Greensborough, Melbourne, Australia – Friday, 7 December 2012 – Crowds in Wellington, New Zealand, watching the premiere of The Hobbit, the much anticipated movie release from the makers of Lord of the Rings, claimed the film made them feel dizzy and sick. Dizziness is a common condition that affects 36% of Australians. In the elderly it makes a big contribution to falls, which are a major cause of death and ill health.
The Hobbit uses a higher frame rate, 48 frames per second compared to the usual 24. The film is the first Hollywood movie to use the new technology. Director Peter Jackson said it produced “enhanced clarity and smoothness”, however not everyone agrees. Some filmgoers reported nauea and dizziness watching the film, with a few even reporting migraines.
Dr Matthew Holmes, a Chiropractor who focuses on the treatment of vertigo, dizziness and migraine disorders at the Eastern Brain Centre, commented “Many people have what are known as subclinical balance problems, and as a result depend on their visual system to balance themselves in their reality. This can include migraine sufferers. In the same way that 3D TV can upset people’s balance, the large visual input from a movie, particularly if delivered in a way that people aren’t used to, can produce nausea, dizziness and headaches.”
The Hobbit is due for release in Australia on 26th December 2012.