Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 499-497: "Kung Fu Hustle" Released

Friday, November 2003, 12.

On a winter night in Beijing, the wind was already biting, but it couldn't dispel the warmth that permeated the city's air.

This enthusiasm stems not only from the start of the heating season, but more profoundly from a collective cultural expectation and consumer passion.

Especially at the entrances of various cinemas throughout Beijing, a steady stream of people begins to gather in the evening.

Lin Xiaoyue wrapped her down jacket tighter around herself, took her boyfriend Zhang Heng's arm, and followed the flow of people toward "China Film Grand Cinema - Zhongguancun Store", located in the heart of Zhongguancun, Haidian District.

She entered university after the expansion of enrollment in 99 and has been out of school for over a year now. She works in administration at an IT company. Zhang Heng was her classmate in university and is now a programmer.

The two rented a small apartment in Beijing and began a busy but fulfilling professional life.

Today is the day Stephen Chow's new film "Kung Fu Hustle" is released nationwide.

For this generation of young people who grew up watching Hong Kong films on VCD and personally experienced the rapid development of the mainland film and television industry, the name "Stephen Chow" itself represents a kind of sentiment, a unique memory intertwined with nonsensical humor and grassroots success.

Moreover, this film, "Kung Fu Hustle," was deeply involved by Sheng Ying Media, which is at the height of its success, and has attracted much attention since the project was first conceived.

"There are so many people!" Lin Xiaoyue exclaimed, looking at the long queue at the entrance of the cinema.

On the huge glass curtain wall, the poster for "Kung Fu Hustle" occupies the most central position—Stephen Chow strikes the classic Buddha Palm starting pose, with the masses of Pig Cage Alley behind him, and the logos of "Shengying Media" and "Star Shine Overseas" above the poster are particularly eye-catching.

Inside the cinema, the electronic display screens scroll through today's screenings. "Kung Fu Hustle" is followed by a long list of screenings and times, occupying almost all of the prime time slots.

Zhang Heng: "I heard that this theater has more than 80% of the screenings of 'Kung Fu Hustle,' and it's about the same all over Beijing. Other theaters have at least 70%. 'Hero'? Well, those two screenings in the corner."

He gestured with his lip, pointing to an inconspicuous corner of the screen.

Lin Xiaoyue looked in the direction he was looking, and curled her lip: "Hero? Even a dog wouldn't watch that."

This statement was not her original idea, but rather a common sentiment circulating among her peers, especially the younger generation who are more exposed to the internet, during recent lunch breaks at the company, on the "Movie Tea House" BBS that she frequents, and even in QQ groups.

This argument did not arise out of thin air.

For nearly a year, criticisms of "Hero" have been constant, claiming that it "prioritizes form over content," has a "hollow plot," and "deliberately panders to Western judges."

Especially with the continued guidance of Sheng Ying Media's strong public relations capabilities, coupled with the old news of "Hero" being pulled from release last year and the news of setbacks in overseas distribution this year, this once highly anticipated blockbuster has become synonymous with "pretentious," "boring," and "not worth spending money on" in the minds of many young viewers.

In contrast, the promotion for "Kung Fu Hustle" focused on elements such as "Stephen Chow's return," "nonsensical humor + real kung fu," and "top-notch special effects," accurately capturing their interests.

"People online say that 'Hero' is a scenic film made for foreigners, while 'Kung Fu Hustle' is a thrilling film for our own people."

Lin Xiaoyue: "There's a post online saying that Zhang Weiping spent all his money on hiring celebrities and filming leaves, right? Stephen Chow is more practical; he used all his money on special effects and comedy."

Zhang Heng smiled and said, "Shengying really knows how to handle the media battle. But the film itself has to be good too. The special effects of 'Night at the Museum' were really amazing. I hope 'Kung Fu Hustle' can keep up the good work." They had booked their tickets for tonight's movie two days in advance through Maoyan Movies and selected their seats online, saving them the trouble of queuing to buy tickets on-site.

This new platform, which has quietly emerged through a collaboration between Tencent and Shengying Group and is indirectly controlled by Wang Sheng, is gradually changing the consumption habits of young people.

The anticipation for "Kung Fu Hustle" in film review communities has been at its peak, while criticisms of "Hero" are rampant, creating a distinct barrier in public opinion.

Finally, after ticket inspection, we entered the IMAX theater, which was packed to capacity. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of popcorn and the excited whispers of the audience. On the giant screen, advertisements and trailers were playing, including one for Shengying's game "Legend of Mir" and a promotional video for the DVD release of "Night at the Museum," reminding people that "Shengying productions" had permeated every aspect of entertainment life.

As the lights dimmed, the dragon logo appeared, followed by Sheng Ying Media's familiar introductory animation, resembling the turning gears of a film reel, causing a small stir among the audience.

Immediately afterwards, the logo of Star Overseas appeared on the screen.

The film begins.

When Stephen Chow's character, Ah Sing, a street thug with messy hair, tries to impersonate a member of the Axe Gang in Pigsty Alley but repeatedly embarrasses himself, the theater erupts in bursts of knowing laughter.

That familiar rhythm and signature expressions instantly maximized the charm of nonsensical comedy.

However, as the plot progresses, when "Fire Cloud Evil God" catches a bullet with his bare hands, when the landlord and landlady display amazing martial arts skills, when the Qin Demon brothers kill people invisibly with sonic power... the film's style suddenly changes.

The grand and exquisite panoramic view of Pig Cage Alley is full of the atmosphere of everyday life and surreal details; when masters fight, the sense of power in every punch is perfectly combined with the elegant and graceful action design; especially in the final scene where Ah Xing opens up his Ren and Du meridians and uses the Buddha's Palm, the golden light and the palm print as big as a mountain, combined with the IMAX screen and shocking sound, brings an unparalleled visual impact!
This is no longer the Hong Kong-style comedy they remember that relied on fast editing and exaggerated performances, but a truly industrialized blockbuster that integrates mature genre storytelling, vivid character development and top-notch visual effects!
Lin Xiaoyue and Zhang Heng were completely captivated.

They laughed out loud at the hilarious scenes, held their breath during the tense fights, and were moved by the warmth and dreams of the ordinary people that ran throughout the story.

At the end of the film, Ah Xing and Fang'er (played by Li Xiaoran) smile at each other in front of the candy store. The camera pulls back, revealing the huge "lollipop" sign shining in the sunlight, and the theater erupts in enthusiastic and prolonged applause.

"That's...that's amazing!" As the lights came on, Lin Xiaoyue, still stunned, murmured to herself, "The special effects, the fight scenes, they're just as good as Hollywood! And that Buddha's Palm at the end, oh my god..."

Zhang Heng also seemed very excited: "That's right! Comedy, action, special effects, and nostalgia, it's all there! Stephen Chow is still Stephen Chow, and Sheng Ying's production level is truly top-notch! It feels completely different from watching a fantasy blockbuster like 'Night at the Museum,' but the level is the same!"

The audience members who had left the theater were also discussing it enthusiastically.

"Holy crap, this movie ticket was totally worth it!"

"The landlady has no water! Hahaha, I could laugh at this for a year!"

"The Qin Demon brothers are so cool! How did they do that sonic attack?"

"Is Sheng Ying's special effects team on fire? It feels like they've improved a lot since 'Night at the Museum'!"

"I knew it! Waiting for 'Kung Fu Hustle' was the right decision! 'Hero'? Heh..."

(End of this chapter)