Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

What is Chapter 642 of the heavily modified "Ring 2" about?

When MPAA, the Motion Picture Association of America, President Holland extended a secret invitation to Zhang Chen, it already indicated that he was prepared to accept defeat.

At 10 a.m. the next day, Zhang Chen arrived at MPAA as agreed and left half an hour later.

Holland wanted Warner to resubmit the application for review, but Zhang Chen disagreed.

He knew the MPAA just wanted a way out, but Zhang Chen wasn't willing to give them that.

Holland had no choice but to swallow the bitter pill himself.

The MPAA is now infamous, and all he wants is for this matter to be over quickly.

At 2 p.m. that day, a prominent red announcement popped up on the MPAA's official website homepage, titled "Statement Regarding the Rating Adjustment of 'Pacific Rim 2'":
After a re-evaluation, Pacific Rim 2, which was originally rated R, has been officially upgraded to PG-13.

R rating = restricted; viewers under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.

PG-13 = Parental guidance level; children under 13 years old must be accompanied by a parent.

The announcement explained that the reason for the adjustment was "to reassess the level of violence in the mecha battle scenes in the film and confirm that it did not involve excessive gore or cruelty, and met the PG-13 definition of 'moderate action violence'."

But it's clear to everyone that this change is closely related to the comparison video Zhang Chen released earlier, as well as the public outcry sparked by the Fox News debate.

The news was met with great excitement from the media.

The Hollywood Reporter immediately launched a special report, with the headline in bold: "Mech Storm Rewrites Rating Rules? MPAA Loosens Restrictions on Pacific Rim 2, Zhang Chen's Influence Rises Again."

The article details the entire process of the film's rating change from an initial R to a PG-13 rating, and even adds a sarcastic comment: "This is the fastest rating adjustment by the MPAA in recent years, driven by both audience demand and market potential."

The Los Angeles Times published a photo of Zhang Chen during a previous debate on its entertainment front page, with the caption, "The Chinese director with the chainsaw badge has made the Hollywood rating system bow down."

On social media, hashtags such as #PG13 rating change# and #what does PG13 mean# quickly became trending topics. Some movie fans excitedly commented, "Finally, I can take my brother to see the mecha battle," while some media analysts said, "The PG-2 rating will allow the film to reach a wider audience, and the North American box office is expected to exceed expectations."

Just as the media were interpreting the significance behind the rating adjustment, Zhang Chen chose to hold an impromptu press conference at his hotel two hours after the MPAA announcement.

"Today, on behalf of the Pacific Rim 2 production team, I am officially announcing that we will be filing a lawsuit against Universal Pictures."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of camera shutters clicking rapidly filled the air, and reporters bombarded him with questions.

Zhang Chen's eyes were firm: "Universal Pictures Vice President Dan Stevenson previously bribed MPAA reviewer Mark to deliberately affect the film rating of 'Pacific Rim 2,' with the aim of limiting the film's audience through an R-rated label, thereby reducing publicity and distribution resources."

This behavior not only violates the MPAA's principles of fairness and impartiality, but also damages the film's artistic integrity and the audience's right to expect something from it.

He held the legal documents above his head, saying, "We have collected enough evidence, including internal emails from Universal, and comparisons of clips from the initial and final cuts. We will protect the team's legitimate rights and interests through legal means."

This press conference ignited public opinion, and discussions about "Universal Pictures manipulating ratings" intensified.

The litigation process proceeded smoothly in the Los Angeles Superior Court, and the courtroom repeatedly became the focus of media attention.

Zhang Chen's team of lawyers presented key evidence in court: an internal email signed by Dan Stevens, vice president of Universal Pictures, which explicitly stated that "by reducing the threat level of Pacific Rim 2's judges to Avatar by downgrading them to R-rated" would be "reduce the threat level of Avatar".

Furthermore, the comparison video between the films "Ultraman 1" and "Ultraman 2" made it clear to the judge and jury that the differences were minimal.

After a week-long trial, the court finally ruled that Universal Pictures had breached its contract by "intentionally and unconventionally influencing the rating," and was required to pay $500 million in damages to the Pacific Rim 2 production team and issue a public apology.

On the day the verdict was announced, Universal Pictures' stock price fell by 3%, and the company quickly issued a statement announcing the resignation of Vice President Dan Stevens.

In his resignation statement, Dan simply apologized for "losses caused to the company due to personal decision-making errors." He did not explain the reasons for doing so, but the media analyzed them clearly.

It turns out that Dan's contract was about to expire, and Universal's only criterion for whether to renew it was the box office performance of "Avatar".

With the success of Avatar, he successfully renewed his contract and remains a high-ranking vice president.

If Avatar fails, he'll have to pack his bags and get out of here.

Avatar was an S-level production with a production cost of 3.5 million, and the marketing and distribution costs alone reached 1.5 million US dollars.

Dan's fate is tied to this project, and the pressure he faces is immense.

That's why they took the risk.
However, many media outlets interpret this "rating manipulation" incident as a means by which conservative forces in Hollywood attempted to suppress foreign filmmakers through non-market means.

The eventual defeat and resignation were seen as a major setback for conservative forces in Hollywood.

After this battle, Zhang Chen made a name for himself in North America.

He used to be just "the director who made Chinese mecha movies," but now he has become "a creator who dares to stand up to Hollywood giants and uphold the artistic dignity of films."

The New Yorker featured him on its cover with the headline "The Mech Guardian from the East," stating that he "broke down Hollywood's implicit barriers against non-Western directors with law and power."

The local Chinese community in Los Angeles regards him as a source of pride, and many Chinese fans held up signs that read "Zhang Chen, well done" and "Chinese mecha, global resonance" and took photos with him outside the courthouse.

Various talk shows vied to invite him as a guest, and even Jack Thompson, who had previously debated with him, publicly stated in a follow-up program on Fox News that "Zhang Chen has proven with his actions the perseverance that a true filmmaker should have."

With Zhang Chen's rise to fame, Pacific Rim 2 gained unprecedented attention.

Originally highly anticipated due to its themes of "Chinese mecha" and "global cooperation," the film, fueled by rating controversy and a successful lawsuit, became one of the most anticipated films in North America at the end of 2009.

According to data from ticketing platform Fandango, the film grossed over $200 million in just 24 hours after pre-sales began, setting a new pre-sale record for the winter season that year.

On social media, discussions about the film have tripled compared to before, with many viewers leaving comments:

"Whether it's PG-13 or R-rated, you should check it out immediately."

"I want to see just how cool the Chinese mechs that have the world on edge really are."

……

On December 18, 2009, the North American premiere of "Pacific Rim 2" was held at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Its grand scale made it a major Hollywood event of the year.

That afternoon, Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Chinese Theatre was cordoned off, and the red carpet stretched from the theatre entrance to two blocks away, with fans holding posters and light sticks crowding both sides, screaming all around.

Reporters from nearly 200 media outlets around the world set up their cameras and pointed their lenses at the entrance to the red carpet.

When Zhang Chen walked the red carpet with the film's stars, the cheers reached their peak.

Fans waved banners that read "Director Zhang, we support you," and some held up miniature models of the "Crimson Storm" mech, chanting lines from the film such as "Global unity to fight the crisis."

On both sides of the red carpet, there were display areas showcasing 1:10 scale models of the "Crimson Storm" and "Gipsy Danger" mech heads. The metallic shells gleamed under the lights, and the details were clearly visible, attracting many visitors to take photos.

The theater's interior was decorated like a "mecha base," with an electronic screen at the entrance playing behind-the-scenes footage of the film on a loop, display cases on both sides of the hall showcasing the mecha pilots' costumes and props, and even the seat backs printed with the film's logo.

The premiere officially began at 7 p.m. that evening.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa personally attended the event and delivered a speech, stating that "Pacific Rim 2" is "not only a wonderful science fiction film, but also a symbol of cultural exchange and global cooperation."

The MPAA president also made a rare appearance, and in his speech, he affirmed the film's "innovation and contribution to the action film genre."

As the film began, applause and cheers filled the theater almost continuously—the stunning scenes of mecha battles, the touching story of pilots from around the world working together, and the perfect fusion of Chinese elements and science fiction settings all captivated the audience.

Hollywood movies often feature a small climax at the beginning to attract the audience's attention, and Zhang Chen did the same.

The film begins with the epic battle that ended in "Ring 1".

The evolving Tier 5 Kaiju flapped its wings, carrying the Crimson Storm and the Primal Chaos into the sky. The three sides clashed in the air, with blue blood splattering down.

Honghuang lay on the back of the Kaiju beast, its two sharp claws deeply piercing the beast's back.

However, the Kaiju's claws gripped the Crimson Storm. Even the steel body could not withstand the Kaiju's immense power, and damage appeared wherever the claws gripped.

The three were locked in combat in mid-air. Just as the Kaiju was about to complete its transformation and advance to level six, Crimson Storm swung its chainsaw and severed the Kaiju's massive fleshy wings.

Without the upward momentum, the three began to free fall.

The storm in mid-air lit up its crimson right arm, indicating that the plasma cannon was charging.

The next second, the plasma cannon fired, hitting the Kaiju, but Crimson Storm fell even faster due to the recoil.

Given its current altitude and speed, regardless of the method used, the Crimson Storm will inevitably crash to the ground, resulting in total destruction and loss of life.

At the critical moment, the Dangerous Gipsy took off, using its momentum to counteract the reaction force of the Crimson Storm, and finally successfully landed on the continental shelf.

On the other hand, the Primordial Beast and the Kaiju were not so lucky.

From beginning to end, Honghuang never stopped attacking the Kaiju. Its claws had torn the Kaiju's back to shreds, and its sharp teeth were constantly gnawing at the Kaiju's neck.

At this moment, the primordial beast's mouth was covered in blue blood, making it look indescribably ferocious.

The Kaiju, severely injured and then hit by Crimson Storm's final plasma cannon, finally drooped its head, but the place where they landed was the location of the spatial wormhole.

Then, in full view of everyone, the Primordial Chaos and the Kaiju fell into the wormhole.

Call ~
Fan Xiaoyang suddenly sat up in bed, and a warm voice came from beside her: "Dreaming again?"

The voice belonged to Jason, Fan Xiaoyang's partner and another pilot of Storm Crimson.

"Hmm, it reminds me of that battle again~"

"Have some water~"

Jason handed over a glass of water, considering his words: "I know you're saddened by Honghuang's passing, but it's happened, so please accept my condolences."

During this period, scientists deduced from the process of the primordial chaos and the disappearance of the level 5 Kaiju that being bound to a Kaiju could probably allow one to traverse a space wormhole.

But no one held any hope for the primordial chaos.

If a single Kaiju is already so difficult to deal with, the other side of the wormhole is the Kaiju's stronghold. Even if the Primordial Emperor survives to pass through the wormhole, he will certainly find it difficult to survive on the other side.

Even Fan Xiaoyang thought so.

Meanwhile, in the other side of the inner world, Honghuang walked through the mountains and forests in a disheveled state, covered in wounds.

Before him lay a lake. Honghuang sensed his surroundings and, not perceiving any danger, dared to go to the lakeside to drink.

Honghuang grew up in a zoo and has no experience in surviving in the wild.

But this period of time actually helped him grow up.

To the Inner World, the Primordial Wilderness is an invader. It has been in the Inner World for 31 days, and the Primordial Wilderness has spent every day in battle.

A powerful predator wanted to devour the primordial world, but in the end, it became food for the primordial world itself.

Moreover, the monsters here are generally enormous and have a strong sense of territory. As long as a prehistoric creature appears in their territory, it will be regarded as an intruder, and battles occur almost every day.

Honghuang's body was often covered with old wounds that had not yet healed, and new wounds were added at the same time.

The montage shows that every time Honghuang is injured in battle, Fan Xiaoyang will be awakened from her sleep.

She thought it was longing for the primordial world, but it was actually some kind of telepathic connection between them.

Perhaps because he was born in a zoo, he yearned for freedom.

Many of the monsters that dared to attack it were local overlords, but the primordial world did not stop there after defeating them.

It doesn't need its own territory; it prefers to be a wanderer.

A roar came from afar, and Honghuang knew that he had seemingly trespassed into someone else's territory again. It seemed that he would have to fight again today.

The primordial beast stood up and roared in response, its massive body exuding a fierce aura.

Birds took flight in the distant dense forest, followed by the appearance of a giant chimpanzee—King Kong.

King Kong smelled the primordial scent as soon as it woke up today. It could tell that the opponent was exceptionally powerful, but defending its territory was the primal instinct of every powerful male animal, so King Kong accepted the challenge.

The two giant beasts roared in protest, approached, and then began to fight.

Trees were felled, small animals were startled and scattered, and two giant beasts fought from the hillside into the lake.

The lake water churned like a boiling pot, and the giant beasts rolled around like ingredients floating in it.

King Kong had never encountered such a powerful invader before, and the Primordial World felt a similar way.

They could both sense that their opponent was of similar strength, and if they were to actually kill him, they would probably have to pay a considerable price—it could very well result in mutual destruction.

In such a treacherous environment, being seriously injured is tantamount to losing one's life.

Both giant beasts were about to give up when, at that moment, a giant octopus launched a sneak attack.

The giant octopus had been hiding in the lake, but seeing the two giant beasts were at their last gasp, it tried to come out and take the peaches.

The giant octopus was very strong, its tentacles tightly wrapped around the two giant beasts, but it overestimated its own strength.

Whether it's King Kong or the Primordial Era, they've all fought their way through life-or-death battles, and the fact that they've survived to this day speaks volumes about their strength.

A giant octopus might be evenly matched with one other octopus, but it's not so lucky when facing two at the same time.

The result was tragic: the giant octopus's tentacles were bitten off by the two giant beasts one after another, and then it was torn to pieces.

The two giant beasts had just narrowly escaped death and were now exhausted. They sat in the lake to rest, but the tension in their eyes had vanished.

They were initially life-or-death opponents, but suddenly became partners fighting side by side. This rapid change in identity caused their overly simplistic minds to malfunction.

But having fought side by side before, neither of the giant beasts had any intention of continuing their deadly battle.

Honghuang stood up and left gracefully.

Behind him, King Kong watched his opponent leave.

We don't necessarily have to be friends, but we don't need to be enemies either.

In the outer world, Fan Xiaoyang awoke once more, but this time was different. She could clearly sense the life-or-death crisis facing the primordial world. "It's still alive, it must still be alive!"

……

"How's the mech repair going?"

"It will be finished soon."

From then on, Fan Xiaoyang would go to the base every day to inquire about the repair progress of Storm Crimson.

In the last battle, Crimson Storm was severely damaged and had to be brought back to base for repairs.

Considering the strength level of the Kaiju last time, the Forward Base decided to upgrade the strength of Crimson Storm. Taking advantage of this maintenance, the conventional power was directly upgraded to nuclear power. At the same time, before the new mechs are put into service, all the retired older generation mechs were put into service and upgraded to varying degrees.

During this period, a large number of retired mech pilots were re-recruited and underwent acclimatization training.

Every day you can see mechs simulating battles.

"I've heard that the government is apparently planning an exploration mission into the Otherworld."

Jason had somehow joined in again and generously shared his information.

Scientists have successfully verified that carrying the corpse of a Kaiju can indeed allow one to travel through a wormhole.

That's why we had the opportunity to explore the other world.

The government has realized that it can no longer continue to defend passively and must take the initiative.

To defend against attacks from the Otherworld, you must first understand what the Otherworld is like.

Fan Xiaoyang counted down the days. After the Storm Crimson was upgraded, Fan Xiaoyang immediately began adaptive training.

Get familiar with the new power system and the new weapons.

At this time, the appearance of the Crimson Storm was not much different from before, except that it had a controllable nuclear fusion module on its chest, but the improvement in power was huge.

The same actions are easier to perform and require less preparation time after the upgrade.

Finally, the exploration began, and humanity called this day 'Era Day'.

Dangerous Wanderer and Storm Crimson escorted a team of 120 elite humans into the Inner World.

Apart from the necessary security personnel, the rest of this 120-person team consisted entirely of scientists from various disciplines.

Meteorologists, botanists, zoologists, hydrologists, geologists, Kaiju researchers~
The purpose of this operation is to gather as much information as possible and obtain firsthand data on the underworld.

The exploration team was startled as soon as they logged into the Otherworld; in front of them was a huge Kaiju carcass, though now only its skeleton remained.

Judging from the wounds on the corpse's wings, it was the same one that fought against Storm Crimson.

"Don't worry, we haven't seen any of Honghuang's corpses nearby, that should be good news~"

Jason understood his partner's thoughts all too well. Their orders were to escort the exploration team, but at this moment, what Fan Xiaoyang probably wanted to do most was to find out the whereabouts of the Primordial World.

Over the next few days, the exploration team sensed the dangers of the Otherworld.

Along the way, they were constantly attacked by all sorts of monsters. If it weren't for the two mechs, Crimson Storm and Gipsy Danger, they would probably all have perished here.

However, the gains were also enormous. Scientists recorded a massive amount of information and collected enough samples, which were crucial for later research on the Otherworld.

One day, the exploration team arrived at an island, unaware that it was a forbidden area in the underworld—Skull Island.

Skull Island is the habitat of skeleton monsters, and it is called a restricted area because skeleton monsters are social animals.

Although the skeleton monsters are not as powerful as those overlord-level monsters, their numerical advantage is enough to make up for everything.

A massive horde of skeletons attacked, and Dangerous Wanderer and Storm Crimson were completely overwhelmed, with each mech having at least three skeletons crawling on its body.

At the critical moment, divine soldiers from the primordial era descended from the heavens.

Honghuang was very capable in combat, holding off the pressure for Baofeng Chihong and giving the team a chance to survive.

But outnumbered, he sustained more and more wounds.

It also has a sense of telepathy. It sensed Fan Xiaoyang's presence in the inner world on the very first day. Following its senses, it arrived just in time to see the skeleton monsters attacking its keeper.

Honghuang was entangled by the three-headed skeleton monster, lost his balance, and fell to the ground.

Just as the other skeleton monster was about to launch a successful sneak attack, King Kong suddenly appeared, leaped out, and smashed the skeleton monster's head with a single punch.

It was attracted by the primordial cries.

It is not friends with the Primordial World, but it cannot stand to see its former rival, who was once evenly matched with it, being bullied by a group of crawlers.

However, the two giant beasts and two mechs were no match for the sheer number of skeleton monsters, and they were quickly cornered by the skeleton monsters in front of a cliff.

With nowhere to retreat behind and formidable enemies surrounding them.

Dangerous Wanderer and Storm Crimson both knew they were unlikely to return today. As they charged their plasma cannons, Fan Xiaoyang's voice rang out in the communication channel:
"Dangerous Wanderer~"

"I'm here."

"Bro, do me a favor!"

"Crimson Storm, what do you need me to do?"

"I'll self-destruct in a moment to create a chance for you to survive. I only ask that you do your best to protect Honghuang and that chimpanzee. I already owe them too much."

Fan Xiaoyang's tone was devoid of sadness or joy, only filled with guilt towards the Primordial World.

The dangerous wanderer remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Don't worry, I will."

He wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a word; only two lines of clear tears slowly flowed down his face.

Everyone knows that in today's situation, it is absolutely impossible for them to break through the encirclement on their own; the best solution is for Storm Crimson to self-destruct.

The dangerous homeless man's eyes were red, but he said nothing.

It's not that he's heartless; there are quite a few Jaeger pilots who self-destruct at the last moment to take the enemy down with them. If needed one day, Gipsy Danger would also self-destruct without hesitation.

The communication channel fell silent again, unaware that their conversation had caused a huge uproar in the real world.

The first thing the exploration team did after entering the Otherworld was to establish a complete communication system that could transmit both sound and images without delay.

The live feed is made available to the entire world.

In other words, at this moment, at least half of the world's population knows that one of their exploration teams, which has ventured deep into the underworld, has encountered a crisis.

The situation has become so critical that Crimson Storm needs to self-destruct to survive.

After the last great battle, Gryphon and Crimson Storm are heroes, the most famous stars in the world.

People feel a sense of grandeur as they watch heroes sacrifice their lives for their country.

Many people had tears in their eyes, but there was nothing they could do. However, the forward base could.

At this moment, on the internal communication channels of the forward base, countless drivers were volunteering for battle.

"The Shaolin warriors volunteer for battle!"

"Echo Saber volunteers for battle!"

"Eureka Raiders volunteer!"

"Victory Alpha volunteer!"

"Saber Athena volunteers!"

"The Phoenix Bracers volunteer!"

"The boxer volunteered for the fight!"

"Raging Obsidian challenges for battle!"

The communication channels were filled with voices volunteering for the mission.

Many of these are second- and third-generation mechs that have been recalled and have only recently returned to service, yet their fighting spirit is extremely strong.

"Commander, give the order! We can't stand by and watch our comrades be in danger!"

Commander Qin Gang picked up the microphone, his deep, powerful voice echoing throughout the base: "Attention all mech pilots! Immediately enter combat readiness! Get to the Otherworld as fast as you can and beat those reptiles to a pulp!"

The melodious battle song resounded, and the surging fighting spirit was palpable.

Throughout the forward base, mechs lit up one after another, and were hoisted by helicopters to head towards the spacetime wormhole.

……

里世界

The surging skeleton monsters had already surrounded the group, and were about to engulf them in the next moment.

Because of their severe injuries, even standing up was difficult for King Kong and Honghuang.

Storm Crimson and Dangerous Wanderer stood in front of them, facing the densely packed skeletal monsters head-on.

Suddenly, there was a commotion among the skeletons, and then they automatically parted to both sides like a tide.

In the cleared passage, a skeletal monster, far larger than the other overlord-level creatures, slowly walked in.

"The big boss has appeared! What level is this guy? Level five? Or level six?"

"I think it looks like a Level 5."

Fan Xiaoyang knew the moment had finally arrived, and gave her final instructions: "Dangerous wanderers, I'm going to charge into their midst and then self-destruct. You guys use that opportunity to escape!"

The level 5 skeleton monster stopped a few meters away from Storm Crimson, its head held high.

Even though it was just a reptile, Fan Xiaoyang saw contempt in its eyes. This guy was showing off!

Sure enough, regardless of race, showing off is something that's in their genes.

"Crawler, come on, I'll take you down with me..."

Crimson Storm was already prepared to charge into the enemy ranks with a level 5 skeleton monster in his arms, and then self-destruct.

Only in this way can the maximum damage be achieved.

Just as she was about to make a move, a voice suddenly rang out in the communication channel: "Phoenix Bracers have arrived!"

Then came countless voices:

"The Shaolin knights have arrived!"

"Echo Saber has arrived!"

"Eureka Raiders have arrived!"

"Victory Alpha has arrived!"

……

Then, a series of rumbling sounds rang out as bodies fell behind them.

Commander Qin Gang's voice rang out on the communication channel: "The support team has fulfilled its mission and arrived in time. Crimson Storm, Dangerous Wanderer..."

"To!"

"Kill these crawlers!"

The next second, the mechs and the monster army collided violently.

Every punch lands hard and real, without any fancy moves.

White light occasionally carved a vacuum in the horde of beasts, indicating that someone was firing a plasma cannon.

"Come on, let Grandpa teach you reptiles a lesson!"

The Shaolin swordsman charged into the horde of beasts, brandishing his warhammer, while on the other side, Athena, wielding a military saber, chopped off the head of a skeleton monster.

Eureka Raider used both hands to tear a skeleton monster in half, splattering green blood all over him.

Phoenix Striker grabbed the skeleton monster by the tail and gave it a back throw.

Crimson Storm was simpler; he immediately pounced on the level 5 skeleton monster, slamming his iron fist into its face: "Serves you right for being so cocky! Serves you right for being so cocky! You'll get struck by lightning for being cocky!"

Ten minutes later, a large number of skeleton monsters fled in panic, leaving the ground littered with their corpses. Storm Crimson held the head of a level 5 skeleton monster high in his hand, while behind him, countless mechs roared in fury.

Honghuang and Jingang were covered in blood, and they didn't know whether the blood was their own or that of their enemies.

Sensing the chilling atmosphere emanating from the battlefield, Honghuang roared in anger, while Jingang pounded his chest with both hands, letting out a furious roar.

……

I originally wanted to use AI to generate some corresponding photos, especially a big battle between the two sides, but the AI ​​generated Gundam-themed photos. So stupid!
(End of this chapter)