Hope Bates raised her head and looked towards the interview area at the end of the red carpet. However, the distance was too great to see clearly. She could only see a group of people gathered together, chatting and laughing, the cheerful and warm atmosphere spreading into the small square in front of the Chinese Theatre's entrance. Reporters eagerly raised their hands, and fans shouted with excitement. The premiere's fervor remained at an all-time high.
Vaguely, she could make out the silhouette of a figure. She had thought that Vin Diesel's sturdy physique would stand out, but surprisingly, all the flashes and all the attention were involuntarily directed towards one man. The one who, amidst a sea of T-shirts and jeans, was the only one wearing a white casual shirt.
Hope wasn't entirely sure if it was her own illusion or a fact. However, she didn't care. Today was already perfect enough. She was extremely excited and happy right now, not only because it was the premiere of "Fast 5", not just because Renly had recognized her on the red carpet, but also because she saw a healthy Renly, a cheerful Renly, a sunny Renly.
That elegant and composed man, the one who was always focused on his performance and dedicated to his craft in art films, was now finally appearing in a commercial blockbuster movie. Even if he was just a third lead, Hope couldn't help but get excited. She was shaking all over with excitement.
The gloom that had hung over her for the past few days had completely dissipated. Along with it, her anticipation for the movie began to grow. Originally, she had no interest in action movies like this. But when she thought about how William, Graham, and others had all gone to Sundance and unexpectedly liked "Like Crazy", she wondered why she couldn't give this one a try?
"Hope." A voice called from beside her, and she turned to see William's face. "The staff is organizing us to go in. The cast will be interviewed here for a while, and they'll also take a group photo. Let's go in first."
"Yeah, sure," Hope nodded repeatedly, reluctantly tearing her gaze away from the distant, blurry figure. She then followed the crowd's stream and began walking forward.
The Chinese Theatre wasn't particularly large, with only 932 seats. While that might be a decent size compared to the usual theaters accommodating a hundred to three hundred people, as a premiere theater, it felt somewhat cramped. However, the Chinese Theatre's historical significance was an important reason why it had become the preferred venue for premieres of major summer blockbusters.
This was where the premiere of "Star Wars" took place in 1977, and afterward, the "summer blockbuster" officially made its mark in history.
Of course, besides this, the theater's geographical location was also a crucial factor. It was situated in the middle section of Hollywood Boulevard, adjacent to the Kodak Theatre, opposite the Roosevelt Hotel, and surrounded by the stars of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Clearly, this was the center of Los Angeles, becoming the global focal point during the awards season and the summer blockbuster period each year.
Unexpectedly, tickets for the premiere of "Fast 5" were not in high demand.
When "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" had its premiere at the Chinese Theatre, loyal fans had camped out in front of the theater three days in advance, just to secure a ticket for the premiere and be among the first to watch the film. Hope had even prepared herself to queue overnight, but in reality, there were fewer than three hundred people in line. Hope and her group waited for less than two hours and successfully purchased premiere tickets.
It seemed that the predictions of Entertainment Weekly were coming true. Compared to "Thor", the fan base for the "Fast & Furious" series appeared to be much weaker.
However, Hope didn't mind. The focus was not on this movie, but on her first attendance at a Hollywood film premiere, especially one where Renly was part of the cast. That was enough for her.
Guided by the staff, Hope and her group entered the Chinese Theatre, sat down according to the arrangement, and patiently awaited the start of the movie. After a forty-five-minute wait, once the reporters, film critics, and guest friends had taken their seats, the cast and crew began to enter the theater one by one. The audience became excited, applauding and whistling to welcome them.
But this wasn't the end, or rather, it wasn't the beginning.
Before the actual screening, there was a brief interview session. This was a perk for the audience who had purchased premiere tickets, as they could interact with the cast and even ask questions up close, a rare opportunity indeed.
The main focus of the interviews was on Vin, who seemed to be the spokesperson for the cast. Most questions were directed at him, but the microphone was passed to other actors afterward, including Paul, Jordana, Gal, and others. The popular Renly also got his turn, of course.
When asked about "expectations for the movie," Renly calmly replied, "Let's let the film speak for itself." This concise and straightforward answer left the reporters dissatisfied but excited whistles erupted from the audience. Hope also joined in, clapping rhythmically to show her agreement with Renly and her eagerness for the movie.
After more waiting, the interview session concluded, and the cast and crew members gradually took their seats. Finally, it was time for the movie to start.
The lights in the Chinese Theatre gradually dimmed, and Hope once again felt excitement welling up inside her. The movie was about to begin, the journey was about to start, and she had begun to anticipate it. However, this anticipation soon subsided.
The movie's pace was incredibly fast. It started with a courtroom scene lasting less than twenty seconds, explaining Dominic's background of being sent to prison, and then immediately shifted into high-octane action. Roaring engines, barren plains, thrilling percussion music, swirling yellow sand, and sharp editing—within less than a minute, a prison break scene was succinctly depicted. The audience hadn't even had a chance to get into the story, and Dominic had already escaped with the help of Brian and Mia.
For Hope, this was a kind of torment.
She knew this was an action movie, a typical summer blockbuster following a standard production formula. The audience was meant to enjoy the adrenaline-pumping excitement, and that was the entire purpose. Strictly speaking, the first two minutes of the film were enough to satisfy most people.
However, first of all, Hope had never seen the previous four films in the series, so she knew nothing about the characters or the plot. When the screening began, the sudden influx of information left her unable to distinguish who was who. The exposition from the previous films had already concluded, and this made her feel like she was struggling to catch up. Secondly, there was a lack of surprise. The rapid-paced narrative and grandiose visuals were designed to deliver the essence of a fast-paced popcorn movie, satisfying the minimum requirements for a commercial film, but nothing more.
To be honest, Hope was somewhat disappointed. She had expected Renly to demand more. However, she soon adjusted her mindset. After all, a commercial movie was still a commercial movie. Classics like "The Dark Knight" didn't come along every year. Furthermore, the movie had only been running for two minutes. Was it too hasty to expect a masterpiece so soon?
With these thoughts in mind, Hope chuckled softly to herself. "Buried" and "Like Crazy" had indeed set incredibly high standards. It seemed she had been spoiled. After adjusting her mindset, she started to enjoy the popcorn flick.
The opening of "Fast 5" was indeed impressive. After a brief introduction, the plot immediately got underway. Brian and Mia had fled to Rio de Janeiro and were temporarily staying with Dominic's old friend, Vince. Vince convinced them to participate in a daring train heist, stealing several luxury cars from a train carriage.
During the heist, Brian's group encountered another gang of robbers led by Dominic himself. The two groups decided to cooperate, but Dominic sensed that something was amiss. His companions seemed to have a clear target in mind, focusing on a Ford GT40. He had a hunch, so he instructed Mia to drive the targeted car in a different direction.
As expected, this led to a confrontation between the two groups, followed by a train explosion. Brian and Dominic, driving their cars, went straight down a ravine. When the audience saw the two men soaring through the air, their clothes billowing, plummeting into the emerald-green gorge, the entire theater emitted a collective gasp of awe. The slow-motion sequence was breathtaking, successfully igniting the audience's adrenaline for the first time.
Kyle Smith, a film critic from The Wall Street Journal, nodded approvingly. He recognized that Justin Lin's scene control and rapid editing had given the film a sharp style. It effectively captured the essence of speed and adrenaline, departing from the B-movie style of the previous three films. This was definitely praiseworthy.
However, the movie still lacked a bit of surprise.
Commercial popcorn movies were always structured in a predictable, smooth manner. The plot setup and climax were meticulous and well-executed, with precise pacing. They immediately introduced conflicts and confrontations, followed by explosions, capturing the audience's attention firmly within the first fifteen minutes.
From this perspective, the movie's opening was indeed commendable, but it was merely an average standard for a successful commercial film, incapable of leaving a truly astonishing impression.
For a film like this to compete with "Thor", it needed a touch of chemistry. But Kyle was patient; he was waiting for the sparks between Paul and Vin, the unfolding of the subsequent plot, and the appearance of Renly Hall. This time, Kyle didn't have to wait long.
Amid the stirring musical score, a composed and powerful voice broke through the roaring of airplane engines. It was measured, clear in its enunciation, and full of strength. The screen showed only the landing of an aircraft, with no visible individual. Yet, it effortlessly outlined the character behind that voice.
Who was it?