The overwhelming applause on the internet was not enough for Louise to completely ease her worries. She had seen too many films that received acclaim but failed at the box office.
Many films considered great only had meager box office returns. Perhaps people would remember such a film decades later, but if it didn't generate profits, what good was its greatness for the company's development?
Call her a philistine or claim she didn't understand the greatness of cinema; she only knew that without money to pay the salaries below, the company would go bankrupt, and there would be no chance to make other films!
Nevertheless, seeing so much praise still made her happy. At least she knew the audience liked the movie, and Laila's unbeaten record continued. Whether she could continue the magical box office success she had set in Hollywood would depend on whether God still favored his little angel.
The real battle of reviews began on the second day, even before the previous day's box office results were out. Various major media outlets, especially newspapers, were already expressing their opinions.
"Director Moran, with her usual delicate and exquisite style, presents a real and vast Middle-earth world. When elves, dwarves, and various fantastical races appear on the big screen, we feel like they truly exist around us." - Entertainer News
"The film is a marvelous and fantastical journey, immersing viewers in the Middle-earth world created by Tolkien's works. " - San Francisco Chronicle
"Extraordinary visual effects, dignified artistic conception, and outstanding film production. This is a Hobbit's dream and an elf's joy. And this is just the beginning; it's only the first film in the series." - Chicago Tribune
Countless words of praise were reported by various media outlets. There were criticisms, but those voices were drowned out before they could even make a ripple compared to the overwhelming praise.
Compared to the numerous compliments, the few nitpicks seemed laughable.
Cooper did not attend the premiere because Faaris had sent him to do other things. Since the foolishness he caused had been "cleanly" resolved, he felt a change in the relationship between him and Faaris. He was no longer a simple investment advisor; he had become a dog that could be summoned at will.
He was forced to do things he had never considered before, but he couldn't say no. Otherwise, Faaris could easily throw him into jail with just a word.
However, that wasn't what he wanted. He loved movies and once had dreams and aspirations for them. After leaving the Phoenix Films, this wish turned into a desire to prevent them from achieving what he couldn't. From turning the Phoenix into Hollywood's largest film company to doing everything to destroy it.
When he picked up the newspaper and saw extensive coverage praising Laila's new film as fantastic and great, anger and roars filled his heart. Why did he fall from grace and become a dog while she could enjoy everyone's praise?
Is it really that good? Good enough to be described as "great"?
He didn't believe it, didn't believe that a woman who hadn't even reached thirty could achieve this. Many things can only be understood through the sedimentation of time. She was only in her twenties; what experiences could she have? Could she understand what makes a great film? If she doesn't understand it herself, why does she think she can make one?
These doubts fueled his anger as he rushed to the cinema, wanting to buy a ticket and see for himself what was so good about the new movie. But what he didn't expect was that when he arrived at the cinema, he was informed that tickets were sold out, even for the next day. If tickets for the day after tomorrow were available for presale, they would likely be sold out as well.
"Why? Is this movie really that good?" He uncontrollably pounded on the ticket counter.
Even if it's not good, is it worth getting so worked up because you couldn't get a ticket? The ticket seller thought sarcastically, but she maintained a smile on her face. "I'm sorry, sir. 'The Lord of the Rings' has just been released, and it's the work of the genius director Laila Moran. Many people are eager to watch it, rushing to be the first ones to see it because of her name."
"She's just a woman! How old is she?" Cooper's anger grew even stronger. It seemed like everyone in the world was saying how great she was just because of her name, and it was absurd!
The ticket seller, after hearing his words, suddenly dropped her smile. "A woman? What's wrong with being a woman?" She didn't expect to face gender discrimination even selling tickets. "If there were no women, where do you think you came from?"
"What a disgusting person. I've never heard such disgusting remarks before!" People in line to buy tickets turned disdainful glances at him after hearing his words.
"Darling, don't worry, you're my forever queen!" The boyfriend in the couple immediately expressed his sincere support to his girlfriend, almost swearing that he would not let such discriminatory language pollute them.
Seeing the increasingly unfriendly faces around him, Cooper couldn't stay any longer. He covered his face with his hat and hastily left amidst the disdain.
But he didn't give up. In the end, in front of a cinema, he managed to buy a ticket from a single young man at ten times the price. Finally, he saw "The Lord of the Rings," the movie that the media praised so much that it seemed to be reaching the heavens.
In the audience around him were many men and women, singles and couples, and even adults and children watching together.
For Cooper, this was definitely not good news. The film's rating was PG-13, meaning children above thirteen could watch it freely, and those below thirteen could watch it with parental accompaniment.
The larger the audience, the more potential viewers there were, and potential box office returns would also be higher. A film that both men and women, adults and children would watch—would there still be worries about box office issues?
Most films have situations where either male or female viewers dominate. For example, martial arts films, science fiction films, and those that involve intense physical combat typically attract more male viewers. On the other hand, romance films, comedies, and fresh, light-hearted genres tend to attract more female viewers.
Looking at the cinema in front of him, it was clear that there was no significant difference between male and female viewers. This indicated how broad the audience range of this film was.
The movie finally began, and the distant voice once again echoed on the thousands of large screens, taking the fully occupied audience into the magical Middle-earth world created by Laila.
The more Cooper watched, the paler his face became. The more he watched, the more he couldn't believe that this could be Laila's work. He remembered how he had used mocking and critical language to describe her first film, a rudimentary work.
Now, after just a few years, has she evolved to this extent? But, how is this possible?
She's only in her twenties, and she hasn't even attended a professional school. How is this possible?
Is there such a terrifying genius in this world?