It's reasonable for me, a stuntman, to live a crazy life, right?

Chapter 1423 Some people realize their mistakes and return to the right path, while others rush headlong down the road of no return!
"The new film 'Volunteer Army: Mighty Army Strikes' directed by Chen Kaige grossed 3705 million yuan on its opening day."

"The Journey Home" grossed 1.19 million yuan on its opening day!

"Moscow Mission" grossed 6230 million on its opening day.

"The films 'Sicario,' produced by Feiyue Films, and 'Hot,' produced by Ruyi, have both finished their theatrical run, grossing 15.66 billion and 11.32 billion yuan respectively."

"With the National Day holiday approaching, the opening ceremony of the 5th Dragon Soaring Grand International Film Festival officially kicked off at Shanhe Film and Television City..."

On October 1st, Shanhe Film City was enveloped in the lively atmosphere of the Longteng Shengshi International Film Festival.

The red carpet was dazzling with stars, fans held up light sticks and cheered, and media cameras kept capturing the figures of celebrities, creating a festive atmosphere everywhere.

In stark contrast, the box office figures for several patriotic films released during the National Day holiday have caused the entire film and television market to frown.

Especially Chen Kaige's "The Volunteer Army: Mighty Army Strikes".

When the box office results of 3705 million yuan on the first day were announced, the meeting room of China Film Group fell silent!
As a highly anticipated "patriotic blockbuster" for the National Day holiday, this opening was far below expectations. Even the staff in charge of distribution couldn't help but mutter, "How could it be so low? We had previously estimated that it would at least break 100 million..."

Online reviews of the film are mostly lukewarm, lacking strong negative feedback but conveying a sense of dissatisfaction.
"It felt like a historical event was simply recounted chronologically. The characters weren't well-developed. After watching it, all I remembered were a few war scenes. There was nothing that moved me. It was too mundane."

"The cinematography is solid, but too solid; there are no surprises. Compared to the passion and empathy of 'The Battle at Lake Changjin,' this one made me a little sleepy, and I wasn't emotionally engaged at all."

"The actors' acting skills were fine, but the script was too scattered. It talked about the front line one minute and the rear the next, and none of the storylines were explained in detail. In the end, I didn't know what the focus was. My mind was blank after watching it."

"There is patriotism, but the way it is expressed is too old-fashioned. It still relies on 'sacrifice' and 'slogans' to evoke tears. It's not original, and the audience doesn't buy into this anymore."

"The scene wasn't small, but it lacked tension. It was clearly a very tragic battle, but it didn't capture that 'suffocating' feeling. After watching it, I just felt, 'Oh, something like that happened.' There was no resonance or shock."

China Film.

In the office, Fu Ruoqing looked at these reviews and then flipped through the box office data. Her brows furrowed, and she turned to her secretary to ask, "Are the other two patriotic films in the same situation?"

The secretary quickly handed over the prepared report, speaking cautiously: "It's about the same. Audience feedback is mostly 'bland' and 'unmemorable,' but the box office and word-of-mouth aren't as low as 'The Chinese People's Volunteer Army.'"

For example, "Moscow Mission" grossed over 6000 million yuan on its opening day, which, although not meeting expectations, was slightly better than "The Volunteer Army".

Apart from "The Long Road Home," all other patriotic films released during the same period were rather mediocre and failed to make a significant impact.

Upon hearing this, Fu Ruoqing fell into deep thought.

Patriotic themes have been a hot commodity in the market for the past few years, so why did they collectively "fall out of favor" during this year's National Day holiday?

Is it that the audience is really tired of it, or has the creative team fallen into the trap of "formulaic" formulas?

If audiences really don't like watching anymore, then what should be the future of patriotic films?
Or rather, what path should China Film Group take?
……

In the lounge of Shanhe Film City, Chen Fei was also browsing movie reviews on his phone.

He paid particular attention to the discussion forum for "The Long Journey Home".

Unlike the overwhelmingly lukewarm reviews of "The Chinese People's Volunteers: Mighty Army Strikes Back," this film received more diverse commentary, including both praise and constructive criticism.

"The overall pace was very tight, and the tension of the evacuation was captured, but I always felt that some scenes were too 'smooth,' such as the villain's moments of idiocy being a bit obvious. If there were more plot twists, it might have been more impactful."

"The cinematography is still top-notch, and the long shots in the desert are very immersive, but the emotional storyline is a bit weak. The scenes between the protagonist and Bai Hua didn't really resonate with me. I feel that the relationship between the characters could be further developed."

"As a patriotic film about evacuating Chinese citizens, it is more down-to-earth than previous works of the same kind and does not deliberately shout slogans. However, the ending's climax was a bit rushed. If there were more details about ordinary people in the evacuation, it might be more touching."

"The background music is a big plus, especially the music during crisis moments, which can evoke emotions, but some of the lines are a bit stiff, like 'preaching'. It would be better if they were more natural."

"Overall, it is a decent commercial film with some watchability, but it's not particularly amazing. It's fairly standard and doesn't feel like it has surpassed the previous works of Feiyue Films. However, it's still watchable for the National Day holiday."

Chen Fei wasn't surprised by these comments.

Because many of the criticisms are indeed spot on!

The film is not perfect, but its overall reputation has remained relatively stable.

The reason for this performance is twofold: firstly, it relies on Feiyue Films' years of experience in producing high-quality productions, with meticulous attention to every detail from costumes and props to camera work, demonstrating sincerity to the audience.

Secondly, the actors' performances exceeded expectations.

In particular, Peng Yuchang's portrayal of the rookie diplomat added a touch of "clumsy tenacity" compared to Wang Junkai's original interpretation.

For example, in the scene where he protects his compatriots in the desert, the expressiveness in his eyes is very strong, which makes the character stand out.

Even Jing Tian's portrayal of Bai Hua became a highlight.

She didn't portray the character as just a "pretty face," but instead used calm dialogue and subtle micro-expressions to showcase the professionalism and gentleness of a diplomat.

This led many viewers to praise in the comments: "Jing Tian finally chose the right role this time."

Chen Fei knew in his heart that there was basically no hope for this movie to match the box office success of "The Battle at Lake Changjin".

Although the quality is still good, the "golden age" of patriotic films is over, and audiences will no longer blindly pay for the subject matter.

Given the abundance of similar works, it's already quite an achievement that "The Journey Home" has managed to maintain its reputation and box office performance.

On the other hand, the situation for "Moscow Mission" is not much different.

The film attracted some viewers with its "adaptation from a true story" and action scenes, and its opening day box office of 6230 million yuan was not bad.

Unfortunately, the film reviews are full of comments such as "the plot is old-fashioned" and "the action scenes are unoriginal". Some viewers even said that "you can guess the ending from the beginning. Apart from Zhang Hanyu's acting, there is nothing memorable about it".

Clearly, it failed to break through the competition during the National Day holiday period due to its subject matter advantage, and could only struggle in a "mediocre" manner, following the general trend.

Chen Fei put down his phone, feeling even more certain of his previous judgment.

It seems that whether it's patriotic themes or other mainstream genres, relying on past successes to retain audiences is no longer a viable strategy.

In order to truly capture the market, we must delve deeper and explore newer approaches in our future film creations!

While he was pondering his future creative plans, at home in the capital, Jing Tian was holding her phone, reading film reviews, her smile impossible to hide.

Previously, she impulsively went to Hong Kong to film two movies, but due to the poor plot and thin characters, she completely squandered the goodwill and popularity she had accumulated from "Rattan".

During that period, the internet was full of comments like "Jing Tian is washed up" and "Even resource-backed actresses can't save her acting skills."

Fortunately, she realized her mistake in time and returned to the Feiyue Film and Television project.

This time, her role as Bai Hua in "The Long Journey Home" finally allowed her to make a beautiful comeback.

As she scrolled through the comments from netizens, a blush gradually rose on her cheeks, but she couldn't help but savor those heartwarming words over and over again: "Tian Tian, ​​listen to my advice! Stop messing around outside! Just stay at Feiyue Film and work with Director Chen. The role of Bai Hua is perfect for you, a hundred times better than those lousy movies you made in Hong Kong!"

"That's right, Director Chen really knows how to cast! I was worried when he cast Jing Tian as Bai Hua, but I was amazed after watching the whole thing! Jing Tian, ​​don't let Director Chen down. Just work hard with Feiyue Films from now on, you won't regret it!"

“I used to think that Jing Tian was a resource-backed actress, but now, seeing her performance in ‘The Long Journey Home’, her eyes are full of emotion. It’s true that actors still need a good team and a good director to guide them.”

"Jing Tian's portrayal of Bai Hua this time is so captivating! Calm and gentle, she's completely different from before. I sincerely suggest she lock in Feiyue Film & Television. The quality of projects outside varies greatly, only Feiyue Film & Television's projects can truly unlock your potential!"

"I used to complain that Jing Tian always acted the same way in every role, but this time with 'The Long Way Home' has completely changed my mind! I can only say that Director Chen knows how to choose people and Feiyue Films knows how to make projects. Jing Tian, ​​just follow along and you will definitely get better and better in the future!"

Looking at these comments, Jing Tian felt both warm and shy.

The label of "resource-backed actress" used to weigh heavily on her mind, but in recent years, with Feiyue Film and Television, she has honed her acting skills step by step, and finally the audience has seen her progress.

With fewer criticisms and more praise, her mood improved.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Looks like I still have to go with him..."

As she was talking, she suddenly came across a particularly eye-catching comment: "Actually, I feel that Director Chen and Jing Tian are quite a good match. I've always been a big fan of them..."

This comment made Jing Tian's face instantly turn bright red.

She hurriedly locked her phone, but her heart couldn't help but race.

"What nonsense are you talking about? That's Yifei's husband, okay? I... we're just good friends."

……

Some people realize their mistakes, turn back from the wrong path, and find their way again, while others, caught in the vortex of controversy, run headlong down a road of no return.

The National Day holiday film season is still going strong, and news of Yang Ying appearing at the Crazy Horse Paris show suddenly spread from abroad back to China.

First, fans posted blurry photos of the scene on social media, with the caption "Yang Ying unlocks a new stage, so cool to dare to try."

They then brought up topics like "international perspective" and "breaking down prejudices" in an attempt to create a sense of "sophistication."

Initially, many passersby were just curious and thought it was just an artist participating in an overseas event, so they didn't take it too seriously.

But not long after, netizens began to explain the nature of the "Crazy Horse Show".

This was not an ordinary song and dance performance, but an adult-oriented show with "sexy borderline" as its core selling point!
The stage content is full of vulgar innuendo and even contains objectification of women, and has been criticized for its content since its inception.

The post explaining the science went viral and netizens immediately went wild!

The "high-class" image previously created by fans has vanished, replaced by a deluge of criticism.

"As a public figure, why would you participate in this kind of borderline show? Do you think you can't survive in the domestic market anymore?"

"They said they wanted to 'spread positive energy,' but then they turned around and went to these kinds of events to make money. Their behavior is just too disgusting!"

"Doesn't the Crazy Horse show know what kind of place it is? It corrupts the values ​​of teenagers; this kind of artist should be banned!"

What angered netizens even more was that Yang Ying's team not only failed to apologize in time, but also tried to obscure the focus, claiming that it was "just an artistic exchange."

This move completely ignited public anger!

She had just started to make a comeback with a web series, but this controversy directly branded her as a "controversial artist".

The brand terminated the contract overnight, the drama is facing the risk of being replaced, and even the goodwill that was previously accumulated has been completely exhausted.

In a short time, the topics "Yang Ying Crazy Horse Show" and "Yang Ying Get Out of the Entertainment Industry" topped the trending searches on social media platforms.

The comment section was filled with voices of resistance, with some netizens even stating bluntly:

"This isn't 'trying new territory,' it's crossing the line! What about the social responsibility of public figures?"

In just a few days, Yang Ying went from being "hopeful for a comeback" and "stepping onto the international stage" to "being criticized to the point of leaving the entertainment industry," her original career path completely overshadowed.

She clearly had the opportunity to return to acting after her divorce, but instead chose the most controversial path.

If we're talking about who's happiest about Yang Ying's predicament, Huang Xiaoming is definitely one of them.

He saw the trending topic "Yang Ying Crazy Horse Show" while scrolling through his phone.

At first, he thought it was just a marketing account trying to grab attention, but when he clicked in and saw the science explanation and the screen full of criticism, he couldn't help but smile.

Especially when he learned that Yang Ying's team's attempts at public relations had backfired, leaving Yuekai Entertainment in a state of chaos and with a pile of brand termination letters, he couldn't help but laugh out loud at his assistant: "She's really made a name for herself, but the way she's become famous is something she probably never expected, right?"

The assistant didn't dare to respond, as it was the boss's family matter, and could only remain silent.

But Huang Xiaoming didn't stop. While looking at the netizens' comments of boycott, he muttered to himself, his tone full of sarcasm:
"When she got divorced, didn't she say she wanted to 'break free from constraints and pursue a new future'? Is this the new future she's been so desperately trying to achieve? Going to participate in those controversial shows and getting herself condemned by the entire internet, almost being forced out of the entertainment industry by the criticism, is truly laughable!"

He recalled that during their marriage, Yang Ying always complained that he "restricted her too much" and "couldn't keep up with her pace."

Now, looking at her situation, he suddenly felt a strange sense of pleasure.

When Yang Ying first showed signs of a comeback with her web series, there were many articles criticizing her ex-husband's declining career.

But now, the Crazy Horse Show has completely shattered her career.

Huang Xiaoming put down his phone, leaned back on the sofa, and began to ramble on as if he were triumphant:

"Yuekai must be regretting it now. They spent a lot of money to sign her and wanted to make her their number one star, but look what happened."
He only has himself to blame. He can't distinguish between what he should and shouldn't do, and he's lost all sense of decency as a public figure. No wonder he's being criticized.

Despite saying that, he had no intention of taking advantage of the situation.

After all, the two had already divorced, and Yang Ying's life or death was none of his concern.

Seeing his ex, who used to think he was "superior," now in such a state, he couldn't help but feel a little sad.

Of course, there's also a lot of regret, like "if only I had known this would happen."

"Jingle Bell!"

Just as he was reminiscing about the past, his phone, which he had just put down, suddenly rang.

He glanced at the familiar yet unfamiliar name on the caller ID and immediately raised an eyebrow...

(End of this chapter)