Thank goodness for small favors, eh?
After the less-than enthusiastic reception elicited by the 48 fps HOBBIT footage shown back in late spring and Peter Jackson’s decision to screen the Comic Con footage in 24 fps, Warner Brothers has elected to start off the format’s integration very slowly with an extremely limited release of THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY in 48 fps. This no doubt means New York and LA will be just about the only places that a movie fan might find the format, but they can at least take some solace in not having to pay extra for it. Then again, said movie fan will still have to pay the extra $3-5 for the 3D, so their ticket will be plenty pricey either way.
This isn’t to say that we might one day end up having to pay more for the format, even if just by way of funding the purchase of equipment to actually support it. But for now, if you’re in a position come December to check out THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY in 48 fps, know you’ll be doing so on the studio/cinema’s dime.
Will you be seeking out THE HOBBIT in 48 fps this winter?
This picture of Thorin was released in honor of actor Richard Armitage’s 41st birthday.