Chapter 336

Guo Fan's version of "A Chinese Ghost Story" basically follows the 1987 version's framework, merely adding many novel settings and metaphors.

But we need to be faithful, not add extra. Let's translate each line.

We'll need to translate Chinese sentences into natural English.

We'll keep proper nouns as per glossary.

Let's start.

Guo Fan's version of "A Chinese Ghost Story" basically follows the storyline of the 1987 version, merely adding many novel settings and metaphors.

Translation: Guo Fan's version of "A Chinese Ghost Story" basically follows the framework of the 1987 version, merely adding many novel settings and metaphors.

Check: "this version" means the story framework basically comes from the 1987 version, with only many novel settings and metaphors added.

Ok.

Moreover, the film's picture quality and fight scenes are far superior to those of its predecessor.

Translation: Moreover, the film's picture quality and fight scenes are far superior to the predecessor's.

Moreover, the film's picture quality and fight scenes are far superior to those of its predecessor.

As for the love storyline, Xiao Qian falls in love with Ning Caichen, even breaking ties with the tree demon and ultimately sacrificing herself, bringing many viewers to tears.

Translation: As for the romance, Xiao Qian falls in love with Ning Caichen, even breaking with the tree demon and ultimately sacrificing herself; many viewers watched with tears in their eyes.

Many viewers watched with tears in their eyes.

There is naturally some emotion, but it doesn't seem particularly strong.

Translation: There is naturally some feeling, but it seems not that strong.

All things considered, as a commercial film it is still adequate.

Translation: All in all, as a commercial film it is still qualified.

Compared to Jiang Han's films, this version of "A Chinese Ghost Story" seems less shocking.

Translation: Compared to Jiang Heng's films, this version of "A Chinese Ghost Story" seems to give less of a shock.

The 3D effects are not as stunning as those in "The Monkey King", and the story is not as novel as "The Legend of Qin".

Translation: The 3D effects are not as shocking as those in "Havoc in Heaven", and the story's novelty is not as great as that of "Heroic Legion".

Consequently, New Lang Entertainment's review is that the iQiyi-produced "A Chinese Ghost Story" is like a fast‑food dish that is complete in color, aroma, and taste—delicious but utterly lacking nutrition.

Translation: Consequently, Xinlang Entertainment's review is that the "A Chinese Ghost Story" produced by Love Outstanding Rising is like a dish that is complete in color, aroma, and taste—delicious but utterly lacking nutrition.

We need to keep "complete in color, aroma, and taste". So "like a dish that is complete in color, aroma, and taste—delicious but utterly lacking nutrition."

Because Jiang Han's tech company launched a Weibo, New Lang Company has liked to report negative news about him, and various entertainment coverage also carries a sense of yin-yang weirdness.

Translation: Because Jiang Heng's tech company launched Weibo, Xinlang Company has liked to report some negative news about Jiang Heng these years, and various entertainment reports also carry a sense of yin-yang weirdness.

We need to keep "yin-yang weirdness". So "various entertainment reports also carry a sense of yin-yang weirdness."

Fortunately, other entertainment media's coverage of "A Chinese Ghost Story" is basically positive.

Translation: Fortunately, other entertainment media's coverage of "A Chinese Ghost Story" is basically positive.

Thanks to the starring of Jiang Han and Liu Yifei, and being a love‑story 3D blockbuster, "A Chinese Ghost Story" grossed over sixty million yuan on its opening day in mainland China.

Translation: Thanks to Jiang Heng and Liu Yifei starring together and being a romance 3D blockbuster, "A Chinese Ghost Story" broke sixty million yuan in box office on its opening day in mainland China.

We need to keep "sixty million".

Compared to Jiang Han's recent directorial works, this opening‑day result is not high.

Translation: Compared to Jiang Heng's recent directorial works, this opening-day result is not high.

But from Guo Fan's perspective as a director, this result is explosive—it's his first independently directed film.

Translation: But if we judge from Guo Fan's directorial works, this result is simply explosive; he is directing his first film independently!

For a time, Guo Fan went from being an unknown nobody to becoming a well‑known director in the industry.

Translation: For a time, Guo Fan went from being an unknown nobody to becoming a well-known big director in the industry.

Of course, many audience members still don't know he exists.

Translation: Of course, many audience members still don't know he exists.

Because many people subconsciously assume that this film is written, directed, and starred by Jiang Han.

Translation: Because many people will subconsciously think this film is Jiang Heng's self-written, self-directed, self-performed work.

Many results are also measured against the standards of Jiang Han's works, such as overseas performance.

Translation: Many results are also judged by Jiang Heng's work standards, such as overseas performance.

"A Chinese Ghost Story" did decently in Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, but in North America and Europe it met an unprecedented cold reception.

Translation: "A Chinese Ghost Story" performed decently in Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, but in North America and Europe it encountered an unprecedented cold reception.

From the perspective of mythological films, "A Chinese Ghost Story" is not as shocking as "The Monkey King", "The Lion's Ridge", or "Pingding Mountain".

Translation: Because from the perspective of mythological films, "A Chinese Ghost Story" is not as shocking as "Havoc in Heaven", "Lion Camel Ridge", "Flat Top Mountain", etc.

Looking at the romantic element, Europeans and Americans feel nothing after watching it.

Translation: As for the romance element, Westerners feel nothing after watching it.

In fact, historically Chinese‑language romance films have not done well at the box office in European and American markets.

Translation: Actually, historically, Chinese-language romance films have not had very good box office results in the Western market.

Although "A Chinese Ghost Story" stars Jiang Han and is a 3D version, its three‑day opening weekend barely topped twenty million dollars.

Translation: As for this film "A Chinese Ghost Story", despite Jiang Heng starring and it being a 3D version, it barely broke twenty million dollars in box office over the first three days of release.

According to current box office trends, surpassing the one‑hundred‑million‑dollar mark would be quite good.

Translation: According to the current box office trend, being able to pass the one-hundred-million-dollar mark would be quite good.

The film's worldwide box office is expected to be around 360 million dollars, which, compared to Jiang Han's previous works, amounts to a halving of its performance.

Translation: The film's global box office is expected to be around 360 million dollars, which, compared to Jiang Heng's previous works, can be described as a halving of performance.

Consequently, many entertainment media, seeking clicks, deliberately hide the fact that Guo Fan directed the film, proclaiming: "Jiang Han's new film box‑office disaster, suspected to be abandoned by overseas markets!" and "Jiang Han defeated in America, the foremost Chinese‑language director may face a financial crisis!"

Translation: Therefore, many entertainment media, in order to gain traffic, deliberately conceal the fact that Guo Fan is the director, calling it "Jiang Heng's new film box office disastrous, possibly abandoned by overseas markets"! "Jiang Heng defeated in America, the top Chinese-language director may face a loss-making crisis".

"Jiang Han's new film box‑office disaster, suspected to be abandoned by overseas markets!" and "Jiang Han defeated in America, the foremost Chinese‑language director may face a financial crisis!"

Thus: Therefore, many entertainment media, in order to gain traffic, deliberately conceal the fact that Guo Fan is the director, calling it "Jiang Heng's new film box office disastrous, possibly abandoned by overseas markets"! "Jiang Heng defeated in America, the top Chinese-language director may face a loss-making crisis".

The invincible myth shattered; the global box office of 'A Chinese Ghost Story' may fall short of 300 million USD, and Jiang Heng's new film is met with a cold reception.

……

Love Faction: Outstanding Rising Film Company, Jiang Heng sits in the boss's chair, casually browsing entertainment news online; looking at those "thrilling" headlines, it seems as if he were about to lose money and vomit blood.

But actually, 'A Chinese Ghost Story' is quite hot in the Neidi market; at least for the past few days, IMAX theaters have been sold out!

Liu Yifei is somewhat disappointed; it's her first time co-starring with Jiang Heng in a love film, and she didn't expect the overseas box office to be so poor.

"Sorry, big brother!"

Liu Yifei, sitting on the sofa, couldn't help but say.

Jiang Heng laughed, "I've said it already, it's not your fault; why take it to heart?"

"If I had known, I wouldn't have made this film!" Liu Yifei grew more vexed. Jiang Heng stood up, walked over to her, patted her shoulder, and said, "Don't be unhappy; it's nothing, just earning a little less."

"But they're spouting nonsense online!"

Miss, at this moment, she's almost crying from anger.

Jiang Heng laughed, "The media, they always like to spout nonsense; if you pay attention to them, you'll just anger yourself to death—don't dwell on those things!"

"Oh!"

Liu Yifei pouted and suddenly said, "Then how about the box office of 'White Snake Origin'—will it be better?"

Jiang Heng gave an embarrassed smile; he really didn't want to discuss this topic with Liu Yifei, and in fact Liu Yifei rarely brings it up.

But at this moment, her film suffered a 'crushing defeat' in the overseas market, so she wanted to know how Jiang Heng and Jing Tian's co-starring film 'White Snake Origin' would fare—girls, after all, like to compare.

Moreover, both films are love movies, with release dates half a year apart.

"They're about the same!"

Liu Yifei lifted her head, "The box office of White Snake will probably be better, after all, it's your film!"

Jiang Heng laughed, thinking to himself, "Is Miss blaming Guo Pan?" After thinking, he said, "The Neidi box office should be better; mine will definitely be better. Overseas, maybe not much different—you know, foreigners often don't feel much for our love films."

"Wow!" Miss responded, lowering her head, not knowing what she was thinking.

Suddenly raising her head with a somewhat panicked expression, she said, "Then doesn't that mean you'll have two films in a row with mediocre overseas box office?"

Jiang Heng shrugged, wearing an indifferent expression, "Maybe!"

Liu Yifei was almost crying in frustration, "How can that be acceptable? This isn't just ruining your reputation, is it?"

Jiang Heng laughed, "It's not really that bad; actually, even 'A Chinese Ghost Story' has decent reputation in Haolaiwu, just not as stunning as before. Its total box office can still rank around twentieth for the year, which is quite good!"

"Then, shouldn't we make a blockbuster? Continuing like this won't work,"

Jiang Heng, hearing this, fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Indeed, we need to make a blockbuster!"

Having released two love films in succession, the overseas box office decline is normal; if the third film doesn't pick up, many might truly believe they've been abandoned by the overseas market, which cannot happen! However, Jiang Heng hasn't yet figured out exactly what to film.

In terms of popularity, naturally sci-fi, mecha, monster films and the like are more favored by the overseas market.

As for sci-fi, neither 'Three Body 2' nor 'The Wandering Earth' plans to be filmed in the near few years.

As for mecha, the script for 'Pacific Rim 3' is still being repeatedly revised, and has yet to be finalized.

As for monster films, to be honest, they don't quite match the Chinese market.

We can't possibly film Star Wars, right? Speaking of which, the Hollywood Star Wars series indeed has very high box office results.

As for the story! While pondering, Jiang Heng suddenly recalled that one of the works dubbed 'The Three Great Odd Books of the Internet' is 'The Legend of the Little Soldier'.

Speaking of which, when he first saw it back then, he was truly astonished, obsessively following the latest chapters to the end, unable to forget it for a long time.

The book contained many interstellar warship battle scenes; back then watching them made my blood boil.

Maybe we can give it a try!

Thinking of this, Jiang Heng called the copyright department to ask whether the company had bought the film and television adaptation rights to Little Soldier Legend.

The department head checked and replied, saying they had bought it a few years ago! (End of chapter)