Thanks to Peter Jackson's use of 48 frames-per-second technology, Middle-earth fans will have a chance to experience The Shire like never before when "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" arrives in theaters on Dec. 14. (For instance, fans will have a new appreciation for the wood grains in Bilbo's pantry; this is both good and bad, as has been painstakingly detailed.)
If 48 fps isn't immersive enough, however, there's always the real Hobbiton. Built "on private farmland near Matamata in the North Island of New Zealand," Hobbiton is where Jackson shot "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." The real location is part of the reason why "The Hobbit" looks even more realistic in 48 fps.
"It's almost that it looks too real," Jackson told HuffPost Entertainment. "You see, it's a philosophy thing because I think my favorite fantasy does look real. I mean, I'm not trying to make a surreal fantasy film. I'm not trying to make something that looks like a dream. I want people to feel like they're going to Middle-earth. As a filmmaker, my style is using a lot of wide angle lenses and to keep the camera moving. And all of that style is my natural, how I actually direct. But I think it helps people draw into the movie. It helps people become part of the story."
If Hobbiton isn't your cup of tea, don't worry: there are nine other real-life locations presented above, including the firehouse used in "Ghostbusters." That building, 8 Hook & Ladder, was almost closed due to budget cuts last year.
Watch the video above and start planning your movie itinerary now.
[via Buzzfeed]
