'Hobbit' director aims for magical film experience

The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is planning protests at "The Hobbit'' premieres in New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S. after several animal wranglers said three horses and up to two dozen other animals had died during the making of the movies because they were housed at an unsafe farm.

Jackson's spokesman earlier acknowledged two horses had died preventable deaths at the farms but said the production company worked quickly to improve stables and other facilities and that claims of mistreatment were unfounded.

"No mistreatment, no abuse. Absolutely none,'' Jackson said on Wednesday. "You've got a very radical political organization which has jumped on this,'' he added, referring to PETA.

He said the allegations were an insult to everyone who worked on the films and that PETA's attempts to get publicity at the premiere were "pretty pathetic.''

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