Chapter 255: Red Cliff Crumbles

Wu Yusen and Zhang Jiazhen, whether worried or confident, by now there's nothing they can do.

As the saying goes, "See whether it's a mule or a horse by taking it out for a spin"; the quality of the film Red Cliff will ultimately depend on market response and audience reviews.

July 7, the long-promoted ancient-war epic Red Cliff finally hit domestic theaters.

Due to the Three Kingdoms subject matter, the cast, and the promotional effect, there were still many viewers going to theaters to watch the film.

Wu Yusen and Zhang Jiazhen disguised themselves, made a low-key visit to several theaters in Jingcheng, found that quite a few people were watching, and felt somewhat reassured.

At the small square in front of a theater under the China Film Crimson Theater Line, Wu Yusen wore a baseball cap, held a cigarette in one hand, and leaned on a tree with the other.

"Back when we filmed Heroic Bloodshed, the midnight test screening made us so nervous—twenty years have just flown by!"

Zhang Jiazhen also sighed, "Time really flies; I never expected that twenty years later we'd still have the feeling of waiting for the midnight test screening results!"

Previously, Xianggang films would have a midnight test screening about a week before official release to gauge audience reaction.

If the reaction was good, they'd increase promotion; if bad, they'd hurriedly pull it back for revisions—during the heyday of Hong Kong cinema, midnight screenings were all the rage.

Back then, directors and investors would usually go to the midnight screening, sometimes even bringing along actors.

If the audience didn't like the film, it was disastrous—they'd lambast it with particular vigor.

Xianggang film industry mogul Wu Siyuan once said he had personally seen several directors sit there dumbfounded, unable to stand up after the screening, just saying over and over, "How could this be? How could this be?"

Back then, Wang Jiawei's As Tears Go By was just like that—audiences didn't understand it and burst out cursing on the spot.

Deng Guangrong, who had invested forty million Hong Kong dollars, nearly choked with rage after the midnight screening and was rushed to the hospital for an IV drip.

So don't think Old Monster Xu is so tough—he absolutely dared not go to a midnight screening; once, a few people carried him in, but he still struggled to break free and run out. He went to sit at a restaurant next to the theater, waiting for his companions to finish before asking them.

Only after confirming no one was cursing would he dare sneak in the next day to have a look.

In the golden age of Hong Kong cinema, the midnight screening was the touchstone of box office success.

The reason the Xiang brothers' Yongsheng Film Company later rose to prominence was mainly that boss Xiang Huasheng often staked out midnight screenings, knowing exactly what audiences liked, enabling him to plan a string of box-office hits.

By the mid-to-late 1990s, Hong Kong cinema had declined, and the midnight screening culture gradually faded away.

Wu Yusen, who had gone to Hollywood, hadn't felt that midnight-screening tension for many years.

But this time, with the release of Red Cliff, that tense feeling has returned!

Given that he had battled in Beimei, the world's top box-office market, and achieved notable results, he shouldn't be this nervous.

The sole reason is Jiang Heng!

Effects-driven blockbusters set a unique standard, spoiling domestic audiences' tastes—surely they don't really think my film is no good, do they?

Wu Yusen couldn't help thinking about it, but he simply lacked the courage to go into the auditorium and see the audience's reaction.

Moreover, even if the audience had opinions, there's no time left to make changes now!

Wu Yusen and Zhang Jiazhen chatted for a while, then headed back.

The next day, Red Cliff's opening-day box office came out at 31 million, matching the opening-day figure of Jiang Heng's Lion Camel Ridge from several years ago!

Upon hearing this result, Wu Yusen, Zhang Jiazhen, and all the investors in Red Cliff let out a relieved sigh.

With a thirty-million opening day, the domestic market could surely bring in four or five hundred million, right?

This is just the first part—if the two parts together gross eight or nine hundred million, adding overseas markets would mean a huge profit.

However, an employee said that Red Cliff's rating on the Bean website wasn't high—only 6.7 points.

Wu Yusen heard this and his expression darkened.

Zhang Jiazhen asked, "What's this Bean website—isn't it under Jiang Heng's name?"

The employee replied, "It was created by Jiang Heng!"

Zhang Jiazhen fumed, "This kid—making big movies is bad enough. He also builds theaters to influence scheduling, builds a review website to manipulate word-of-mouth; is he trying to create a film kingdom in the domestic market?"

Wu Yusen heard this and his expression grew even darker: "He's both athlete and referee!"

"He wouldn't deliberately badmouth us, would he?"

"Hard to say!"

In the morning, the two of them did nothing else but study the Bean website and look at the reviews for Red Cliff.

As they went through them one by one, their blood pressure shot up and they were furious.

Domestic entertainment media differ from Xianggang's in that they still tend to give more positive coverage of films.

But review websites' criticisms are more truthful and direct—the short-comments column is full of various "trash film" labels, and there are also so many flaws they're impossible to complain about.

As for the longer reviews, they're written somewhat obscurely, also full of implications and mockery, plus one- or two-star ratings.

"Bang!"

"Too much bullying!"

Zhang Jiazhen couldn't help it, slammed the mouse, and said, "Old Wu, we can't just let ourselves be bullied like this—let's go to the Film Bureau's leaders!"

Wu Yusen gave a wry smile, "Even if we see the leaders, what would we say—were we being insulted by netizens?"

"This is definitely the doing of someone surnamed Jiang!"

"Saying that kind of thing when we vent is fine, but if we go to the leaders we need evidence!"

Zhang Jiazhen was speechless—he couldn't prove these reviews and short comments were fabricated by Jiang Heng, especially the multiple long reviews that hit the nail on the head.

The problem is, he just can't tolerate it!

"If this continues, the box office will surely suffer greatly!"

"I know, but let's just give him a call!"

After saying that, Wu Yusen called Jiang Heng, and once connected he said he hoped Jiang Heng could have the Bean website side control the comments, deleting the bad ones.

On the other end of the line, Jiang Heng was stunned, thinking, "Do we even know each other that well for you to ask me to manage the reviews?"

"Sorry, Director Wu, although the Bean website is under my name, it's always been independently operated—I've never interfered. As for film reviews, as long as they don't violate regulations, they can't be deleted!"

"All right!"

After hanging up, Old Wu was so angry he smashed his phone.

After discussing for half a day, they decided to have the company's staff register Douban accounts to brush up good reviews for "Red Cliff".

Unexpectedly, the negative reviews that poured in kept increasing.

As Wu and Zhang had worried, domestic audiences' tastes have truly been spoiled by Jiang Heng's effects-heavy blockbusters.

The first day's ultra-high box office was thanks to the film's effective marketing.

But starting from the second day, daily box office plummeted.

Second day, over 26 million.

Third day, over 19 million.

Fourth day, only over 15 million!

The extent of the box office drop leaves viewers trembling with fear.

As for reputation, it's bad to the extreme. The Douban rating fell to 6.1, with all kinds of negative reviews flying everywhere.

Some complain about Lin Zhiling's "Mengmeng, stand up!"

Also some complain about Sun Shangxiang's line "The rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of every woman."

What's even more unbearable is that Jin Chengwu's portrayal of Zhuge Liang is overly flirtatious, damaging the Chancellor's prestige.

In short, the reputation of 'Red Cliff' has collapsed, yet it makes audiences increasingly look forward to the performance of 'Slaying the Immortals'.

(End of chapter)