Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson Responds to Criticism of 48fps Filming in THE HOBBIT

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: April 27th, 2012 at 9:28 pm

When director Peter Jackson announced that he would be filming The Hobbit in 48fps (double the frame rate of the industry standard 24fps), it sounded like a brilliant idea: crystal-clear resolution, a feeling of realism and elimination of motion blur.  However, the response to some test footage projected at 48fps at CinemaCon was not as glowing as one would have expected.  Steve was on hand to view the footage and described it by saying:

“The 48fps is so jarring that I’m not sure casual moviegoers will enjoy it.”

I recommend checking out Steve’s video blog in which he discusses his reaction to viewing The Hobbit footage in 48fps. Jackson spoke briefly in response to the criticism. Hit the jump to see what he has to say.

ArcLight Cinemas Completes Digital Conversion with Christie Solaria Series Projectors; Will Feature High Frame Rate Films Like THE HOBBIT Later This Year

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: April 25th, 2012 at 6:06 pm

There are two must-see places that are on my own personal bucket list: the Alamo Drafthouse and the ArcLight Hollywood.  When you are stuck with AMC/Regal/Cinemark (essentially the McDonalds of movie theaters), places like the Drafthouse and the ArcLight are welcome beacons of light in an otherwise dim cinematic world.  With their recent completion of the digital conversion of all four of their locations (33 auditoriums and 61 screens), ArcLight Cinemas has entered a new era.  Facilitated by the Christie Solaris Series 2K/4K digital projectors, ArcLight will be able to feature high frame rate movies, such as Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, which bows on December 14th of this year. This is my new Mecca.  Hit the jump to read the press release.

Luke Evans Talks THE HOBBIT and What It’s Like to Shoot at 48 Frames Per Second on the RED EPIC

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 18th, 2012 at 7:42 pm

With director James McTeigue‘s (V for Vendetta, Ninja Assassin) The Raven opening April 27, earlier today I got to speak with Luke Evans by phone since he’s busy shooting Peter Jackson‘s The Hobbit movies in New Zealand.  If you’re not familiar with The Raven, the story takes place in 1840s Baltimore where a series of grisly murders appear to have been inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe (played by John Cusack).  Poe and a detective (Evans) must team up to find the killer before he takes out the woman Poe loves (Alice Eve).  The film also stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and Brendan Gleeson.   For more on the film, here’s the trailer and 40 images.

While I’ll have the full interview with Evans online next week, I wanted to share what he said about The Hobbit today.  As most of you know, Jackson is shooting the films digitally on the RED EPIC in 3D and he’s pushing the boundaries of cinema forward by filming 48fps (frames per second) instead of the normal 24fps.  What that means is, you’ll see very little motion blur when the camera moves or during the action scenes.  I’ve seen 48fps and 60fps first hand and it’s like you’re looking through a window without any glass.  It’s incredible.  For more on 48fps, here’s Jackson’s recent video blog.  Anyway, Evans talks about his reaction to this new way of filming and what it means to be involved in the films.  Hit the jump for more.

New Production Video for THE HOBBIT Highlights On Location Shooting and Andy Serkis as Second Unit Director

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 1st, 2012 at 12:07 pm

As the holiday break has come to an end, director Peter Jackson has unveiled yet another production video taking us behind the scenes of The Hobbit. We’ve already been given an in-depth look at the 3D filming process, and during the last production video Jackson showed us what goes into the film’s expansive location shooting. This latest blog is essentially a “Part 2” to the on location video, as Jackson shows us more of the breathtaking locations used to bring Middle Earth to life. This video also gives us a great look into Andy Serkis’ work as second unit director. He shows us how he beams the scenes the he’s shot over to Jackson and his camp in order to keep Jackson up to date on all aspects of the shoot.

Hit the jump to check out the video. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens in 3D on December 14th, followed by The Hobbit: There and Back Again in 3D on December 13th, 2013.

Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Peter Jackson-produced West Memphis Three Documentary WEST OF MEMPHIS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 29th, 2012 at 4:17 pm

Following its much-anticipated premiere at last month’s Sundance Film Festival, Sony Pictures Classics has acquired worldwide rights to director Amy Berg’s documentary West of Memphis. Produced by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, the film chronicles the new investigation surrounding the “West Memphis Three”, a trio of innocent men who were wrongly convicted of murdering three young boys in Arkansas in 1993 despite the fact that there was no evidence linking them to the crime. Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr. served nearly 20 years in prison (Echols on death row), before finally being released late last year. West of Memphis not only follows the fight to free the innocent men, but also seeks to provide evidence that convicts the true perpetrator of the crime.

I’m pleased to see that Sony Pictures Classics is handling the distribution, as I’m itching to get a look at the film. It premiered to positive reviews at Sundance, and Echols is actually a credited producer on the pic. There’s no word on what kind of distribution model is planned, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s given an awards push later this year. Hit the jump to watch the powerful trailer, followed by the full press release.

Steven Spielberg Provides TINTIN Sequel Update; Confirms Plan is for Peter Jackson to Film Motion-Capture After THE HOBBIT

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 14th, 2012 at 1:02 pm

While it didn’t necessarily break box office records here in the US, The Adventures of Tintin was a massive success across the globe. This wasn’t exactly a shock, as international audiences are incredibly familiar with Herge’s source material whereas many in the US were befuddled by this “Tintin” character. Given the film’s box office haul, a sequel is now actively in the works. The plan is for Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson to swap roles this time around, with Jackson directing and Spielberg producing. Spielberg recently provided a brief status update on the sequel, confirming that the plan is for Jackson to shoot the follow-up this summer after he finishes photography on The Hobbit. Hit the jump for more.

THE HOBBIT to Star Billy Connolly as Dwarven Warrior

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 8th, 2012 at 4:57 pm

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe there is a vast array of characters available for actors to portray. Some, like Evangeline Lilly’s elf, Tauriel, are created specifically for The Hobbit, while some actors, like Benedict Cumberbatch (War Horse), lend their performance and voice to a mythological creature. Then there is Billy Connolly (Boondock Saints) who gets to play one of the most fearsome and storied dwarves in all of Tolkien’s tomes. The Scottish actor will play Dain Ironfoot, cousin to Thorin Oakenshield (played by Richard Armitage) and a power-player in dwarven royalty. Having brought Connolly on as Ironfoot, director Peter Jackson commented on how this latest addition has completed the cast. Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

Peter Jackson-produced Documentary WEST OF MEMPHIS Unveils Breakthrough New Evidence in West Memphis Three Case

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 20th, 2012 at 12:37 pm

The trial, conviction, and release of the West Memphis Three have been well covered on many fronts over the past 16 years. The documentary trilogy Paradise Lost was tantamount to the eventual release of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jesse Misskelley, who were convicted of murdering three young boys in 1994. While the State of Arkansas released the trio through a legal loophole that maintained their guilt (thus protecting the state from a multi-million dollar wrongful conviction lawsuit), the killer remains at large. A new documentary produced by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Echols called West of Memphis premiered at the Sundance Film Festival today and revealed a breakthrough in evidence against one of the victims’ stepfathers, who has been the primary person of interest since new DNA testing connected him to the crime. Hit the jump to find out what evidence may finally exonerate the West Memphis Three.

New Image from THE HOBBIT; Peter Jackson and Co-Writer Philippa Boyens Talk About the Production

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: January 14th, 2012 at 11:35 am

A new image from The Hobbit has surfaced online today.  It is especially heroic, depicting Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins covered in dirt, wielding a sword Sting, a determined growl on his face.  [Update: Commenter Deepak pointed out that Freeman's hand is around Sting, "the blade that glows blue when Orcs are close."  My Hobbit knowledge doesn't run that deep, but it sounds noteworthy.]  In case you needed any, this is more evidence to me that Freeman is an inspired choice for the part.

Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, and Stephen Fry also star.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens on December 14, 2012 followed by The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 13, 2013.  Hit the jump for the full image in high resolution, plus quotes from director Peter Jackson and co-writer Philippa Boyens on the story and production.

First Trailer for Peter Jackson-produced West Memphis Three Documentary WEST OF MEMPHIS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 13th, 2012 at 11:19 am

The first trailer for the documentary West of Memphis has gone online. Produced by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, the film takes a new look at the circumstances surrounding the West Memphis Three. If you’re unfamiliar with the case, three teenagers were convicted of murdering three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1994 with virtually no evidence. They were recently freed through a complicated legal maneuver (saving the life of Damien Echols, who was on death row), but the true killer remains at large and the Arkansas legal system is refusing to admit their mistake.

The case has been well covered by the Paradise Lost trilogy of documentaries, so I was curious as to why Jackson felt the need to produce yet another documentary. This trailer makes clear that Jackson and director Amy Berg’s intent is to clear the names of the West Memphis Three and bring to justice the real murderer of the three boys from West Memphis. It’s engaging stuff, and I can’t wait to check the full film out once it’s released. Hit the jump to watch the trailer. West of Memphis will premiere at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival.

Christopher Lee Talks THE HOBBIT, HUGO and DARK SHADOWS

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 29th, 2011 at 4:34 pm

In a Christmas address by the incomparable Christopher Lee, the actor remarked on his completed works of 2011 (including a tongue-in-cheek clarification of his role in The Wicker Tree). More notably, Lee also touched on his role in Hugo and his working relationship with director Martin Scorsese, his own personal vitality (Lee will turn 90 in 2012) and his work in Dark Shadows with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. Oh and you might have been wondering about his reprisal of the role of Saruman in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit movies. Not to worry as Lee goes into some detail about his involvement and it’s safe to say the actor’s work has been completed on both films. Hit the jump to check out the video.

New Production Video for THE HOBBIT Takes Us Behind-the-Scenes of Location Shooting

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 23rd, 2011 at 12:25 pm

Director Peter Jackson continues to give fans an incredibly insightful peek into the production on his two-part The Hobbit adaptation with yet another production video. While the last behind-the-scenes look focused on the 3D aspect of shooting (it’s a must-see and I highly suggest you check it out), the latest video gives us a look into the logistics of location shooting. Jackson and Co. are currently towards the end of a seven-week location shoot schedule, which will provide the director with plenty of gorgeous New Zealand vistas that he’ll transform into Middle Earth.

We get a look into the ridiculously herculean task of moving the entire production unit around the country of New Zealand, and we also get to see quite a bit of shooting. In addition to watching Jackson work, we get a peek at Andy Serkis who’s directing second-unit on the pics, and we get to see Elijah Wood return to Hobbiton. Hit the jump to check out the latest production video. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey arrives December 14th, 2012, while The Hobbit: There and Back Again will hit theaters on December 13, 2013.

First Trailer and Poster for THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 20th, 2011 at 6:51 pm

Finally, the first trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has been released. Peter Jackson returns to direct the adventure of young Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) who sets out on an adventure with a company of dwarves. This trailer really is like a warm embrace from an old friend. While most trailers this far out from release show very little in the way of footage, Jackson shows off a great deal. Freeman looks excellent as Bilbo, the dwarves are fantastic (they sing!), and the tag brought a big smile to my face. While a year is a very long time to wait, this snippet is a swell look into the wonder to come.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer. The film also stars Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, and Stephen Fry.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released on December 14, 2012.

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 20th, 2011 at 2:36 pm

The Indiana Jones franchise is and will always be one of the giants of the adventure genre.  We should accept that when it comes to adventure, Steven Spielberg will never top Raiders of the Lost Ark, but in his defense, neither will anyone else.  Sadly, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull felt cartoony and done out of obligation rather than any sense of desire to revive the character.  Spielberg picks up a fresh adventure franchise by adapting Hergé‘s internationally beloved Tintin comics, but The Adventures of Tintin manages to feel even more like a weightless cartoon.  All the beats are correct and there’s no need to compromise or carry the baggage of Dr. Jones’ previous efforts, but Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson (who was a de facto co-director on the film) fall into the traps of using motion capture and 3D without understanding how to best utilize either technology.  Tintin presumes to be a grand adventure but there’s no sense of danger and even if there were, there would be no reason to care about whether our heroes escape from it.

Confirmed: First Trailer for THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Attached to THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 16th, 2011 at 11:53 am

The journey back to Middle Earth is about to begin. Since a fair amount of people usually trek to their local movie theater during the holidays—both with their families and to escape from their families—it’s usually during this time that we get our first look at some of the big movies set to come out next year. The new Dark Knight Rises trailer is expected to play in front of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and now Warner Bros. has confirmed that the teaser trailer for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be attached to screenings of The Adventures of Tintin.

We previously reported that the first trailer for The Hobbit might be playing in front of Sherlock Holmes, but it appears WB has decided to pair it with the Jackson-produced Tintin instead. While we’ve seen bits and pieces of The Hobbit through Jackson’s video production diaries, I can’t wait to see our old friends back up on the big screen. Tintin opens in 3D on December 21st, and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theaters a year from now, on December 14th, 2012. Hit the jump to head back in time and watch the teaser trailer for 2001′s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

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