Hobbit kicks off with midnight show
Hobbit-mania has not spread to Rotorua, with plenty of tickets left unsold for the premiere screening of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in the city early today.
The long-awaited release of the prequel to Sir Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy hits New Zealand cinema screens today.
Rotorua Reading Cinemas complex manager Adam Morrison said the theatre was to screen the 2.45hr film, the first of the Hobbit trilogy, in 3D to a smaller than expected audience at 12.01am today. However, the theatre is not yet equipped to screen the film in 48 frames per second so it will be shown in the standard 24 frames per second format.
Mr Morrison said the film did not generate the same excitement as recent releases such as the final Twilight films.
"The ticket sales were quite moderate, not as much as I was anticipating given all the pre-release hype.
"But, I think it will do well over a longer period of time and I'm looking forward to a long and successful season."
Readers of the The Daily Post Facebook page said they were looking forward to the film but would wait before seeing it.
"Can't wait too see it but will wait a while," one said.
Another reader said "Am over it myself and if my boys want to see it they can wait till it's out on DVD."
"I'm in no rush, will wait for it to come out on TV .. save me $60 I could spend on something important," one person said.
However, one reader was rather keen to see the film.
"We'll all be going first thing Thursday night after work. Can't wait," he said.
