The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey 3D Blu-ray (2012) [Region Free] [Both Cuts]

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by mseeley

well why on earth wouldn't current sets be able to do a in-between framerate like 48 FPS. It just seems weird to me that we can play 60 FPS video games just fine on current sets, but not be able to play 48 FPS bluray content

I'm gonna be so disappointed if I have to wait years to own The Hobbit trilogy in 48 FPS. I loved 48 FPS with the first installment and would hate to not have the ability to see it again

The Hobbit is a 48fps HFR victim and will probably become a transitional media upgrade phenomena, joining the ranks of early 3-camera Cinerama before perfection of anamorphic 70mm.
60fps is alreay in the works for major productions and IMO, there probably will never be enough movies made in 48fps specification to warrant the needed consumer hardware investment.

Paul

[Zivouhr]

Best Buy has this for pre-order for a March 19th, 2013 release. They have some kind of online preview code to watch extra content early.

Amazon.com has it listed for 27.99, March 19th, 2013 also.

Here are the special features with the 5 disc 3D basic version.
Special Features
- New Zealand: Home of Middle Earth
Video Blogs
- Start of Production
- Location Scouting
- Shooting Block One
- Filming in 3D (I hope it's at least five minutes or more).
- Locations Part 1
- Locations Part 2
- Stone St. Studios Tour
- Wrap of Principal Photography
- Post-production Overview
- Wellington World Premiere Theatrical Trailers
- Dwarves
- Letter Opener
- Bilbo Contract
- Gandalf Wagers
- Gollum Paths

Game Trailer
- The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-Earth
- Guardians of Middle-Earth

For the Christmas 2013 extended version apparently in 3D, any hints out there on what the extended scenes might include? Probably too soon.

I actually preferred the theatrical versions of the original Trilogy to the extended versions, excluding part III, Return of the King, thanks to the Mouth of Sauron. That was cool. This might be different.

Anyone plan to buy this 3D version over the reported 3D extended version much later this year?
I read the Hobbit book a few times, and can't imagine how much more they could fit in aside from dialog shots and some extended action content, but I could be wrong. It could be more from the Appendices of Return of the King.

[jerzdawg]

Still no review for the 3d version ? Obviously ordered already but always like to read the reviews before watching.

[KilloWertz]

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 3D Review

[wesslan]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 3D Review

Interesting to see 3D get 0,5 lower than 2D with ghosting depending on your tv set not the source. Then what is "worse"?

I saw it in cinema, liked the 3D but not that keen on 48fps but never watch movies in 3D if they have worse score than 2D.

[Clinton3779]

I've had it since Thursday and have watched it three times now. I enjoy it more everytime and although the 3d is conservative it really succeeds in drawing me in each time and I absolutely loved seeing the shire, the mines, and rivendell in 3d. Great experience each time!!

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Interesting to see 3D get 0,5 lower than 2D with ghosting depending on your tv set not the source. Then what is "worse"?

I saw it in cinema, liked the 3D but not that keen on 48fps but never watch movies in 3D if they have worse score than 2D.

Maybe the fact that it's "conservative"? Don't know, but I wouldn't worry about it being a half point lower. 4.5/5 is still a very high score and evidence that it's worth watching in 3D.

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Interesting to see 3D get 0,5 lower than 2D with ghosting depending on your tv set not the source. Then what is "worse"?

I saw it in cinema, liked the 3D but not that keen on 48fps but never watch movies in 3D if they have worse score than 2D.

It has become common knowledge that professionally authored BD 3Ds have the same pristine quality for each eye as the 2D source for the same media encode. They are equal in all aspects to the quality of the 2D version counterpart. Each 3D encode is ghosting and crosstalk free. Any visual variance is a result of component processes of the the individual home setup.

Kenneth Brown stated in the review:

3D displays that are prone to ghosting will have difficulty resolving a few shots (most noticeably in long shots of the goblin throne chamber, where tiny torch lights, eager eyes and restless minions are subject to slight crosstalk). As usual, though, any ghosting that pops up is a product of individual 3D displays and glasses, not the 3D encode itself.

Source

He also states the fact:

The 3D version of the film is spread generously across two BD-50 discs.

A first for an 3D epic, providing minimum-compression artifacting for quality control authoring!

Thank you Peter Jackson!

Paul

[FyreFlux]

Can't wait for my copy to get here from the WB Store. I had never ordered with them before, I hope they aren't super slow.

[Big3dfan]

Bestbuy shpped my copy today. Cant wait! Got it for $30-15$ RZW = $15!

[FyreFlux]

Originally Posted by Big3dfan

Bestbuy shpped my copy today. Cant wait! Got it for $30-15$ RZW = $15!

Lucky! I just checked WB and its still processing, but it did come to $23.53 total. Can't complain about that.

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by Clinton3779

I've had it since Thursday and have watched it three times now. I enjoy it more everytime and although the 3d is conservative it really succeeds in drawing me in each time and I absolutely loved seeing the shire, the mines, and rivendell in 3d. Great experience each time!!

Good to hear you enjoyed it more each time. That happened with MIB3 for me as well.

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Maybe the fact that it's "conservative"? Don't know, but I wouldn't worry about it being a half point lower. 4.5/5 is still a very high score and evidence that it's worth watching in 3D.

Well said. 4.5 is a great 3D score.

Originally Posted by Paul H

It has become common knowledge that professionally authored BD 3Ds have the same pristine quality for each eye as the 2D source for the same media encode. They are equal in all aspects to the quality of the 2D version counterpart. Each 3D encode is ghosting and crosstalk free. Any visual variance is a result of component processes of the the individual home setup.

Paul

I feel the same way about the visual quality of 3D blu ray. They look awesome in 3D and when switched to 2D on the 3D disc, for all of the blu ray 3D's I've seen so far. But maybe they're looking for tiny things most people overlook with artifacts, etc.

--- HOBBIT 3D Tuesday March 19, 2013
I really enjoyed the theatrical version, and at 2 h 54 minutes, feel the story is fleshed out enough without the need for extended dialog or scenes, so I'll buy this version tomorrow, glad to have it so early.

"Controversy" over releasing two versions at two different times:
Some have suggested online that it's a crime to release a theatrical version, and then later an extended version, but not everyone wants an extended version. I actually prefer the Lord of the Rings theatrical versions compactness, but did welcome the Mouth of Sauron scene, as brief as it was in Return.
I'd say the distributor releases the extended version later, since it takes longer to prepare and they're probably waiting for Jackson to complete a lot of the extras. I could understand it was already completed for the original trilogy when being introduced to Blu Ray, but in this case, it's still being prepared. Thoughts?

Can't wait to check this one out again.

[GreenGaijin]

I think I have a pretty good idea what the slipcovers for the 3D version of parts 2 and 3 are going to be. I'm just going to wait until the complete box set comes out and put it right next to my Lord of the Rings set. But I must admit, these look gorgeous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y3n1zIBpVY

[Paul H]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

They look awesome in 3D and when switched to 2D on the 3D disc, for all of the blu ray 3D's I've seen so far.

Not even when switched to 2D. The 3D MVC encode is needed to be viewed without "switching" to a 2D variation to ensure native rendering.

Direct-view ability is the center strength of a 3D headset that decodes MVC streams natively as individual left & right 2D progressive images. There is no logical sequence structure manipulation process for single-screen double-image viewing.

It has been my experience that BD 3D video-quality is indistinguishable to both views, images judged separately, and then compared to a BD 2D version.
There have been variation differences, but IMO, they're not "quality" specific.
i.e. Floating widows, dimensional enhancements attributes, object placement and/or removal, and I'm aggressively looking for artifact byproducts.

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

But maybe they're looking for tiny things most people overlook with artifacts, etc.

Agreed! That is the BIG question that needs clarification in every 3D review when it differs from the 2D version of the same feature.

Paul

[Zivouhr]

Thanks for the info Paul. I would like to see an example frame side by side comparison of the differences they're referring to, suggesting that a 2D blu ray is superior in image quality compared to the image of the 3D blu ray of the same movie.


Hobbit 3D Blu Ray was 27.99 at Best Buy. Yes, very nice 3D hologram slipcover of Gandalf's face.

On the extras blu ray disc, in the Play All for the blogs, there is at the 34 minute mark, a nice 8-10 minute behind the scenes of making it in 3D. Very nice with good info.


3D in the Hobbit: Mostly Medium ranged 3D, with a good number of strong 3D shots, and at times, some mild/weaker 3D shots here and there, in tighter quarter locations such as Bilbo's home. Still really nicely done.

[terrybd]

Walmart is selling the 3D version at $5.00 off of their list price, so ends up at $24.96 (before sales tax).

[poke smot]

Originally Posted by Ao-Pyramid

I think I have a pretty good idea what the slipcovers for the 3D version of parts 2 and 3 are going to be. I'm just going to wait until the complete box set comes out and put it right next to my Lord of the Rings set. But I must admit, these look gorgeous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y3n1zIBpVY

I'm going to say that the 3d slips will be the same as the walmart pre order cards.

[GreenGaijin]

Originally Posted by poke smot

I'm going to say that the 3d slips will be the same as the walmart pre order cards.

I went to search what you were talking about. Yeah, that makes more sense - you got to have Bilbo on one of them, I guess the finale.

[Paul H]

The use of the traditional-format for the 3D version of the movie connects with me by leaps and bounds and is so compatible with my past conditioning. My perception when viewing this epic leaves a natural warm feeling of tenable believability and closely follows the excitement of visual clarity that in my experience has no close existing rival for live-action 3D authoring!
Make-Up, Sets, and special-effects look natural and real.

The narrow paths on the shear cliffs where rock-giants battle, the Dwarf & Hobbit tread are breathtakingly & perilously wrought with 3 dimensional realistic trepidation.

A "generous spread" on two BD 3D discs benefit the franchise greatly with a pristine - 3D entertainment experience.

Paul

[Taygan315]

Originally Posted by Paul H

The use of the traditional-format for the 3D version of the movie connects with me by leaps and bounds and is so compatible with my past conditioning. My perception when viewing this epic leaves a natural warm feeling of tenable believability and closely follows the excitement of visual clarity that in my experience has no close existing rival for live-action 3D authoring!
Make-Up, Sets, and special-effects look natural and real.

The narrow paths on the shear cliffs wear rock-giants battle, the Dwarf & Hobbit tread are breathtakingly & perilously wrought with 3 dimensional realistic trepidation.

A "generous spread" on two BD 3D discs benefit the franchise greatly with a pristine - 3D entertainment experience.

Paul

Cant say I understand everything you said Paul but I am getting the notion it's positive and that you liked what you saw,lol.

Cant wait to pick this one up Friday and see this myself!!! I'm actually considering taking the day off from work tomorrow just to watch it more than once this weekend.

March Madness and The Hobbit 3D....LIFE IS GOOD,lol!!