Hobbit fans around the world rejoiced last Tuesday as “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” was released for purchase on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD. Despite the fact that the movie is only viewable at the standard 24 frames per second (fps), it is still an amazing movie worth purchasing on Blu-ray.

The Hobbit is one of those movies that warrants being purchased; the movie is so wonderfully immersive that to not watch it in full HD with surround sound would be a disservice to yourself.  In addition, the 3D is quite immersive as well; though there were occasionally a few 3D shots that didn’t quite translate well from the big screen to the home theater, these shots certainly weren’t bad enough to detract from the movie overall, as the rest of the 3D was quite impressive. The 2D quality is fantastic as well- you can see everything from individual rain drops falling to each and every pore on Bilbo’s face. I know that may sound a little weird, but trust me- it looks cool.

There is one question, however, that has been asked (and continues to be asked) by many Hobbit fans: does this Blu-ray release include the option to watch the movie in HFR at 48 frames per second (in either 2D or 3D)? The answer is, simply, no; the movie does not include the HFR version.  The reason is more complicated: HFR technology is only applicable to movie theaters.  To understand why, the difference in technology between movie theaters and home/TV theaters must be explained.

Hollywood has been around far longer than television has, and Hollywood started filming movies at 24 fps long ago and has done so ever since.  When television was invented, however, the TV industry was standardized at 30 fps (meaning that all TVs in existence have been made for 30 fps). To allow Hollywood movies to be viewed on TV, a complicated process was created to convert 24 fps to 30 fps; this process is still used to this day.  Trying to release a movie filmed at 48 fps (or anything other than 24 fps) is just too complicated to do, because a new process would have to be invented, and everyone would have to buy new TVs made with this expensive new process.  Thus, the entire television industry would have to receive a massive overhaul for HFR to be used at home.  Is it possible for this to happen?  Yes.  Is it probable?  At least for the foreseeable future, no.

For the sake of the release of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the lack of HFR matters not.  As I said before, this Blu-ray release is certainly worth the money.  I highly recommend purchasing this movie- which also includes some very informative and entertaining special features- to any and all who have an interest in seeing this movie.

On an interesting side note, those who purchase the Blu-ray receive a redemption code to join a live webcast hosted by Peter Jackson himself (which took place on 3/24 from 3-4 P.M.).  I had the pleasure of joining and watching the video live, and they showed a lot of interesting footage from behind the scenes of Part 2 of the Hobbit: “The Desolation of Smaug.”  It was very nice of Mr. Jackson to host this event, which also included a fully-completed scene from the movie itself (which didn’t give anything away, but added some nice suspense for the movie).  A modified (and not live) version of the event can still be seen through May for those who have a redemption code (each of which can be used 3 times), and I heartily recommend it to anyone who has an interest in seeing the event, which was funny and entertaining in and of itself.  Thank you, Peter Jackson!