailer for the alien-themed epic was released over the weekend, and shows a crew of explorers - including Charlize Theron, Idris Elba and Guy Pearce - searching for the origins of mankind. In the clip, Theron’s character introduces herself, saying, “My name is Meredith Vickers, and it’s my job to see you do yours,” as she welcomes some new recruits on a very secret, highly-dangerous mission. Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender also star in the flick, which is being billed as kind of an “Aliens” prequel where humans are tasked to draw the link between ancient civilizations and the future. “Prometheus” debuts June 8. And last but not least is Judd Apatow's "This Is 40," a sort-of-but-not-really sequel to 2007's "Knocked Up." Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprise their "Knocked Up" roles as married parents Pete and Debbie in the film, which picks up their story a few years following the events of "Knocked Up." Pete and Debbie's two kids are older, but most importantly, so are they - and the age of 40 comes with a host of changes, as seen in the trailer below. "This Is 40" opens December 21.
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Yeah, I like these very well done. Return of the kings and hobbit I like best, too. But two torwes is not bad..I like how he captured the eye but what is the meaning of the stars in return of the king poster?? I under about the tree. I think the stars was just in the wardrobe of the king? I get the fellowship of the ring poster but it is the least captivating. Thanks for sharing.
I don't get it. They are making a non-JRR Tolkien movie with the LOTR characters? Kinda sounds sacrilegious to me lol. Anyway I still don't get the excitement over them, I read the books, they were ok, not as great as hyped by the generations before me as "the BEST fantasy..." no, a bunch of dwarves, monsters, sorcerers and a ring. I thought some of our more modern stories were better, and there are certainly many. In any case I fell asleep in the third one. Maybe Jackson should have split it into 6 movies instead of 3. Then I could have stayed awake. So nah, I won't bother going to the theatre for a Hobbit story than never existed.
the LOTR nerds were just mad it didnt look like it was shot with a camera made in middle earth.
Yet you reference "middle earth" in your comment. Shy LOTR nerd? 😉
Peter, don't worry about the naysayers. When THE HOBBIT finally comes out it will blow everyone away, you will be vindicated and everyone else will have to eat their words!
Many people react to the current 3D Technology in negative ways, but with the increased frame rate Mr. Jackson is using, he's hoping that this will be reduced. Additionally, audiences will see a more lifelike image being displayed on the theatre's screens, one that will transition smoother and display sharp, crisp edges.
And like every feature film currently released today, there will be numerous versions – mostly because many theatres have not updated their "projection" and/or sound technology.
I had also heard that to do justice to Professor Tolkein's "The Hobbit", Mr. Jackson planned to release the story as a Two-part Motion Picture, the first part ending somewhere in the story when the Dragon Smaug just begins his devastation upon the Lonely Mountain (and its environs). I for one believes he will do an exemplary job on this difficult task.
I hope they come out with a non-Jackson version of this book. This guy is a self-indulgent hack that could tell a story if he had the book in front of him.
It's called 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien. I hope you knew that already...
Riiiight, because the LOTR sucked. I'm surpired they let him make all 3. What were they thinking?
You mean could not?
Peter Jackson is a mad scientist/genius in the film world IMO. His movies are beautiful gems shimmering in the bright sun...absolutely beautiful pieces of cinematography. I trust his judgement completely and am beyond excited to see this movie.
Et dire que ce n'est meame pas encore une ferautette officielle . Toujours cet humour, cette passion partage9e et cette e9loquence ! De plus en plus he2te !
For those of you who hate 3D because of the head-throb that ensues from watching it – 48fps will help that, because your brain doesn't have to work as hard filling in the missing images between the 24fps. Real Life is nonstop infinite FPS, and your brain doesn't have to fill in anything because it's all there. 48FPS = your brain seeing twice the images of 24fps so your brain is doing less work. Less work = less head-throb. I can't wait!
The annoyance for many with 3D isn't the lack of data, it is the convergence versus focus. Roger Ebert posted on his suntimes blog, a letter by Walter Murch, a well respected film editor on this topic. Now some people may not have an issue with this duality, but for those of us who do, no amount of editting or special effects is likely to solve it in the foreseeable future.
Additionally, there is the matter of immersion. Personally, I like to remain immersed in the film and not be pulled out of the "movie experience." One type of 3D style is the kind that knocks on the fourth wall by pointing swords or throwing things at the audience. This breaks the immersion for me, and unfortunately, this seems to be the most common style. The other type of 3D style is the kind that is meant to merely add depth to the realism, but if it is subtle/good enough, I tend to forget that it is even there and then I'm left wondering why I paid extra money for uncomfortable glasses.
I will add that one positive side effect is that I've noticed that people tend to check their phones much less while wearing 3D glasses, so maybe it's worth the few extra dollars.
3d gives me a terrible headache. I will refuse to see the hobbit in theatres if its only going to be in 3d, I will just wait for the dvd. Its just too bad I cant see it on a big screen, but.. oh well.
No movie is ever released in just 3D, no only that but the Hobbit will be out in 2D 24fps, 2D 48fps, 3D IMAX 24fps, 3D IMAX 48fps, 3D 24fps and 3d 48fps... no lack of options.
Gee, I hope The Hobbit is not 3 hours long like every other Peter Jackson movie. Is he too cheap to hire an editor? I fell asleep during King Kong, had a dream about the entire LOTR trilogy, woke up and the movie wasn't even half-way over yet.
dreaming uses up more of the brain’s inert horsepower. So a 5 minute dream in reality can involve events that occur over a period of several hours in the dream.
Gee ...I hope it isn't 3 hrs long too.... I hope it's at least 4... It's an epic tale. Shortening it to Hollywood's 2 hr standard would butcher the story. Stay home, Rip and sleep... You probably wouldn't appreciate the story anyway.
Because you have the attention span of a wet noodle. Go watch GI. Joe. That has non stop senseless action for you
3D isn't all that. – I'd rather see them film in iMax or something cool. – with real high resolution.
3D is annoying, tbh.
I hope a non-3D version of The Hobbit is released. 3D gives me headaches.
This is 40 looks like it's going to suck big time.
No thanks!
There are seedy little theaters in NY that show 3D p0rn. Just read an article a couple weeks ago about a woman that claimed a 3D p0rno made her pregnant. They've certainly come a long way with 3D...
3D porn makes people pregnant? Darn, why didn't I think of that excuse before I announced to the world that my precious Bristol was knocked up? Would have saved the world from that awful Levi.
They need to start making p0rn in 3-D. Don't know why no one's thought of it yet.
3D movies are overrated. The glasses give me headaches each time I use them. I'll just wait until I can get the movie in 2D.
Ditto here, bob. I can't even see the 3D effects.
The "overrated" and "headache" are your issues, not 3D's. Just like anything else, it's not for everyone just like the films themselves aren't.
There's will be plenty of Hobbit 2D choices, people, get over it.
No clue where it might be. But hey, at very worst I'm sure I can find a replacement for a dozen bucks or so. And Twilight Princess sholud sate my Zelda fix for a while, though without Wind Waker's funky awesome look.
Must "The Hobbit" be in 3D?
yes, it MUST be......