Chapter 370

Fox was brimming with confidence in *Avatar*, believing no one would choose to go head-to-head.

Except Xu Can!

Knowing full well *Avatar*'s release schedule, Xu Can stubbornly chose to engage in direct dialogue!

December 25th happened to fall on a Friday, the day of the premiere!

On that day, the fiercest box-office battle since the new century would be born!

"Recently, in a media interview, Fox's head and Murdoch Group chairman Rupert Murdoch stated that, facing Xu Can's open declaration of war, they had no plans to change the release schedule."

"Two blockbusters releasing on the same day is no problem at all! Murdoch said."

"Famed director Spielberg pointed out that perhaps one company would announce a postponement."

"He said no one would be willing to sacrifice economic benefits just to clash head-on with another heavyweight blockbuster; one side was bound to buckle under the pressure."

"Critic Roger Ebert, in an interview with our paper, said this was good news for movie fans, who could easily watch both films."

"He added at the end that if viewers' budgets or time were tight and they absolutely had to pick one film, my prediction is *The Avengers* wins!"

Not only were traditional media outlets reporting heavily on this Christmas showdown, the internet was an even bigger uproar.

Some netizens believed Cameron would continue his box-office myth,

*Titanic* and *Terminator* had both produced impressive box-office numbers, so of course *Avatar* would reach new heights!

Many other netizens said that compared to the completely unfamiliar *Avatar*, *The Avengers*, built up through several films and years of accumulated comics, clearly had higher popularity!

"The *Avatar* trailer is just a bunch of blue-skinned monkeys — how could they possibly beat the Avengers?"

"The Avengers? That's kids' stuff. Adults watch *Avatar*!"

"Times have changed, old man! The Avengers is adult romance!"

"What's there to argue about? I'll watch both!"

While sparking controversy online, even gambling sites opened odds on this Christmas showdown.

(bcef) According to the odds, *The Avengers* was basically even with *Avatar* — Avengers 1.5, Avatar 1.75,

As for films like *The Princess and the Frog*, *A Christmas Carol*, *2012*, etc., the odds were absurdly high, ruling them out of the box-office race entirely.

*2012* could barely compete for the top three; this effects-heavy blockbuster, released in mid-November 2009, was beaten on its opening weekend by *Pacific Rim*, which had already been out for a month.

It wasn't until *Pacific Rim* left theaters that *2012* barely scraped together one week as box-office champion.

The result was that it would soon be ruthlessly crushed by two behemoths!

Just as everyone was guessing the results for *Avatar* and *The Avengers*, 20th Century Fox dropped a bombshell first!

"Fox officially announced that Cameron's *Avatar* would move up its release date, shifting from Christmas Day, December 25th, one week earlier to December 18th!"

Xu Can stood unmoved — he hadn't expected Cameron to crack first, voluntarily stepping aside and releasing a week earlier.

"What do we do? If they move up a week and accumulate enough word-of-mouth and box office, the second week might be even harder to fight."

Happy was worried again.

"Can you have a little confidence, please? What we're putting out isn't *Thor*, isn't *The Hulk* — it's *The Avengers*, bro!"

Before Xu Can could speak, Wen Feiqi was the first to fire back from the side.

Happy really was too pessimistic.

Xu Can figured it didn't matter — it was normal for someone on the team to be the worrier type; it helped decision-makers consider multiple angles.

But as the backbone, Can needed absolute confidence.

"Relax." Xu Can waved his hand lightly. "No need to say more about this. Proceed as planned."

"Besides, *Avatar*'s word-of-mouth may not be that good."

Xu Can was certain in his heart.

He knew very well that in his previous life, the reason *Avatar* swept the globe was mainly because the film employed a comprehensive upgrade in technology.

Whether it was motion capture, IMAX 3D projection, or real-time rendered alien scenes and creatures,

all of these brought audiences a novel experience and triggered a new round of technological revolution in Hollywood.

But Xu Can had already played all of these tricks to death!

Starting with *Spider-Man*, Xu Can had adopted the latest technology in every subsequent film,

Whether motion capture or real-time rendering — all of it appeared in Xu Can's films, carried forward and amplified.

The Marvel series, *Pacific Rim* — these films had pushed visual effects to their absolute limits!

The IMAX 3D mecha battles had practically maxed out the sense of shock!

Xu Can had, almost single-handedly, pushed world cinema technology forward by five years,

so looking at *Avatar* through the eyes of a later era, it was really nothing special.

*Avatar*'s story itself had no particularly profound content — dressed up in an alien backdrop, it was ultimately just the same old story as the White westward expansion.

Although *The Avengers* was also a visual-effects blockbuster with no profound story core,

its biggest advantage over *Avatar* was that Xu Can, through multiple films, had shaped a series of fully fleshed-out characters!

So what if your world-building is flashy and your effects are top-notch?

What attracts audiences more is the characters!

Those heroes with their varied abilities!

Xu Can certainly wasn't afraid of *Avatar*!

Sure enough, when *The Avengers* trailer went online, the "Avengers" keyword immediately shot to the top of trending searches on every major platform!

Views broke 200 million! Comments, likes, and shares each surpassed ten million!

……

"Calamity descends. War is about to begin!"

"Our ordinary strength cannot resist."

Accompanied by Director Nick Fury's deep voice, New York City was once again being destroyed.

Various disasters created a thick sense of apocalypse.

"Director Fury, I think it's time."

【produced by 【Studio Name】 Pictures】

【A Grand Presentation by Star River Entertainment】

Captain America was punching a sandbag flying;

"Sir, you want me to reboot back into the world?"

"No, I'm asking you to save the world."

In a South American slum, Agent Natasha found a bespectacled, refined middle-aged man.

"Dr. Banner, we need your help."

"What if I'm unwilling?"

Roar—

The Hulk's fury is terrifying!

Lei Shenzhichui fell to the ground, beside it stood Thor's towering figure.

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

Boom!

A massive bolt of lightning struck down!

"This team is called the Chouzhelian Alliance."

At Stark Tower, Iron Man soared into the sky!

"They said I don't have the qualifications to join? Said I'm arrogant and conceited?"

Boom!

Iron Man's rocket flying kick sent Lei Shen Thor flying with one kick.

"I think they need some time to mesh."

Thud!

Captain America, Iron Man, and Lei Shen — the three heavyweights formed a three-way standoff!

【This Christmas!】

"You people are truly desperate, hiring these circus performers to save the Earth?"

Loki appeared, his face full of domineering evil, taunting Nick Fury with a half-smile.

"We are not a team, we are a ticking time bomb."

"We cannot face this crisis alone, we need to form a team!"