This director is vindictive.

Chapter 243 Chen Mo racked his brains to maintain family harmony.

Chen Mo was quite curious about which one the two of them would choose.

However, it turns out that while they may indeed be among the best in television dramas, their taste in film is truly terrible.

Moreover, the two are quite similar; their only notable film works to date are the movies they each starred in as Chen Mo.

One is "Article Twenty", and the other is "Making a Name for Oneself"!
The rest is best left unsaid! Yang Mi has "Tiny Times," and Zhao Liying has "The Monkey King 3." You see, they're evenly matched!

"I choose 'Vanguard'!" Yang Mi said with an air of confidence.

Zhao Liying retorted defiantly, "I also choose 'Vanguard'!"

Chen Mo was completely bewildered. Seriously? Were they all this uniform? Were they all at the same level of badness?
"I chose first!" Yang Mi exclaimed, her eyes wide.

"There's such a thing as first come, first served in this kind of thing? What's the point of betting then?" Zhao Liying said disdainfully.

"Wait, why did you all choose 'Vanguard'?" Chen Mo asked curiously.

I completely don't understand why they are so pessimistic about "The Eight Hundred" but so optimistic about "Vanguard"!
I completely don't understand their logic!

"I've seen the trailer. This movie features all sorts of chases and intense battles with various firearms. There are speedboats, expensive cars, fighter jets, and even an aircraft carrier."

"And it's a Jackie Chan movie, and more importantly, it's a comedy action film. At this time of year, this type of movie is definitely more appealing," Yang Mi explained earnestly.

“Guan Yu has never made such a big production before, and the history is too heavy. Isn’t this release date a bit inappropriate?” Yang Mi added.

Chen Mo was truly at a loss for words, both amused and exasperated.

No, sister, please don't say that.

What you said makes sense, but there really aren't many.

Yes, it's true that movies with a comedic element seem more appealing at this time of year, but that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do!

As for trailers and such, just watch them and that's it!

"And what about you? Why do you favor 'Vanguard' but not 'The Eight Hundred'?" Chen Mo turned to look at Zhao Liying.

He was also very curious as to why Zhao Liying, like Yang Mi, was more optimistic about "Vanguard"!
"Shot globally and produced with lavish production values, this is a true blockbuster. If I had to describe the trailer for 'Vanguard' in one word, I would choose 'blockbuster.' First of all, the scenes are grand in scale."

Moreover, the crew filmed in many locations around the world. In the film, you can see the towering Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the solemn London Bridge, the African savanna and the bustling city of India. Each scene is full of unique local flavor. Coupled with dazzling action scenes, the image of the "vanguard" international security team is highlighted.

The trailer features a familiar street car chase, but unlike the simple racing scenes in previous domestic films, the car chase in "Vanguard" involves massive destruction. You can see innocent civilians' cars being overturned by a pure gold luxury car engaged in a life-or-death race. And this is a genuine gold car!
This scene is reminiscent of the scene in "The Fate of the Furious" where hundreds of cars simultaneously plummet from a skyscraper, which is absolutely spectacular and brings an even more thrilling movie-watching experience.

"That's why I think this movie will be pretty good!" Zhao Liying said to Yang Mi provocatively.

"Wait a minute, what about 'The Eight Hundred'? The cast of this movie is also quite impressive, isn't it? It's full of award-winning actors and actresses, and it's a true historical adaptation of the Battle of Sihang Warehouse. How is it inferior to 'Vanguard'?" Chen Mo asked rhetorically.

"Because the director is Guan Hu!" Yang Mi and Zhao Liying said in unison.

"???" Chen Mo was completely dumbfounded.

What the hell?

"Are you guys having some kind of misconception? Who told you that you shouldn't watch it just because the director is Guan Hu? Last year's 'My People, My Country' grossed over 3 billion yuan, okay?" Chen Mo said speechlessly.

"But that movie wasn't directed by him alone, and it was a tribute film, so it can't be attributed to him at all, right?" Yang Mi retorted.

"Before that, I admit that Guan Hu was a very good director, but most of his works were art films. Before that, his highest-grossing film was 'Mr. Six'! And that film didn't even gross over 1 billion yuan!"
So what's so strange about not having high hopes for him and "The Eight Hundred"?

"If we're comparing art films and the probability of winning awards, then Guan Hu is definitely better. But if we're comparing the box office of commercial films, I still think the Tang Jili + Cheng Long combination has a slight advantage!" Zhao Liying echoed.

What do you mean the box office hasn't even reached 1 billion? Are you kidding me?

To Chen Mo's dismay, the two of them surprisingly reached an agreement on this matter.

You guys are amazing! Even I'm not as blind as you!

"Alright, you guys continue!" Chen Mo shrugged helplessly.

These two newbies are pecking at each other, yet they both look incredibly confident—it's unbelievable.

"Wait, I choose 'The Eight Hundred'!" Yang Mi suddenly changed her mind.

“No, I’ll choose ‘The Eight Hundred’ too!” Zhao Liying also changed her mind.

Chen Mo was once again filled with question marks: "???"

"What are you guys doing now?" Chen Mo asked, both amused and exasperated.

"Didn't you all disapprove of 'The Eight Hundred'? Didn't you all think that Guan Hu's commercial films are no good?" Chen Mo was truly speechless.

“How about this, you both just choose ‘The Eight Hundred’ and you don’t need to gamble anymore. I’ll choose ‘Vanguard’ and I’ll bet with you two! What do you say?” Chen Mo’s eyes darted around, and he suddenly remembered the time when Zhang Yuqi and Fan Binbin were “getting along”.

Wouldn't it be even more exciting if Yang Mi and Zhao Liying were involved?

After all, the two are sworn enemies. If they could achieve this, Chen Mo would find it even more exciting!
Ahem, all of the above is nonsense. Chen Mo just wanted to ease the tension between the two of them. Yes, that's it. He was definitely not looking for any thrills!

He, Chen Mo, an honest and trustworthy young man, simply wanted them to get along harmoniously!
As for why "Vanguard" was chosen, it's all a cliché!

Everyone knows Chen Mo's keen eye; everyone knows he's a movie prediction expert, and his predictions are almost always right.

Therefore, he was playing hard to get.

As expected, Yang Mi and Zhao Liying exchanged a glance. The person who understands you best is often your "enemy." Chen Mo always felt that the two of them were actually very similar.

They're both workaholics, both strong-willed women.

And despite their sharp and confrontational nature, they actually have the most tacit understanding between them.

See, the two of them have already formed a united front.

"No way!" they both said in unison.

"So what exactly do you want?" Chen Mo asked helplessly.

But inwardly he was incredibly smug, thinking, "Little brat, I've got you figured out!"
“Let’s discuss this!” Yang Mi looked at Zhao Liying.

"it is good!"

The two of them then went into the room to discuss their plan.

Chen Mo was also completely baffled. What was going on?
These two can actually discuss things calmly?
Inside the room.

“I always felt that he had ill intentions!” Yang Mi said.

“Me too!” Zhao Liying nodded.

"Shall we still gamble?" Yang Mi asked.

"You choose 'Vanguard,' and I choose 'The Eight Hundred'?" Zhao Liying rolled her eyes.

"You wish!" Yang Mi said irritably.

"Then what's there to discuss?" Zhao Liying rolled her eyes at her.

"What kind of wicked idea do you think he's thinking?" Yang Mi asked.

"What else could I be thinking about? I heard about Fan Binbin and Zhang Yuqi," Zhao Liying said, her face turning slightly red.

"We absolutely can't let him succeed! Otherwise, he'll only become more aggressive!" Yang Mi said in unison.

Chen Mo naturally had no idea what the two of them were discussing, but that didn't matter.

It's just to add a little fun, so what if you lose?
But if we win, then, hehe!

“We’ve decided, we’ll choose ‘Vanguard,’ and you’ll choose ‘The Eight Hundred.’ Whoever wins will be in charge for the next month!” Yang Mi said.

"You guys are cheating. You said it yourself, you're so optimistic about 'Vanguard,' and Guan and Hu are both artsy types. Aren't you just trying to make me lose?" Chen Mo said, feigning dissatisfaction.

"Hehe, I'm giving you the chance. It's up to you how you choose," Zhao Liying said.

“Guan Yu’s ‘Mr. Six’ has already grossed 900 million yuan, and the movie hasn’t even been released yet, so anything is possible, right?” Yang Mi also said.

"Then it's settled, you can't make any weird requests!" Chen Mo said with a forced wry smile.

"If you want something, you have to give something in return. So tell me, are you willing to take the gamble or not?"

"I'll bet! If I win, you can't go back on your word!" Chen Mo said, sounding reluctant.

"Deal!" The two men raised their hands, and Chen Mo gave them a high five.

Then a smile appeared on his face.

Yang Mi and Zhao Liying both frowned slightly, as if something was not quite right.

However, Chen Mo didn't give them much time to think. Time flew by, and the premiere of "Vanguard" was fast approaching.

This time, Chen Mo really gave Jackie Chan a lot of face, as it was the first time he had brought two women with him on the red carpet at the same time.

The appearance of Yang Mi, Zhao Liying, and Chen Mo instantly turned the red carpet at the premiere into daylight with flashes of light.

"Director Chen, Yang Mi, Zhao Liying, look this way!"

"Holy crap, this is the first time the three of them have walked the red carpet together!"

"Wow, how did he do that?"

"It's very simple. If you're rich, handsome, and talented, you can do it too!"

For a moment, entertainment media reporters on both sides of the red carpet were like they were on steroids, constantly pressing their shutters.

The main issue is that everyone knows about Chen Mo's relationships with multiple female confidantes.

However, Chen Mo usually only brought one person to the red carpet in the past, but this time, he actually brought two at once.

Moreover, many people watched with smiles, because they all knew that these two were the only women among Chen Mo's women who had fallen behind.

For a time, many male reporters were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment!
He even began to imagine Chen Mo sleeping with him in the same bed, a scene that every man dreams of.

Chen Mo attended the premiere with two actresses, and Jackie Chan and Tang Ji-Li were among the first to greet him.

After all, Chen Mo's status speaks for itself: the first Chinese film director to achieve a box office of over 10 billion yuan, and so far the only one to hold this honor. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the number one figure in commercial cinema.

Even Jackie Chan wouldn't dare to be arrogant!
"Director Chen, welcome, welcome! Thank you for coming!" Cheng Long stepped forward and shook hands with Chen Mo with a smile.

"I'll definitely be there to support Jackie Chan's movie!" Chen Mo said with a smile.

Cheng Long glanced at the two beauties on either side of Chen Mo, then winked at Chen Mo discreetly, giving him a knowing look.

Chen Mo couldn't help but smile to himself.

Although Jackie Chan's romantic history may be criticized, Chen Mo, as a man, says that he is truly a man among men in the entertainment industry.

They can clear the field in one go when they're really into it.

Despite having six people to support, Chen Mo is truly a rare breed in the entertainment industry, having achieved his status.

Throughout Jackie Chan's acting career, he's been with at least 80 or 100 women. That's impressive!
As an actor, Jackie Chan can be said to have achieved top-tier influence; he is a true international superstar.

There's absolutely nothing to criticize about this.

Why can Jackie Chan's movies be filmed all over the world, and why do locals give him the green light all the time? That's influence.

It's fair to say that no one else could have achieved what he did.

It's no wonder that even though his subsequent films flopped one after another, it didn't stop Yang Mi and Zhao Liying from having higher hopes for his movies.

This is influence!

However, Chen Mo was somewhat troubled. This film, "Vanguard," was likely to either be a bad movie or a box office flop. How should he evaluate it?

The entertainment media will definitely not let him off the hook, but judging from the trailer, this movie isn't entirely without its highlights.

It has to be said that even though Jackie Chan's career has been declining year by year, his status in the entertainment industry remains undeniable.

The premiere was a star-studded event.

The number of people who came to support them was considerable.

In fact, it's no wonder that Yang Mi and others are more optimistic about "Vanguard". The main reason is that the promotion of this movie is much more extensive than that of Jackie Chan's previous movies.

Moreover, it was built with an investment of 400 million yuan.

It's definitely a blockbuster!

The movie started soon.

It was Chen Mo's first time watching this movie, but he quickly fell silent.

how to say?

This movie is really hard to review.

Judging from the current situation, it doesn't seem like a bad movie, but it's not exactly good either.

Overall, it can be described as a popcorn action movie with "adrenaline overload and illogical plot twists"!

Action scenes are a highlight of Jackie Chan's movies, and the scenes are explosive from beginning to end, but they can be a bit too much!

Even in their old age, the older generation of actors still maintain their hard-working spirit. Chen Mo found it hard to believe that Jackie Chan, at the age of 65, would personally race speedboats, drift on the water in Dubai, and crash into a glass curtain wall. Stunt doubles? Not a chance!

However, there are also many flaws. For example, Yang Yang's suit-wearing thug mode, where he jumps from a helicopter to the rooftop and his hairstyle is still intact after landing, is handsome, but it doesn't make any sense, okay?

It was indeed a grand spectacle, especially the Dubai gold car pileup, which reportedly involved 70 luxury cars. Chen Mo couldn't even imagine whether it was really necessary.
Of course, the biggest problem is its flawed logic, or rather, its outdated nature.

In the past, during popcorn movies, people often didn't pay much attention to logical issues.

Running out of bullets is commonplace.

However, Chen Mo really wanted to say, "Brother, times have changed!"
Chen Mo's impression was: It was exhilarating, but when I saw the fifth car chase scene, I started to think about life - why did the villains have to drive to escape?
Anyway, he found it a bit hard to understand.

Yang Mi and Zhao Liying also had their brows furrowed quite deeply at this moment.

While their taste in choosing films is certainly questionable, at least from the audience's perspective, it's still possible to tell whether a movie is good or not.

Clearly, at this moment, they also sensed the "strange feeling" of this movie.

To be honest, the highlights of this movie are the action scenes, explosions, and car chases.

But what about the plot? Is there even a plot? The screenwriter? If Chen Mo were the director, he'd suggest putting the screenwriter on a helicopter!
What's the main plot? Finding a "super battery" that can destroy the world (?), the villains seem to have wandered off the set of "Kingsman," and their motives are cheaper than instant noodle seasoning.

Moreover, the actors' performances were really disappointing; it just goes to show that Jackie Chan has really gotten old.

Throughout the entire sequence, the line "I can still fight" was maintained, but the action scenes were noticeably slowed down, and the editor frantically sped up the special effects.

Yang Yang is handsome and tries very hard, but every time he pulls out a gun, it looks like he's filming a men's perfume commercial.

Mu Qimiya: She does parkour in high heels and is a female warrior character, but unfortunately her lines sound like AI voice acting.

Moreover, the dialogue is so awkward it's embarrassing.

Cheng Long said with a serious face: "It concerns the lives of innocent people, and we, as the vanguard, have an inescapable responsibility!"

Yang Yang suddenly adopted a philosophical approach: "Be content, know what you lack, do what you should do, and refrain from doing what you shouldn't do."

One second they're engaged in a gunfight, the next they're reciting the Tao Te Ching?
Meanwhile, the romantic scenes were incredibly awkward.

"Trust me, I will protect you!"

"But we've only known each other for five minutes."

During the fight, Mu Qimiya suddenly declared with deep emotion, "We are family!"

Chen Mo looked completely bewildered: "Big sister, the villain is still firing his gun!"

The villain's lines almost made Chen Mo lose his composure.

Villain leader: "I will make the world feel pain!"

Chen Mo suspected he had gotten lost on the set of "Naruto." Such cringeworthy lines must have been quite a feat for him.

The hardest thing to bear was the mercenary's dying words as he fell to the ground after being shot: "Why... are you Chinese... so united..."

Are you trying to be funny with your dying words?

Anyway, Chen Mo finally understood why the promotion of "Vanguard" was so impressive and it seemed quite exciting, but after watching it for a while, it became a bit boring.

The dialogue perfectly illustrates the saying: "The more intense the action scenes, the more awkward the dialogue scenes!"

It even gave Chen Mo the feeling that the "zero dialogue" scene in the trailer was actually the climax of the entire film.

The key point is that "Vanguard" is really "old," just like Jackie Chan!

They're still using the same old formula of "car chases + explosions + Jackie Chan-style humor," like playing Genshin Impact on a Windows 98 system.

Gunfight on the African savanna: Lions only bite the villains? Animal protection organizations are speechless.

Seventy real cars were wrecked, but audiences are already immune to it—after all, the Fast and Furious movies have even crashed into outer space.

(End of this chapter)