‘Hobbit’ Moviegoers Complain Of Nausea
Nausea and migraines were reported issues for moviegoers seeing the world premiere of the Warner Brothers film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in New Zealand on November 28.
Director Peter Jackson debuted a new format, doubling the frame speed to 48 frames per second rather than the standard 24 frames per second for his adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien book. Lord of the Rings fans have waited a long time to see the Saga’s highly anticipated prequel on the big screen. However, many left the screening with complaints of dizziness and nausea.
One Avid Middle Earth fan, who had traveled from Australia to New Zealand for the premiere, said their eyes couldn’t take everything in, the Sunday Times reported.
Alex Ben Block, Senior Editor of The Hollywood Reporter told NBC Los Angeles, “It’s a little bit different and anything that’s different visually can be nauseating.”
Those Hobbit fans that wish to forgo the new 48 fps format could see it in 2D, 3D, or IMAX as well when the film releases in theaters everywhere on December 14. The film is the first major Hollywood film in history to use the camera speed of 48 frames per second.
Defenders of the new 48 fps format include Oscar-Winning Director, James Cameron, who told reporters, “If there is acceptance of 48, then that will pave the way for Avatar (sequels) to take advantage of it.”
“We charged out ahead on 3D with Avatar, now Peter’s doing it with the Hobbit. It takes that kind of bold move to make change.”
Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy stands alone as the highest grossing motion picture trilogy of all-time, making $2.91 billion worldwide. Loyal fans will surely brave the risk of nausea and flock to theaters on December 14 in hopes that the prequel captures the same magic.
