The Best Director

Chapter 358: Chapter 358: The Moment of Warfare!

“‘Kung Fu Panda’ unstoppable in its opening week, soaring to the top of North America’s weekend box office.” “Weekly box office in Korea: ‘Kung Fu Panda’ battles for cinema dominance.” “Weekly box office in Russia: ‘Kung Fu Panda’ hilariously conquers the charts.” “Weekly box office in Singapore: ‘Kung Fu Panda’ hugely popular, smashes numerous animated film box office records.” “Weekly box office in Malaysia, ‘Kung Fu Panda’ sparks a viewing frenzy.”… Yahoo Entertainment, IMDB, BOM, The-Numbers, Los Angeles Times, Sina, NetEase, Tencent…

$80.57 million! This belonged to North America’s weekly champion ‘Kung Fu Panda’ for May 13-19! Averaging $23,346 per theater across 3,451 theaters, an extraordinarily high figure, Kung Fu + Panda unleashed incredible energy! The second ‘Mulan’? The media were already surprised, an old clichéd story, after being repackaged by Chinese culture and civilization, managed to achieve such high box office numbers, maintaining a stable score of 8 on IMDB, a fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating of 88%/85%, and an appreciation rating of 85% – an excellent reputation indeed!

Following ‘Ice Age,’ Blue Sky Studios found another potential goldmine. Fans who loved the panda Po were also delighted, knowing the arrival of ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’ and ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’ was inevitable.

‘Kung-Fu-Fighting’ is one of the hottest tracks on Earth lately, born in the early 1970s, riding the wave of the Chinese Kung Fu phenomenon at the height of Bruce Lee’s fame, this classic disco tune emerged. Now, it has become theme songs first for ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ (original version), and then for ‘Kung Fu Panda’ (new version), the cheerful chorus “Everybody is kung-fu fighting” has been sung all over the world, as the figure of the chubby panda has spread globally.

In Korea, it grossed $9.58 million in its opening week, securing the top spot, beating ‘Tears of Blood,’ which made $7.12 million in its second week of screening by $2.46 million. Korean audiences absolutely adored Po, the enthusiasm can only be described as a torrential tide! According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated computerized box office network, from May 13 to 19, ‘Kung Fu Panda’ attracted 1.36 million Korean moviegoers (63%) across 604 theaters, ranking first; and based on local media’s estimates and forecasts, with the fierce momentum of the animated film, it’s anticipated to break through $25 million in box office, which, at $7 per ticket, is over 3.57 million viewers—amounting to 8% of the total population.

In Russia, the situation was even more exaggerated, with a total of 50 films released this week. The 10th place horror movie ‘One Missed Call 2’ grossed $14,800, the third place ‘Star Wars: Episode III’ which opened for a day made $821,000, second place ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ gathered $924,000, and the first place ‘Kung Fu Panda’ made an astonishing $11,439,200! That accounted for 78% of the market share, and Russian audiences were just as passionately engaged, loving Po, Chinese Kung Fu, picturesque scenery, soup dumplings, and much more. According to Yandex, Russia’s most popular search engine, the popularity of related keywords like “Панда (panda), Кунг-фу (kung fu), Китай (China), Культура-Китая (Chinese culture), Ван-Ян (Wang Yang)” has been surging recently.

In Singapore, ‘Kung Fu Panda’ topped the charts with $1.8836 million. ‘Star Wars: Episode III,’ which opened for one day, took the second spot with $252,000. Singaporean audiences, who constantly laughed, were also very fond of Po. Media reviews were full of praise, with both critical reviews and social commentaries discussing this panda.

Ukraine $1.03 million, Lithuania $130,000, Malaysia $1.38 million, Philippines $1.26 million, unanimously weekly champions! The total box office for the first week in seven overseas countries amounted to $26.7028 million! ‘Kung Fu Panda’ swept away a global box office of $107.27 million in just one week, making it the best-performing PG-rated movie of the year so far. In the coming week, it will expand its release to countries such as Columbia, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Latvia, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates. CeeLo Green and Jack Black’s rendition of ‘Everybody is kung-fu fighting’ is sure to become an even bigger hit.

Domineering! Both this week’s champion ‘Kung Fu Panda’ and the globally released ‘Star Wars: Episode III,’ in just one day, crazily raked in $50.0138 million at the North American box office! It ranked second this week, with an astonishing average of $13,661 per theater, all in just a day’s time!

It broke a slew of records, such as achieving the highest opening day box office in history, beating last year’s “Spider-Man 2” by nearly ten million with $40.44 million, despite having screenings in only 3,661 theaters compared to the latter’s 4,152. It was a Thursday release, setting it apart from its Wednesday predecessor, making “Star Wars Episode III” the new box office champion for Thursdays, a title previously held by “The Matrix Reloaded” with $37.5 million. Using its opening day earnings, which accounted for 13.3% of the total North American box office, forecasts for “Star Wars Episode III” predicted a gross revenue of over $380 million in the US Dollar!

If calculated based on the 10.0% benchmark set by “Star Wars: Episode II,” it could even reach a box office of $500 million in North America! Is there any doubt about who this year’s North American box office champion will be? Any question about the summer’s championship? The ambitious “War of the Worlds” aiming for $1.8 billion in global box office? Or the mysteriously life-or-death “Firefly”?

On the 19th, the most die-hard Star Wars fans mobilized, with enthusiastic viewers like Sheldon, Leonard, and Howard surely rushing to catch the final chapter. This was the last of the Star Wars series personally overseen by George Lucas, following “Star Wars: A New Hope” in 1977, “Star Wars Episode II: The Empire Strikes Back” in 1980, “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” in 1983, “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” in 1999, “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” in 2002, and now, this summer, comes “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”!

Whatever the circumstances, with nuclear bombs raining from the sky, the outbreak of World War III, or streets filled with zombies due to a biohazard crisis, nothing should be missed. This is a consensus among Star Wars fans worldwide, which has contributed to the splendor of “Star Wars: Episode III” today.

Advertised as the darkest, heaviest, most oppressive installment with the most brutal war scenes in the Star Wars series, Lucas rated it personally as “full of darkness and sorrow.” It reached new heights in the trilogy’s film reviews, after Lucas had been criticized for years for “destroying the Star Wars series,” “sticking to ’80s clichés,” “being as immature as a high school film,” “poor casting choices,” among others. Although Anakin didn’t have a happy ending, Lucas finally did.

With a high score of 8.0 on IMDb, an audience freshness rating of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a critic freshness rating of 67%, it earned two very edible fresh tomatoes. However, even among praise, critics weren’t overly gushing with admiration. Kirk Honeycutt of the Hollywood Reporter said, “This final Star Wars by George Lucas, with as many as six in the series, now feel like they’ve come to a shouting halt: rewind over!” Ken Tucker of New York Magazine commented, “Lucas is a brilliant technician and a pitiable philosopher, and wishes it could be great.” Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times seemed to counterstrike for Lucas: “George Lucas has achieved some artistic success; he has created and populated a new world.”…

The audience approval rating was 64%, and the sentiments of fans and enthusiasts were complex. Some hardcore fans were nearly in tears over the sentimental turn of Anakin into a Dark Knight and the end of the Star Wars saga; others cursed while watching, lamenting Hayden Christensen’s poor acting, the clumsy conversion of Anakin, and the subpar script. Still, others calmly claimed it to be the best installment since “The Empire Strikes Back,” ranking as the best or second best of the four directed by Lucas (with “Star Wars Episode II” directed by Irvin Kershner and “Star Wars Episode III” by Richard Marquand).

Despite the staggering box office success, when considering the 63% audience approval for “Episode I” and 69% for “Episode II,” the prequel trilogy has received a mixed response, with its visual effects being the only aspect universally praised. The media struggles to definitively label the prequels as a success or failure, given their undeniable box office figures.

While “Revenge of the Sith” is admittedly likely to be the biggest blockbuster of this summer and year, nobody is claiming it to be the best sci-fi film, let alone a contender for significant Oscars. Nevertheless, it will undoubtedly secure a spot in the Saturn Awards for Best Film and Best Director, aimed specifically at science fiction and horror genres.

How controversial is the debate over the quality of the Star Wars prequel trilogy? In 2000, Lucas was simultaneously nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Director, as well as the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director and Worst Screenwriter; in 2003, he reprised this feat and precisely clinched the award for Worst Screenwriter. This time, the 80%/67% freshness rating should spare the respected director from the Golden Raspberry Award’s mockery and meet the various expectations on the TOP10 lists. The champion has safely landed.

The best sci-fi flick this summer? The state of next year’s Saturn Awards? Fans who keep tabs on behind-the-scenes anecdotes of the big screen are now looking forward to what Wang Yang, Stephen Spielberg, and Darren Aronofsky will bring.

“Kung Fu Panda” championed and “Star Wars: Episode III” came in second, with both films accounting for $130 million of the North American market this week. However, when two tigers clash, other creatures in the forest are sure to suffer, especially given the overall weekly total was only $221 million. “Monster-in-Law” placed third with an opening week box office of $20.82 million, “Kicking & Screaming” fourth with $15.47 million, and “Danny the Dog” fifth with $10.72 million, which, considering a budget of $45 million, meant a blow for stars like Jet Li.

“A production budget of $10 million should suffice, let’s settle on San Francisco as our location—the tax situation there isn’t too bad. Besides cast salaries, where else do we need to spend big money? Haha, yeah, after spending $200 million, it’s time to change the taste to something light and refreshing.”

These days, Wang Yang was busy promoting “Firefly” while also preparing for a new movie. A modern urban romance film definitely required a city for filming, and he ultimately chose his turf, San Francisco. He has always believed that San Francisco is the most beautiful, romantic, and culturally rich city on the West Coast, making it highly suitable for shooting a romance film. At the same time, it allowed him to leave Hollywood and Los Angeles for a while so Jessica could focus on her pregnancy with peace and tranquility. However, she didn’t quite agree, as she lacked friends in San Francisco and didn’t want to pause all her work entirely; to her, that seemed rather incompetent.

Aside from work, Wang Yang devoted all his attention to taking good care of his pregnant wife, who was stepping into the third month. This included alleviating any sudden worries about being perceived as a “helpless housewife, scorned and looked down on by her husband” whenever she learned Natalie was collaborating with him again. He encouraged her to engage in feasible and enjoyable work, such as community activities related to charity, and yet he refused to let her stress over proving her earning ability with arduous traveling—there was no need for that.

To keep her happily anticipating the long-awaited pregnancy and joy, one important aspect was to offer praise: “Don’t you think you’re becoming more and more beautiful?” Jessica, sitting in front of the vanity table, smiled toothily and gently combed her brunette hair, “Really? Darling, I’m thinking of dyeing my hair a light gold, what do you think? It seems pregnant women shouldn’t dye their hair, I read in magazines that the dye can affect the baby’s development…”

Here she goes again with the “I’d like to, but pregnant women can’t” vanity talk! Standing beside her, Wang Yang hummed along for a bit and then suggested “dye it after having the baby,” until he suddenly shouted loudly, “Don’t move!” Jessica, who was mid-hair-styling, froze. Wang Yang excitedly turned around: “Wow, just like that! This action, this expression, this angle! Perfect, I have to capture it! This is motherhood!” In truth, he did find a unique beauty in pregnant women, though he was being a bit hyperbolic: “Sweetheart! This is why I always say ‘pregnant women are the most beautiful’—another clear proof!…”

“Really?” Hearing his words, Jessica couldn’t help but beam, ruining that particular expression, but as she looked at herself in the mirror, she liked what she saw more and more.

As the days passed, May 20th to the 26th came and went quickly. This week, cinemas around the world were nearly in a one-man show for “Star Wars: Episode III,” storming into North America’s fastest to reach $100 million (in 3 days), the new fastest to $150 million (in 4 days), and the new fastest to $200 million (in 8 days), furiously sweeping across all of North America! It forcefully collected $150.4 million this week, with an average of $41,090 per cinema across 3,661 venues, and the total box office soared to $200.4 million in 8 days!

Aside from Japan, where it’s set to release on July 9th, and having just premiered in Korea a day ago (May 26th), “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” swept the global box office, reigning supreme at the weekly top spot across countries like Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and China. Garnering an astounding $145.5 million during its opening weekend and rocketing to $184.7 million within a week, the film’s global total has already hit $385.1 million. With a production budget of $113 million, these jaw-dropping figures are indeed enviable!

After all these years, there has only been one “Star Wars,” and it’s not something one can simply envy and obtain; what’s more enviable is “Kung Fu Panda,” which naturally didn’t retain the championship as it settled for second place. This week, with no other new films daring to launch a large-scale premiere against “Star Wars,” films like “Monster-in-Law” continued to lack competitiveness. Thus, “Kung Fu Panda” struggled yet easily bagged $50.21 million at the North American box office in its second week. Po the panda remained the beloved favorite of kids and adults alike.

As a new animated film situated in the fiercely competitive summer schedule, “Kung Fu Panda” needed to progress its international release gradually. This week, to avoid clashing head-on with “Star Wars,” it only premiered in some non-major markets and countries with moderate interest in the film. While retaining the weekly championship in Korea, it amassed $20.54 million globally within the week, bringing the overseas box office to $47.24 million and the global box office to $178 million. Firefly Films produced another blockbuster success.

“Oh~~Oh~~Everybody is kung-fu fighting——Your mind becomes fast as lightning——”

May 27th, a new weekend dawns! Seeing that the strongest wave of “Star Wars” has now passed, the animated movie “Madagascar” and the comedy “The Longest Yard” join the North American battlefield. However, due to the time difference, even before Wang Yang and Jessica could enjoy the sunshine of the 27th, “Kung Fu Panda” had already premiered at numerous theaters in mainland China. In a poll conducted by , 21% of netizens supported the boycott, ignoring the film, while the 75% who opposed the boycott and the 4% indifferent just wanted to enjoy a film during the weekend became movie-goers.

“Hahaha!” Laughter filled the packed screening halls, whether it was the original or dubbed version, in Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shanghai, Beijing—mainland audiences relished in the joy brought by Po and company and appreciated this love letter from Firefly Blue Sky.

To be confessed love offers the choices of acceptance, rejection, or the friend zone; similarly, audiences have the choices of watching, not watching, or the friend zone. Luckily, the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television did not become foolish enough to ban the film. Otherwise, where would all this laughter from the discerning and calm audiences in these theaters come from? In Taiwan, the well-promoted “Kung Fu Panda” also debuted. The audience there also found joy in it, bursting into laughter at the humorous dialogue and comical scenes.

As June approaches, schools around the world begin to go on summer break one after another. Already released in cinemas are “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “Madagascar,” “The Longest Yard,” and the upcoming “Iron Man,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Batman,” “Fireflies”…

The moment of warfare is upon us! (