Gemini Man (2019) – Review

Gemini Man recensie

Occasionally there are new developments within film that may have far-reaching consequences for the medium. Consider, for example, the introduction of sound, color and CGI. Still, filmmakers continue to look for new technical improvements to push the experience even further. As a film viewer, I am always curious whether something could possibly mean a next step. James Cameron previously announced that the following Avatar films would use a higher frame rate. Current films are shown in 24 images per second (24fps) and many consider this the look of film.

That speed dates back to the time that a cameraman had to crank the film through the camera by hand and that was a speed that was manageable. The result is a moving image that is actually jerky and does not feel like what your eyes see in real life. A higher frame rate approximates reality more, but what is the impact of this on the film experience? Cinema visitors could experience that a few years ago with The Hobbit trilogy. The films were shown in 48fps and it divided viewers. Some thought it felt like you were watching a soap opera, where costumes didn’t really look real. Others (including myself) saw the benefits. You are able to follow action much better because it is fluid.

Gemini Man review

Director Ang Lee previously made Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk and shot it in 3D and 120fps. That film was not shown in the cinema over where I am. His latest film Gemini Man is however, if you do proper research to see it close to the way Ang Lee intended. Although the IMAX cinemas show the film in a higher frame rate, they are only limited in 60fps. If you want to see it in 120fps, the Dolby Cinema rooms are the only option (they show it in 2K instead of 4K though). Yesterday morning I visited the film in a Dolby Cinema to experience this new format with my own eyes. Continue reading

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Lords of the Rings The Hobbit film review

After the succes of the Lord of the Rings movies, everyone couldn’t wait for Peter Jackson to also bring Tolkien’s The Hobbit to the big screen. Because of several lawsuits it was uncertain if that would ever happen but finally in 2011 the production could start. When the first trailer for the film appeared online, the fans couldn’t wait to see it. Personally I have really enjoyed the three Lord of the Rings movies Jackson did, so I was interested in also seeing this movie. Not only for its story, but also for experiencing High Frame Rate (HFR) 3D. 20 Minutes of the 48 frames-per-second version were previewed at CinemaCon at the beginning of the year and not everyone was convinced by it, saying it made everything look too real. I couldn’t wait to experience it myself and see if it is the “next big thing” which we’ll see more of in the future. Continue reading