Chapter 71: Liu Tianxian Watches a Movie in North America

Pulling China Film into the affair is seen as returning a favor.

After all, in history, China Film Group had partnered with Xingmei to jointly create China Film Xingmei Cinema Company.

So the end of a business model is nothing more than lending and collecting rent; cinema chains are a lucrative business of sitting back and collecting money, not to mention the huge influence of owning a cinema chain in the film industry.

Even renowned directors and producers must find ways to maintain good relations with cinema chains.

Now, China Film Group has extended an olive branch, and Jiang Heng must also give them something in return!

Letting China Film participate in the production and distribution of Pacific Rim would give them prestige and benefits, while Jiang Heng would gain convenience in filming—a win‑win situation.

Afterwards, Jiang Heng continued revising scripts at home, occasionally going out for social engagements, and his days were fairly pleasant.

However, over at Columbia, Pascal led the company's executives in repeatedly analyzing the box office of Lion Camel Ridge, believing it could cause a huge sensation, and ultimately decided on a strong publicity push.

Outdoor ads blanketed the sky and earth, and on radio, TV, the internet and other media, there were also publicity messages for Lion Camel Ridge.

For a while, Americans and Canadians with even a slight interest in film all knew that a Chinese‑made epic mythological blockbuster was about to hit summer theaters.

In New York, inside a luxury apartment in the city center, Liu Tianxian was busy writing.

At just thirteen years old, she had already grown tall and graceful, though her face still retained a hint of youth.

Born in 1987, she attended elementary school in Wuhan, and only in 1997 did she begin studying abroad in the United States.

When she first arrived, she was surely not used to it, and she didn't have many friends.

But after a while, she became accustomed.

But lately, classmates keep calling her to ask what the story behind the heavily advertised 'Devil's Land' (the English title of Lion Camel Ridge) is, and whether it's good!

Liu Tianxian was initially confused as well; her mother's discipline was strict, and many recreational activities were forbidden.

Fortunately, she had seen Journey to the West; upon learning that Devil's Land was adapted from the Lion Camel Ridge chapters of that classic, she explained the story to her classmates, who rated it as very exciting and worth looking forward to.

But as for how the movie actually is, she didn't know, and instead had to wait for her classmates' feedback.

"CrystalLiu, I can't believe it—this is actually a work by a Chinese director, it's truly shocking, shocking to the point I don't know how to describe it. My feeling is that it surpasses any Hollywood blockbuster I've ever seen. Really, the scene where the protagonist turns rock into armor and fire into a cloak is just insanely cool—I felt like I might piss myself!"

The most notorious girl in class chattered on the phone, saying how great the film was and strongly urging everyone to go see it.

Liu Tianxian's reaction was lukewarm, because this classmate of hers is just that sort of exaggerated personality, always describing things in the most over‑the‑top way.

"Mm, okay, if I have time I'll go see it—thanks!"

After hanging up, she went back to busy herself with her homework.

Her mother's expectations for her were very high, hoping she would finish her credits quickly; thus, even though it was summer vacation, Liu Tianxian continued to study diligently.

The phone rang again; another female classmate called, saying, "CrystalLiu, you really ought to watch this—it's so good, the plot flows so smoothly you can't stop, the visual effects blow away other movies! The dinosaurs in Jurassic Park are shocking, but every 'super monster' in this film beats a T. rex, especially that golden‑winged bird that swoops down from the sky to grab the hero—I felt like I was going to suffocate watching it!

"No way, I'm going to see it again tomorrow—do you want to come along?"

"Uh, maybe next time—I still have a lot of books left to read!"

"I really don't get why you Chinese people are in such a rush, so tired, when you clearly have plenty of time—why must you finish your credits early?"

Liu Tianxian also didn't know how to explain; fortunately, this classmate just wanted to share her own viewing impressions, and seeing Liu Tianxian silent, she simply hung up.

Over the next few days, Liu Tianxian kept receiving such feedback, to the point that the thought kept surfacing in her mind: 'That really is a great movie; maybe I really ought to go see it!'

That day at dinner, Liu Xiaoli suddenly said, "Xi Xi, do you have anything going on these two days?"

Liu Tianxian blinked in confusion, then shook her head and lowered her head to eat.

"If there's something, just say it out—don't keep it bottled up!" Liu Xiaoli continued.

"Well, lately everyone's been saying that Lion Camel Ridge is really good!" Liu Tianxian said softly.

"Lion Camel Ridge?" Liu Xiaoli blinked.

Her husband said, "That's the one called Land of Ill Repute, directed by the maker of The Matrix—I heard from colleagues it's quite good. If it weren't for my recent busy caseload, I'd be planning to take you guys!"

Liu Tianxian's eyes lit up, but she still said nothing.

"Really? Well, that's certainly worth a look!"

Liu Xiaoli muttered to herself, then turned to Liu Tianxian and asked, "How's your studying going?"

"I've read it all and done the exercises!"

"Then let's go this weekend, dear!" Liu Xiaoli said to her husband.

He replied, "All right, I'll go buy tickets later—I've heard this film is hot, and good theaters are practically sold out."

Liu Xiaoli laughed, "To others it's a ticket that's hard to get, but it definitely won't stump you!"

"Of course!"

On a weekend in mid‑August, the Liu Tianxian family of three came to a theater in Manhattan.

Looking around, the audience was all neatly dressed and beautifully groomed.

When discussing the astonishing box office performance and reputation of Devil's Land, they spoke in affected tones.

"I can't believe it—so many Hollywood blockbusters, yet a Chinese film managed to beat them all!"

"Yeah, how could such a backward place produce such avant‑garde audiovisual language? Aren't they best at filming poverty and backwardness?"

"I can't figure it out!"

"Those few big Hollywood companies kept swearing they'd conquer the Chinese market, yet in a moment of inattention they got invaded instead—what an embarrassment!"

"But I hear this film's audiovisual effects are super shocking!"

"If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be queuing up to watch a Chinese person's movie!"

"Exactly!"

In the line, Liu Tianxian listened to those Americans' chatter, and a strange thought suddenly arose in her mind.

Perhaps studying hard isn't the only way out.

Not long after, they finally got inside.

After entering the auditorium and taking their seats, they watched a few pre‑show ads and then moved straight into the main feature.

The opening shot was an exciting scene of a monk being killed; fortunately it wasn't NC‑17 rated, there was a guardian present, and the young Liu Tianxian was allowed to watch.

In the end, when looking back later, I realized that compared with the later audiovisual scenes, the earlier level of stimulation truly wasn't even an appetizer.

Liu Tianxian had only one thought in his mind: "This film is just too stimulating!"

(End of chapter)