The Hobbit 48fps Footage Met With Mixed Reactions

While the movie industry is desperately trying to push 3D onto viewers, some directors are looking at other ways to improve the movie going experience. Peter Jackson set out to shoot The Hobbit in 48 frames per second, double the traditional 24fps frame rate, which he says should lead to smoother camera pans and transitions. Footage of The Hobbit was shown off at CinemaCon, and the reaction to the 48fps effect has been mixed.

Peter Jackson says that 48fps leads to the "illusion of real life, where movement feels smoother, and you're not dealing with strobing." Viewers coming out of the footage preview for The Hobbit didn't quite feel the same way. One projectionist said that the film looked like "a made-for-TV movie." He went on to say that the footage "was too accurate — too clear. The contrast ratio isn't there yet — everything looked either too bright or black."

Peter Sciretta from Slashfilm, along with Steven Weintraub from Collider and Alex from FirstShowing, took to video to voice their opinions on the footage. Sciretta noted how the increased realism and fluidity of 48fps "shined a spotlight" on makeup and set issues, breaking the illusion. Weintraub called it a "dramatic change", and compared the increased frame to the jump from black and white to color.

The trio did note however that the movie is able to be projected at the standard 24fps. It does raise an interesting question, though: will the cinema advertise the difference between 24fps and 48fps, or let viewers discover it for themselves?

[via The Verge]