As the time enters June, this year's summer vacation is about to usher in a new round of fierce showdown.

As early as May 2nd, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry and others starring, 110 million production cost of "X-Men 2" was released in 3,741 theaters, with a box office of 107 million in the first week officially kicked off this summer, and now it has received 200 million box office in 6 weeks of release in North America;

On May 9, the 60 million cost comedy "Daddy Rangers" was released on a large scale, and the 150 million production cost of "The Matrix 2: Reloaded" premiered.

In the following week of May 16-22, it won the first week championship with a box office of 121 million without suspense, catching up with the highest opening week box office record of 131 million R-rated films set by "District 9" last year, and the North American box office has reached 250 million in the fourth week of release.

In any case, "Reloaded" has made most film critics and sci-fi fans addicted, with shocking visual effects, improved thinking levels, oriental Zen revealed, and super cool oriental kung fu...... This distinctive and unique cult film has received some of the top reviews: "The perfect combination of business and art!"

Of course, there is also another school of voice, which thinks that "Reloaded" is boring and fried, and it does not have the compact excitement of the first part at all, which is a big disappointment. On Rotten Tomatoes, it is only in the middle of the range, with 74% audience liking and 74% freshness of popular film reviews, and Andrew Salis, a film critic for "New York Watch" who gave fresh reviews, said: "I love this movie and recommend it with all my conscience." But it never moved me, not even half as much as Steven Spielberg's Artificial Intelligence. ”

As the first director in history to win the Oscar for a sci-fi film, a character who has been pushed to the forefront of the sci-fi film industry, Wang Yang and "District 9" are inevitably compared by some critics and fans, although the specific genres of the two are completely different.

After this "showdown", many fans commented that although the special effects of "District 9" are real, the pattern is always too small, and it also brings enough thinking and moving, but it is worth mentioning that the oriental fighting and dialogue Zen in the "Matrix" series are not available to the Chinese director of Magic Yang, FilmReport's Bill Chalmers said: "It's a bit ironic. ”

Most of the scolding in "The Matrix 2" is actually due to high expectations, which Richard Roper, the host of the film review show "Ebert & Roeper", described as "almost unbearable expectations", and such expectations also exist in Fantastic Young's second sci-fi film, especially when he said "spaceship, going to the universe", but when will he see it? At least see a new work plan with a name?

There is a sense of indifference among the general public, and maybe it will be another decade before he will be 33 years old and still a young director, and FilmCritic's John Salvi quipped: "Maybe our expectations should be lower, don't scare him into making sci-fi films." ”

On May 23, two more comedies were released, Michael Douglas starred in "The Secret Service" and Jim Carrey starred in "The Impostor", the latter recorded 100 million at the box office in the first week, once again showing Jim Carrey's comedy status, but it was popular but not popular, only 49% of the public review freshness on Rotten Tomatoes, and only 61% of the audience's like. On May 30, "Finding Nemo" was released, with 97.45 million in the first week, and the 100% freshness continued to be amazing as Pixar animation.

In the same week, there was also the action crime film "Stealing the Day" with a cost of 60 million, and "Fast and Furious 2" was released on June 6. And this summer, there are comedies such as "Hollywood Restructuring" and "When Dumb Meets Agua" will debut on June 13, and the 137 million cost "Hulk" will rush to the big screen on the 20th.

120 million cost of "Breaking Bads 2", 200 million "Terminator 3", "Legally Blonde 2", 140 million "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl", 78 million "Fallen from the Sky", 130 million "Jedi Men 2", "Very Little Agent 3", "Pentium Age", "Tomb Raider 2", "American Pie 3", "Anti-Terrorism SWAT Unit", "Hot Mom and Girls", ...... There is also a gambling film "MIT-21-TEAM" with no special effects and no big scenes, and no one dares to take it lightly.

"That's good!"

On the set of the busy cocktail party, Wang Yang couldn't help but be happy when he heard the good news from Simon Willis, the manager of the distribution department on the other side of the phone. The global SARS epidemic has been gradually brought under control in May, and the WHO has already intended to lift the travel ban in Beijing in 20 days, and if the ban is lifted in June, and it will become a non-epidemic area in another month, then there will be no problem in going to China in August to do publicity.

Looking at the crew walking around, Wang Yang asked with interest: "What kind of itinerary is probably arranged?" If you want to enter the Chinese mainland market, Flame Film naturally needs to cooperate with China Film Group, and the promotional activities of "MIT-21-TEAM" are also arranged by China Film's marketing department. Simon Willis over there said: "There are fan meetings and newspaper interviews...... I also went to Beijing Film Academy to attend a film symposium ......"

"Simon, this kind of publicity is not close enough to the general public. Wang Yang frowned suddenly, he hoped that the public fans could intuitively recognize him, but now...... He shrugged his shoulders and said, "The number of people attending the meeting is limited, and when I go to the school to talk, ordinary movie fans can only see one piece of news, and there is no TV program? Is there anything like "Saturday Night Live" or "Oprah Talk Show"? Can our crew do publicity in the last issue?"

Of course, there are fan meetings and newspaper interviews, but the most mainstream TV programs are even more indispensable. When he traveled last year, he recorded an episode of "Luyu Appointment", and later he learned that although this talk show is very famous in China, the coverage of Phoenix Satellite TV is very low, and the ratings are naturally not very good.

"Jan, I don't know. Simon Willis's voice was also puzzled, and said: "Our propaganda in Chinese mainland has always been handed over to China Film to do, let's tell them this intention first?"

"OK, I can be funny. Wang Yang smiled in response, and after a few more words, he ended the call. Meryl Streep, who saw her coming to the set, sat down in the actor's chair on the sidelines, took out the script and began to read it, as seriously as ever. Wang Yang walked over, interrupted her speculation, and said, "Meryl, there is something I haven't told you yet, the crew is going to Paris to shoot for a few days. ”

With the end of the slight SARS epidemic in Paris, the shooting cost of going directly to Paris to shoot at the same time is not so high, it can be completed in two or three days at the earliest, and there is no need for post-production, which is also helpful for future publicity;

After explaining the official reasons to Meryl Streep, Wang Yang immediately added: "Meryl, if you don't want to go, no problem! I'm going to continue to shoot your scenes in New York, just find some Parisian-style streets." I'd like to ask you what you think?"

Meryl Streep, who wore glasses, thought for a moment, and with an apologetic look on her face, she replied, "I'm staying in New York." Jan, if I had a choice, I like to work around my home and my family needs me. ”

"Okay. Wang Yang smiled and nodded, there was no idea of forcing her, when she was invited to act, she promised not to go abroad, but now the change is unilateral by the crew. Wang Yang said, "That's nothing, we'll arrange everything." She was about to leave but was stopped by Meryl, who smiled calmly: "Jan, I have a request, my eldest daughter Maimi would love to show her face in this movie, she is your fan." ”

"Oh, I know. Wang Yang responded, and Meryl Streep continued: "I know that there are some small roles in the remaining scenes, I wonder if Mai Mie will have a chance to make a cameo in one of them?"

Looking at the busy crew not far away, Wang Yang couldn't figure out the arrangement for a while, and said with a smile: "I have to ask the casting department, it should be fine." These small characters are like waitresses at cocktail parties and press conferences, saying lines like "Ma'am, your drink," or having names, such as assistants to subordinates or reporters in the fashion industry.

The candidates for these small roles are basically improvised, the audition is completed a few days before the filming of that scene, and the notice is that they will leave after filming on the day of filming, and there will hardly even be a page of script. And some big-budget movies, because the production cycle is too long, in addition to the real protagonist, they will also look for big supporting actors who need to be on the set while shooting. "The Devil Wears Prada" naturally doesn't start with everyone, that's why Meryl Streep asks.

If there is any suitable role vacancy, then let Maimie Gummer play one, after all, Meryl opened her mouth to ask, Wang Yang has no reason to refuse this kind of inconsequential favor, of course, Maimie Gummer must be able to play well, otherwise no matter whose daughter is good, there will be no face.

The time soon came to June 9th, which was Natalie's birthday, and before Wang Yang conveyed her party invitation, Jessica readily agreed, and the two went to Natalie's home on Long Island with gifts that night. These days, the mood may be getting lighter and lighter, and Jessica's NG times on the set are gradually increasing, but she is still more involved in the drama and aura than before, but she is not at her peak. However, Wang Yang followed her advice and had already taken those important shots first.

The spacious living room of "Wow Hu ——" was full of more than a dozen young people, some holding red wine glasses, beer glasses and drinking wine, and some clapping their hands and shouting in a circle. Natalie in the circle held a wide wooden block with both hands, and looked at Wang Yang who was kicking and warming up a few steps ahead with a lunge, and Jessica, who was standing at the edge of the circle, clasped her hands with her hands, and her smiling face was full of nervousness.

There are not many people in the film entertainment industry who attend the party, they are all Natalie's good friends and girlfriends from all walks of life, they are all surprised or expectant or smiling at the scene, the magic director shows kung fu...... "Don't kick me!" Natalie shouted, Wang Yang took a deep breath and said: "Hold it steady! Don't let me kick it away!" Before the words fell, he took two steps and flew up with a kick, "snap" loudly, Natalie's arms shook, and the wooden board in his hand had been broken into two sides! The surrounding people immediately applauded and laughed: " It's too strong!", "Kung Fu!" Wang Yang's face was a little silent, and he shook his head and smiled: "Toy ......"

After the kung fu performance, the party continued to sound bursts of laughter and shouts, Wang Yang kept being surrounded by several different people chatting, Jessica gradually moved away from the sound to the balcony, Natalie was chatting with a dark-haired girl on the railing, the girl suddenly patted Natalie on the shoulder and walked back into the house, as she passed by, Jessica and her "HEY" said hello.

"Happy birthday. Jessica came up to Natalie, looked at the faintly glowing stars in the night sky, and said a blessing. Natalie turned her head to look at her, raised the beer in her hand and took a sip, and smiled, "Thank you." "It's been a long time since they've talked alone, and the last time was ...... I don't remember.

Natalie turned to look at the inside of the house, Wang Yangzheng was laughing and talking about something with a group of people, and seemed to be in control of the scene again, she curled the corners of her mouth and said with a smile: "Your boyfriend is good." ”

"Of course. Jessica also turned around and held the railing with both hands, looking at Wang Yang over there, a touch of tenderness flashed from her eyes. Natalie laughed and said, "Jesse, if you break up and I don't have a boyfriend, then I'll chase him again! Jessica laughed and said, "No, that's not going to happen." ”

She had this confidence in him and their feelings before, and now she has even more! Jessica naturally showed a sweet smile and said with a smile: "We are a natural pair. Natalie whined uncomfortably, waved her hand, and said, "Okay, don't dampen my expectations." Both of them laughed, and Natalie suddenly asked, "By the way, was he a little angry about the kung fu performance just now?"

Seeing Jessica nodding, Natalie frowned in confusion and said, "No wonder it's a little cold...... I thought he was in pain. Why? Just to show how strong and powerful he is. Jessica tilted her head and shrugged: "He doesn't like kicking boards, he says his kung fu is used to kill people, or make movies." She smiled and said, "It's nothing, Jan doesn't get angry for more than five minutes, he likes to see his friends happy." ”

"Well, I'll apologize another day, not today, it's my birthday. Natalie took a sip of beer absentmindedly, turned to look at the night sky, and smiled, "Don't say it's magical." Hey, how does it feel to play against Meryl Streep? Is there an urge to beat her up and convince her?"

Jessica looked up and sighed, "No ......"

(To be continued)