After the procedural press conference at the Temple Auditorium, Matthew headed towards the side exit. He could hear the buzzing chatter of reporters outside even before stepping out. Without having to look, he knew that the area was swarmed with journalists.
Fortunately, the staff at the Temple Auditorium was experienced in handling such situations. Once the car meant to pick up Matthew arrived, four security personnel immediately escorted him out the door. Before the reporters could react, Matthew had already slipped into the car.
In the past, he would have willingly faced the reporters, as it benefited the promotion of the film. However, tonight's event provided ample material for the media to dissect over a couple of days, so his extra involvement was unnecessary.
The reporters, or more precisely the paparazzi, were stubborn. Despite the driver honking loudly, they refused to move.
"Be patient," Helen Herman said, looking ahead. "I hope you're prepared for this."
"What preparation? Being surrounded and chased by reporters and paparazzi after gaining fame?" Matthew replied, not waiting for Helen to answer. "I've waited too long for this day; it's a kind of enjoyment for me."
Helen glanced at Matthew, aware that his thinking was somewhat different from ordinary people.
Matthew spread his hands slightly, closed his eyes, and pretended to savor the moment. In reality, he was indeed enjoying the current situation. A few months ago, even if he had begged for media interviews, hardly anyone would pay attention to him. Now, even hiding in a car, a swarm of paparazzi eagerly surrounded him.
After five minutes, with the help of the Temple Auditorium's security, the car finally broke free from the siege and slowly drove onto the Boulevard. Matthew looked back and saw cars and motorcycles following; the paparazzi were not giving up.
He suddenly thought of something and turned to Helen, "Those guys must have seen you. They're probably following to see what our relationship really is."
Helen Herman ignored Matthew's comment and told the driver, "Take me to Angel Agency in Burbank first."
The black Mercedes quickly stopped at the curb near Angel Agency. Helen got out, leaving Matthew to continue north alone.
Ten minutes later, Matthew arrived home. After showering, he went to the attic to check outside. Under the dim streetlights, he could vaguely see cars and motorcycles parked near his house. It seemed the paparazzi were planning to stay there all night.
Matthew came down from the attic and turned on his computer, specifically checking Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb. These sites hadn't yet lifted the embargo on the film's ratings, which he estimated would happen tomorrow.
At the premiere, Universal Pictures had, as per industry practice, invited several renowned film critics. Unlike those who had enthusiastically praised the film at the internal screening, these critics were somewhat more impartial. Even though film criticism had become a business, these individuals valued their reputation and thought about the long term.
According to Helen, these renowned critics wouldn't easily accept bribes from film studios. Their columns and reputations in the industry already held considerable commercial value.
Matthew knew that once these critics published their reviews tomorrow, Rotten Tomatoes would lift the embargo on the film's freshness rating.
As for IMDb, he hadn't researched it thoroughly and wasn't very familiar with its rating rules.
Approaching midnight, Matthew went up to the attic again and saw that the paparazzi were still there, seemingly not willing to leave without a big scoop.
Unfortunately for the paparazzi, Matthew didn't provide much in terms of gossip material.
Britney was in Australia for engagements and would then head to New Zealand, so she wouldn't be back in Los Angeles anytime soon.
Thinking of Britney, Matthew went back downstairs, took out his phone, and decided to call her. Excluding today, they hadn't spoken in three days. Due to the time difference and their scarce free time, it was difficult to coordinate calls.
He couldn't get through to Britney this time either and simply sent her a text message.
As it was getting late and he had no engagements tomorrow, Matthew went to bed early to avoid looking tired for upcoming media appearances.
The next morning, Matthew ordered breakfast delivery and asked for the latest newspapers and entertainment magazines.
While enjoying breakfast, he began reading the news related to "The Scorpion King."
The first to catch his eye was the review columns in major national newspapers.
After flipping through several papers, Matthew had a general sense of the reviews. Overall, they were half good and half bad, with slightly more positive ones.
Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan commented: "The Scorpion King" offers plenty of sensory stimulation - cartoonish violence, innocent exoticism, and excellent action scenes." He also specifically mentioned Matthew, praising his impressive action scenes as the film's most exhilarating aspect.
In contrast, the San Francisco Chronicle criticized "The Scorpion King" for its mediocre script, the somewhat bland story, and dialogue not fitting the historical context. However, the newspaper also mentioned Matthew's role positively: "In such a mediocre film, Matthew Horner's performance as the male lead is exceptionally brilliant. His rugged good looks, well-defined muscles, and excellent combat skills make the movie less boring."
The influential New York Times wasn't very impressed with the film either: "The plot is simplistic, the humor falls flat, and the outdoor scenes lack impact. It lacks mummies or supernatural creatures, and its 90-minute length underscores its low-budget nature. It's purely rehashing the 'Mummy' series with the only highlight being the combination of Matthew Horner and Kelly Hu."
The Washington Post's review was slightly more favorable: "The Scorpion King's action scenes are ingeniously designed. The long action sequences at the beginning, middle, and end show the crew's ambition. Matthew Horner's near-perfect grasp of these scenes delivers some classic action, and although his acting in dramatic scenes isn't as outstanding, it's commendable for this film."
Matthew then went through several more newspapers and found that whether the reviews were favorable or harshly critical, there were almost no negative comments about his role as the male lead. Even the worst reviews acknowledged his successful portrayal, only critiquing his acting in dramatic scenes as subpar.
Most reviews agreed that his appearance and action scenes were the most prominent and attractive parts of the film. The criticism mainly focused on the plot and the relationship between the protagonists and antagonists.
Frankly, Matthew also felt the film's plot was quite clichéd, typical of Stephen Sommers's style and Hollywood's risk-avoidance tactics. In a purely commercial entertainment film, an overly complicated and profound plot can be a burden.
From the beginning, the crew was clear that "The Scorpion King's" selling point wasn't its plot.
After breakfast, having gone through all the papers and checked his computer again, Matthew found that "The Scorpion King" had been rated on Rotten Tomatoes. Out of forty critic reviews, twenty-six were positive and fourteen negative, resulting in a freshness rating of 65%. However, the average score was low at 6.2, just passable.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Matthew saw a critical review of his role: "Matthew Horner's acting seems 'a bit stiff' to me, as if he's better at beating up bad guys than producing a convincing smile."
Matthew was a bit puzzled by this but admitted that shooting action scenes, which appeared more challenging, was indeed easier for him than dramatic scenes.
After leaving Rotten Tomatoes, he checked IMDb and found "The Scorpion King" column, noting that due to insufficient number of reviews, the IMDb average rating wasn't yet available.
He scrolled down the page to read fan comments, finding their attitude towards "The Scorpion King" more lenient and favorable.
A fan named "Loving The Mummy" commented like a loyal fan: "To be honest, I was electrified by Matthew Horner the first time I saw him in 'The Mummy Returns.' His developed muscles and athletic physique could rival the gods of Greek mythology. Kelly Hu's unparalleled beauty was evident in the trailer. This pair is a must-watch even in a movie without great acting."
Another fan, "Crazy Two-in-One," also liked the film: "Matthew Horner is super cool. As a man, he embodies the spirit of facing life's challenges and striving to carve out his own destiny. I've always believed a good work can change a person's view of the world. As a movie for men, it's worth recommending."
While Matthew was secretly reveling in these positive reviews at home, a FedEx truck left New York's distribution center, heading towards a suburban address.
Surprisingly, behind the delivery truck followed a convoy of over a dozen vans bearing the logos of various newspapers, magazines, and TV stations.
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