Chapter 333: 333: Handsome! (Request for Monthly Pass)

“There is one thing you must know.”

In 3,235 theaters across North America, “Saw II” was playing to packed houses, with many aisles by theater doors crowded with people. The Firefly Films logo flashed across the screen, and the score began with ding-ding-dong-dong sounds, escalating from quiet to loud, bringing an air of mystery and tension with the deep voice of Top-Captain.

A black box was in the center of the cinema screen, inside which lay a girl in a white dress, curled up in slumber. “She is a very dangerous person,” Mal, Jayne, Kaylee, and others gaped at the sight of the box; “She holds some secrets you should not know.” On a smoky battlefield in the desert, surrounded by terrifying-looking marauders, River’s eyes were fierce. Just as her fists clenched to strike, the scene switched to the spaceship’s cockpit, the communication screen showing the expressionless face of Top-Captain: “Secrets that could kill Serenity.”

Mal stood with a captivated smile, the nonchalant bravado of a rogue apparent, yet his tone carried a hint of seriousness, “Are you talking about the marauders?” The tension-filled music crashed with a bang and the screen abruptly went black, flashing FROM, YOUNG-WANG

“Wang Yang!” Evelyn, Clair, and countless hardcore fans chanted inwardly with excitement, knowing this was YOUNG’s ninth directorial work, with his previous eight films averaging nearly $500 million in box office gross over six years! The most-watched director of the new century! What secrets do the marauders hold? How formidable is Jessica Alba’s fighting ability? What threats does the Serenity face? Natalie sat up straight, while Nancy Reno clenched her fists with excitement as the vast, majestic scenery, reminiscent of loess plateaus and deserts, hinted at the grandeur of the film’s scope.

After displaying the director’s information, the camera cut to Serenity gliding through beautiful blue skies and grasslands, with a herd of wild horses galloping across the fields; the crew of Serenity stood in the desolate and silent future city, looking around lost. The urgent music intensified again, Kaylee’s voice was full of shock and fear, “What have they done!” The marauders invaded interstellar border cities on the screen, with people running for their lives; marauder warships silently floated in space.

“The marauders are inhumane; no one knows where they come from. If you encounter them, run, or kill yourself.”

The scene flashed through several shots of River, Mal, and others fighting marauders, a chase with combat jets spurting flames in a train heist; “You should, live in a better world. Do you want to see it born?” As Top-Captain spoke in a mysterious tone, he was pulling on his gloves, moving towards panicked civilians, Star Alliance officials, standing in the cockpit of the leading Star Alliance warship over New Shanxi, in the bedroom he looked out a dazzlingly sunny window, at his feet a little girl clutching a teddy bear, “Do you want to help it be born?”

“I am going to stand against them.” Mal, the captain, addressed the silent crew in the main lounge of the ship; the cockpit screens all showed various captains’ faces, “Everyone should know the truth.” Amidst the increasingly rousing score, the screen went black again: ROBERT-DOWNEY-JR.

Reunited after “District 9”! A Sci-Fi film! Evelyn, Clair, and others forgot to blink, their hearts racing faster and faster, something was different; as a near-extra, Megan Fox wasn’t quite clear on her role and the plot, only knowing she was a member of Cyclone, someone had died. It didn’t feel like it on set, but now, watching the screen, she hadn’t expected the scale to be this grand! Natalie also stared wide-eyed; the special effects and settings in this trailer seemed no less impressive than “Star Wars: Episode III”.

It was clear that there was a connection between the marauders and the Star Alliance, and because of River, Serenity had come to know these secrets; they wanted the whole world to know, while Top-Captain wanted to kill them! Naturally, Nancy Reno understood this clear and straightforward trailer, the story was not complex, yet it was exciting and profound!

“The war is over!!” In the sky, Serenity led a large fleet of marauder warships charging at the Star Alliance fleet, a super-wide shot encompassing very complex details to create a visually stunning scene, and the grand symphonic music stirred the audience’s blood, Natalie stopped handing popcorn, “They’re going all out?” The camera then cut to the desolate Serenity Valley, Mal, Cyclone, and others in independent military uniforms gazing at the sky; spaceships crowded the skies of New Shanxi, the bustling futuristic city streets, the picturesque panoramic view of Tai Chi City, “Today, no one surrenders!!”

“`

“I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar!” Serenity deftly navigated through the artillery fire, and before the audience could get enough, the scene cut to Jayne crazily firing two Gatling guns, Kaylee adoringly gazing at Simon, and River sitting on deck with knees bent, spinning a paper flower, her profile exquisitely beautiful; suddenly, swarms of small ships burst into the immense sky’s atmosphere, densely packed and indiscriminately opening fire on the battling Star Alliance and raider fleets ahead.”

A large battleship, hit by numerous shells, plummeted down, and the scene changed again: small ships descending at high speed, Top-Captain holding onto the hatch door with one hand, leaning out, the fierce wind blowing back his black hair as he shouted something with a smile, a serious voice asynchronously intoning, “If I die, please take me back to Serenity Valley.” The battleship crashed violently into a sheer mountain peak rising from the vast plains! Just as the audience naturally expected a massive explosion, the screen went black: FIREFLY

The title “Firefly”! The immense spectacle paired with the stirring score sent the audience’s expectations skyrocketing. These scenes completely surpassed the effect of the conceptual art; a production worth 200 million! Without high-salary superstars, it’s a 200 million production by the miraculous Wang Yang! Seeing Serenity Valley, Tai Chi City, and Natalie couldn’t help but remember something; the scenes blended seamlessly, all majestic, but was this his idea of poetry? Where was that ancient Chinese poem he mentioned?

And seeing the silhouette of Top-Captain, Evelyn’s eyes sparkled as she inwardly exclaimed how handsome he was, but she also sensed something amiss—the voice was Wang Yang’s! She thought, “Wang Yang isn’t going to die in the film, is he?” She didn’t want that at all! To die in a great battle for the sake of Serenity’s assembly and some secret truth? Something very hot welled up in her eyes without her knowing; if that was the case, she was sure to cry her heart out next year!

Crying wasn’t necessary, yet this nearing-the-end trailer at that moment energized countless North American viewers, their excitement stirred by scene after scene, a palpable atmosphere of emotional combustion. Many were clutching their heads, silently exclaiming, “I really hope the next screening is ‘Firefly’ and not ‘Saw II’.”

As the music swelled and then eased, the screen returned to Serenity’s tranquil aft cabin, with Mal, Jayne, Kaylee, and the others gathered around a box. Kaylee said in a mixture of astonishment and doubt, “Wow, she… She isn’t a sex doll, is she?” The editing cut to River suddenly leaping up into the air, and the screen went black with the words displayed: WRITTEN-AND-DIRECTED-BY, YOUNG-WANG

“Wang Yang!” Evelyn and the others silently cheered again, the youngest Oscar Best Director! Nancy’s hanging heart was set at ease, an incredibly exciting trailer! Even without any profound meaning, “Firefly” could surely achieve tremendous commercial success, but she believed there would be more!

The big screen returned to that sunlit bedroom, a blue glove with a sudden punch caused the airborne teddy bear to disperse into blue light shards, “Bang!” The screen went black: JUNE-17TH-2005,

“Whew!” In a San Francisco theater, a round of applause started from nothing, growing from scattered to a full-blown ovation. Evelyn and her friends clapped along, smiling, and several hundred young audience members sent their praise to the “Firefly” trailer, just over two and a half minutes long. “That was amazing!” “Such beautiful visuals!” “The story looks so exciting!”… It’s not unusual for a good film to receive applause after a screening, but it was rare for a trailer to be treated with applause.

Those who bought tickets for “The Grudge” to see if Wang Yang was finished, looked at each other in dismay, feeling a bit downhearted. If it hadn’t been for Wang Yang’s name appearing twice, let alone his performance, this film seemed… “It’s definitely one of those movies that rely on visuals and big scenes—a soporific, nothing special!” “Trailers don’t mean anything; nearly all movies look like classics if you only watch the trailers.” “Wang Yang’s performance is too stupid; otherwise, there might be something to look forward to.”…

“So exciting! Unbelievable!” As the applause died down, Wang Yang’s fans chattered excitedly, the trailer lived up to their high hopes! The story was mysterious with many questions, the scenes and visuals were stunning, a young couple whispered excitedly to each other, “Did you see that just now? The whole sky was filled with warships and spaceships; it looked like a three-way battle, so shocking.” “I heard it was shot with an IMAX camera, the effects are supposed to be especially beautiful.”

If IMDB had trailer ratings, many fans would give it a 9 out of 10, their feelings a mix of excitement, anticipation, and speculation. What secrets did the raiders and Star Alliance hold? Why did Jessica Alba know them? What did “Heath” Ledger mean by a beautiful world? What was the deal with the final battle? Is this film just a typical commercial picture? What theme is Wang Yang really trying to convey? Will the ending be as bleak as “District 9”?

“`

“It’s definitely going to become an iconic scene in sci-fi movie history,” Clair said with unwavering certainty, referring to the moment when Serenity leads a swarm of raider ships in an attack against the Alliance fleet. It’s just so dramatic! She could vividly imagine the climax erupting on film. “There are so many mesmerizing shots, all with the potential to become cinematic classics.” Nancy couldn’t help but sigh internally. When the tension peaked, with Serenity ensnared in peril, veterans of the old independence movement came from all directions to join the battle—for truth, for belief? That moment when clusters of Firefly ships burst into the atmosphere and opened fire was unforgettable.

Then there was Top-Captain Wang Yang’s formidable figure peeking through the spacecraft’s hatch, which was just… “Cool! MAN!” Natalie recollected with a laugh, praising his smile that seemed to wield a magical power, the masculinity that could captivate anyone. He seemed to have a lot of action shots, didn’t he? He’s the screenwriter, the director, the producer, and even an actor—terrifying! But we have to wait until June 17, 2005, to see it! Damn it!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

For the 3235 theaters’ fans, not only was Wang Yang handsome, but Robert Downey Jr.’s stylish looks and charisma were also dashing, particularly when he said, “I just want to go against them,” which was even cooler; Danny’s fury, Michael’s elegantly wasted mix, and the credibility and silent threat of Heath’s strange accent were lauded as genius. Ellen Page seemed adorably cute, not to mention the irresistibly sexy and sweet Jessica Alba who even knocked herself out on set. Whether the fight scenes were good remains unknown, but she surely gave it her all.

“Of course I’m going to see it when the time comes…” The trailer for “Firefly” was too stunning, and the several trailers that followed during the advertisement break failed to capture the audience’s interest as usual, even less so than the typical commercial treatment. This was also a misstep by the Firefly and theater chains, as it included “Crash” and “Mr. Hughes 2”. After the advertisements, “Saw II” was shown, and the theaters quieted down again, with the audience putting aside various thoughts and looking towards the big screen, prepared to genuinely enjoy a thrilling feast.

As Natalie listened to the exclamations around her and watched the murdering games on the screen, she lazed about, nonchalantly munching popcorn, and with each kernel she’d absentmindedly mutter, “KO, not KO, KO, not KO, KO…”

“Saw II” was made with a $5 million budget, continuing the original creative team with Saw’s father, James Wan, and Leigh Whannell writing the script and co-producing, and James Wan directing.

This is unlike the orbit of the world where “Saw” just premiered this year according to the future information database. Originally, Lionsgate, which acquired “Saw”, brought in Darren Lynn Bousman to direct the second part, and the script was adapted from Bousman’s “The-Desperate,” a script that had been rejected by many companies due to scenes of excessive violence and other reasons. Although the script for “The-Desperate” had already been purchased by Fox, the company had no intention of converting it into “Saw II”. “The-Desperate” could have been made into a horror film distributed by FM, like “Death Illusion”.

Wang Yang had even less reason to follow Lionsgate’s “old path.” Unquestionably, “Saw” was the best of the series. Why did it go downhill, failing to elevate further? The frequent changes in the creative team couldn’t be ignored. For the sake of friendship, film, company, and the influence of Chinese directors, Wang Yang hoped that the “Saw” series could do better. He believed that James Wan, with a head full of demons and ghosts, could become a horror master but must not be vulgarized by Hollywood’s commercial system, nor should he be sidelined without the opportunity and space to express himself.

The original “Saw II” by Darren Lynn Bousman had a production budget of $4 million and grossed an astounding $147 million worldwide, a dark horse among dark horses, and a huge profit maker. However, how much of that was thanks to the momentum built by “Saw”? With a change in the script and director, “Saw II” didn’t receive thumbs up from the critics, with a 35%/22% freshness rating compared to “Saw’s” 48%/30%; audience approval plummeted from 86% to 66% as well. If the drop was due to the first masterpiece, why not continue it?

Lionsgate didn’t ask Wang Yang to continue with “Paranormal Activity”, thus ruining everything; nor did they ask James Wan to continue with “Saw”, relegating it to a straight commercial film with no surprises. Now things were different, with the original cast of “Saw”, which garnered $80.65 million in North America and $65.71 million overseas for a total of $145 million, producing a sequel.

Whether it takes the first step towards becoming a classic horror series depends on “Saw II”! The suppressed exclamations in the 3235 theaters seemed to indicate something, as did Evelyn’s deadly pale face, the fact that no audience left early, and the spontaneous applause and praise from many viewers after the film ended indicated something—the dedicated work from the Saw team and Fox on “Saw II” did not disappoint!

The thrills and twists continued, the reflection on life continued, and the unexpected endings also continued. While not as stunningly shocking as “Saw”, it was sufficiently worthy of the audience’s two thumbs up: “It looks like ‘Saw’ is going to be my fixed Halloween program every year,” “Worth the price of admission! Tonight was fantastic!” The young people leaving the theater were mostly satisfied, having scared themselves silly as they wished, and having seen a fantastic trailer, even if their only complaint was that the trailer was a mere two and a half minutes long.

The next day, on Saturday, October 30th, the reviews for “Saw” were freshly out, and neither Darren Lynn Bousman nor James Wan received favorable reception from the critics, with the general public at 40% freshness and well-known critics at 26%, “Sick, insane, terrifying, unconvincing,” were the comments, just like last year; fortunately for Firefly Films, the most important audience approval rating opened at 85%, with comments like “Brilliant, scary, surprising” making Wan, Whannell and the like beam with joy—it was the first step towards the classic series’ success.

“Don’t move, don’t move…”

The backyard was strewn with falling leaves, and, like the warm and pleasant morning autumn sunshine, Wang Yang’s mood was very comfortable. There was nothing to worry about for “Saw II,” the trailer for “Firefly” had garnered a lot of praise and anticipation on the official website, and he was most delighted that his beloved wife had recovered her health. Watching Jessica, all smiles, squatting under the American sycamore, playing with Danny as he rolled onto his back, Wang Yang didn’t want to let the sweet moment pass by. He was filming them with a DV camera at hand, laughing, “Could you get Danny to roll over?”

“Of course, I can even make him dance; I’ve taught him to street dance! Haven’t I, Danny?” Jessica continued to laugh and tickle Danny’s belly, but she didn’t give him any command because they both knew Danny wouldn’t listen. These days he had hardly been without his DV camera, constantly shooting videos whenever possible, claiming he wanted to hoard a stockpile for YouTube: “I want to shoot loads of interesting videos! Start a new trend for the people of Earth!” Knowing this video certainly wouldn’t be on the upload list, Jessica half-closed her eyes and blew him a charming kiss.

Wang Yang chuckled, stepping on the sycamore leaves as he circled around her, changing camera angles, “Then let him dance, maybe Danny could star in a doggie musical! Danny, dance!” Jessica also clapped her hands and laughed, cheering him on, “Dance!” Danny lay unmoving on the ground, as if he were an uncarvable rotting log, while Wang Yang filmed, dragging out his voice, “I’m the director… buddy, you’re auditioning right now! You’ll miss the chance to be a big star, one last time, dance?”

“Honey, how should we play mommy and daddy?” Jessica suddenly thought of something and stood up excitedly, Wang Yang didn’t understand her meaning, “What?” Jessica looked down at Danny with a tender smile, “Baby! Look how naughty Danny is, we’ve spoiled him too much! Should one of us be authoritative with our baby? GOOD-COP, BAD-COP?” As she spoke, she revealed a sweet, deadly smile, then suddenly glared fiercely.

Hmm! GOOD-COP, BAD-COP? Upon hearing this, Wang Yang immediately furrowed his brows, feeling there was some sense to it; he rolled his eyes and bit his lip, quickly deciding, “I’m the good cop!”

“No! Why should it be you? I want to be the good cop!” Jessica’s expression turned genuinely fierce, protective as a mother hen, she insisted earnestly, “Mommy is the good cop, daddy is always the bad cop.” Wang Yang refused to acquiesce, arching his back, shaking his head and shoulders with a smile, “No, I’m the one afraid of his wife; there’s no reason for me to be the bad cop, I don’t have the temperament! Dear boss, trust my director’s eye, it’s still you.”

Jessica stood with her hands on her hips, staring at him for a few seconds, then suddenly bent down quickly to grab a pile of leaves to throw at him, her laughter ringing out clear and sweet, “Will you be it or not?”

“Look, look!” Wang Yang retreated backward, facing her with the DV camera and filming, bursting into laughter, “This is all The Evidence! The baby will know mommy is very fierce, daddy is scared of mommy, she is a bad cop!” Jessica approached with a fierce look on her face, “You know I’m strong! Hurry up and agree, or I’ll smash your DV camera!” Wang Yang laughed and turned this way and that, dodging her grasp, “You can’t catch me! Even if you smash it, Danny, you be the witness!”

“I’m the good cop! I’m the good mom!” Jessica pursued him ceaselessly, her smile especially radiant in the bright sunlight. Hearing him mention Danny, she suddenly called out, “HEY! Danny, who gives you treats?” Wang Yang continued to capture her playful antics with the DV camera, also shouting, “Oh heavens, using threats and bribes, aren’t you the villain?” Jessica opened her arms and accelerated towards him, “As long as I smash your DV camera! Who will know!?”

“Haha!”, “No, back off!”, “I’ll pummel you!”, “Domestic abuse! HELP!”…

In the garden dusted with falling leaves, the two continued to playfully chase and laugh, while Danny went about sniffing the sycamore leaves. (