Extracting skills from movies

Ryan took a deep breath and said seriously:
"None of what you're saying is the point!"

He paused, his tone low but full of respect:

"What truly moved me was that deep-seated loneliness and the obsessive determination to do anything to save my sister."

He is not a perfect hero; he is a 'person' with flesh and blood, pain, and struggle.

He is cold-blooded because he has experienced too much; he is violent because he has no other choice.

This complex mix of emotions, coupled with his exceptional combat skills, made him a unique agent.

The theater lights came on, and the audience members gradually got up and left.

Some people reminisced about the plot as they walked, while others had already started planning a second viewing.

Meanwhile, on the large screen outside the cinema, the real-time box office figures for "Taken" were constantly jumping up.

"Ryan, didn't you say before..."

Gabriel was about to make a joke when Ryan interrupted him with a raised hand.

He spread his hands, a look of resignation on his face:

"I admit I misjudged him."

Who would have thought that this Asian actor could act so fiercely and realistically?
And it was all real fighting, no fancy moves whatsoever!

You're right, in the realm of action films, everyone else is no match for Johnnie To!

This young black man, who initially sat in the movie theater with a disdainful expression, has now become a complete fan of Du Sheng.

He is not alone in being "slapped in the face" by the movie.

Even those who were initially the least optimistic about Du Sheng were won over by his acting skills and action performance.

The reputation of "Taken" naturally rose as well.

The following morning, major North American newspapers were flooded with articles about the film, with overwhelmingly positive reviews.
"This is a film that redefines the spy movie, taking the Manhunt series to a whole new level!"

"This is a real action blockbuster!"
Compared to Mission: Impossible and 007, this one is closer to reality, more exciting, and more adrenaline-pumping!

Du Sheng handled both action and emotional scenes perfectly, without unnecessary sentimentality or dragging-out dialogue; the entire performance was calm and realistic.

"There wasn't a single dull moment; it was incredibly tense!"
The stark, realistic style combined with a fast-paced narrative leaves you feeling like you've just finished a marathon—your heart is racing and your blood is pumping.

"The action is clean and crisp, the editing is sharp and smooth, and the extensive use of long and short shots creates a realistic sense of presence."

From character development to pacing, everything is spot-on; it doesn't feel like a sequel at all, but rather like a completely new independent work!

"The plot unfolds along two parallel storylines, with constant suspense, mystery-solving, escape, and counterattacks, making every step thrilling."

The whole film is like a non-stop chase; it doesn't stop until the very last moment.

Renowned film critic Christian even wrote a long article specifically about this film:
"Taken - A Pinnacle of New Era Spy Films!"

He wrote in the article:

"Du Sheng has once again proven himself to be a new benchmark for action films."

The protagonist he plays has none of the aura of a traditional secret agent, no high-tech equipment, no organizational support, and not even teammates.

But he relied on his skills, intellect, and calm judgment to accomplish the impossible task while isolated and without any help.

More importantly, he also portrayed the character's inner struggle and pain, that guilt towards his family and his desire to protect them, which was very moving.

"The success of this film is not only due to its brilliant action design, but also because it tells a story about 'individual awakening'."

Past spy movies always focused on saving the world, preventing nuclear explosions, and uncovering conspiracies, but these things are too far removed from our reality.

Du Sheng's character, Yang Yongjie, is different. He no longer serves the government and no longer believes in so-called organizational loyalty.

He only trusted the gun in his hand; what he wanted to save and protect was himself and his family!
This stark contrast in image, portraying a tough guy, is exactly the kind of action hero our era needs.

This film review was quickly reprinted by major media outlets, and Du Sheng himself also saw it.

It must be said that the older generation of film critics were indeed insightful.

Ordinary viewers might just find this movie "good" and "exciting".
But professional commentators like Christian can analyze why the Man from the perspective of social sentiment and cultural background, and explain why the Man from the background series has generated such a huge response.

This was actually a key reason why Du Sheng decided to include Taken, which had little connection to the series, in The Man from Nowhere.

While it's important for a film to be well-made, it also needs to resonate with the prevailing sentiments of the times to truly become a phenomenon.

As the saying goes, times create heroes, and heroes also create times.

Now, Du Sheng and his "Man of Steel" series are undoubtedly becoming a new trend in action films.

This is also why his portrayal of a secret agent, a character of Asian descent, is acceptable to both the East and the West.

This wave of overwhelmingly positive reviews has propelled the popularity of "Taken" to new heights.

The film was originally scheduled for release in 1800 theaters, but the response after the preview screenings was overwhelming.

Cinemas urgently added screenings, bringing the total number of theaters to 2826!
The publicity team also cooperated effectively.

With both online and offline promotions in full swing, this film has practically captured the attention of the entire North American film market.

The film itself is of high quality, and viewers are increasingly excited and intrigued after watching it.
Film critics, while receiving payment, also lavished praise on it, directly labeling it "Action Film of the Year."

Opening weekend box office results: $2693 million!
This number is simply outstanding among blockbuster films released at the same time!

It's important to know that the Christmas season is the busiest time of year in North America, and it's not the only new film showing on the big screen.
Besides popular films such as *The Black Coat of Lighthouse*, *The Honeybee*, *His Dark Materials*, and *Cloverfield*,

There's also the highly anticipated "I Am Legend," starring Will Smith.
This film was shown in 3462 theaters, but the box office was only 2815 million.

It's not much different from "Taken"!

Not to mention Disney's family-friendly animated film "Enchanted," which was released in 3730 theaters for the Christmas season, but ultimately failed to gross more than 3500 million.

Compared to this, Taken is simply a dark horse with an exceptionally high level of quality!
Keiko Kitagawa, who had come to North America for promotional activities, sat next to Du Sheng, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter.

"Brother Sheng, you are truly our lucky star, a god of miracles!"

She was certainly happy, because this film was not only one of the works she had participated in.

More importantly, she desperately needs a blockbuster hit to boost her international exposure.

Now, I can't even keep a low profile!
That evening, she expressed her gratitude to this "great contributor" with a variety of actions, showing her utmost sincerity.

But this is just the beginning.

In its opening weekend, "Taken" grossed over $6600 million in North America and soared to $1.3 million worldwide!
What's most impressive is that it's not the kind of popcorn flick that relies on special effects, but rather a long-running hit that wins over audiences with its solid plot and realism.

CinemaScore, a professional research organization, has made the following predictions:

The final box office in North America is expected to reach $1.6 million, and may even approach $2 million!
As for the global market, that goes without saying.

Filming locations include Japan and South Korea, both regions that are interested in this type of subject matter. In addition, China is Du Sheng's home turf, so the box office is rock solid.

When *The Man from Nowhere* was released mid-year, many in Hollywood thought it was just an ordinary action film, with maybe two sequels at most. But now, with *Taken* as a sequel igniting the market again, everyone has finally realized:
This is not a money-grabbing series, but an action IP that can continuously produce classics!

Will a series like Mission: Impossible produce six or seven more films in the future?

Du Sheng now has several blockbuster films in his hands, including "Rob-B-Hood", "Infernal Affairs", "Wanted", "The Man from Nowhere" and "Taken", and each of them has a distinctive style and outstanding box office performance!
This not only allowed him to establish himself in Hollywood, but also propelled him into the ranks of top international stars!
Actors who can consistently have every film a box office hit in Hollywood and create multiple iconic roles can be counted on one hand.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Cruise are among them.

And now, Du Sheng's name has also begun to appear on this list.

Producers at major Hollywood studios are closely watching the film's performance, and they know very well:

A new era for action movies may have arrived.

Those most affected are naturally the established IPs.

For example, the once incredibly popular spy series like 007 and Mission: Impossible.

Mission: Impossible is one of Paramount's flagship franchises, comparable in status to Indiana Jones and Titanic.

However, in recent years, audiences have begun to experience aesthetic fatigue with this style of "suits and ties, high-tech equipment, luxury cars and beautiful women".

The appearance of Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon in "The Bourne Identity," brought a cold and realistic trend, which can be regarded as a wake-up call for traditional spy films.

Even so, Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt still managed to carry the Mission: Impossible series with his high-difficulty stunts and cool scenes.

But now, the Manhunt series is here!
It completely broke away from the conventions of previous spy films.

The protagonist has no high-tech equipment, no team support, no flashy moves, and dresses just like an ordinary person, living in the lower class just like everyone else.

But he relied on calm judgment, tactical skills, and combat experience to complete the mission step by step.

This style, so realistic that it makes you wonder if it's a documentary, put unprecedented pressure on traditional spy films.

An industry insider privately remarked:
"If we don't reform, Mission: Impossible will eventually be completely replaced by the style of Du Sheng."

And all this has just begun.

In Paramount's conference room, a heated discussion about the future of the Mission: Impossible series is in full swing.

"It's time for us to make changes!"

A senior executive said excitedly:
"Let's see how the market reacts to Taken!"
Society is changing, and so are audience tastes.

If we don't keep up with this trend, the Mission: Impossible series will soon be obsolete.

He continued:
"We need a new type of agent like Du Sheng."

He doesn't need to be cool all the time, nor does he need to be elegant and composed, but he must be strong, powerful, calm and collected, a true tough guy!
We want that visceral, realistic feel, not just special effects and flashy action sequences.

Although Mission: Impossible is one of Paramount's flagship franchises, adventure and special effects have always been its selling points.

However, not everyone can accept the proposed transformation now.

There was constant opposition in the meeting room.
Everyone realized that this was not a problem that could be solved in a short time.

However, the seed has already been planted.

Years later, Mission: Impossible 4, with its altered style, failed to achieve the desired effect, but it reflected Paramount's determination to change.

……

On the other hand, "Taken," which has garnered both critical acclaim and popularity, will certainly have a long run.

Meanwhile, Du Sheng has already started a grand celebration banquet.

While he may not yet be able to compare with Jackie Chan in terms of global influence, he is undoubtedly the number one Chinese actor in terms of box office appeal.

Even among Hollywood's top stars, very few can rival him.

This celebration banquet was unprecedented in scale, with almost all the top executives from major film studios in attendance, all hoping to maintain a good relationship with this box office miracle worker and pave the way for future cooperation.

Sony, in particular, was well aware of Du Sheng's value, and its chairman, Shi Jingge, personally attended the event, fearing that he might be poached by other companies.

Schinger raised his champagne glass and gently touched Du Sheng's glass to the glass:

"Du, deciding to cooperate with you was one of the wisest choices of my career."

Du Sheng responded with a smile:

“Schlinger, I am also very grateful for your support over the years.”

Schinger continued:
"Du, believe me, you are now the most important partner for me and Sony."

No matter what conditions others offer, we can do even better!

Du Sheng laughed heartily:
"Of course, our cooperation has always been very pleasant, and I am quite satisfied with Sony."

Schlinger suddenly asked:
"Du, I heard you're going to participate in the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics next year?"

"I'm also going to China, shall we go together?"

Such a world-class event is attended even by international celebrities like Spielberg.

For Du Sheng, as a superstar among people of Asian descent and a member of the Olympic Games planning team, it was not surprising that she was specially invited by the organizing committee to be a guest performer.

In fact, whether in Japan or South Korea, when it comes to the most famous celebrity, Du Sheng is the first name that comes to mind.

He has become a symbolic figure in a certain sense.
So much so that many people believe that the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics would not have been complete without him.

Everyone present understood that this Chinese man had made his name through sheer hard work, and his future fame would likely rival that of Leonardo DiCaprio.

If we don't show goodwill now, when will we?
.........

Los Angeles, headquarters of Miracle Pictures.

Haders sat in the conference room and waited for a while before finally seeing someone walk in.

He immediately spoke:
"Taken" premiered to great acclaim, and the series has received rave reviews. Critics have unanimously praised Du Sheng's performance.

"Is it time to take action now?"

Amanda nodded, her tone calm but earnest:

"You're quite familiar with the commentary circle, especially those film critics who have a good impression of Du Sheng. You'll continue to be responsible for maintaining those relationships."

As for the college judges, I'll handle that.

There are over a thousand judges for the Oscar acting categories. Based on past experience, if you can get about 200 votes during the nomination stage, you're basically guaranteed a spot on the shortlist.

She then asked:
"How are things going with those key judges I circled earlier?"

Haders replied:
"They all nodded, clearly indicating that they would support Du Sheng."

Moreover, they are willing to use some resources to help generate momentum.

Amanda nodded slightly and added:
"No action can be omitted, and no mistakes can be made."

…(End of this chapter)