"Of course, I had to come. This is a project I've been eagerly anticipating," Laila said with a smiling face as she hugged him.
"Director, hello," Shu Qi also greeted her as she approached.
Laila embraced her as well. "It's great to see you. But how did the two of you end up together?"
"Jackie Chan invited me. I'm honored," Shu Qi explained.
However, Laila felt that there was probably more to it than that. Perhaps in the future, their relationship will be strong enough to work together, but for now...
After some thought, she understood what was happening.
In simple terms, it was compensation. Jackie Chan had promised to help her get Michelle Yeoh to play a role in her new film, but for some reason, communication had ceased. Subsequently, when she signed Shu Qi, due to his influence in the East and his connections with Wen Jun, he became aware of the situation right away.
Jackie Chan had failed to fulfill his promise to Laila, and he didn't know how to explain himself. After signing Shu Qi, he felt relieved but also embarrassed. Bringing Shu Qi to the premiere was a way of helping her gain popularity by showing his face. It seemed to Laila that Jackie Chan was known for his popularity in the East; if he consistently acted with such consideration, there wouldn't be many people who disliked him.
After exchanging pleasantries, the lights in the theater gradually dimmed as the film officially began.
The main cast, crew members, and actors were nervously watching the film, wondering whether the audience would enjoy it. After months of anticipation, they would soon find out the verdict. The audience members in the back rows were holding popcorn, eagerly staring at the screen. Most of them were Laila's fans, curious to see what she had created when she abandoned her "signature" horror films for an action-comedy.
While it might sound exaggerated to say that most of them were Laila's fans, it was indeed the case. Among the actors, Jackie Chan probably had the most recognition, but he was more famous in the East. His sudden entry into the American film scene had won him some fans interested in martial arts. However, compared to Laila's massive fanbase, the difference was quite significant.
Through three films, Laila had shown her fans that she wouldn't fail, that her movies weren't terrible and that she created classics. Armed with these beliefs, her fans would do everything in their power to fill the theaters, and this was no surprise.
Horton was a devoted fan of Laila. He had unconditionally supported her on a television show and had become an important figure in her fan community. Thanks to connections through friends, he had managed to secure a ticket to the premiere after treating them to a meal.
Now, he sat excitedly in his seat, popcorn in hand, anticipating another magical display of his idol Laila's talent. He wasn't concerned about those outside who held low expectations for the film. He knew that after today, the film would demonstrate how big of a mistake they had made through its box office success!
The film's beginning wasn't complicated. It revolved around the daughter of an Eastern diplomat being kidnapped by criminals. To rescue her and not trust the American diplomats, he invites his friend, played by Jackie Chan, an HK police officer, to come to the US to help him.
However, the diplomat's plan is seen as absurd by the FBI. They believe that on their turf, an Easterner wouldn't know much and wouldn't be able to bring the child back. Moreover, if he did succeed, their reputation would suffer and they'd be criticized by the media.
Thus, Jackie Chan arrives in the US and teams up with a similarly conned African-American police officer. After a series of comical interactions, the two decide to work together, using their methods to uncover the conspiracy and ultimately save the child.
The film itself isn't groundbreaking; it's a light kung-fu comedy. It follows a fairly conventional path, with the bad guys defeated and the good guys victorious.
While the plot might be clichéd, audiences love such movies. What sets "Rush Hour" apart is the integration of Eastern martial arts, particularly a style different from the familiar Bruce Lee-esque kung fu.
Jackie Chan's martial arts skills are a highlight of the film. He performs unexpected movements with his body, as agile as a squirrel and as cunning as a fox.
Another highlight is the humor resulting from the collision of Eastern and Western cultures. Chris Tucker, who plays the African-American police officer, contrasts sharply with Jackie Chan's "acting foolish" character, generating frequent bursts of laughter from the audience.
While Laila's eyes were on the screen, her ears were attuned to the audience's reactions behind her.
They laughed! For the movie, that was already a success!
This was the first time she had made this type of film, combining action with comedy. She didn't consider herself particularly funny, and the possibility of the audience not laughing at her jokes was embarrassing.
Fortunately, the audience was gracious. Their hearty laughter finally laid her last bit of worry to rest.
Soon, the story progressed to the action scenes.
Jackie Chan choreographed all the action sequences in his characteristic style—fluid and astonishing. Laila's role was to seamlessly integrate his moves into the film, using her camera techniques to momentarily make the audience forget about the toughness of Bruce Lee-style kung fu and instead appreciate this fresh approach.
In these action scenes, Laila employed some innovative editing methods that would become popular in the future. For instance, she froze the frame when a person leaped into the air, then transitioned to slow motion. She also swiftly switched frames during chases to create a sharp, compact atmosphere that resonated with the audience.
Originally, she had considered adding the "bullet time" effect from "The Matrix," but then realized that the film was probably already in production. Engaging in anything resembling plagiarism wouldn't be ideal, so she abandoned the idea.
Nonetheless, what she had incorporated was already enough. While these techniques might be overused in the future, at the time, they were unheard of and carried a sense of novelty.
Among the moviegoers were some critics and media reporters who were astounded by these innovative editing techniques. Who could have believed that simply speeding up or slowing down the frame could have such a magical impact on a film?
Thinking that these innovations were the brainchild of a director who hadn't even turned twenty, many people were left speechless.
However, some people remained unimpressed. No matter how flashy the techniques, it wouldn't matter if the audience didn't buy into them. What mattered was whether the film was good or not, and box office numbers were the ultimate measure. Of course, no one would admit this openly. In the known circumstances, winning awards with depth was important, and things like box office performance were just fleeting.