si-mexico Chapter 281 The Romance of Fantasy Special Effects
Chapter 281 The Romance of Fantasy Special Effects
Let's go back a few days to the time before the film's release.
Since attending the internal preview event, Lao Tang felt as if his Ren and Du meridians had been opened up.
After returning home, his inspiration flowed freely. He sat in front of the computer and typed away until sparks flew. In just three days, he painstakingly produced a video script of more than 10,000 words.
But after careful consideration, he revised and deleted the parts repeatedly.
After all, we can't give away too many spoilers; that's the bottom line.
Although Lao Tang was feeling stifled, he still maintained his professional ethics.
Everything is ready. All that's left is for Light Chaser Animation to send over the official promotional material package on May 1st, the day the movie is officially released. He can then add a few trailers and the high-definition footage already released by the official team, and the movie will be available for the first time online.
Finally, the movie was released.
As soon as Lao Tang's video was released, fans who had been eagerly anticipating it, having been teased by the trailer and theatrical reviews, instantly flooded the playback page.
[Missing Person Returns!]
[Haven't watched it yet, just reserving a spot]
[People are queuing outside the movie theater; let's see what Lao Tang has to say first.]
[I've already bought tickets for tonight's show, resisting the urge to read spoilers, Old Tang, hurry up and get up!]
[Is it true that Light Chaser Animation Studios has delivered a game-changing blow this time?]
While it may not reach the level of a masterpiece like Ultraman Tiga from the original series, it's still a decent work.
Lower your expectations. If you're comparing it to other films released during the May Day holiday, isn't this a masterpiece? This is definitely a game-changer for Light Chaser Animation.
[The Chinese entertainment industry has been taught a lesson by the godfather of tokusatsu (special effects) films.]
[Is Gu, that old scoundrel, starting another business and destroying the film market?]
[The strictest father of a popular celebrity]
[Is Gu, that old scoundrel, trying to bring his special effects techniques to the film industry?]
The video begins with some small talk.
Then, Lao Tang got down to business.
"Everyone, let me start with the conclusion—'The Great Battle of Time' is a movie worth seeing in theaters."
"What I'm about to say won't spoil any key plot points, so you can watch with peace of mind. If you're a casual viewer who hasn't bought tickets yet, this video is your viewing guide."
Old Tang held up one finger: "First of all, this movie has a very bold concept. What did Gu Nan do? He made Ultraman a tokusatsu drama on television in the movie."
What kind of operation is this?!
Breaking the fourth wall? Interesting.
[Does this refer to the dream in the trailer where everyone knows me?]
When I saw the trailer, I thought my dream's identity had been exposed!
"Yes, you heard me right."
Old Tang smiled and said, "In the world of this film, the protagonist is just like you and me, an ordinary viewer who grew up watching Ultraman. When this setting was revealed, I sat up straight at the preview screening. Because it means that what this movie is going to discuss is different from all previous Ultraman works."
He cut to a few fast-paced clips from the trailer: "I can't go into too much detail about how they're different. But I can tell you that the core of this movie isn't 'how Ultraman defeats the monster,' but rather 'why people should believe in Ultraman.'"
What kind of philosophical musings is that old rascal Gu going to pull this time?
So, does this movie have a "destruction-attracting" theme?
[This doesn't feel like just a simple popcorn chip.]
"Next, let's talk about the structure of this film."
Old Tang released several official stills from the film, stating, "In this movie, Gu Nan divides the narrative into two lines. It's not a simple multi-line narrative, but rather each line has its own complete emotional logic. There's the children's perspective, my dream's perspective, and two subplots with different worldviews. These multiple perspectives overlap and ultimately converge into a complete theme."
"What specific topic?"
Old Tang smiled mysteriously, "You'll have to find out for yourselves in the movie theater. If you liked the way that film handled it, you won't be disappointed with this one."
Stop talking, stop talking or you'll spoil the plot!
Old Tang, you must have had a tough time holding back.
[Expectations are running high]
Old Tang's voice became serious: "Thirdly, let's talk about the production quality of this film. You can see from the trailer that Light Chaser Animation has invested a lot in special effects this time. But I must say that what the trailer shows is just the tip of the iceberg. There are two key scenes, and the scene arrangement and lighting are absolutely top-notch in Chinese films."
He paused for a moment: "Especially the soundtrack. The music team that Gu Nan invited this time, I can only say it's like a blast from the past. When those familiar melodies sound in a completely new arrangement—how should I put it—it's a very wonderful feeling. It's both familiar and strange, both nostalgic and fresh. It's not just selling nostalgia, but a completely new interpretation based on homage."
[666, still paying tribute?]
Who all made appearances?
[There's a hint in this trailer]
[The soundtrack for Chasing the Light is always good.]
"Of course, this movie isn't perfect either."
Old Tang then changed the subject, "The pace is relatively slow in the first thirty minutes, as Gu Nan uses a lot of space to depict the characters' daily lives. If you're expecting a fast-paced action movie from beginning to end, you might find the first half hour a bit boring."
"To be honest, the entire cast performed admirably. The performances of the young leads were particularly stunning; I dare say they are the best children's performances of their kind in recent years, bar none."
"Also, if you're a detail-oriented person or a stickler for historical accuracy, you'll thoroughly enjoy this movie. Gu Nan's skill in planting clues has evolved once again; many details you might miss on your first viewing will suddenly connect at some point, creating a feeling similar to..."
He thought for a moment: "It's like putting the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle together."
"All of this groundwork is necessary. As the story progresses into its later stages, you'll realize that every detail from the beginning was crucial."
Old Tang's expression turned serious: "Finally, I want to talk about the biggest highlight of this movie—its villain design. I won't say who it is or why they're causing trouble. But I can tell you that this villain is the most surprising one I've ever seen in Gu Nan's works. It's not a stereotypical evil, not just a simple desire for destruction, but has a very complete psychological logic. You might even feel empathy for this villain at some point."
Old Tang praising the villain so much must mean he's no ordinary person.
Gu Nan's villains are consistently well-written.
[No spoilers, no spoilers, I'll go see it myself!]
To summarize.
Old Tang leaned forward, looking directly at the camera, and said, "The Great Battle of Time is a movie that requires you to calm down and watch it."
"It's not just a story of 'Ultraman fighting monsters,' but about how a group of ordinary children confront their inner fears and desires. Gu Nan uses the shell of tokusatsu (special effects) to wrap a core about growth. If you're willing to give it a chance, it will leave you with a memorable viewing experience during your May Day holiday."
The screen dims, and a line of text appears: May 1st, "The Great Battle of Time and Space," see you in theaters.
The screen was flooded with comments like "I'm going to buy tickets now."
Old Tang never disappoints, I'm totally buying this recommendation.
[They managed to make me fall for them without giving away any spoilers; that's quite a skill.]
[Tickets for 8 PM, waiting...]
[Go, Gu Laozei! Increase the intensity of the May Day holiday lineup!]
I'll watch this video again after I finish watching it.
Old Tang's video precisely hits the line between spoilers and recommendations.
It didn't reveal the direction of any of the core plot points, yet it successfully ignited the audience's curiosity.
When the first batch of viewers returned for a second viewing, the comments section was flooded with exclamations like "I've finished watching it, and Old Tang was right about everything" and "So that's what that detail meant."
And all of this is just the beginning.
……
Time flies, and it's already the last day of the May Day holiday.
Cinemas in major shopping districts are still packed with people.
Meanwhile, CCTV-6, the movie channel of China Central Television (CCTV) in Xia Kingdom, also known as "Princess Six," broadcast a special interview with the creative team of "The Great Battle of Time and Space" during prime time.
At this point, the total box office of "Time Wars" had already surpassed the 1.5 billion yuan mark.
According to calculations from top industry data models, the film's total box office revenue throughout its theatrical run will definitely not be less than 3 billion yuan. This current achievement is already comparable to phenomenal national blockbusters such as *The Twenty*, *Octagonal Cage*, *Never Say Die*, *Hello Mr. Billionaire*, and *Monster Hunt*.
With a single tokusatsu feature film, Light Chaser Animation firmly established itself in the mainstream film industry of China.
On the television screen, the host sat upright on the sofa in the studio, smiling as he looked at Gu Nan sitting opposite him.
"Director Gu, congratulations on the outstanding success of 'The Great Battle of Time'! As far as we know, the current box office trend is very strong. Is this result within your expectations? Are you satisfied with the current outcome?"
Gu Nan was wearing a simple dark casual suit today, making him look calm and confident.
He smiled slightly, picked up the microphone, and replied, "Satisfied? It's unbelievable. To be honest, during the early stages of preparation for this film, some of the company's investors suggested that I consider inviting a few currently popular celebrities to make cameo appearances. Their logic was clear: popularity translates to a fan base, which would provide a basic guarantee for early box office revenue."
The host nodded slightly, indicating that he understood this business practice.
"But I ultimately declined."
Gu Nan said firmly, "I believe that the public often has a certain preconceived notion about certain celebrities with huge fan bases. If we rashly let them participate in such an immersive fantasy film, it is easy to create a serious disconnect between the character and the actor, and the audience will be pulled out of the story, which will greatly affect the overall viewing experience of the film."
Furthermore,
Gu Nan paused, his eyes sharpening. "I'd rather use every penny saved from the film's budget to invest in the special effects rendering, suit making, and miniature model construction. Tokusatsu films are all about these hard skills."
The host pressed further, "I heard that the investors also suggested financializing the business?"
"Yes."
Gu Nan nodded. "Later, some partners saw that the project was too big and asked me if I should conduct financial operations, breaking down the investment into smaller parts to spread the risk. I refused. Because once we get involved in complicated capital operations, it will distract the creative team. I must ensure that my team devotes 100% of their energy to the film content itself, instead of calculating the rate of return and performance-based agreements every day."
Gu Nan sighed, "To be honest, when the finance department handed me the final total cost figure, I was also shocked. After all, this kind of high-budget, high-performance sci-fi blockbuster, which focuses on special effects details, is not the usual approach of the Xia country's film industry in the past two years."
The risk is too great.
However, I still chose to take the plunge, because I believe that it is the right thing to do to create a special effects blockbuster with top-notch industrial standards that belongs to us.
Someone has to do it, so why can't it be me?
I'm truly grateful for the support from audiences across the country; my expectations weren't actually this high.
The studio erupted in enthusiastic applause.
Then, the host turned his attention to Su Ye, who was sitting to the side and played Gao Womeng.
"Hello Su Ye, your performance in the film was very moving. Which scene left the deepest impression on you during the entire filming process?"
Su Ye seemed a little flustered, but he quickly adjusted his breathing and answered seriously, "The scene that left the deepest impression was definitely the one where I was chased by that group of elementary school kids on the street. That scene was also the one that I was most immersed in and that I remember most vividly."
Su Ye recalled the scene and couldn't help but laugh: "As you may know, I'm not a professionally trained actor; I was discovered by Director Gu by chance. In acting, I prefer method acting to technique-based acting. Many times, I need real stimulation to react."
"For that scene, Director Gu didn't arrange for the extras to move around, but instead found several hundred young fans who really like Ultraman."
When I climbed out of the fighter jet and saw them rushing towards me, shouting "My Dream!" and "Gaia!" like madmen, I was completely overwhelmed by their pure fanaticism.
In that instant, I truly empathized with the character I was in the script.
Su Ye's expression turned serious and wistful: "But after filming, when I sit alone in the dressing room, I sometimes reflect. Seeing so many kids online who love me, I even doubt myself. Am I actually unworthy of this position?"
I'm just an ordinary actor, not as great as a real hero. So, I secretly resolved that I want to be not only a hero on the big screen, but also a hero in real life. I will strive to improve myself, live with integrity, and be worthy of the unconditional love of my fans!
Su Ye's sincere words moved countless viewers in front of their televisions. There were no official platitudes, only the most genuine insights of an actor.
After a few more questions about future space plans, this special interview concluded successfully in a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.
As the end credits slowly rose on the television screen, the box office miracle of "Time Wars" continued its meteoric rise.