‘Hobbit’ director Peter Jackson hopes new technology will create ‘magical’ movie experience

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Peter Jackson says he hopes technology he used on his “Hobbit” movie trilogy will help create a “magical” experience that will encourage people to return to theatres.

Jackson spoke at a news conference in Wellington hours before the Wednesday premiere of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” He shot at 48 frames per second instead of the traditional 24 to give the film greater clarity. He likened the technology to the leap from vinyl records to CDs.

He says younger people are happy to watch movies on their iPads, so filmmakers “have to make the cinema-going experience more magical and more spectacular.”

Some observers who saw preview footage at a convention in April thought the images were too clear and that the realism detracted from the magic of film.