There’s a lot of hype leading up to the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. However, much of the reaction to the decision to show the movie at 48 frames per second has been decidedly more mixed.

Fizziology says that 60 percent of the conversation on social media platforms about the 48 frames per second version of The Hobbit is negative. By contrast, 30 percent is neutral and only 10 percent is positive.

48 frames per second, defying an 80-year industry standard of 24 FPS, is by far the most common complaint about The Hobbit on social media, making up 45 percent of negative conversations.  The two-hour, 49-minute running time for The Hobbit is number two at 13 percent.

The critical reviews of the “high frame rate” version of The Hobbit have been mixed, with some liking the higher quality of the visuals and others saying that the HD television show look makes some sets look fake. There have also been unverified reports that the high frame rate version made some viewers at the New Zealand premiere nauseated.

Still only about 450 theaters out of 4,000-plus in the U.S. and Canada will have the 48 FPS version of The Hobbit. Most will show the film at the standard 24 frames per second, either in 2-D or 3-D.

Fizziology reports that nearly 40 percent of all sentiment surrounding The Hobbit online is positive, compared with just 7 percent that’s negative.  With “tracking” surveys also being strong, The Hobbit is expected to open to more than $100 million this weekend.

Source: LATimes.com