Chapter 471: Dissolving Stone into Armor, Waving Flame into Robes

Many of the audience members in the cinema, just like Zhou Yiran and her stinky younger brother, had gradually become fascinated by *Monkey King: Hero is Back*.

For an excellent animated production, in many cases, the details are actually very important.

*Monkey King: Hero is Back* actually has many places that follow the path of poking at your cute spots.

For example, the cute Earth Deity and the like.

For many shoddily made films, it is already considered good if the protagonist is well-crafted and not stereotyped.

Putting effort into producing even these characters with very little screen time requires a massive amount of energy and heart.

However, this can achieve a very good effect and will not make you feel bored.

You must know that in the entire *Monkey King: Hero is Back*, those super cool scenes only appear at the beginning and the end.

For the hour-plus duration of the film, throughout all the Drama in the middle, the monkey is in a state where his magic power is sealed.

For many audience members who want to see him display his great divine powers, if the content in the middle is not smooth, comfortable, or interesting, they will certainly feel extremely tormented and think this movie is very boring.

——Details determine success or failure!

Furthermore, some selling points are actually suitable for all ages; capturing them precisely is actually very difficult.

For Luo Mo, he does not care about the sky-high production cost of 150 million.

What he cares about is the final effect presented.

If you have thrown money at it, but everyone cannot see the traces of your burning cash at all, then that would be ridiculous.

By then, a large amount of rhetoric would appear on the internet, saying that this film is money laundering.

Not to mention, before *Monkey King: Hero is Back* was released, there were indeed quite a few people on the internet who relied on this viewpoint to attract attention.

After all, the box office record for animated films on Blue Star is sitting right there, and it hasn't even reached 200 million yet. What is Luo Mo aiming for by throwing in 150 million?

There must be something fishy in here!

I am an expert on the crooked paths in the entertainment industry!

Hmm, there is never a shortage of "know-it-alls" anywhere.

In reality, there is currently a guy who thinks he is very knowledgeable watching *Monkey King: Hero is Back* in the cinema.

——【Water Emperor】 Song Ge.

In a certain cinema in Beijing, Song Ge is fully disguised, hiding in a Corner to watch *Monkey King: Hero is Back*.

Honestly, with his resentment toward Luo Mo, he does not want to come and contribute to the box office.

But he is truly very curious about *Monkey King: Hero is Back*.

To be precise, he wants to witness the flop of *Monkey King: Hero is Back* with his own eyes.

As mentioned before, this Water Emperor, Song Ge, joined the 【Ten Billion Box Office Club】 last year and is launching an assault toward the 【Twenty Billion Box Office Club】.

Although in his total personal box office, the movies where he served as the male lead account for less than 400 million, there is no helping it; who told him to borrow someone else's wind?

On Earth, many so-called 【Billion-Box-Office Gentlemen】 might not even have a single representative work where they carry the lead.

For this year's Spring Festival slot, setting aside the two animated films, there are four other super-large productions.

Among them, there is a Comedy film called *Vertical and Horizontal Future*, in which Song Ge participated.

The role's screen time is not much, but it can barely be classified under the "starring" column.

These days, the classification in this regard is still quite lenient; those who know, know, it's convenient for latching onto success.

The pre-sale box office for *Vertical and Horizontal Future* is quite good, with pre-sales breaking 100 million early, which gives Song Ge confidence, feeling that he will likely rely on this to join the 【Twenty Billion Box Office Club】.

"Since I am a 20 Billion Box Office Master, then don't be so petty."

"Just contribute a few dozen yuan to the box office of *Monkey King: Hero is Back*," Song Ge thinks to himself.

"I want to see what kind of thing he can produce after spending 150 million!"

In this world, there exist a large number of people who like to compare and like to compete with others.

As long as this type of person is not defeated in the field they rely on for survival, or beaten in the areas they are proud of, they will always maintain their so-called "arrogance" and "self-esteem."

Luo Mo's status, popularity, and influence in the industry... in every aspect, he beats Song Ge to a pulp.

Oh right, there is also the looks that one has to mention.

But he still feels that film is the highest form of art, one that kills your so-called music scene and film/television industry in seconds.

After all, I am a Best Actor. jpg.

But Luo Mo ultimately stretched his demonic hand toward the film industry.

Therefore, Song Ge is actually panicked in his heart.

Although... Luo Mo has actually almost forgotten this character, and would certainly not spend effort specifically to target him.

After arriving at the cinema, Song Ge's main energy is actually not spent on the movie.

He is mainly observing the reactions of the audience.

When the audience laughs out loud, his brows are tightly locked.

When the audience lets out exclamations, his brows are tightly locked.

When the audience is watching with fascination, his brows are tightly locked.

"What is going on!?" Song Ge is even more panicked.

This can also grasp the psychology of the audience?

He can only comfort himself at this moment that most of the people around are children and parents.

What do children know?

As for the parents, when your cute child giggles, you will also be... amused along with them, right?

After all, laughter is contagious!

But asking himself, he is watching the Drama quite distractedly, yet he is also watching it with quite a bit of relish...

For a moment, he wants to complain about something, but he doesn't know where to start.

Only after the movie was more than halfway through did he finally find an outlet for his frustration.

"This movie... it doesn't feel satisfying to watch!" Song Ge thought to himself.

Yes, it just lacked that sense of unbridled exhilaration.

What kind of image does the Great Sage Equal to Heaven have in our hearts?

He is the one who caused Havoc in Heaven, lawless and unconstrained!

But what about now?

He is nothing more than a horse-faced monkey with his powers sealed.

He struggles to fight small mountain demons and finds it tricky to deal with minor monsters.

The movie is already more than halfway through, and he's just swinging a wooden stick around—what's the point?

This is damn boring to watch!

"I admit, there are funny moments, cute moments, and it's comfortable to watch in one go without feeling tired."

"But, since the subject is the Great Sage, the audience didn't come for these things!"

Admittedly, Song Ge also knew that the seal suppressing the horse-faced monkey's powers would surely be lifted later.

This is basic movie logic.

If he remained sealed from beginning to end, then damn it... that would be a legendary film!

But, if that happens, the problem arises.

"You spent too much time on the setup!" Song Ge felt he had hit the nail on the head.

In reality, his point was indeed correct.

The setup was far, far too long!

If not for the Havoc in Heaven sequence at the beginning, which let the audience see the Great Sage's unyielding nature, see the spectacular fighting, and see the high-quality art style... perhaps the psychological sense of disappointment would be even stronger now!

Song Ge took out his phone to check the time.

The movie had been playing for almost an hour.

At this moment, the monkey was escaping a trap with Tianpeng, who had turned into a pig, along with Jiang Liu Er and the others, and they had boarded a small boat.

The main villain, 【Chaos】, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally made a move.

I have to say, the image of 【Chaos】 also gives one a strong sense of Opera makeup.

Song Ge had filmed those kinds of Myth movies, so he knew about Chaos.

This creature is listed alongside Taotie, Qiongqi, and Taowu as one of the Four Great Fiends.

In many ancient books, there are records regarding Chaos.

In "Monkey King: Hero is Back", the setting for Chaos is a great demon king from Five Elements Mountain, who takes on the appearance of a scholar and captures young boys and girls to refine medicine, being extremely sinister.

Many of its settings are taken from the "Classic of Mountains and Seas".

As soon as Chaos appeared, he destroyed the small boat and grabbed the young girl.

He had been watching from the sidelines earlier, actually observing the Great Sage's power.

Only after confirming that his powers were sealed did Chaos resolutely strike while they were fleeing.

He glanced at the Great Sage Equal to Heaven doll in the girl's hand and threw it to the ground.

"What Great Sage Equal to Heaven, he's just a useless monkey."

His voice was feminine and sinister; it was hard to imagine it was dubbed by an old man with graying hair.

The monkey rose to resist, but he was not a match for even one of Chaos's moves.

This villain in scholar's garb stepped on the monkey's head and said: "Sun Wukong, so you have a day like this too, huh? Hahahaha!"

He viewed him as an ant, rose into the air, and then delivered a strike downward.

This sequence was so frustrating to watch.

The dignified Great Sage Equal to Heaven was actually having his head stepped on by a demon king.

The girl was also abducted by Chaos and faced a perilous situation.

Watching this scene, the smile on Song Ge's face grew wider.

"The tactic of 'suppressing before elevating', you really have mastered it, Luo Mo."

"It seems you paid attention in middle school composition class, heh."

From the perspective of a seasoned Actor, he felt there was nothing wrong with this movie; Drama needs ups and downs, that's not a problem.

But as I said before, the setup was too long.

This movie is already the shortest one in the Spring Festival lineup; I want to see when he can finally recover his powers!

Moreover, the more you do this, the harder it is to satisfy the audience.

It's just like when you read a web novel, the protagonist is abused in various ways, or the people around him suffer all sorts of messy things, or the hatred has already been maxed out.

Then, you definitely look forward to the satisfying plot.

But if this part of the plot is written poorly, not satisfying enough, then the readers will be miserable!

"If it fails to amaze the audience when the powers are restored later, then what's the point?" Song Ge thought.

However, the weakness of the subject matter appeared again.

Yes, the Journey to the West subject matter comes with immense traffic and immense appeal; the Great Sage Equal to Heaven is an absolutely well-known figure.

But, can you still not know what abilities the Great Sage Equal to Heaven has?

Seventy-two Transformations, Fiery Eyes, Golden Eyes, the Ruyi Golden Cudgel...

Everyone already knows what they should know!

Therefore, wanting to amaze is very difficult because there are no unexpected elements.

"And looking at the Drama structure of the movie, Luo Mo set up a classic sequence of Havoc in Heaven at the beginning just to grab the audience's attention."

"In other words, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's abilities were already showcased at the very beginning of the film."

"If they were to be repeated exactly the same way at the end, it would be quite dull."

Song Ge had already mentally labeled this film as having a 【Poor Ending】.

However, he had overlooked one point.

At the beginning, during Havoc in Heaven, why were Opera Elements and ink-wash elements incorporated?

Was it because Luo Mo has always been promoting these cultures?

Yes, that is one reason.

Another is to distinguish it from the end of the film!

The beginning used a storytelling format to reconstruct the scene of Havoc in Heaven, so it was a form of fiction.

Is there a problem with using different art styles for fiction and reality?

——There is no problem!

Such a seemingly ordinary setup, a maneuver that people wouldn't think to analyze in detail, is actually very mature and clever.

At the same time, don't forget what the most criticized point of the entire film is right now?

It is the horse-faced monkey.

This design is not handsome at all.

Because the Drama is quite interesting and funny, everyone will gradually ignore this design.

But such a setting is actually intended to create a strong contrast with the end.

The film's Drama has already reached a turning point.

Jiang Liu Er, who had finally crawled ashore from the water, chased after the dejected monkey and said, "Great Sage, let's go save the silly girl quickly!"

"I can't handle it," the monkey said, hanging his head and letting his arms droop.

"Great Sage! Great Sage!" Jiang Liu Er still pulled at him desperately.

The monkey turned around in Anger and shouted, "I already said, I can't handle it!"

"I can't handle that child." He closed his eyes.

Lao Zhu walked over to mediate and said, "Monkey, calm your Anger."

"Don't call me monkey! Shut your mouth, you stupid pig!"

Jiang Liu Er cried from the side, "But, but only you can save her now."

Seeing the monkey unmoved, he ran away crying, saying, "I'll go save her!"

Lao Zhu looked at his retreating Back Shadow and shouted, "Hey! Little Master! Little Master!"

"Monkey, the Little Master has run off."

"Hey! Monkey!"

After Jiang Liu Er ran far away, he heard the mountain demons' conversation, began to clarify his destination, and learned where the silly girl was being held.

On the other side, the monkey was smashing the bracelet on his hand like a madman, wanting to destroy the magic seal.

In the end, he suffered the backlash of the magic seal, fell into the water, and gradually sank.

The dejected and physically injured monkey kept falling.

He seemed to have auditory hallucinations, hearing Jiang Liu Er calling for him to save the silly girl.

He struggled in the water, muttering to himself, "I can't handle it, I can't handle it, can't handle it!"

"Great Sage! Great Sage!"

The monkey opened his eyes and saw the Great Sage Equaling Heaven doll gradually sinking into the water.

He saw Jiang Liu Er giving this Great Sage Equaling Heaven doll to the young girl.

"Look, I have another Great Sage Equaling Heaven here, how about I give it to you?"

"With him protecting you, you won't have to be afraid of anything!"

On the shore, Lao Zhu shouted, "Monkey! Monkey! Are you still alive?"

"Say something, at least."

"Sigh, I know, you're not feeling happy inside."

"But you..."

"Sigh—!" Lao Zhu let out another long sigh.

"Don't forget, you are the Great Sage Equaling Heaven."

The monkey in the water seemed to see the scene of his first meeting with Jiang Liu Er again.

The little monk jumped onto a rock, Dancing, with a face full of excitement and admiration:

"Great Sage Equaling Heaven Sun Wukong, body like profound iron, fiery eyes and golden pupils, Chang Sheng Bu Lao, and he has Seventy-two Transformations!"

"One Somersault Cloud, that's one hundred and eight thousand li."

As he spoke, the visuals began to switch, switching to the scene at the beginning of Havoc in Heaven, invincible and unrestrained.

That arrogant Back Shadow appeared once again.

In the strong wind, that red cape fluttered loudly!

The monkey sat up in shock from the water.

Lao Zhu was about to walk away, but was called back by him.

This horse-faced monkey said only one sentence, and the entire Cinema erupted.

The camera focused on the horse-faced monkey's mouth; his expression had recovered its former arrogance and unruliness.

"Lao Zhu, come with me!"

Song Ge was stunned, watching the children one by one in their excitement, feeling utterly speechless.

"This is... this is Burning!?"

The scene switches, arriving at the side of Hundun.

Hundun floats in the air, singing Opera.

This segment of Opera was also recorded by Tong Qinglin himself.

Paired with the bizarre soundtrack, that feminine and evil feeling is interpreted vividly, giving people a sense of gloom and terror.

Just as Jiang Liu Er is about to encounter danger, the Great Sage and Old Pig arrive riding a white dragon!

But in the midst of the battle, although the monkey manages to scatter Hundun's hair crown, leaving him disheveled, how could he, with his magic power sealed, be a match for Hundun?

With one kick, he sends the monkey falling again, and that feminine voice says: "Sun Wukong, how does this taste compared to the Flat Peach?"

Just as he prepares to step past the monkey, he is grabbed by the ankle by the monkey.

"I said, don't go near them!" The monkey erupts, knocking him flying.

The entire fight scene has give and take; although the monkey is at a disadvantage, he is not being abused the whole time.

Note, this is also a very important technique.

There are some small Burning points in here, which serve the purpose of layering and progression.

Hundun finally reveals his true form, transforming into a terrifying monster, looking like a faceless, large, fleshy worm.

Looking at it... it's very rich in protein.

The monkey is pinned by a stone pillar, and Jiang Liu Er takes the initiative to attract Hundun's attention, leading it away.

The freed monkey rushes forward like a madman.

This kind of scene really tests the skills of a voice Actor.

"Jiang Liu Er!"

"Jiang Liu Er!"

"Fool! Fool! Jiang Liu Er!"

The entire voice-over is nothing but roaring, hoarse and desperate.

Hundun raises a giant claw and strikes down; the monkey, disregarding his own life, jumps down from the cliff, wanting to shield Jiang Liu Er, but he is a step too late.

In an instant, the entire Cinema falls into dead silence.

Immediately after, there are many children's voices in the Cinema, one after another.

"Jiang Liu Er is dead!"

"Wuwuwu!"

"Mom, is he dead?"

In the film, at first, only the sound of the monkey's heavy panting can be heard.

The calls of Fa Ming and Old Pig are silent.

The collapse of the giant rocks and the toppling of the mountain peaks are silent.

The falling of the houses is also silent.

He looks around at everything, as if the whole world has fallen into dead silence.

Finally, his eyes lock onto the Great Sage doll.

He desperately digs through the pile of stones, but can only see a limp little hand.

Ahead... high-energy warning!

Song Ge watches this scene, feeling a bad premonition in his heart.

The monkey places the doll into Jiang Liu Er's limp little hand.

Then, resisting the seal of the Dharma Seal, he continues to walk forward.

The surrounding gravel begins to float; with every step he takes, a large amount of small stones float up.

He roars and stomps down hard; the Dharma Seal shatters completely at this moment, a massive rock floats into the air, and then begins to Burn, begins to... melt!

The molten giant rock attaches to his body, becoming a suit of armor.

The floating monkey closes his eyes and violently swings his right arm.

Flames ignite behind him, endless flames spray out, transforming into a bright red cape, snapping in the wind!

—Melting stone into armor, waving flames into a robe!

He floats, extending his right hand to his ear.

A golden pillar of light begins to gather on his hand, and he slowly draws something out from his ear.

Throughout the entire Cinema, many children who couldn't hold it in have already let out bursts of gasps.

You must know, many people on Earth go to the Cinema for a second or third viewing of Monkey King: Hero is Back just to see this scene a few more times!

No matter how many times you watch it, it's not enough!

Song Ge watches this explosive, Burning scene and whispers:

"Holy shit!"

(PS: 5200 words, begging for monthly tickets!)

(End of chapter)