Chapter 554: with translation of chapter title

Because she cameoed in The Great Wall, the first film that Zhang Ruoxi met the audience with was not Jiang Heng's filmed Three Body 2, but Zhang Yimou's directed The Great Wall.

By this count, during this New Year's holiday super slot, Zhang Ruoxi has three films released, two of which are effects blockbusters, her promotional push can be called first of the year! But because she had a cameo in The Great Wall, many people still don't recognize her, merely feeling curious about the girl who plays Jiang Heng's love interest in the film.

Who is this person? Those who know say, "She's called Zhang something Ruoxi, the female lead of the Spring Festival Three Body 2, the one who plays Zhuang Yan!"

Oh, looking at her really gives a bit of that, that first-love feeling!

She's also young!

It's not just her age, it's also her appearance; I remember Director Jiang picked Zhuang Yan from the open audition!

Director Jiang picked several in the open audition; truly, whoever he picks becomes a hit!

Of course, with Director Jiang's ability, it's not that he can't make whoever he wants a star!

On the big screen, Fu Su and Meng Tian personally went to the battlefield, finally slaying the beast king; the remaining monsters fled in a frenzy to the east, north, and west.

Fu Su, dragging his wounded body, came before the corpse of the Qin princess played by Zhang Ruoxi, and anguished: "Little sis, go, I'll take you home!"

Having said that, he bent down to hug her, but couldn't lift her at all.

Fu Su knelt and burst into tears, his grief unceasing.

That night, Fu Su and Meng Tian both reached the point of severe, untreatable wounds, beyond salvation.

Meng Tian asked Fu Su if he regretted it; if he had abandoned the Great Wall defenses and returned to Xianyang then, he would have been the second emperor of the Qin Empire.

From the performance of the monster army in this battle, if they dared to come before Xianyang, they would surely meet the same fate of annihilation.

Fu Su said in a weak tone: "My Ying clan are descendants of Emperor Zhuanxu, ordained by heaven to unify the lands; how could we abandon our territory to beasts and let the people become fodder? Though I die now, my name can be recorded on bamboo slips, with no regrets!"

Having spoken these words, Fu Su breathed his last.

Seeing this scene, the audience in the hall all had moist eyes; indeed, this Fu Su portrayed before them was shaped exceedingly well.

And thinking of Qin's fate, the audience couldn't help but feel a bit sorrowful.

At the film's end, with a quick-cut montage lasting just a few minutes, it depicted Huhai's misdeeds and the peasant uprising at the end of Qin.

And Liu Bang's vanguard entry into Guanzhong, the fall of Qin; the film thus concludes.

And when the lights in the venue came up, thunderous applause erupted instantly.

To be honest, everyone's look at Zhang Yimou is now somewhat different.

Because this film lacks the awkwardness of Zhang's previous works, and instead is a commercially successful blockbuster with stunning visual effects and smooth plotting.

Compared to Jiang Heng's, it is slightly inferior, but it absolutely does not lose to those Hollywood effects blockbusters.

Furthermore, this film's success proves Zhang Yimou's ability in this genre; there will surely be similar films in the future! Whereas Feng Xiaogang, after his failure with The Banquet years ago, no longer dares to attempt such films.

"Congratulations, Director Zhang!"

"Congratulations!"

"Director Zhang, it's really good!"

There weren't many guests at the venue, but Zhang Yimou still felt surrounded by hands, shaking them for a good while.

Immediately going on stage to give his remarks, he said, "Having this film is truly thanks to Director Jiang, thanking him for his strong support and help! Actually, the idea of making our own Chinese monster blockbuster has been around for several years; I've read a lot of materials, drawn many monster concept sketches, and only then did it become what you see today!"

Zhang Yimou, excited, spoke for over ten minutes before realizing he'd said too much, and finally concluded his remarks with a cheerful laugh.

The premiere of The Great Wall thus concluded.

The company held its customary welcome banquet; since the guests and creators weren't many, it was just two tables set up in a large banquet hall.

After Jiang Heng had eaten, he then left by car.

In the following days, Yang Mi had to cooperate with The Great Wall's promotion, running around the country; Zhang Ruoxi was busy with her final exams, so she also had little time to accompany him.

As it happened, Jing Tian, who had just returned from out of town, went straight to Jiang Heng's office, peeled an orange, ate it while asking, "How was Director Zhang's The Great Wall? Is it good?"

"Hmm, not bad!"

Jing Tian blinked, "Is there something on my face?"

"No!"

"Then why are you laughing so strangely?" Jing Tian gave Jiang Heng a white-eye look.

"Nothing much, I just think that if you played the female lead in this film, you'd also be good!"

"It's not that Director Zhang picked Yang Mi, so there's nothing to fight over. Besides, aside from films you direct, I'm too lazy to shoot anything else now!"

Jiang Heng then said, "Let me tell you, don't think that just because you're currently killing it on variety shows, this stuff hurts your acting chops; if you keep doing it for another year or so, you won't be able to act in films anymore!"

Jing Tian's big beautiful eyes widened, "Me, do I really have acting chops to hurt?"

In a one-to-one look, there is no mistaken version!

Seeing Jiang Heng left speechless by the counter-question, Da Tian Tian laughed until she doubled over.

"Haha, you're too funny!"

"I'm just thinking for you!"

Da Tian Tian then said with a nonchalant expression: "Ah, it doesn't matter. Women, the golden years of a career are just a few years; whether you seize them or not, they will eventually pass."

Basically, it's about making more money while the going's good!

But I already have plenty of money, of course not as much as you; however, compared to other female stars, I'm far ahead.

Now doing variety shows, I can easily earn more money and be happy; how great is that! If I did nothing and just hung around you all day, I bet you'd get annoyed again!

As Jing Tian said this, her tone actually turned a bit wistful.

Jiang Heng's expression turned awkward upon hearing this; he of course knew what Da Tian Tian meant by saying that.

He walked over and pulled Da Tian Tian's little hand, saying, "You're always so good!"

"But you're so bad!"

Jiang Heng laughed, "If a man isn't bad, a woman won't love him; so, do you love me or not?"

"You tell me!"

……

In the blink of an eye, a week later, it was the day The Great Wall hit theaters.

That day, Da Tian Tian drove Jiang Heng to the China Film Red Cinema Five Pine Trees Store to see The Great Wall.

As she put it, she just felt that this movie had some mysterious connection to her, and she absolutely had to go to the cinema to check it out.

Jiang Heng was speechless about this, because it meant this was his second time watching the film, and he hoped no one would ask him to accompany them again! The theater was packed, tickets were nearly impossible to get.

Because the subject was quite special, after all these years of making effects blockbusters, Jiang Heng had only ever done one pure effects blockbuster—and that was the film he shot many years ago, 'One Hundred Million Years BC'.

Although both Pacific Rim films also feature monsters, what draws the audience's attention more is the mechs.

Therefore, this The Great Wall can be considered a rare gem among Chinese-language effects blockbusters.

After all, even foreign dinosaur movies haven't been on the big screen for many years.

Suddenly, a domestic monster blockbuster appeared, directed by Zhang Yimou with a cameo by Jiang Heng; so many people came to see it that it sold out instantly! (End of chapter)