318. The Limit
11:00 AM, Jiangcheng Cinema.
The largest screening room was already full of audience members, who were waiting for the release of "The Demon Tide," a film that had been promoted for several months and belonged to the Chinese people.
After the cinema manager and the president of the Jiangcheng Film Association gave their speeches, it was Lu Ban's turn to speak.
He wasn't wearing a purple suit, just a long trench coat, when he took the microphone.
"Good evening, everyone. I am Lu Ban, the director of ' The Demon Tide '. Actually, I think many of you are probably thinking, 'Hurry up and finish what you have to say and start the movie.' So I'll keep it brief."
Lu Ban's words elicited good-natured laughter from the audience, and he continued.
"The plot of this movie is very simple. It is about how people in one world save themselves when faced with disaster. Although there are fancy special effects and various settings, the ideas reflected in the movie are the same as those we see in our daily lives."
He took two steps forward and saw the young people sitting in the front row. These young people were probably around Birmingham's age. They were fortunate to be able to grow up in a peaceful and safe environment without worrying about being attacked by monsters.
But perhaps in the future, when monsters from other lands invade this world, they too will take up arms and fight just like in the movies.
"That is, the human will will not succumb to natural disasters, wild beasts, floods and earthquakes. When these disasters occur, we will help each other and overcome difficulties together. Anything that tries to threaten civilization will be stopped by us. Perhaps one day, the scenes in the movie will appear in reality. At that time, I hope that the ideas presented in this movie can support everyone to persevere. This is my small wish."
Upon hearing Lu Ban's words, many people did not think deeply about them, taking it all as Lu Ban's way of helping them immerse themselves in the story. After all, while such natural disasters do exist in this world, the things depicted in the movie are definitely not real; they are just fantasies.
"Finally, I hope everyone enjoys the movie. If you're satisfied, feel free to watch it a few more times; I don't mind."
Amid the laughter of the audience, Lu Ban returned the microphone and walked offstage.
People always feel that danger is far away from them.
In the darkness, Feng Yu smiled.
"Death will not come when you are ready."
Lu Ban replied with a single sentence.
"The matter in the Western Pacific is temporarily over, but perhaps there are already Chosen of the Gods from other realms visiting this world. Perhaps some of them have been to the Ruined City, the wasteland, the Night Country, and the Harmony Island. If they see my movie, they will recognize my identity and come directly to me."
Lu Ban cannot find all the hostile Chosen of the Gods have descended into this world by himself. So, as long as he makes his works known to every household, so that anyone who comes to this world can see them anywhere, then they will soon know Lu Ban's identity and find Lu Ban.
Although there is no theory that the Chosen of the Gods are attracted to each other, Lu Ban's actions draw the Chosen of the Gods closer to his position, thereby protecting others.
The movie has started, and music is playing in that familiar Black Forest.
Lu Ban didn't leave. Instead, he went upstairs to a private room with Feng Yu and watched the movie attentively.
As the cast list played, Lu Ban noticed that Feng Yu still had tears streaming down her face.
Lu Ban handed her a tissue without asking any further questions.
Feng Yu's journey as a traveler, traversing endless time and space, must have its own reasons.
After Feng Yu wiped away her tears, the two put on masks and left the private room.
At this moment, the audience who had just finished watching the premiere had not yet dispersed, and a second wave of moviegoers gathered in the hall. Although it was past 1 a. m., it felt like the busiest and most lively time of day, with crowds surging around.
The audience members who had finished watching the movie gathered together, and regardless of whether they knew each other or not, they were all enthusiastically discussing the plot.
"This movie is so good. I even had the illusion that I was watching it for the first time. The forest scenes and the wolf pack scenes are simply amazing."
"The scenes of those mages burning themselves to light the flames were so powerful, I don't know how to describe them. I felt like I was witnessing the true spirit of human selflessness. Compared to that, those cool and awesome stories of one person saving the world don't seem so exciting anymore!"
"I think, just like Director Lu said before, although this film looks like a multicultural exchange, its essence is actually our own national spirit: fearlessness in the face of difficulties and pioneering spirit. This is the first time I have seen such a spirit reflected in a film, and I feel a strong sense of resonance."
"I'm so glad I came to the premiere today. I can almost feel the storm-shrouded fortress and the flickering torches when I close my eyes. But I'm getting a little cold."
"Is this movie really special effects? Those scenes are so realistic! If people hadn't died, I would have thought it was real footage. No, no, those wolves and stuff must be special effects. I feel like these scenes alone are worth the ticket price."
"Waaaah, my Birmingham, such a cute little boy."
"Am I the only one who noticed the actors' performances in this movie, especially in the fortress and the town, in those shots where dozens of people appear on screen at the same time? Those actors are so dedicated, it feels like they are really living in the movie world."
"I don't think there's much to spoil about this movie, but there are many details worth noting. I'll probably watch it a second time."
"Looking at the harsh conditions in the movie, and thinking about our own situation, let's cherish what we have now!"
"This movie should share the same universe as the previous interactive video, and there's also the female mage who appeared before. So, what exactly is the structure of the Night Country? Where did the magic come from? And where did these Demon Tide come from? It feels like something worth researching."
Many people are discussing this movie, and at the same time, these viewers have not forgotten to rate "The Demon Tide". It can be seen that in just over ten minutes after the premiere, the number of people rating "The Demon Tide" on the ticketing app quickly exceeded 10,000, and the rating was as high as 9.9!
Unlike some websites where you can rate anything, the ratings on ticket-buying apps are only available to those who have purchased tickets. These are genuine user reviews.
A decent movie usually scores between eight and nine points, slightly higher than the ratings on rating websites, but a score of 9.9 is a rare find.
What's even more outrageous is that this app doesn't have any 10-point works by default. In other words, even if everyone gives it a 10, the rating will still show as 9.9!
For many movies, a score of 9.9 is earned because the quality reaches 9.9. But for Lu Ban's "The Demon Tide," a score of 9.9 is earned because 9.9 is the absolute maximum score!
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