After Abel finished eating and left, Laila and Roy turned to the entertainment section of the newspaper together. They were searching for media reviews of yesterday's premiere of "Iron Man." To their delight, the overall reviews were quite high, at least much higher than the average commercial film.
"An entertaining spectacle of special effects." — Variety
"This is a summer blockbuster that relies on intelligence rather than exaggeration." — Minneapolis Star Forum
"Fast-paced, humorous, and highly entertaining." — Philadelphia Inquirer
"Iron Man is a pure and great escapade, worthy of the title of the summer's biggest film." — Chicago Sun-Times
"Looks like everyone likes it." Roy was happy for her because he knew how much energy she had invested in this movie. Commercial films were not easy to make, and special effects were a crucial element. If not done well, the movie's viewing value would plummet.
Moreover, Laila not only directed but also wrote and edited the film. The entire movie couldn't have been produced without her irreplaceable contributions.
"This is good news, isn't it?" Laila was genuinely happy. She knew she had succeeded, kickstarting a new era of comic adaptation films five years ahead of schedule and launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe plan ahead of time.
Roy was aware of this plan. "Are we going to produce a lot of comic adaptation films next? I remember there's Captain America and the Hulk. I really like the Hulk."
"Yes, in addition to those two, there are Thor and others. You know, the Marvel Universe has thousands of superheroes."
"Do you think if I were to act, which superhero would suit me? Superheroes are every boy's dream, and I'm no exception."
Laila was caught off guard by the question. "Deadpool?"
"..." Roy felt like he had been hurt. Was he that goofy?
Laila burst into laughter at his dumbfounded expression. "Just kidding. I don't think any superhero suits you."
"Really? I think I look pretty heroic."
"It's not about looks." Laila paused. "Alright, it's also about looks. Superheroes generally live among ordinary people, can you imagine living a normal life with your face attracting attention everywhere?" Being recognized on the street and approached by talent scouts would be inevitable!
He hadn't been discovered when he met her because he wasn't in Hollywood at the time. If he lived in Hollywood, going out casually would result in a bunch of people coming up to hand him business cards.
Rubbing his chin, Roy expressed satisfaction with her explanation.
"The newspapers are all saying you did a great thing by rediscovering Downey."
"It's just the inevitability of history. Even without me, someone else would have given him a chance." Laila knew the development of the past life, so she never thought of herself as Downey's "savior." She just wiped off the dust on him in advance, allowing him to shine again.
Roy shook his head. "Whether he will have a chance in the future or not, at least now he has this opportunity because of you. And I think he's really grateful to you."
"If he can help me make more money, that's the best gratitude." Laila looked at him with a smiling squint. "You too."
"My pleasure." Roy took her hand and kissed her finger.
Laila smiled at him and then turned to read the reviews in the newspaper.
She read "Entertainer News," and naturally, her newspaper was biased toward her direction. But each time they spoke, it was reasonable and wouldn't make readers think they were baselessly boasting.
Anthony was good at arranging people, and almost all media reports related to her in the group's media had to go through his arrangements and reviews. Therefore, there would be no mistakes.
Today's reports were also well-founded.
The editor praised "Iron Man" from several aspects.
First and foremost, the most crucial point is special effects. The newspaper referred to the film's special effects as the pinnacle of current effects.
In the movie, what audiences loved the most would undoubtedly include J.A.R.V.I.S. and the holographic projection part. In terms of special effects and visual effects, "Iron Man" had created a new realm.
Laila could confidently acknowledge this. Nowadays, who in Hollywood doesn't know about her special effects company?
Starting from "Pirates of the Caribbean," the special effects technology in the company has been evolving rapidly. After she invested a large amount of money, the upgrades of equipment and software improved special effects higher than other companies.
She was well aware of the future trends in movies. Special effects could be said to be the most indispensable part. If she seized this opportunity and established a dominant position in this aspect, she could have a good cooperative relationship with other film companies.
The second point in the report was about the pace. The newspaper believed that the film's pacing was very well handled, with a superb fusion of emotional plotlines, fight scenes and humor. The film maintained a relaxed and orderly rhythm, avoiding excessive dragging or constant tension.
Speaking of the pace, background music had to be mentioned. The background music in many parts of the movie was well-matched. Michael Giacchino, who had worked with her many times, once again delivered a brilliant performance, elevating the movie with the sound of music.
The third point mentioned was the technology in the movie. Whether it was the holographic projection mentioned earlier, the various auxiliary robots in the movie, or the various high-tech elements displayed, all of them amazed the audience. Without these elements, even if Iron Man's armor was cool, it wouldn't have the same effect.
After reading the report from "Entertainer News," Laila felt a sense of greatness about herself. She had made such a "great" movie.
After all, it was her own newspaper, and praising it was almost like praising every frame of the movie. Interestingly, each point was still very well-founded, convincing people. Laila felt light and airy.
To avoid being overly praised, she picked up a copy of the "New York Post" to read.
With Cooper in charge, the New York Post had never spoken well of her. This time was no exception, and what they said also sounded reasonable.
"Good guys, bad guys. Bad guys catch good guys, and good guys defeat bad guys. How many movies have this plot? Every time, we shout for innovation and substance, yet every year, there are still so many similar films being released.
'Iron Man,' another comic adaptation film. Since last year's release of 'Spider-Man' and 'X-Men,' it seems that many people have become interested in comic adaptation films. Perhaps each of us has a superhero's soul hidden inside, or perhaps each of us is filled with yearning for superheroes."