Warner Bros. Talk More About The Decision To Limit HFR Screenings Of THE HOBBIT
While there's still little to no word on where those who live outside of North America will be able to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in the much talked about "HFR" (High Frame Rate) format, Warner Bros. has now commented on why so few locations will be rolling it out stateside.
When The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is released on December 14th, less than 5% of the 10,000+ North America screens which are showing the movie will make the film available in 48 frames per second (rather than the usual 24 frames). Talking to Deadline, Warner Bros.' Domestic Distribution President Dan Fellman revealed that the decision to limit the release is simply down to a cautious rollout strategy rather than a lack of support from theater owners who have to pay around $5,000 to upgrade their projectors to handle HFR. Apparently, "equipment is being tested" and despite a few glitches along the way, the studio believes that they did the right thing by limiting the release to only most major cities. "This is a technology that is going to change the way people see movies…You have to do it right." Will you be hunting down the movie in HFR?
The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.
Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.
Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.
STARRING:
Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey
Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield
Andy Serkis as Gollum
Hugo Weaving as Elrond
Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug
Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman
Christopher Lee as Saruman the White
Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
Orlando Bloom as Legolas
RELEASE DATE: December 14th, 2012.