The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

[The Josh]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

All the movies so far look visually very cool. Whatever they're doing it works IMO.

 

[CelticPredator]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

I did prefer the 24fps just because I was able to focus on the story 100% of the time rather than "noticing" the look of the HFR but I was glad to experience the HFR nonetheless. Nothing to cry about. I'll do the same with DoS. 24 fps for the first viewing, HFR for the second.

I still enjoyed the movie fine. But the visuals are crap, and Peter Jackson shouldn't be playing with new toys while making a film. Play with them before the film, and then if people like your dumb toys, use them.

 

[Khev]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

I still enjoyed the movie fine. But the visuals are crap, and Peter Jackson shouldn't be playing with new toys while making a film. Play with them before the film, and then if people like your dumb toys, use them.

He did play with the technology "before the film." He witnessed the new Star Tours ride at 60 fps and shot an 8 minute 3D Kong film for Universal Studios also at 60 fps. The rides were very well received and he decided that it would be awesome to experience that kind of immersion in a feature film. If you think HFR is crap then the good news for you is you can...easily avoid it. It's not like its taking over cinema. Jackson (and apparently Cameron) are simply giving more viewing options. The end.

Yes it looks different. But it's just another artistic tool. Slow motion, different filters, lens flares, color vs. black and white, 3D or 2D, closeups vs medium shots, practical effects vs. CGI, 2:35 vs 1:85 aspect ratios, and now 24 fps vs. Higher Frame Rates. Some things will work, some won't, some WILL work but only for certain films, and so on.

Complaining about any one tool seems kind of pointless. Well belaboring the issue seems pointless anyway.

 

[CelticPredator]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

It's not about me not seeing it. It's existence is just terrible for cinema. And the fact he tested it on a ride doesn't help. A ride and a film are two very different things. And any real filmmaker needs to understand that. Peter Jackson is George Lucasing his franchise, which is a big mistake. Tell your story first, and if the technology services your story, like Gravity, then go for it.

48 Fps doesn't serve the story of The Hobbit in any way. There's literally no reason why the film has to be at that speed.

Also, don't pretend like it doesn't matter. Don't act like "Oh whatever get over it, no big deal." It matters. And it IS a big deal. Is it going to take over cinema? Not yet. But it could. Kids love their 60 FPS video games, and have said they would like their movies to look like that. Which, holy ****, would be the worst thing to happen to film. Making a film look real is a contradiction, and a godawful one.

If you don't give a ****, that's fine. But a lot of people do. So let the discussion play out.

 

[crows]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

It's not about me not seeing it. It's existence is just terrible for cinema. And the fact he tested it on a ride doesn't help. A ride and a film are two very different things. And any real filmmaker needs to understand that. Peter Jackson is George Lucasing his franchise, which is a big mistake. Tell your story first, and if the technology services your story, like Gravity, then go for it.

48 Fps doesn't serve the story of The Hobbit in any way. There's literally no reason why the film has to be at that speed.

Also, don't pretend like it doesn't matter. Don't act like "Oh whatever get over it, no big deal." It matters. And it IS a big deal. Is it going to take over cinema? Not yet. But it could. Kids love their 60 FPS video games, and have said they would like their movies to look like that. Which, holy ****, would be the worst thing to happen to film. Making a film look real is a contradiction, and a godawful one.

If you don't give a ****, that's fine. But a lot of people do. So let the discussion play out.

this post..... this post is full of truth.

Seriously Celticp nailed it. I have to agree with everything here. I mean, really look at the first Lord of the Rings and look at the hobbit. There is just no comparison, Lord of the Rings just Looks Better. Doesn't have to do with the story or the actors or anything, Besides the ugly CGI of the Hobbit in some parts, the first LOTR just looks....Just looks better. My eyes will always prefer watching that movie over the hobbit.

Now, I really liked the Hobbit, but I will always enjoy watching LOTR visually more. it is more pleasing to me.

 

[Khev]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

It's not about me not seeing it. It's existence is just terrible for cinema. And the fact he tested it on a ride doesn't help. A ride and a film are two very different things. And any real filmmaker needs to understand that.

Well anyone with common sense understands that film rides and feature films have a lot of overlap regardless of their ultimate differences. If a chair is incredibly comfortable in a stage auditorium does that mean its "George Lucasing" to offer that same awesome chair in a film auditorium? No. Theme park rides, music videos, even television are great places to "test out" new filmmaking techniques, which just a second ago you were up in arms about claiming that Jackson had done no such thing.

Peter Jackson is George Lucasing his franchise, which is a big mistake. Tell your story first, and if the technology services your story, like Gravity, then go for it.

48 Fps doesn't serve the story of The Hobbit in any way. There's literally no reason why the film has to be at that speed. .

Does color suddenly change the story of a black and white film? No. But it does make it a more immersive experience. It effects the artistry as well. Films are hardly exclusively about the simple telling of a story. How you tell it is it's own art form.

Also, don't pretend like it doesn't matter. Don't act like "Oh whatever get over it, no big deal." It matters. And it IS a big deal. Is it going to take over cinema? Not yet. But it could.

Please. Every digital projector that runs 48 fps can also run 24 so its not like all auditoriums are going to get a technical upgrade with no going back. Its going to be up to each individual director to choose what they want for their respective films. So, like with 3D, you'll have some adopting the format and other ignoring it with auditoriums showing some films with HFR and some without, and alternating options for the same film as was done with the Hobbit and IMAX/3D movies today.

 

[crows]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

Well anyone with common sense understands that film rides and feature films have a lot of overlap regardless of their ultimate differences. If a chair is incredibly comfortable in a stage auditorium does that mean its "George Lucasing" to offer that same awesome chair in a film auditorium? No. Theme park rides, music videos, even television are great places to "test out" new filmmaking techniques, which just a second ago you were up in arms about claiming that Jackson had done no such thing.

Peter Jackson is George Lucasing his franchise, which is a big mistake. Tell your story first, and if the technology services your story, like Gravity, then go for it.



Does color suddenly change the story of a black and white film? No. But it does make it a more immersive experience. It effects the artistry as well. Films are hardly exclusively about the simple telling of a story. How you tell it is it's own art form.




Please. Every digital projector that runs 48 fps can also run 24 so its not like all auditoriums are going to get a technical upgrade with no going back. Its going to be up to each individual director to choose what they want for their respective films. So, like with 3D, you'll have some adopting the format and other ignoring it with auditoriums showing some films with HFR and some without, and alternating options for the same film as was done with the Hobbit and IMAX/3D movies today.

you mention 3D, but how is 3D doing? isn't it pretty much tanking because most people just don't like it?

 

[CelticPredator]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

Does color suddenly change the story of a black and white film? No. But it does make it a more immersive experience. It effects the artistry as well. Films are hardly exclusively about the simple telling of a story. How you tell it is it's own art form.

It can, actually. It can very much. You can take a scene, and colorize it, and give it a totally different context in the story.

If I have a character sitting at a diner eating food after he's killed someone filmed in black and white, I could colorize a green or red light, to simulate his rage, and or guilt. Now the story has changed. The murderer has feelings for what he's done.

(This isn't to say that color is superior to black and white, i'm just making a point about how you could in fact change the story of a black and white film by adding color.

 

[The Ween]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

you mention 3D, but how is 3D doing? isn't it pretty much tanking because most people just don't like it?

It must not be tanking because every other big movie is 3D now.

 

[crows]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

It must not be tanking because every other big movie is 3D now.

I remember reading some articles that spoke about how people were tired and how it doesn't enhance the movie experience.
They were also saying how tvs with 3D were not selling as well as they hoped.

Ill try to see where it was I read that

 

[CelticPredator]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

I read it too. It IS tanking. But not hard enough for the studios to not want to make more money.

 

[pixletwin]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

It can, actually. It can very much. You can take a scene, and colorize it, and give it a totally different context in the story.

If I have a character sitting at a diner eating food after he's killed someone filmed in black and white, I could colorize a green or red light, to simulate his rage, and or guilt. Now the story has changed. The murderer has feelings for what he's done.

(This isn't to say that color is superior to black and white, i'm just making a point about how you could in fact change the story of a black and white film by adding color.

What a cop out that would be and not at all "artistic".

 

[CelticPredator]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

Then go dig up Hitchcock, and tell him how wrong he was.

 

[The Ween]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

I remember reading some articles that spoke about how people were tired and how it doesn't enhance the movie experience.
They were also saying how tvs with 3D were not selling as well as they hoped.

Ill try to see where it was I read that

Actually, from what I understand, 3D movies look better on a TV at home than in a theater.

 

[Sachiel]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

It's not about me not seeing it. It's existence is just terrible for cinema. And the fact he tested it on a ride doesn't help. A ride and a film are two very different things.

I can see how great it would be for rides where you want that level of immersion because there's actual interaction going on with the audience.

But for a normal film, 48fps just felt very odd. Instead of immersing me more into the film like PJ intended, it pushed me further away. Because the image quality was so clear (especially in motion) it did feel like "they where right there", but because there was no interaction the "window" between the film's world and our real world was made more solid and noticeable. That's the best way I can explain how it felt.

I can also see how great it would be for documentaries... and porn.

What a cop out that would be and not at all "artistic".

Huh? Color (or even lack there of) can and has been used to convey mood. CP is right. Changing (or adding) the color from what was originally intended can also change the feeling.

 

[pixletwin]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

Then go dig up Hitchcock, and tell him how wrong he was.

If AH were alive today he wouldn't be coloring a dudes eyes red or green to illustrate greed or rage. The very notion is laughable.. indeed anyone who would do it would probably just be trying to get a laugh out of the audience.

 

[DiFabio]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

Coloring film is a gimmick. I prefer black and white.


Except this monstrosity, which doesn't count cuz they ruined it with a wee bit of color,

 

[pixletwin]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

Surely you jest?

 

[Khev]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

It can, actually. It can very much. You can take a scene, and colorize it, and give it a totally different context in the story.

If I have a character sitting at a diner eating food after he's killed someone filmed in black and white, I could colorize a green or red light, to simulate his rage, and or guilt. Now the story has changed. The murderer has feelings for what he's done.

(This isn't to say that color is superior to black and white, i'm just making a point about how you could in fact change the story of a black and white film by adding color.

I am not talking about colorizing one scene in a movie to hyper stylized effect. Otherwise I could turn that same scenario right around back at you. You think 48 fps sucks? John Woo has been shooting action sequences at that speed (and higher) for over 20 years to AWESOME effect.

But that's not what we're talking about. I'm talking regular run of the mill color vs. black and white for a full length feature. It doesn't improve the story. It just makes it one step closer to being like the world we live in. And that can experience can allow for greater immersion.

It doesn't mean that right out of the gate it was perfect or that the color timing is always used to optimum effect. Gone with the Wind with its hyper primary technicolors doesn't really look "real" to me but it was a stepping stone to what we have today and I actually think it has a very fitting, if transitionary, look for that particular picture.

Films of that era have a certain visual charm to them that is cool to have preserved. Who knows how HFR will evolve but The Hobbit: AUJ will always be the pioneer and that's cool enough even if it does fizzle out as quickly as it begins.

 

[vodoun]

Re: The Official "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" movie thread *SPOILERS*

Heh, Pleasantville.