Peter Jackson defends filming techniques used in 'The Hobbit'

Director addresses new frame-rate critics

By Parallel Universe on MSN Dec 11, 2012 12:33PM

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'/Warner Bros.

Director Peter Jackson has defended the new filming techniques he uses in "The Hobbit" trilogy after critics slammed the format following early previews.

Jackson has shot the movies using 48 frames per second, rather than the usual 24 frames per second, which has been the standard rate of images projected since 1927. Critics who have reviewed the film have dismissed the increased number of frames as "kitch" and "fake", but Jackson is adamant filmmaking has to move forward to prevent movies from looking outdated.

Bing: More about 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' | More about Peter Jackson

He tells the BBC, "24 frames is jarring to me now. It looks primitive. Change is good, it takes people some time to get used to it. Ultimately, it's not critics who are going to decide if this (the new format) is going to be adopted or not, it's the audience. (There will always be) people who have a particular strong feeling that film should be unchanged and that we got it right in 1927, just like there are people who play vinyl records still, whereas most of the world has moved to CDs and we got used to that."

Related: Who's who in 'The Hobbit' | 'Hobbit' 101

Only a small proportion of cinemas carrying the first installment in the trilogy, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," will be able to use the 48 frames version, which is designed to improve picture quality.

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is out in theaters Friday, Dec. 14.

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65Comments

Newest

Dec 12, 2012 6:24AM

Critics are like "professional winers". They also think they are able to to tell us what we would enjoy. How is it that people can get paid for being so irrelavent and so wrong so often; even the weathermen are more accurate!

Previous replies

use it or loose it

Dec 12, 2012 6:07AM

IN the trailers, it looks a little unrealistic on one side and more fantasy on the side. My eyes would not have known the difference if no one told me. The trailer looks fine to me. It looks like it will be a great film.

Previous replies

Giantegoohoh2010

Dec 12, 2012 5:40AM

You can always tell the pioneers because of the arrows in their backs they say.

Previous replies

good bargains

Dec 12, 2012 4:45AM

Critics panned black and white movies that were colorized as not follolwing the directors vision. Most viewers liked the change. I'll decide for myself when I see it not depend on critics whom I seldom agree with.

Previous replies

james eckley

Dec 12, 2012 4:22AM

OMG ... I, like 98 percent of the final 'investors' (i.e movie goers) are what you would call "end users." We don't know and don't care about all the technical stuff. Does it look really great and is it entertaining ... that is what we want. FPS is something for the dvd 'add-ons' and entertainment talk shows.