I'm not mentally ill, I'm a master of a thousand faces!

Chapter 549, The Clash Between Sublimity and Self

At this time, the entire arts and culture circle was paying attention to these three things.

Captain America 3.

Avatar 2.

The Wandering Earth 2.

For the entire movie-going community, these days are undoubtedly like celebrating the Lunar New Year.

No, it seems that for Chinese people, this is already the Lunar New Year.

a new Year.

It hasn't even been since last month.

We've recovered from the shock of those three works at the end of last year.

Three films broke Titanic's record within a year.

And in the new year.

Three more works have emerged.

It's still a sequel to those three works.

The entire arts and culture scene is in turmoil.

Generally speaking.

If I had any spare cash, I would buy tickets for all three of my films.

In other words, based on the predictions of various institutions, the box office figures for Yizhou are likely to be roughly the same across all three.

These were all moviegoers who had been eagerly anticipating the film for a long time.

Their wallets have long been eager to devour excellent works.

The difference emerged after the box office performance began to take off in the second and third weeks.

This is the crucial time when box office performance will change.

Those who hold their tickets and wait and see.

And then there are those who watch it two or three times.

These people are the factors that will determine success or failure in the future.

That is, quality.

"Have the internet statistics been released yet?"

"The level of discussion surrounding all three works is fairly even..."

At this moment, Xie Qingya was sitting in her office, paying attention to public opinion, box office performance, and various trends.

The Wandering Earth.

This is a miracle created by bringing together all the vital forces in the entertainment industry.

Now it stands on the world stage, competing with two other top-tier works.

This is the second time since the birth of Chinese-language cinema.

The first time was last month with the first film in these series.

The result was naturally that Cameron had an absolute advantage.

After all, he had accumulated considerable power and influence.

It's not just a little bit.

Even within Marvel, his fame can't rival Cameron's.

But this is something that can be built up gradually and then unleashed, especially now that we have laid the groundwork with the initial positive word-of-mouth.

The starting point for public opinion on all three works is exactly the same.

Given that public opinion is now starting from the same point of view.

It's almost certain to be a fair match.

It's at least a relatively fair thing.

Regardless of which country's public opinion is being discussed.

Regardless of the language of the Internet.

They all have a relatively fair platform.

Xie Qingya at this moment.

He took a deep breath.

"This time it's truly fair and just. No matter the reason or logic, at this moment, you can win with a clear conscience and lose without regret."

This time, it's these three top legends.

No matter what the final outcome is.

Everyone has to accept it.

But Xie Qingya only had one wish.

That means Li Yun can win.

One could be moved to another location.

You might think this is the ramblings of a madman.

But Xie Qingya felt that...

Why not have a dream like this?

Maybe it really can happen.

At this moment, Xie Qingya spoke softly.

"You won't disappoint, will you, my legendary gentleman?"

"Now I finally understand why some people are addicted to the internet. This thing can get information so fast. In the past, we needed to read print media to get feedback, so many times we didn't even know what our audience needed. Times have really changed so fast."

At this moment, Cheng Shilong was wearing his reading glasses.

Looking at the novel gadgets in front of me.

Mobile Internet.

It connects people from all over the world in a small grid.

Twitter, Weibo.

These are internet tools from various countries.

It has connected the will of people all over the world.

The emergence of translation software has even ignored language differences.

It enables people to understand each other, what the other wants, what the other doesn't want, and what the other doesn't understand.

It's okay, we can discuss these things.

"You old codger, you're only just now getting to know the internet? I even have my own verified account on Twitter a long time ago. Looks like you're still older and more old-fashioned than me, Brother Long."

Stephen Chow spared no effort in mocking Brother Lung.

Cheng Shilong was speechless.

"Isn't this just failing to keep up with the times and being left behind by the younger generation?"

"That's true. We've been thoroughly outmatched by our juniors. Not just you, but me too."

However, Stephen Chow had an incredibly big smile on his face.

A smile of unparalleled radiance.

Just like in the movies.

The flame of inheritance.

It's already burned down to the next generation.

Life as an actor.

Stephen Chow felt that his legacy had been continued.

It is enough.

That's more than enough.

This is the significance of inheritance, this extraordinary significance, which is what creates civilization.

"I wonder if I can beat Cameron. It's unbelievable. I'm looking forward to it, which is pretty unbelievable in itself."

At this moment, Cheng Shilong shook his head.

In the past...

Where would such a strange thing happen?

Even his own works dare not aspire to Cameron's glory.

But now, Li Yun has given him that possibility.

This is a work called The Wandering Earth.

The Wandering Earth 2.

It was drawn in by the rhythm of The Wandering Earth 1.

He was on the same starting line as the other two legends.

At least they're starting from the same level.

"So, do you think we can win?"

"I think it's difficult. After all, Cameron is still Cameron, and Avatar is still Avatar. I see discussions on the internet abroad are all about their work, and their work still possesses absolute superiority..."

At this moment.

Cheng Shilong's favorite foreign internet Twitter.

This can also be seen from the proportions.

A large portion of the discussion is still about Avatar.

It still possesses the power befitting the king of cinema.

Although The Wandering Earth also garnered around 20% of the discussion.

But compared to the other two, it's still quite a bit inferior.

The Internet has another thing and benefit.

It's about being able to see a lot from the expected level of popularity.

Take, for example, the current box office figures.

The level of discussion clearly shows who has the advantage.

We currently have an advantage.

Those are the other two movies.

In other words, although they started on the same platform, those two prodigies were still a cut above the rest.

The same platform doesn't necessarily mean everyone is on the same starting line.

This is a very simple principle.

However, at this moment, Stephen Chow said calmly.

"Let the bullet fly for a while. Personally, I think we should let this bullet fly a little further."

On the other side of the ocean.

Cameron, who should have been busy with various promotional activities at this time, actually did nothing else.

Whether it's a publicity campaign or a promotional event.

Or other types of activities.

None of them went.

He simply enjoyed admiring the works of Russell Wilson and Lee Yun in his own home.

The elderly people's blood boiled at this moment.

If it weren't for Li Yun and Russell Wilson...

He probably wouldn't have poured the same passion and enthusiasm into this as he does now.

At this moment, seeing the Pentagon personnel arriving while Cameron was watching videos at home, he said...

"You won't lose, because you are Cameron."

"It's not that I think I'll lose, but that I'm afraid I won't win gracefully enough."

Facing partners from the Pentagon.

Cameron smiled slightly.

"And I haven't been this excited in a long time."

We've been in first place for far too long.

I feel so lonely and isolated.

No one here dared to fight him.

It only made him feel more empty and cold.

That's why we have this Avatar series, which we've poured all our efforts into making, in order to surpass our past selves.

Also, to appreciate beautiful works of art.

Yes.

His initial motivation for doing this was perhaps for fame and fortune.

That was his original intention in making movies.

He only wanted to watch excellent works. After all, when he first came into contact with film as a medium in his youth, his feelings at that time were incomparable.

An indescribable feeling of exhilaration.

But they stayed in first place for far too long.

Reaching the point where one can only admire one's own beauty in solitude is also a kind of boredom, a nightmarish kind of boredom.

Russell Wilson was one of his surprises.

His works have also achieved unparalleled excellence in terms of commercialization.

It's delightful.

What excited him even more was that in a distant Eastern power, there was someone who dared to wield a sharp blade against him.

Li Yun.

A name that is both familiar and unfamiliar.

It's familiar because the TV series called The Three-Body Problem has become popular in the Western world.

Science fiction is the genre that best connects people's feelings and thoughts.

He can ignore the limitations of many other genres.

Nation, culture.

nation.

He was bound by many things in this way.

But science fiction can overcome these limitations.

The Three-Body Problem continues to gain traction.

This led Cameron to decide to start looking at his opponent's work from the beginning.

"Sir, but I'm afraid you'll need to leave your computer desk this time. You absolutely must participate in this promotional event."

"Weren't you just saying my work was invincible? Now you're getting anxious?" Cameron looked at his partner with a half-smile.

"But this time your opponent is different. This guy named Li Yun is different from all your previous opponents. He's even different from Russell Wilson."

Strictly speaking...

Whether it's Captain America or The Avengers, it's all good.

Even the Avatar series.

They are all quintessential Hollywood productions.

Both in terms of plot and its core message, it is a very, very pure Hollywood production.

Freedom, equality, democracy, and resistance.

These core American ideas are engraved in these two works.

But The Wandering Earth is different.

His core ideology is different.

In other words.

This is a completely anti-Hollywood film.

Works that oppose American ideas.

This is intolerable.

At least the Pentagon staff couldn't stand it.

After all, artistic works are a form of soft power cultural invasion for them, spreading their ideas to other countries.

This is why the United States spends a lot of money every year to support cultural works.

For the ignorant.

This is the mindset of a superpower.

But in reality, this is a weapon.

"So what do you want me to do, sir?"

Cameron neither confirmed nor denied it, but simply smiled and said...

"Given your prestige in the art world, if you were to stand up and publicly boycott it, you would likely achieve good results."

"I will consider it, sir, but could you please not bother me now?"

"I should watch TV now."

At this moment.

A large number of propaganda machines are attacking The Wandering Earth.

"This is a piece of garbage; please don't watch it."

"What do you mean by 'people over fifty, step forward'? This is clearly a shameful act of moral blackmail, a desecration of freedom and equality. Who says that people over 50 don't have the right to live? No wonder this work was filmed in this backward land; just like the land itself, it's full of patriarchal flavor."

"Why not choose digital life for a vague and uncertain plan? There are too many bugs in this one."

"All I saw was a lack of respect for and obliteration of humanity. This director has a serious problem; his values ​​are skewed."

"The special effects are not bad, but that's about it. There's nothing else that's memorable."

Negative reviews have sprung up like mushrooms after rain on Weibo and Douban.

These are all criticisms of The Wandering Earth.

These negative reviews infuriated Liu Shanhe.

"These trash who get paid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are just spouting nonsense."

Liu Shanhe already had a bad temper, and after seeing these online comments, it got even worse.

On the contrary, Lu Zhengguang, who was standing next to him, calmly said...

"It doesn't necessarily have to be the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Look at his statements in other places. He's a die-hard Captain America fan. His mind is full of love for Ping's rebellion and freedom. He believed it, he really believed it."

Looking at this person's speech record, Lu Zhengguang found it rather amusing.

A freak in a tight-fitting suit, wielding a shield, who occasionally saves women and children, became the American spirit.

Not a word was said.

The impact on society is related to the use of unsuitable firearms and the failure to register superpowers.

Iron Man is indeed a man of great wisdom.

Captain America is indeed a hothead.

At this moment, Lu Zhengguang spoke.

"So you see why the public opinion this time is so intense. Is it that the individual is above the collective, freedom is above civilization, or civilization is above everything else?"

"The clash between the ideas of sublimity and self is not just a war between films, but a clash of ideologies between nations."

These three works of art.

Each represents its own ideology and thought.

Cameron is a bit left-leaning, Captain America is a bit right-leaning, but they are ultimately within the framework of Hollywood and the American style.

Only Li Yun was different.

Only The Wandering Earth is different.

He represents pure Chinese thought.

"This is a collaborative work, isn't it? Aren't you going to do anything about it?"

Lu Zhengguang looked at Liu Shanhe.

Liu Shanhe simply said it calmly.

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)