As a filmmaker with considerable fa in this country, Jiang Xiaojun and Ge Guangtou hadn’t even left the cinema before sharp-eyed reporters recognized them. A female reporter quickly stopped them.
"Gentlen, I just watched Transforrs..."
It was obvious this reporter knew Jiang Xiaojun and Ge Guangtou, and she directly asked, "Could you share your thoughts on this film?"
"The scale of the movie is magnificent." Ge Guangtou thought for a mont, then added, "Its visual effects are outstanding, and the technology used is groundbreaking — all of which dostic films cannot compare to... hmm, and the staggering production cost."
"What about you?" The reporter turned to Jiang Xiaojun.
Although Jiang Xiaojun had been banned from directing for many years, he was still a director at heart. From a director’s perspective, he said, "Duke Rosenberg employed every visual tool at his disposal, leading us viewers like a strategic master to appreciate grand scenes and spectacular vistas. Although the story was too simple, the technical effects were simply flawless."
The reporter’s attention wasn’t only on celebrities but also ordinary movie fans.
Miss Lu, who works at China rchants Bank, told the reporter she originally didn’t like movies like this, especially ones with a bunch of robots fighting, but now her opinion changed. "I found it very shocking, mainly because of the special effects. Many ideas left speechless I was amazed. This kind of movie can’t be faulted visually."
Mr. Zhang, working at an advertising company, said, "Now that both dostic and imported blockbusters charge high prices, I think it’s still worth spending money on movies like this."
This was the opinion of many movie fans.
After leaving the cinema, Wang Ziming quickly returned ho. Although it was late, he had no sleepiness at all. His mind was filled with images of Autobots and Decepticons clashing those realistic scenes, as if happening right before his eyes, even made him wonder if Transforrs actually existed in his world.
Suddenly, his phone rang. He glanced at the number it was a friend of his, a die-hard Transforrs fan who hadn’t watched the movie and wasn’t very fond of Duke Rosenberg’s film. The reason was simple: the movie changed too many of the Transforrs’ designs.
"How’s the movie?" The familiar voice ca through the receiver. "Pretty disappointing, right?"
"No, definitely not disappointing."
Holding the phone, Wang Ziming paced around his room, speaking with decisive tone, "The special effects in Transforrs are incredible. If this movie is at the pinnacle of CGI effects, then the special effects in Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and Spider-Man 3 that we watched together are only circling on the sidelines. These are effects on completely different levels. Transforrs made it hard for to believe these giant robots were made by computers. They look like they actually exist in real life."
"R-Really? You’re not lying to ?"
The voice on the other end hesitated, "But he changed the Transforrs’ designs. Weren’t you unhappy about that before?"
"Stop obsessing over those childhood blocky designs. Those were our mories, sure. But I honestly can’t imagine how those blocks would look in this movie. Don’t shout ’junk’ or ’scrap tal’ just from a few stills. On the big screen, you feel the shock from this so-called junk. I guarantee you’ll accept these ’scrap tals’ in the film."
Not wanting his friend to miss such an amazing movie, Wang Ziming continued, "This film isn’t about telling us life lessons or pretending to be deep. It has two goals: first, to take your money; second, to make you feel great after spending it. I just ca out of the theater and saw that most people who ca in were thrilled and, like , wanted more. I’m planning to watch it a second ti tomorrow."
He asked, "Li Ping, are you coming?"
"I..."
Li Ping hesitated, "I’ll check the online reviews first."
After hanging up, Li Ping opened his computer and went to a professional movie website, Mti. On the hopage, a giant image of Optimus Pri grabbed his attention. He clicked the link but didn’t look further and scrolled straight to the bottom, to the reviews section.
Over a thousand movie fans had watched the premiere, and so reviews were already posted.
"It’s over, lost all rationality again."
"Classic Transforrs to death. Even if it was just a bunch of posters at the premiere, fans like would still get excited and faint. I was pretending to be calm, but as soon as the movie started, I lost all reason."
"The film can only be described as stunningly brilliant. When the chanical sounds of transformation rang out, the entire theater held its breath..."
"Just one sentence — I love Duke Rosenberg’s Transforrs to death."
Reading these, Li Ping felt transported back to the era when he hated being called Bumblebee and everyone wanted to be gatron. Back then, Decepticons were much more popular than Autobots. Looking back, Autobots never won cleanly it was always because of help from directors and writers. Many peers around him even used gatron’s voice to say — "Enemy spotted, prepare to fire!"
Unconsciously, he grabbed his phone and dialed the number again. Once connected, he said directly, "Ziming, let’s go together tomorrow!"
"If we’re watching, let’s watch the IMAX 3D version. I’ll book tickets first."
After hanging up, Wang Ziming checked online and called one of the three IMAX cinemas in Shanghai, only to be disappointed no tickets for the IMAX 3D version tomorrow!
He tried the other two cinemas with IMAX halls, but the answer was the sa — no tickets.
With no choice, Wang Ziming settled for the 3D version. Luckily, the 3D tickets were tight but still available if queued.
"Trying to book tickets, I found all the IMAX ones sold out. Finally got 3D tickets for tomorrow’s midnight show," he said helplessly while notifying his friend.
As an emotional link connecting the generation born in the 70s and 80s, Transforrs holds a special place. Therefore, even in China, there are still Transforrs fan clubs, annual gatherings, and online fan communities, all providing a solid base audience for the live-action Transforrs movie.
As ti approached midnight, more screenings of Transforrs began, and an increasing number of fans saw this comrcial blockbuster. The internet was flooded with ordinary moviegoers’ opinions.
On Tianya Forum, a user nad Optimus Pri comnted, "Saying this film will be a ’hit’ is a massive understatent. Transforrs is unbelievably good!"
"Back from watching Transforrs, the special effects are absolutely top-notch, though the movie felt a bit long," an anonymous user wrote on Mti, "but I really liked it!"
"OK, thoughts on Transforrs? ...Wow wow! Incredible... fantastic!" This was what soone told their friends on QQ.
Similar comnts appeared everywhere online.
"Completely blown away by Transforrs! Those 110-plus minutes, I felt like I was a kid again. Thank you, Duke Rosenberg! Also, the 3D effects are absolutely groundbreaking and shocking!"
"It was a spectacular experience, unlike anything seen before!"
"Really f***ing aweso! Transforrs is simply unparalleled, overwhelmingly thrilling, and unbeatable!"
"Every second was packed with so much action. After the movie, you might be tempted to add another 100 yuan to the box office."
This was not the relatively mature North Arican film market. Both fans and the industry chain here were in an early stage of rapid developnt. Duke would not ignore the dia’s guidance on public opinion or the influence on audiences. Internet trolls were also extrely prevalent on this vast regional network.
Then there were the professional film critics in this market, who were just starting out. Their rates were nowhere near the exorbitant North Arican prices; just a few hundred dollars could buy their cheerleading.
Frankly, this industry was no different across the ocean.
However, not everyone bought into Transforrs. So liked this type of movie, so didn’t.
On China’s famous petit-bourgeois site Douban, Transforrs was not very popular.
Though the Douban movie section had plenty of praise such as "wonderful, stunning, successful," there were also so "negative reviews."
So straightforwardly suggested boycotting the film: "This noisy, crude movie will cause you more pain than joy."
Others questioned if the film was just a comrcial advertisent, "a disgusting, aggressively forced comrcial act to promote cars, toys, and war, disguised as a movie. This is not a movie, it’s spoiled junk soda. I suggest you don’t let your kids near it."
Undoubtedly, Duke’s production style was not very popular among this site’s mainstream users.
Soone else comnted, "From the mont Duke Rosenberg—who only knows explosions—beca the director of this movie, Transforrs lost its last chance to be even a barely passable film. He has no plan, no style, doesn’t tell stories, and can’t control pacing. He only knows how to pile on special effects, chasing bigger and louder. Whether his stars are Nicholas Cage, Keanu Reeves, or those giant machines that turn into cars, he just endlessly shakes them in front of the cara."
However, this was destined to be a niche view. No matter what they said, it couldn’t change the fact that long lines ford at theaters with audiences buying tickets to Transforrs. Major cinemas were also confident in the box office.
Reviews
All reviews (0)