Huayu: I'm reborn, but you still force me to be a scumbag?

Chapter 563 Hmm
Several girls followed the crowd out of the movie theater. The pitch-black night outside made them quicken their pace, feeling a little nervous. They ran to the car and didn't start talking again until the car started and drove towards the campus of Louisiana University.

Susan asked, "What do you think the film critics will say tomorrow?"

Fei'er: "Who cares about them? I think this is the best and most touching movie I've ever seen in my life. I plan to watch it again in a couple of days."

The Black girl said, "I want to come too, remember to call me. I feel so sad thinking that this is the last time I'll see Edward on the big screen."

"Haha, you looked really ugly when you cried at the end."

"you, too."

Do you think Edward could really be nominated for an Oscar?

"If I can't, I swear I'll never watch the Oscars again in my life!"

Before long, the car drove back to the school. After returning to the dormitory, the four girls were still chatting in the living room for a while before going back to their respective rooms to rest.

The next day was Sunday, and there were no classes. Susan had also told her mother in advance that she wouldn't be going home this week, so she slept until noon. After getting dressed, she knocked on the doors of several dorm rooms next door, but no one answered. Knowing that they must have all gone out, she picked up her phone and went downstairs alone.

I found a restaurant on campus for dinner and bought a cup of coffee. Afterwards, I found a scenic spot in the campus park, sat down on a bench, and took out my phone.

That's right, if you were to ask who among her friends cares most about whether "Twilight" could get into the Oscars, it would undoubtedly be her. Things she didn't care about before, she now has to care about.

Recalling an article she had seen online titled "What Kind of Movies Can Be Nominated for an Oscar," she first opened Rotten Tomatoes.

The article states that Rotten Tomatoes score is often the first hurdle for the Oscars.

If a film receives a less than 60% approval rating from professional film critics, it's almost certain that it's doomed.

To truly enter the mainstream view of the Oscars, a film generally needs to have more than 80% freshness, or even around 90%, to be considered "worth considering".

Although a few media outlets had already given their reviews after the premiere, the first day of the public screening was clearly the crucial moment.

So Susan eagerly typed in "Twilight: Breaking Dawn 2", opened the page, and her heart was pounding.

Then, the page popped up.

It has a 71% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with over 90 reviews, an average score of 7.9/10, and a viewer rating of 84%!

"what!"

Susan exclaimed in surprise.

Without a doubt, this is a score that has never been seen before in the five Twilight movies.

Even excluding the fact that the first and second films only had a Rotten Tomatoes score of 39% and 29% respectively, and were heavily criticized by many film critics.

The third installment, despite a turnaround in reputation, only achieved a freshness rating of 51%.

Last year's Breaking Dawn 1 had a 49% approval rating. While the intimate scene between Edward and Laura in the sea was praised by many fans, it received only mediocre reviews from film critics.

This time, the finale only got 71%!

Of course, it's far from DROP's exaggerated 93%, but it's still a breakthrough achievement.

Thinking of this, Susan couldn't help but sigh silently again.

Although many guys asked her to see the movie, she didn't accept any of them and went alone that day. However, she had to admit that what she read online was true: going to the movies alone is torture, a double blow to both her emotions and her physical well-being.

Back to the present, Susan first clicked on the top film critics' column on Rotten Tomatoes, and to her surprise, this was the first time she had ever seen so many positive reviews here.

"While the Twilight series has been consistently criticized, Chan's performance in the finale elevated the plot, and his presence made the story less reliant on teenage fantasies." — Manola Dargis, The New York Times, Fresh.

can't read.'

Susan shook her head and continued reading.

"Don't get me wrong, *Breaking Dawn 2* is still a fan film, but Chan's performance here is truly impressive. Especially the final moment when he talks about eternity, he uses his performance to make the audience feel the weight of time." — Peter Travers, *Rolling Stone*, Fresh.

That's right.

Susan nodded in agreement; even after a night, the last scene still lingered in her mind.

The expression on Chen's face when he said that was truly intriguing.

Although she didn't understand the weight of time, she truly felt as if a stone was pressing on her heart, making her uncomfortable.

"Even though Chen's performance is noteworthy, the film as a whole still cannot escape its dragging pace and narrative flaws. The audience's tears are more due to the emotion of farewell than to the true quality of the film." — Kenneth Turan, *Los Angeles Times*, *Rotten*.

Hmph. Here we go again.

Where did things drag on?
"The film barely holds up its dignity thanks to Chen, but once the camera leaves him, it immediately reveals its paleness and emptiness. And Chen's performance is not flawless either; for a Chinese star, action scenes are surprisingly his weakness." — Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter, Rotten.

fart!
Yesterday's fight was so exciting! The Hollywood Reporter is full of racists!
"Chen's performance in *Breaking Dawn 2* was unexpectedly mature and restrained, giving a moment of genuine artistic spark to a fan-centric film series. But the film as a whole remains a romantic fantasy catering to teenage emotions." — Roger Ebert, *Chicago Sun-Times*, Rotten.

Roger Ebert?
Susan's eyes widened slightly as she looked at the last name.

If she remembered correctly, wasn't this person critically ill and hospitalized not long ago? How come he's back writing film reviews? What's even more outrageous is that there was a rumor circulating in the media that Chen used some kind of mysterious Eastern witchcraft to "revive" him. Yet this guy turned around and rotted over Twilight!
Filled with indignation, she clicked on the "Read the full article" tag.

"The Twilight series is the best example of the combination of commercial film and fan culture, and it should provide the audience with an entertainment feast that satisfies their fantasies. Breaking Dawn 2 does just that."

However, I cannot ignore its limitations: the plot is bloated and the character development is superficial. Chen's performance is perhaps the only bright spot worth keeping, as he briefly gave the film some real weight.

This might deserve an award nomination, but it's a far cry from changing my overall impression of the film—a journey from Los Angeles to BJ. Although it feels like a completely different film series compared to the original.

Recommendation rating: Thumbs up.

This is dedicated to Bill Condon, the director of this film.

He made Robert Pattinson's abrupt exit in the final episode, which made me feel much better.

This young man, who rose to prominence in Harry Potter, still seems to have struggled to find his footing in the role; his presence within the Cullen family remains awkward. His performance isn't laughably bad, but he certainly draws attention to the inexplicable tension on his face. Goodbye, Pattinson. Hopefully, your next film will be set in a world without Chen; that might make you feel much more relaxed.

"Ha ha!"

Susan couldn't help but chuckle after reading that sentence.

If she had to pick the character she disliked the most in the Cullen family, it would undoubtedly be this person.

What's amazing is that this wasn't just her personal bias; he was the most unpopular figure among the entire Twilight fanbase.

Everyone shared a common feeling: every time this person appeared on camera, it was as if he was holding back a lot of energy, wanting to compete with Edward for her affections, but the final result always seemed like he was trying too hard, making it both ridiculous and laughable.

It turns out that not only them, but even this famous film critic thinks so.

In that instant, much of the frustration she had been feeling because of Roger Albert's "rotten" verdict dissipated.

Her mouth was a little dry, and she was about to pick up the coffee next to her when, unexpectedly, a figure took a few steps back and bumped into her, knocking the coffee out of her hand and onto the ground.

"What are you doing!"

Susan suddenly cried out.

The person who bumped into her turned around and saw a beautiful blonde woman with long legs covered in a light brown liquid. He immediately said, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."

Susan glanced at him, frowned slightly, and said, "Never mind."

But the ordinary-looking, dark-haired boy still said apologetically, "How about... I buy you a new cup of coffee, or help you clean your clothes?" Susan wanted to refuse; her mouth was already open, but she stopped herself at the last minute. In the end, she nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go buy another cup. Let's go."

After saying that, the girl stood up. At 178 cm tall, she was a head taller than the boy.

The boy was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered and followed closely behind Susan.

……

……

Susan went to buy coffee.

However, the storm that "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2" has stirred up in the American film industry today has only just begun.

Almost at the same time, Chen Nuo received a phone call that left him speechless.

What the hell!
He even doubted whether he had misheard.
He, like Susan, had just been reading movie reviews. To be honest, the generally positive reviews were exactly what he expected.

But what he heard on the phone at that moment was completely unexpected.

"Robert, what did you say? How much did the midnight screenings cost last night?"

On the other end of the phone, Rob Friedman's voice showed no signs of aging, "6180 million! Chen, Chen, Chen!"

Rob called his name three more times, his voice filled with excitement and joy, like a gambling dog that had won the lottery, barking! Woof! Woof!
—In Chen Nuo’s memory, he had never heard of Rob Friedman losing his composure like this.

"...And also, turn on the TV right now! Right now, we're on CNN! Hahahaha!"

Chen Nuo glanced at the woman beside him and saw that she had opened her eyes. He then reached for the remote control on the other bedside table and turned on the TV.

Although it wasn't CNN, it was NBC that the two of them watched together yesterday.

However, on the screen, NBC's famous host Hoda Kotter, in a formal broadcasting tone, said: "...61.8 million. The currently showing 'Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2' broke the midnight box office record set by 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2' last year with 61.8 million in its midnight screenings yesterday, with 43.7 million. Let's take a look at what happened last night."

The screen then switched, and a message appeared in the upper left corner that read "Recorded Last Night".

In the shot, a reporter holding a microphone faces the camera and says:

"This is the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. It's 2:08 a.m. The midnight premiere of 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2' has just ended, and as we can see, the theater entrance is still packed with excited audiences. The theater manager just told me that this is the highest attendance he's ever had for a midnight screening in his more than 20 years in the industry. Am I right, Kirk?"

After saying that, he held the microphone up to the mouth of a big fat man.

The fat man spoke with great enthusiasm: "Yes, that's right. The midnight show was completely sold out, even the corner seats in the last row were taken! The audience lined up outside a day in advance, and we even had to temporarily increase manpower to maintain order. To be honest, this night felt like a rock concert rather than a movie screening."

As Chen Nuo watched, he heard Robert say on the phone, "Chen, did you see that?"

"Yes, got it."

"Yesterday's midnight screenings alone grossed $6000 million, and we estimate our opening day box office will reach around $1.3 million today, completely leaving Harry Potter in the dust. We've set a new single-day box office record in North America. Wuhoooo!!!!"

Rob Friedman seems to be getting younger and younger; he even cheered like a child on the other end of the phone.

At this moment, Ivanka propped herself up. Chen Nuo glanced at her, casually placed his hand on the woman's body, and said with a smile while kneading her, "Robert, I have to admit, you guys really did a great job this time."

Rob laughed heartily, "Yes, I've already prepared to give Nia her bonus. Twilight aiming for an Oscar, hahahaha, that's a brilliant idea!"

Chen Nuo chuckled and said, "Don't forget whose interests were sacrificed in this."

Rob said, "Alright, alright, Chen, let me tell you this: as long as our ratings don't drop drastically in a week, I'll do everything in my power to get the board to agree to help you contend for the Golden Globe. I swear, DAMN! Can you believe it? We might sell 2 million in the opening weekend! We might even break the Avengers' record!"

At that moment, on the television in front of Chen Nuo, the host began interviewing some audience members who had just left the venue.

A couple dressed as vampires held hands, and the man excitedly spoke into the microphone:

"It was insane! We started queuing in the afternoon just to be among the first to see the ending. The whole audience was screaming at the end, it was an amazing feeling."

The woman followed up with:

"This is truly a fantastic movie; I think it's the best in the entire series. All you girls who haven't seen it yet, come on over! You'll see an Edward you've never seen before."

Then there were two girls holding hands, one of whom was so excited that her eyes were glistening with tears:

"We've waited a whole year for this! To be able to shout and cry with so many people, the atmosphere was incredible."

Another girl continued:
"I just want to watch it a second time right now!"

……

After a while, Rob hung up the phone.

Clearly, the iPhone's speakers these days are really not that great. Even though Chen Nuo didn't turn on the speakerphone, Rob's volume was loud, and Ivanka could still hear him clearly even though her head was at Chen Nuo's waist.

As soon as he hung up the phone, the slurping sound stopped, and Ivanka looked up with a smile.

Although she had just woken up and hadn't washed up yet, this woman was truly stunning. Even without makeup, the way she smiled with food against her face was absolutely captivating.

Even with his extensive knowledge and experience, Chen Nuo couldn't help but feel a little itchy to try it out.

But the woman was clearly not in a hurry.

After a night's rest, this tall, beautiful woman, who regularly works out, has regained her energy.

"How was it?" the woman said with a hint of pride. "I told you you'd sell very well this time. Because all my friends, who rarely watch movies before, have been talking about Twilight non-stop."

Chen Nuo praised, "Impressive."

After saying that, he put his hands behind his head and lay back.

As his posture changed, the sensible girl, raised with conservative education, immediately opened her mouth and fell silent. Then, the sound of eating popsicles rang out again in the luxuriously decorated bedroom, along with occasional sounds that resembled farting, which were not pleasant at all.

but,

Western girls do have different throat structures, making them less susceptible to nausea from foreign objects. This is perhaps a difference between races. Back in Japan, even with Ayaka and Ayaka's best efforts, including taking turns communicating and helping each other, they couldn't achieve the same result. But Ivanka accomplished it with ease.

Doesn't this make one marvel at the wonder of the Creator?

As Chen Nuo pondered, his thoughts began to wander.

How much will Twilight's global box office revenue be?
It should have no problem reaching 10 billion US dollars, because the previous film's opening weekend box office was much worse than this one, but it still crossed the 10 billion threshold. After all, this is 2012, and not only in China, but also in the United States, the number of films has increased significantly compared to 2008.

So, how far can it go?
Of all the commercial films he's starred in so far, the highest-grossing is undoubtedly "Inception" with $24 billion, followed by "The Dark Knight" with $13.38 billion. So, can "Twilight" surpass "The Dark Knight" and become the second highest-grossing film of his career?

If that's really the case, then according to his revenue-sharing agreement with Summit Entertainment, with $2000 million plus 15% of the box office revenue, he could get more than $2 million in salary!

That's 2 million US dollars!
The $7000 million I just spent in Montana not only came back in full, but also doubled several times over.

What the hell am I going to do? I have more money than I can spend!

Thinking about it this way, hey, it wouldn't have been a bad thing to be a little more generous yesterday!

"uh-huh!"

Thinking of this, Chen Nuo couldn't help but let out a muffled groan of pleasure.

(End of this chapter)