The Perils of High Frame Rate

High Frame Rate is a term used to describe films shot using more frames per second than traditional films, typically 48 frames per second as opposed to the traditional 24. High frame rate is a highly experimental format, and has only been used on a small handful of films so far, notably The Hobbit. This technology has only actually been experienced by a small handful of people, given that less than one thousand cinemas world wide are equipped to display HFS image, and i personally have never experienced this effect, and so cannot comment on its effectiveness, however i can comment on the advantages, motivations and drawbacks of this technology.

As i stated previously, high frame rate uses double the number of frames per second when compared to traditional film. Its proponents have stated that HFR reduces blur and lag, and improves the general lighting of the image.The Hobbit was filmed entirely in HFR using Red Epic cameras. Proponents of this technology have stated that HFR used in conjunction with 3D looks far better, and many of the problems with current 3D projection technology, such as flickering, ghosting and image break up are not apparent when used in conjunction with HFR. I have some issues with Jackson's logic, he states that HFR reduces blur and flicker, however without taking into account what the human eye actually sees, the original star wars trilogy used Go-Motion, a stop motion variation used to add motion blur to images, in order to make them look real, and indistinguishable from the live action footage, so a little ironic that HFR is supposed to improve image quality by reducing blur, when motion blur is inherant in the way we view images naturally.

Detractors from this technology have stated that this technique makes the visuals look overlit, and cheap, and makes the picture look like sports coverage or a video game, ie really really cheap! One of the major issues that i have with this technology is that it prohibits using film, and this technology can only be used with digital film. This irritates me and i am a huge critic of digital film, which although much cheaper to produce, doesn't have the romantic stylized look of film, and although there is great clarity and sharpness, this is not necessarily an advantage. Some have pointed out that HFR is creating a new uncanny valley like effect, in which the images presented look too real, and are thus slightly repulsive.

Overall i have conflicted feelings about high frame rate, although it irons out many of the problems facing 3D viewers, such as darkness, ghosting and break up, however i feel that this is a technology which although being appropriate in some cases, is inappropriate for some movies, and i dislike the fact that this technology is moving filmmakers farther and farther away from using film stock, which really is a shame.

The Desolation of Smaug - Trailer Review

Well the trailer for the second installment of the Hobbit trilogy is finally here, and it looks like its set to be a fun and exciting adventure. The trailer seems to tell us that the film will take us through the mirkwood forests with the defeat of Smaug being the films conclusion. This tells us that Stephen Fry should appear in this installment.

This film seems to be more action packed than its predecessor. One of my criticisms of this films predecessor was that too much time was spent with gags and getting to know and differentiate the different dwarves, however this film seems action packed, and there looks to be a lot of action. One of the scenes which appears in this film and which is particularly celebrated is the escape from Lake Town in the barrels, which will appear in this film.

This film signifies the return of Legolas to the big screen, with the addition of Tauriel played by Evangeline Lily as mirkwood elves, giving the film a much needed female character, who is not present in the book. The film adds a subplot involving the mirkwood elves, who help in defeating the orcs attempting to capture the dwarves. The film also continues the subplot involving Gandalf and Radagast, exploring the castle in which lies the necromancer, who will ultimately rise to power. My only qualm with this trailer is that Smaug should not have been shown in the trailer, but revealed in the movie, seeing as his appearance was deliberately teased in the first film.

Overall the film looks very good, and looks to solve many of the issues of its predecessor, being more action packed. The bulk of this story takes place in mirkwood, and the elves seem to have a huge presence in  this film, yet it remains to be seen if we will again meet the White Council. Overall this is a fun trailer for what looks to be a hugely exciting film. Trailer Rating: A