Movie Review: THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY - 9.5 Stars!!

We've waited a LONG time for this movie to come out, the first of three from Peter Jackson and company. The wait was worth it. Remember when all of this was just a pipe dream and the legal issues between New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson seemed insurmountable. Then I received those emails from my source within Jackson's camp that hinted at a silver lining. Of course I immediately passed them on to you: That the hobbit was going to go ahead; Peter Jackson will direct; it will be three movies not two or one; and they will be shot in native 3D. Sure there were distractions along the way but the end result was exactly what my source had told us from day one: We'll be getting what we've always dreamed of.

And now that day has come. I must admit when I first saw the HFR opening scenes I do not know exactly what to expect. To the untrained eye which most of us has, the characters seem to speed up and slow down and even simple camera panning had issues with uneven, at times jerking motion. It sounds worse than it is. I will be the first to say I was nervous. In all the reviews that I had read prior to seeing the movie there was no indication that you would get used to what you're watching on the screen. But I am here to reassure you today that you will indeed get used to what's on the screen and moreover you will be engulfed in such a realistic journey that it may bring tears to your eyes. You WILL get used to the HFR experience, some faster than others. I have yet to see HFR a second time but when I do I will let you know if my eyes get used to the experience faster the second time.

Once my eyes adjusted after perhaps 10 min. of watching the movie I was only reminded of the HFR experience a handful at times afterwards mainly during periods of the movie that were slower so I had time to think for myself. But oh the times when I forgot about the HFR and just was completely immersed in flying over the group of dwarves, Gandalf and Bilbo as they travel towards the lonely Mountain. I'm not ashamed to say I had tears in my eyes at that moment. We are witnessing the dawn of a new generation of cinematic experience in HFR. When I spoke with James Cameron at Cinemacon and what he showed us his HFR 3D testing, I was floored - and that was with simple slow-motion clips from a closed set. Peter Jackson has given us a full cinematic experience of one of the most beloved classic stories ever told and combining that with 3-D and HFR was pure genius.

Where shall I begin? Good question. I think I have to start with the tip of the hat to Peter Jackson and the sheer will and determination of the man to get this production underway from the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his way is nothing short of amazing. New Zealand could not ask for a better ambassador to represent them on the world stage. His vision, his loyalty to Tolkien, his creativity along with Fran and Phillipa and not to forget Guillermo del Toro, and his bottomless pit of energy that Jackson can draw upon must be pointed out in any review of the hobbit.

Who would've thought that this small island nation could not only compete with the likes of Hollywood but surpass them. I don't believe there's anything untouchable for Jackson and his team. What a remarkable statement. Watching THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY and seeing the maturation of Jackson's directing style meshed with the new technologies that his team are introducing was mesmerizing. The sweeping camera motions over the heads of the dwarves in the Goblin King's cavern immediately brought to mind to me motion capture at its best. I lost some of the suspension of disbelief at that moment because I knew how Jackson was shooting it and I was analyzing it, but to the average theater goer that won't be an issue at all. Their jaws will just be open and tiny bit; eyes wide open.

So let's dissect the movie with my 'infamous' Star Analysis method. First let's talk about the story – obviously Jackson and his team adapted the story from Tolkien's THE HOBBIT and in order to make three movies about the tale may be stretching it a bit. Clearly he had more resources than just the story though - I'm sure the appendices will come into play, especially in the third movie. But I appreciated all the time spent in showing the audience what a comfortable life Bilbo has prior to Gandalf and the dwarves showing up at his door. It can't be overstated that Bilbo's life was turned completely upside down. And then there's the matter of introducing all these short characters and that the new generation of moviegoers may have never seen THE LORD OF THE RINGS, so their introduction to Gandalf and Bilbo must consider that. Not to mention the shire and the whole of Middle-earth. So with these issues in consideration I think Jackson and his team did a remarkable job with the adaptation thus far of the hobbit. I gave the story a 92% leaving plenty of room for improvement but reflecting upon the challenges that must've gone into AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY. I love that Bilbo made a very uncomfortable decision to join the dwarves of course, and he really doesn't know what he's getting himself into. But I think coming in contact with the ring emboldened him whether he wanted it to or not. Remember from THE LORD OF THE RINGS how the ring affected Bilbo in the end; it wasn't pretty.

I thought the acting and character development held up very well despite the restrictions of all the prosthetics that had to be in place due to the high frame rate production. I thought the various personalities of the characters had ample opportunity to shine especially Thorin Oakenshield. and what can you say about Ian McKellen? I feel every time we see him on the big screen is a gift to the culture of mankind – he is that good.

Here is the first facet of the film that I thought truly deserved a near-perfect mark. Suspension of disbelief. The Elf's home Rivendell in particular was breathtaking. Through Jackson's HFR experience and the expertise displayed in the perfect stereoscopic 3-D cinematography with 3ality Technica, we have the opportunity to step through the silver screen and be one step closer to the world of the directors mind. Sure AVATAR was amazing and I'm convinced that AVATAR 2 and 3 with their high frame rate will be remarkable as well, but let's face it this was our first HFR experience and I for one am ecstatic about where we're going. you may have read what some other critics have complained about and I really don't think that they've given the format chance at all. Some of these critics have forgotten how to suspend their disbelief when they are presented with such jaw dropping beauty in a new technology such as HFR. To them I say open your minds and don't poison the thoughts of your readers with an ignorant response.

The directing of Peter Jackson was near perfect and I think Andy Serkis is truly coming into his own as a director and of course he is the single best motion and performance capture artist alive today. I think the single most exciting thing about this category of my review is seeing how Peter Jackson is maturing at the helm. I can just see him playing in this giant sandbox of creativity with these toys of high technology always within reach of him. I can only imagine what experiences he has in store for us down the road with the story. His new use of motion capture and his virtual camera utility added a huge boost to my reception of AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY.

The movie score of Howard Shore was the near perfect complement to the visual treats presented. While at times I thought the music extended a bit too far, I loved the new melodic thrusts for THE HOBBIT. And I thought the audio clues from the Lord of the rings were brought in and is suitable and tasteful manner so that it didn't overly influence the movie. I thought there might be a risk of that in watching some of the trailers and I certainly did not want to see a prequel to the Lord of the rings. I wanted to see and hear the hobbit trilogy. And that folks is what were getting.

Next is the cinematography. Andrew Lesnie has nailed it. First of all I have to say that his marriage of motion and performance capture prowess with his classical use of traditional lensing has produced a timeless piece of work. It's rare that someone can not only use but excel at blending the two into something compelling. All too often either the visual effects or the technical execution of directing photography takes center stage while something else visually suffers. Not so with an unexpected journey – we're not only getting a movie here, were seeing history in the making.

The visual effects of the deus ex machina Great Eagles was one of the highlights of the movie for me. The majesty of these beasts were captured impeccably and my thoughts roamed to what we can expect from Jackson for the presentation of Smaug. I can only imagine how Smaug will soar. You can't help but think it's the Eagles multiplied 100 fold. The goblin King looked amazing as did the trolls. You can watch a featurette of how they created the trolls using motion capture here. The hint of what the necromancer looks like excites me too.

Finally I bring you the perfect stereoscopic 3D experience. Not once did I experience disbelief in the movie based upon the 3-D. The expertise and obviously the 3D rigging equipment from 3ality Technica combined with the Red Epic cameras proved to be a match made in Middle-earth heaven. There does not seem to be anything that we can't do now in 3D. Impressive with me was that there was no fogging on the screen from any source of light. This always bothers me and every time I see it I shudder. Not this time. Again I must bring up the sweeping, outdoor aerial shot over the shoulders of Gandalf, Bilbo and the dwarves as they ran along a craggy hill because the 3D truly brought it home. The HFR sharpened the screen into reality but the 3D pulled us in. I gave the hobbit: an unexpected journey 100% score for their stereoscopic 3D. I expect more of the same for parts two and three.

I thought I would reprint what Steve Schklair of 3ality Technica had to say to me about HFR and it bears serious thought:
"Every change in cinema technology has come with negative comments and naysayers. This includes the advent of color, sound, digital, and 3D. If you remember back to the early days of digital, there was a company selling a process that would artificially insert weave, grain, scratches and dirt into a pristine digital image so that it would have a “film look”. Motion artifacts in 2D are distracting, and in 3D they are especially distracting. Shooting HFR makes for better images and sharper less distracting pictures. Because it does not look like what people are used to, it comes with the same detractors as did color, sound, digital, and 3D. I agree with Peter Jackson in that you have to see an entire movie at 48 and not just a few minutes. When you become immersed in the story, the difference in look will become secondary to the story. Eventually, like all new technologies in our business, it will become the accepted norm. History shows that to always be true."

In closing I have to say I'm disappointed with a number of my peers who call themselves movie critics and supposedly are supposed to represent the good interests of the moviegoing public. The vitriol I have read about THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY has been uncalled for in my opinion. I think the public should be made aware of the fact that their eyes will take some time to adjust to the HFR experience and I suspect everybody will be different in how they do so. I would estimate that most audience members will be fully adjusted to the experience within 5 to 15 minutes. Some will be shorter and longer than that but I suspect most will fall within that window. And I can't emphasize this enough: It is worth the wait. You will be transported. Like never before. And whatever you hear, THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY is certainly cinematic - in fact it is the new definition of cinema - everyone else must catch up. It's history in the making. Don't miss out on this once in a lifetime experience. Enjoy!

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY is playing now in HFR 3-D, IMAX 3-D, RealD 3-D, and flat. I give the movie 9.5 stars out of 10.

Thanks so much to Empire Theatres for the amazing screening! The HFR experience was remarkable, the projection was bright and the service impeccable as always. I'll be seeing the movie again in IMAX!

Empire Theatres Is First National Exhibitor In Canada To Complete Circuit Wide Digital Cinema Conversion

I have always thought myself lucky to be in a market where the local theater chain takes movie going very seriously and thinks about how to best serve the customer. Empire Theatres is amazing! Their new IMAX 3D upgrades in Halifax simply astounds too...

I want to thank Empire Theatres as well for supporting MarketSaw throughout the years as well. Much appreciated!

Here's their press release for the achievement! (Emphasis is mine):

HALIFAX, March 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Empire Theatres, a partner in the Canadian Digital Cinema Partnership, announced today the completion of their digital cinema conversion project. The conversion began in theatres starting in May 2011, and its completion makes Empire Theatres the first national exhibitor in Canada to complete a digital cinema conversion. As of March 7, 2012, 359 screens in 45 theatres have been converted from 35mm to digital projection.

Empire Theatres partnered with Barco to complete the digital cinema conversion. As a global leader in digital cinema projection, Barco offers a wide range of Series II projector models that allowed Empire Theatres to select appropriate projectors for each of their screens, providing the best and brightest 2k and 4k digital images available.

"We are excited about our growing relationship with Empire Theatres as we help them embrace the latest digital cinema solutions," commented Joe DeMeo, Director of Sales, Digital Cinema for Barco North America. "We are committed to serving the ongoing needs of our Canadian exhibitors."

Doremi Cinema, the leader in digital cinema technology, was selected as Empire Theatres' partner for all projector server technology featuring Doremi's TMS platform. Empire Theatres' digital projectors incorporate either Doremi's DCP-2000 or Integrated Media Block (IMB) with Doremi's ShowVault, and provide outstanding 2K playback for 2D and 3D, and have allowed for the introduction of CaptiView™ throughout the Empire Theatres' circuit for select titles.

CaptiView™ is a personal in-theatre closed caption viewing device for deaf & hard of hearing moviegoers. The CaptiView™ system consists of a small OLED display on a bendable support arm that fits into a cup holder. The easy-to-read screen can display three lines of text at a time and can support up to four languages.

"Empire's ability to complete the conversion in such a short period of time show's their commitment to providing their customers the best possible presentation in every screen," stated Michael Archer, VP Digital Cinema, Doremi. "Empire is the quintessential exhibitor for Doremi. They have utilized four separate Doremi products in the multiplex to help them maximize all opportunities afforded by digital cinema."

As a result of the conversion, 40% of Empire Theatres' screens now have RealD 3D capability, delivering a stunningly realistic and fully immersive entertainment experience for moviegoers. RealD is the world's most widely used 3D movie technology.

In select Empire Theatre locations, distinctive Empire Extra auditoriums offer guests a revolutionary new digital cinema experience. Empire Extra auditoriums allow guests to enjoy stunning digital presentation on a massive, wall to wall wrap-around screen with picture provided by a Barco projector and Doremi server. In addition, Empire Extra auditoriums provide dynamic sound through a proprietary custom-designed multi-channel sound system for the ultimate audio experience; and reserved seating in comfy, high back rockers.

"As a guest-focused company, we view the rollout of digital cinema projection technology as an important and strategic investment in our business" says Dean Leland, Vice President of Studio & Media Relations for Empire Theatres Limited. "The digital conversion will allow our guests to benefit from the best and brightest picture presentation each and every time they enjoy a movie at Empire Theatres, and enables us to provide a premium guest experience through our Empire Extra auditoriums."

"I would like to acknowledge our partners Barco, Doremi, RealD, ProjecTech, and DCIP who have been great assets to our digital conversion project" states Valerie Ryan, Chief Operating Officer for Empire Theatres Limited. "The collaboration and hard work of our internal teams, along with the support and expertise of our partners have enabled this project to be completed within only 8 months without business interruption."

About Empire Theatres Limited:
Empire Theatres Limited is a Canada-wide movie exhibition company providing an exciting out-of-home entertainment experience including traditional movie exhibition as well as other content using its digital and satellite capabilities.

Empire Theatres Limited is a 100% owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited that owns and operates 50 theatres across Canada with 383 screens, including four IMAX auditoriums and six Empire Extra auditoriums.

Empire Theatres Limited' corporate headquarters are located in Stellarton, NS, with regional offices in Halifax, NS; Toronto, ON; and Calgary, AB. With approximately 2,500 employees, Empire Theatres provides excellent employment opportunities for the youth of Canada in an exciting and energetic industry.

Empire Theatres Introducing "Empire Extra" And Three More IMAX Screens!

Exciting news for Canadians! Empire Theatres are expanding their value added services to movie goers and I am impressed. They have two announcements to comment on - here are the official press releases (emphasis is mine):

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Halifax, NS - Empire Theatres, a Canada-wide film exhibition company, will be introducing Empire Extra, a revolutionary new digital cinema experience, to five additional locations this year.

Empire Extra provides guests with a heightened sensory experience in a special auditorium custom-designed to offer dynamic sound, screen and seat quality. Empire Extra boasts a proprietary custom-designed multi-channel sound system for the ultimate audio experience; stunning digital presentation on a massive, wall to wall wrap-around screen; and reserved seating in comfy, high back rockers.

Empire Extra was first introduced to the new Empire Theatres Waterloo complex in Waterloo, ON which opened in November 2010. Due to its success and positive guest feedback, it will now be introduced to the following locations over the next few months:

- Empire Theatres Dartmouth Crossing, Dartmouth, NS
- Empire Theatres Empress Walk, Toronto, ON
- Empire Theatres MacLeod Trail, Calgary, AB
- Empire Theatres Crystal Palace, Dieppe, NB
- Empire Theatres Orleans, Orleans, ON

“Empire Extra has been a hit with guests in our Waterloo, ON location. They love the outstanding movie-going experience so we have decided to introduce it to a few other locations in time for summer,” says Dean Leland, Vice President - Studio Relations & Media, Empire Theatres.

--AND--

Halifax, NS and Toronto, ON - Empire Theatres, a Canada-wide film exhibition company with 50 theatres, and IMAX Corp. (NYSE: IMAX) (TSX: IMAX) announced today that Empire Theatres will be adding three new IMAX digital theatres to its network this year.

In addition to an existing location in Halifax, NS, the following theatres in the Empire Theatres network have been chosen to deliver The IMAX Experience®:

Empire Theatres Country Hills, Calgary, AB
Empire Theatres Kitchener, Kitchener, ON
Empire Theatres Avalon Mall, St. John’s, NL

The Empire Theatres Bayers Lake, Halifax, NS IMAX screen will be converted from film to digital projection to allow for a greater range of IMAX blockbuster hits to be shown.

“We are excited to partner once again with IMAX Corporation to bring The IMAX Experience® to our theatres in these markets,” says Dean Leland, Vice President, Studio & Media Relations, Empire Theatres. “IMAX delivers premium viewing experiences in both digital and 3D that our guests are looking for.”

IMAX offers cutting-edge digital 2D and 3D picture and sound technologies that deliver a superior movie-going experience on a larger screen with crystal-clear images and enhanced sound. IMAX theatres deliver the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX® 3D, and IMAX DMR® technology, creating an immersive experience that will make guests feel like they are a part of the movie.

“Today’s announcement highlights our commitment to expanding in the Canadian market, and to continuing our successful work with key partners like Empire Theatres,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “With these three new systems, we are scheduled to have 22 commercial theatres operating in Canada by November, more than double the size of our Canadian commercial theatre network as of November 2010."

The Empire Theatres Country Hills, AB, Empire Theatres Kitchener, ON and Empire Theatres Bayers Lake, NS locations will be open for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2: An IMAX 3D Experience on July 15, 2011. The Empire Theatres Avalon Mall, NL location will be open in September 2011.

About Empire Theatres Limited:
Empire Theatres Limited is a Canada-wide film exhibition company providing an exciting out-of-home entertainment experience including traditional film exhibition as well as other content using its digital and satellite capabilities. Empire Theatres Limited is a 100% owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited that owns and operates 50 theatres across Canada with 386 screens, including one IMAX theatre in Halifax, NS. Empire Theatres Limited’s corporate headquarters are located in Stellarton, NS, with regional offices in Halifax, NS; Toronto, ON; and Calgary, AB. With approximately 2,500 employees, Empire Theatres provides excellent employment opportunities for the youth of Canada in an exciting and energetic industry.

About IMAX Corporation:
IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment and technology companies, specializing in the creation and delivery of premium, awe-inspiring entertainment experiences. With a growing suite of cutting-edge motion picture and sound technologies, and a globally recognized entertainment brand, IMAX is singularly situated at the convergence of the entertainment industry, innovation and the digital media world. The industry's top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and as such, the IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe. The Company's new digital projection and sound systems - combined with a growing blockbuster film slate - are fueling the rapid expansion of the IMAX network in established markets such as North America, Western Europe, and Japan, as well as emerging markets such as China and Russia. IMAX theatres deliver the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX®, IMAX 3D®, and IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-Mastering) technologies. IMAX DMR enables virtually any motion picture to be transformed into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience®. IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo and Shanghai. As of March 31, 2011, there were 528 IMAX theatres (408 commercial, 120 institutional) operating in 46 countries.

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I wish I had some figures to pass on to you about the new IMAX Digital Screens because in the past there has been a lot of negative things said about the size of some of their screens and resolution. I AM SURE that these issues are in their past and that the experience will be a massive improvement over what happened a few years ago. I am looking forward to stunning digital clarity on regulation sized IMAX screens. Nothing less will do. I'll ask and see if I can get some numbers for you.

The "Empire Extra" availability sounds right on the money! Can't wait to see it. There has been a movement to these added services in recent years with chains like the Alamo Drafthouse blazing trails (food & licensed beverage service to your seat). Perhaps we will see this in Canada at some point down the road as well. I'm just excited to have these improvements coming right now!!

Congratulations Empire Theatres!!

THE FINAL DESTINATION Is 3D For The Second Straight Week!

Jim here. The competition wasn't too too strong, but a very VERY nice return for THE FINAL DESTINATION once again! According to Box Office Mojo, flick will do $12.4 million in its second stanza - good enough to repeat as the top box office draw. Do you think 3D had anything to do with it? Of course!

I saw GAMER last night and I was quite disappointed. Some parts were laugh out loud bad. Sure there were great moments, but overall absolutely no competition of THE FINAL DESTINATION.

The 3D is well done and there are gimmicks of course - it is a horror movie after all - with objects poking back at you. It is one of the few genres to be able to get away with it. Makes you jump - all the better right? And audiences certainly agree. Its worth a look if you haven't checked it out yet.

Thank you Empire Theaters for the screening of THE FINAL DESTINATION.

3D Eh? Cineplex and RealD Join To Bring 175 3D Screens To Canada

Bringing RealD's committed screen count to well over 5,500 now, Cineplex Entertainment of Canada signed up for 175 today to usher in the new modern era of 3D across Canada. Cineplex already has 41 installed RealD systems and will look to bring that total up to 175 starting this year. The expectation is that the total rollout will be done in time for the major 3D tentpoles next year.

This is great news for Canucks. While Empire Theatres already has some 3D screens across the country, Cineplex is signaling full steam ahead for coast to coast 3D entertainment. I love the commitment to getting these up and running for the big 3D titles next year!

"We are pleased to partner with RealD, the leader in 3D technology," said Ellis Jacob, President and CEO, Cineplex Entertainment. "There is an exciting slate of 3D films scheduled for release during the next 18 months that includes Jeffrey Katzenberg's Monsters vs. Aliens in addition to about a dozen other 3D films and this agreement with allow us to provide even more guests across the country with the most advanced digital 3D movie-going experience possible."

"We are thrilled to be the 3D provider of choice for Cineplex Entertainment," said Michael Lewis, Chairman and CEO, RealD. "The partnership brings next-generation 3D to even more cinemagoers across Canada." RealD is the global leader in 3D, with 90% of the worldwide digital 3D market and 97% of the domestic market. RealD is the most advanced digital 3D experience available in cinemas. The RealD cinema experience is based upon visualization technology used by NASA and Fortune 500 companies, and utilizes a circular polarization system to create a vivid and immersive three-dimensional picture.

About RealD:

RealD is the global leader in 3D, bringing the most advanced digital 3-D experience to cinemas worldwide. RealD's next-generation technology, deployed across the world's largest 3D platform in 27 countries, provides a stunningly realistic and immersive viewing experience beyond the usual concepts of 3D cinema. The impact of 3D upon today's moviemaking has been compared to the advent of color film when once there was only black and white.

About Cineplex Entertainment LP:

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex Entertainment LP owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 132 theatres with 1,337 screens serving approximately 61 million guests annually. Cineplex Entertainment LP is the largest motion picture exhibitor in Canada operating the following brands: Cinema City, Cineplex Odeon, Coliseum, Colossus, Famous Players, Galaxy, SilverCity and Scotiabank Theatres. The units of Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund, which owns approximately 76% of Cineplex Entertainment LP, are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol CGX.UN).

I'm A Fly On A Wall Tonight! Checking Out U23D Finally...

I am checking out U23D tonight thanks to my friends at Empire Theatres IMAX. I will have a review up TOMORROW - stay tuned!

If you do not have an IMAX near you, the wide release will be in February and will include Real D theaters. I will post this list of theaters when I have it.

For now, you can refer to my list of 3D theaters here.