Moviegoers can still choose to see it in the more traditional format.
As lengthy as this first installment is, its a cracking start,writesThe New Zealand Heralds Russell Ballie.
James Rocchi, writing for BoxOffice.com, was among the most brutal: Its the problem of prequels.
Credit: Todd Eyre
So, this time… Oscar expectations friend or foe?
PETER JACKSON: Well it depends.
I think weve got great possibilities in the below the line categories.
Warner Bros.
Above the line, I dont think so much.
The acting awards seem to elude us, at least for these types of films.
I dont know why.
The riddle sequence with Serkis as Gollum is one of the highlights ofThe Hobbit.
But voters particularly actors are reluctant to recognize this kind of work.
What is it going to take?
Its just going to take an understanding an understanding that it is a pure acting craft.
Theres a suspicion that somewhere between Andy and the finished result other people are involved.
But motion capture now is so well developed that every muscle in Andys face is replicated on Gollums face.
And everything Andy does is accurately translated to Gollum.
It is the closest thing to digital make-up.
And Andy doesnt have a stunt-double!
Andy does it all himself.
Youre in a much trickier place withThe Hobbitthan you were at the start ofThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy.
Fans want more of the same, but they also demand something different.
How do you balance that?
Tolkiens novel gave us that.
It is a different tone.
I mean, Tolkien wroteThe Hobbit20 years beforeThe Lord of the Rings.
Its the origin of a lot of the events that culminate inThe Lord of the Rings.
But its much more of a childrens, whimsical fairy tale.
Yes they are, indeed!
The comedy was one of the joys of this movie.
Its very episodic, by chapter.
We wanted the movie to reflect a little of that.
For a long time during pre-production, Guillermo del Toro was planning to direct.
Do any of his contributions remain in the film?
Theres always going to be some of his DNA.
We revised the script a lot when I came on, and we revised the designs a lot.
But he worked on it for a good year, year-and-a-half.
Im certain there are fruits of his labor woven all through it.
The scene with battling rock-giants pulling themselves out of a mountainside seems particularly del Toro-esque.
That was in there during his time for sure!
Last question: This was a very long shoot what was your best day?
[Takes breath, smiles.]
The best day on set was thelastday making it through!
