'The Hobbit' Review: Peter Jackson Explains Use of High Frame Rate Format Shooting of New Movie

Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is set to hit theaters on Dec. 14 and much talk is surrounded by the trilogy being shot using the High Frame Rate (HFR) format.

According to Jackson, HFR is new - became available about two years ago - and he wanted movie goers to experience "just how remarkably immersive the theatrical cinema experience can be."

The movie was shot at 48 frames per second and Jackson said it gives viewers a well-defined illusion of real life.

"One of the biggest advantages is the fact that your eye is seeing twice the number of images each second, giving the movie a wonderful immersive quality," Jackson said in a question and answer session on his Facebook page.

"It makes the 3D experience much more gentle and hugely reduces eyestrain. Much of what makes 3D viewing uncomfortable for some people is the fact that each eye is processing a lot of strobing, blur and flicker. This all but disappears in HFR 3D."

Jackson said that the Hobbit series won't feel like movies people are used to watching because of the HFR 3D.

"We live in an age when cinemas are competing with iPads and home entertainment systems," Jackson said. "I think it's critical that filmmakers employ current technology to increase the immersive, spectacular experience that cinema should provide. It's an exciting time to be going to the movies."

Last week, reports surfaced that the new technology has made some movie goers sick.

According to a Daily Mail report, "avid Middle Earth fan," said his/her eyes could not take everything in. The viewer said the movie was dizzying and resulted in a migraine.

"Check with your cinema if it is going to show The Hobbit at 48fps or the traditional format," one person tweeted. "Think twice if its 48fps. Take a sick bag!"

The Hobbit is expected to run at 48 frames per second (new technology) across 450 theaters in North America. The remaining of the around 4,000 theaters will run the movie in standard twenty-eight frames per second.