Extracting skills from movies

"Judging from Director Wu's exasperated look, you can tell he's not confident about 'Red Cliff'."

People with guilty consciences are the most likely to shift blame.

"When has Du Sheng ever misjudged someone?"
If he couldn't help but call it rotten, then it must be rotten to an extreme.

I just cancelled my pre-sale tickets for "Red Cliff" and used the money to treat my sister to "The Grandmaster."

That evening, Wu Yusen was so angry that he posted three responses on social media.
The result was that every comment was met with the same "hahaha" and "brought shame upon himself".

Netizens weren't buying it, and the market was even less forgiving.

The contrast is striking.

On July 12, "The Grandmaster" was released worldwide.

It grossed 3962 million yuan on its opening day in China, a phenomenal success!

Its reputation is phenomenal.

Du Sheng's portrayal of Li Shuwen completely subverted the "Grandmaster" persona.

No empty formalities, no attempts at persuasion; anyone who disagrees will be taken down on the spot.

In the film, he mercilessly beat the Japanese instructors and Russian boxing champions, who were loyal to Han Jian, until they vomited blood and were crippled.

Even if they are so poor that they can't afford to eat, they will never be lackeys of the Eight-Nation Alliance.

The imperial court offered official positions and made promises?

He simply turned his back and left.

He was ruthless, but he was also truly righteous.

The first thing I did after making money was to send it to my master. After my master passed away, I guarded his grave for three years, rain or shine.

A "Grandmaster of War" who is decisive in killing and loyal in love has been vividly brought to life.

In contrast, those self-proclaimed "masters" in the same field who "convinced people with virtue" suddenly seemed pretentious and empty.

With the Olympics approaching and Du Sheng herself being a national idol, box office sales skyrocketed.

Even more impressive is the situation overseas.

According to incomplete statistics, the box office on the first day was $2930 million!
A Chinese-language biographical action film has carved out a niche for itself in the global market.

And what about "Red Cliff"?

The film suffered a dismal box office performance on its opening day, was completely overshadowed by "The Grandmaster" in terms of screenings, and received a 4.8 rating on Douban. Reports offered some scathing commentary:
Director Wu's heroic dream has been shattered!

On its opening day, the box office barely squeezed out 1900 million yuan, which looks alright, but the online sentiment had already exploded.

The flood of negative reviews caused its reputation to collapse.

Is Du Sheng's mouth blessed?

The dialogue in "Red Cliff" is so cringeworthy it's unbelievable.

"An Epicly Terrible Movie"

These terms dominated the trending topics on major social media platforms, and netizens were merciless in their criticism:
"Du Sheng wasn't lying. Wu Yusen probably hasn't even read the Records of the Three Kingdoms. He made Red Cliff look like 'barefoot,' like stepping in shit with bare feet!"

"A billion investment? You're kidding!"

With special effects and scale like this, 5 million would be too much.

The entire movie is just garbage piled up with money.

"I regret it! I didn't listen to Brother Sheng. I bought the tickets excitedly yesterday, but now I want to cancel the movie ticket after watching the movie!"

"Kim Sung-woo plays Zhuge Liang? A master strategist?"
I think it's 'disorientation'!
He stood there looking completely lost, like someone searching for a script on a film set.

"Zhao Junqi disguised herself as a man and infiltrated the military camp."

How 'wise' is this setting?

Did the screenwriter graduate from kindergarten?

"My God, this movie is full of mistakes. It can't just be called a bad movie, it's called 'spiritual pollution'!"

"When Lin Zhiling's baby voice came out, filled with modern internet slang, I got goosebumps all over."

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood in static stances the entire time, serving purely as background figures.

"Wu Yusen has really run out of ideas."

I used to say a few words in his defense, but after watching "Red Cliff," I understand.

Why doesn't Hollywood want him? This guy really has no talent.

He ran back to China to make money, and ruined such a great team. What a waste.

"While making money domestically, they put on an arrogant attitude of 'I'm here to save your movies,'"
Do they really think they're cultural saviors? Disgusting!

"Mr. Du! Please 'nitpick' a few more of these terrible movies!"

The hope for Chinese-language cinema rests entirely on your shoulders!

Not long after, on Renren.com's film and television section, the rating for "Red Cliff" jumped to 3.7.

The comments section was filled with "refund", "avoid this," and "ruin my childhood."

Wu Yusen's reputation was also shattered.

All their past scandals have been dug up, including things like throwing tantrums on set, exploiting actors, and evading taxes by exaggerating...

Netizens overwhelmingly criticized:

"This person has long since become arrogant; he's just an empty shell now."

The box office results were even more dismal.

The box office was 10.8 million on the second day, but dropped to 7.6 million on the third day. Compared with the box office of "The Grandmaster" which broke 100 million, it was like "a beggar meeting a billionaire".

John Woo was so angry that he posted a long article on Weibo, saying that he was "maliciously smeared" and that "someone was manipulating public opinion," but the comment section instantly turned into a "mocking session":
"Didn't you say you wanted to learn from Hollywood? Nobody in Hollywood is as sore loser as you."

"I suggest turning off comments on Weibo to avoid embarrassment."

He actually applied, wanting to disable comments with one click like Lu Taro did back then, but... the Weibo system prompted "You do not have permission to disable comments".

Netizens are laughing hysterically: "Even the platform looks down on you!"

Wu Yusen was furious, but Han Shanping was even more furious.

When he saw the box office figures, he almost burst into a tirade.

If it weren't for the fact that there's a sequel to "Red Cliff," he would have wanted to kick John Woo out of the country on the spot.

If John Woo hadn't made a fool of himself by criticizing Du Sheng, with this cast, even if the film was a bit bad, the box office wouldn't have been so disastrous.

Now, the whole internet is watching:
"Du Sheng said this movie is terrible, we have to verify it!"

Add to that Du Sheng's connections with YY, Weibo, and Renren, and with a push for trending topics and hype, it's hard to imagine the whole thing not collapsing.

Although Han Shanping is the boss of China Film Group, he cannot blame Du Sheng.

He even sent a text message to explain:

"Xiao Du, Director Wu's remarks are purely his personal opinion, please don't misunderstand."

Du Sheng shook his head and smiled, knowing that some things should be left unsaid.

After posting that update, he couldn't be bothered to pay any more attention to it.

Moreover, "Red Cliff" is not worth his time or effort.

In his eyes, that film was already a "dead project."

For the rest of the time, Du Sheng practiced for the Olympic torch lighting ceremony, and spent the rest of her time either visiting her baby or teaching women to practice Crane Fist at home.

The Body Tempering Pills obtained from the lottery were also given to them for conditioning and consumption.

This stuff can not only strengthen the body and prolong life, but also "balance yin and yang" and even enhance relationships.

As you practice, you'll find endless fun.

In addition, the villa area that Ye Jingzhi previously acquired in Tongzhou has already been built and is under the "Agile" brand, with a total of 28 buildings.

The largest building, "Yixuan Garden," is over 6000 square meters, with two courtyards, carved beams and painted rafters, and is very comfortable.

The remaining 27 buildings, nominally "listed for sale," were actually snapped up by the women around Du Sheng.

The place offers excellent privacy, all the neighbors are familiar faces, it's comfortable to live in, and you get a lot of privacy.

Du Sheng held a housewarming party with his girlfriends and officially moved into Yixuan Garden.

At first, the new house was as lively as during the Chinese New Year, with people playing mahjong, playing games, and exercising together, and laughter was constant.

But as the Olympics approached, everyone gradually moved out.

If friends and family are coming to watch the game, we need to be well taken care of and not let them all crowd together.

Du Sheng ignored all of that and had already led the Girls' Generation members to the designated training base to begin their final closed rehearsals.

The Olympic Games are drawing ever closer.

Everything needs to be prepared. And with "The Grandmaster" having been in theaters for over half a month, he no longer needs to worry about it.

Thanks to its strong word-of-mouth and the support of numerous popular topics, its box office revenue in mainland China (including Hong Kong and Macau) has exceeded 2.6 million yuan.

Despite the influx of Hollywood blockbusters, it still firmly holds the top spot on the summer charts.

It seems like securing 3.3 million won't be a problem.

The second is the superhero film "Hancock" starring Will Smith, which has grossed 1.5 million yuan in China so far.

Third is "The Mummy 3," starring Jet Li and Brendan Fraser, which grossed 1.39 million yuan at the domestic box office.

Fourth is John Woo's "Red Cliff 1," which barely broke 100 million yuan at the domestic box office.

In its previous life, despite the constant controversy, it would have already grossed 2 million yuan at the box office thanks to its huge cast and marketing.

Unfortunately, director Wu insisted on courting disaster, handing over his reputation and popularity to "The Grandmaster".

Even with China Film Group's best efforts to salvage the situation, the final domestic box office is estimated to fall short of 1.5 million yuan.

If the total investment really reaches 10 billion as advertised, this is definitely a huge loss.

If it weren't for the support from the Japanese side, which helped them recover some losses, Han Shanping might have even considered blocking Wu Yusen.

.........

Time flies, and it's already the afternoon of August 8th.

Liu Xiaoli, along with her parents, got into a Rolls-Royce Phantom that was so long it could almost be used as a wedding car, and headed straight for the Bird's Nest.

Liu Shishi and Yang Mi's mother were also given a ride on the bus, so the whole family could go to see the Olympics together.

In the past three years, since Girls' Generation became popular, the parents of the members have been visiting each other frequently.

As they chatted back and forth, they discovered they got along well, grew closer and closer, and eventually formed a "family and friends group".

The car ride was smooth, and as they approached the Bird's Nest, Liu Xiaoli's mother couldn't help but mutter to herself:
"I thought it would be like a parking lot today, so I was rushing to leave early. But I had green lights all the way and no traffic at all. It's really strange!"

Mother Yang laughed as soon as she heard this:

"What's so strange about that?"

During the Olympics, the entire city is under martial law!

"I've lived in Beijing for so many years, and these past few days have been the most enjoyable time to drive. Even electric bikes are properly using the non-motorized vehicle lanes."

The city has put in a lot of effort to ensure the success of this Olympics.

Traffic control, traffic restrictions, and priority for public transportation have all been implemented.

To put it simply, it's about making the game comfortable for everyone in the world who comes to watch.

The way to treat guests is all about saving face and providing substance.

The common people understand this principle and cooperate very well.

But there are always some keyboard warriors who, not wanting to miss out on trouble, jump out to criticize:

"What's with all this formalism! It's a waste of money!"

They even had to compare themselves to the United States, the "beacon of democracy."

Later, when the United States held its own event, it did the same thing—street sweeping.
Those trolls immediately shut up and turned around to praise, "Look, that's what you call professional."

The car stopped about 400 meters from the Bird's Nest and could not go any further, so everyone got out and walked.

Although there was no traffic congestion on the road, the area outside the venue was packed with people, red flags were waving, and songs were being sung loudly, making it as lively as Chinese New Year.

Escorted by bodyguards, Liu Xiaoli and her entourage helped several elderly people slowly move forward with the flow of people.

They were holding guest tickets given to them by Du Sheng, with excellent seats and priority entry through the VIP channel.

Du Sheng didn't have many votes, so he gave them first to a few of his "own people" who lived in Beijing.

leftover?
You either have to be quick to grab it online, or buy it from a scalper at a higher price.

Basically, anyone who wants to see the opening ceremony has a ticket, but the seating is divided into different classes.

Of course, there are also those who don't join in the fun.

Fan Bingbing simply stayed home and watched the live stream.

I'm focusing on resting during my pregnancy lately, and I'm avoiding crowded places whenever possible.

The VIP seats were unbeatable, directly facing the center of the stage with a wide view.

But just a few minutes after sitting down, Liu Xiaoli began to regret it.

Under the blazing August sun, the open-air venue was as hot as a sauna.

She can handle it herself, but she's mainly worried about the elderly people getting heatstroke.

Just as she was worrying, Liu Shishi's mother took out several folding fans from her bag and handed them to her with a smile:
"I knew it would be hot, so I prepared this specially."

Liu Xiaoli took it and looked at it. The fan was painted with ink and wash landscapes and inscribed with poems. It was very elegant.

She immediately joked:
"No wonder Shi Shi has always had a scholarly air about her; her family upbringing was so meticulous!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Huang Deli and Wang Jinhua arrived with their families.

Since we're all in the same circle, we naturally sit together.

The atmosphere became a little awkward as the two groups of people gathered together, since they were all relatives and friends of the "Sheng Family Army" and would run into each other all the time.

However, everyone here is shrewd, so after a few polite greetings, the atmosphere was quite pleasant.

Not long after, Gao Yuanyuan's family arrived.

Liu Xiaoli greeted everyone familiarly and warmly.

Immediately afterwards, Ye Jingzhi entered the venue with Li Yixin, Yu Chuanyingzi, and the Hearst sisters.

Their tickets weren't given by Du Sheng; they were official invitations issued to prominent overseas figures, making them even more valuable.

Even more coincidentally, their seats were arranged right behind Liu Xiaoli and her group.

Huang Deli could no longer pretend he didn't see it.

Ye Jingzhi could only turn around from time to time and greet them with a smile.

It was past 7:52 PM.

Suddenly, a burst of exciting and cheerful music filled the entire venue.

The Chinese delegation, teams from various countries, and staff from the International Olympic Committee...

One by one, they walked onto the stage with high spirits, smiling and waving to the audience below.

For a moment, the place was filled with noise.
The cheers surged like a tsunami, shaking the entire stadium.

This Olympics is a major event that the people of the whole country have been looking forward to for countless years.

It's not just a competition, but a grand show to proclaim "Chinese civilization" to the world!

The whole country is looking forward to seeing a spectacular opening ceremony.

The eyes of the whole world are almost focused on this place!

Ye Jingzhi and the others were also ignited by the atmosphere, and they no longer cared about elegance or dignity.
They were all excitedly waving their arms and legs, just as thrilled as the audience around them.

The excitement had just subsided when all the lights suddenly went out, and the place fell silent instantly.

Immediately afterwards——

"Sizzle! Bang!"

A dazzling welcome firework shot into the sky.
The bird circled the top of the Bird's Nest, creating a shower of golden sparks, like a "lucky draw" for the whole world.

As soon as the fireworks ended, Liu Xiaoli subconsciously looked up.

A huge "sundial" projection appeared on the big screen.

Suddenly, a beam of light shot out from the sundial, like a light arrow traversing time and space, and struck the center of the field with a "snap"!

Where the light fell, 2008 strong men stood in neat rows in a square formation, each with a large "fou" (a type of ancient Chinese vessel) in front of them.

This is a percussion instrument passed down from our ancestors.

"Roar--!"

A roar from all sides made everyone's ears ring!
Immediately afterwards, in 2008, both hands struck the drums simultaneously:

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

They were so well-organized, like a machine, and their momentum was off the charts, making people feel excited and hyped!

Even more amazing is that, with the rhythm of the strikes, the drum array actually began to display light and shadow numbers: 40...30...20... counting down!

With just ten seconds left, the entire scene completely spiraled out of control!

Everyone stood up abruptly and shouted at the top of their lungs:
“10！！9！！8！！……3！！2！！1！！！”

…(End of this chapter)