Thompson on Hollywood

Watch: Peter Jackson Previews 'The Desolation of Smaug,' Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peek and New Characters

Video

Those who purchased the Blu-ray and DVD combo pack of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" received a special access code to watch Peter Jackson previewing the second installment in the franchise, "The Desolation of Smaug" (December 13). Six minutes of that preview have now been released online -- watch below.

By Beth Hanna
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April 1, 2013 1:52 PM
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New 'Hobbit' Images from 'Desolation of Smaug' & 'There and Back Again'

News

Check out these new images for the second and third installments in the epic "Hobbit" franchise, "The Desolation of Smaug" (above) and "There and Back Again," set to hit theaters on December 13, 2013, and July 18, 2014. There's a hill of gold and more Orlando Bloom in store...

By Beth Hanna
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December 7, 2012 1:09 PM
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Immersed in Movies: Peter Jackson Talks 'The Hobbit' and Controversial 48 fps

Features

Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth with "The Hobbit" at the higher frame rate of 48 is certainly a bold experiment. It's new; it's different; it's smoother; it's more realistic. But there's no question that HFR 3-D is already causing an aesthetic divide. For some, it's jarring; for others, it's jaw-dropping.

By Bill Desowitz
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December 5, 2012 2:43 PM
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Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit': Review and Reaction Roundup UPDATED

Reviews

Finally, the last films of the year are being screened, just in time for early critics voting. While early reactions to this weekend's "Django Unchained" were upbeat, reviews so far are mixed on Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Reactions came in from both the New Zealand premiere, held on Wednesday, and a slew of Los Angeles screenings. Complaints from the premiere took the form of dizziness and even motion sickness from watching the controversial 48 fps, while L.A. critics found the film padded, overlong and shockingly lacking in women.

By Anne Thompson
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December 3, 2012 8:58 PM
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Peter Jackson Debuts 9th 'Hobbit' Video Blog with Sleep Deprived VFX Crew Rushing Toward Completion

Video

Check out the latest "Hobbit" vlog by Peter Jackson, the ninth in a series chronicling the film's long road to completion.

By Beth Hanna
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November 26, 2012 12:42 PM
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'Hobbit' to Play in 48 FPS on 450 Screens--For Starters

News

Finally, Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" will screen in its original 48 FPS version in only about 450 of its approximate 4,000 release locations on December 14. That was not the original plan. Warner Bros. distribution president Dan Fellman tells TOH! that the majority of the higher frame rate screenings will happen in or near most major and mid-sized cities.

By Anne Thompson and Beth Hanna
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November 7, 2012 1:47 PM
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It's True: Peter Jackson Will Turn 'The Hobbit' Into a Trilogy (COMIC-CON VIDEO)

Festivals

At a press conference backstage at Comic-Con, Peter Jackson revealed that he wants not only to get permission for a few weeks of reshoots next year for what could be two long "Hobbit" films--supplemented with darker material from JRR Tolkien's appendices-- but they could wind up as three. UPDATE: Now the filmmaker confirms the trilogy.

By Anne Thompson
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July 30, 2012 12:49 PM
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Studios Go Gigantor at Comic-Con: 'Pacific Rim,' 'Godzilla,' 'Man of Steel,' 'The Hobbit'

Festivals

The studios have boxed themselves into a corner. Because you can't just keep piling money into VFX to lure audiences to theaters, as their current (failing) tentpole strategy attests. And digital 3-D isn't exactly an event anymore--both "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Ice Age 4" saw lackluster 3-D performance.

By Anne Thompson
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July 17, 2012 4:29 PM
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Comic-Con: Even Without Fox, 'Dark Knight,' or 'Star Trek,' Plenty to See, from Burton and Jackson to 'Game of Thrones'

News

Comic-Con is so noisy and logistically energy-draining--they're expecting 130,000 attendees this year-- that it's tempting to just watch the Hall H panel videos from afar. Isn't the "Twilight" series over already? (Actually, no, and the sad death of a fan who was struck by a car while trying to join an early "Twilight" Comic-Con line attests to that.)