From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

May 14, 2002, Tuesday.

On one side, Anson, fresh off the wave of "Spider-Man" which had swept North America, was at home with a group of friends tinkering with music, as if entering another world.

On the other side, "Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones" made its dazzling debut, undoubtedly the annual event of the 2002 North American film market, no one forgetting the grand occasion when "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace" was released three years prior—

Back then, the movie also premiered in the third week of May, the week before Memorial Day weekend, raking in $64 million in its opening weekend, and ultimately sweeping $430 million in North America and $924 million worldwide, which propelled the film to the runner-up position in both North American and global box office history, second only to "Titanic."

Sixteen years after the end of the "Star Wars" series, the film proved with its actual performance that it was still the undisputed top draw in North American popular culture.

Now, the second installment of the prequel series was here, and from the trailers, it was clear that Anakin Skywalker, the future Darth Vader who would inspire fear, was about to appear. The entire North American market had long been whipped into a frenzy, creating momentum for the film's release, and no one wanted to miss this grand event.

Facts also proved this point: the top draw lived up to its name.

From television to radio to newspapers and magazines, everything was dominated by it. Even "Spider-Man," which was creating history, had to step aside and make way for "Star Wars: Episode II."

The film premiere brought out half of Hollywood. Just when people were marveling at Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise both appearing at the "Spider-Man" premiere, they saw the "Star Wars: Episode II" premiere, which rivaled the Golden Globe Awards ceremony, and they all shut their mouths, supporting their chins the entire time.

The mighty momentum swept across the North American continent like a hurricane.

Immediately, the headlines of major news outlets couldn't contain their excitement—

Something like "Star Wars: Episode II" to Battle "Spider-Man," something like a Titanic-style collision about to land in North America, something like a Mars colliding with Earth cosmic showdown igniting North American box office enthusiasm.

All sorts of things.

The grand occasion of just the premiere alone had already brought the news media to a collective climax.

Amidst the bustling attention, the "Star Wars: Episode II" media aggregate review was freshly released:

Fifty-four points.

Audience: …

Wait, were they seeing things?

However, they were not.

The aggregate score from thirty-nine professional media outlets: fifty-four points.

A bucket of cold water was poured directly over their heads.

Firstly, only thirty-nine media outlets, compared to the fifty media reviews with which "Spider-Man" wrote history, were completely different levels. What was going on?

Wasn't it said that the premiere was grand and completely crushed "Spider-Man"? Wasn't it said that 20th Century Fox had spent all of its resources? Wasn't it said that the two films would join forces to save the market, and all the media would treat them equally and fairly?

Damn it!

No, Robert is from the "Chicago Sun-Times." Sorry, never mind.

But the point is that the average score of the sixteen positive reviews was not good enough to offset the strong impact of the eighteen mixed reviews and five negative reviews, resulting in a complete collapse of the media aggregate review.

Among them, Hayden Christensen bore the brunt.

Even before the film's release, Anakin Skywalker had garnered too much attention. Every move of the crew could easily spark widespread discussion, but the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment, and the accusations and condemnations all fell on Hayden.

His stiff, lifeless, and expressionless acting became the target of audience and film critics.

Of course, the film's predicament was not limited to this. The lengthy, uninteresting, ineffective narrative, and dull direction completely exposed the shallowness of the characters and the superficiality of the plot, and the film's runtime of over two hours did not help matters. The predicament of the entire work was far from Hayden's sole responsibility—

However, blaming the protagonist is always the easiest and most efficient thing to do.

In addition, there was director George Lucas. The bombardment of criticism was completely concentrated on George and Hayden, in stark contrast to the noise of the premiere.

Amidst the predicament and disaster, the only thing to be thankful for was that the "Star Wars" series had the most loyal, tenacious, and enthusiastic fan base on the North American continent. They would endlessly tolerate the film's shortcomings, and even carve a rose out of a pile of manure. They would never let George Lucas down.

For reference, three years ago, "Star Wars: Episode I" had an even worse media aggregate review, with only fifty-one points, but that still didn't stop the box office from exploding.

And now?

Those crazy fans were still beaming with joy: Look, the second movie actually scored three points higher than the first, a full three points! That's a significant improvement.

Perhaps 20th Century Fox could still hold onto hope, expecting the effect of "Spider-Man" and the popularity of "Star Wars" to spark some fireworks—

A $100 million opening weekend?

Why not!

You still have to have dreams, in case they come true?

May 13th, Thursday.

"Star Wars 2" took an unconventional route by not choosing to land in theaters on Friday, but instead debuting a day earlier on Thursday. If the movie could still take in $100 million over the three-day weekend, even with a portion of the box office already exploding on Thursday, it would undoubtedly create history from another dimension—

A head-on victory, breaking "Spider-Man's" record of $130 million over the three-day weekend might be a bit difficult. 20th Century Fox opened up the situation in another way.

In the bustling crowd, long lines had already occupied the movie theater early in the morning. The enthusiastic fans also realized that "Spider-Man" was creating history, so how could they lose?

Early showings, sold out.

Everything, as the media predicted, the collision of "Spider-Man" and "Star Wars: Episode II" was indeed bringing audiences back to the movie theaters.

Then, the enthusiastic fans who were waiting in line to buy movie tickets and sharpening their knives to defeat "Spider-Man" noticed a commotion at Century City AMC—

Wait, wait, is that… Anson Wood?

No way, why would Anson come to the premiere of "Star Wars: Episode II"? Could it be that he's here to persuade the audience to buy more tickets to see "Spider-Man"?

Isn't he worried about being mobbed?

Jesse Herold, a reporter for Fox TV, two weeks ago, his live report at Century City AMC kicked off this year's summer blockbuster season. Now he had come to Century City AMC again, ready to push the summer heat to a whole new level.

Appearing with Jesse was still that honest guy, Alexander Porter.

Although there were quite a few teams volunteering now, Jesse rejected them all. He still partnered with Alexander. After sharing hardships, they should share the wealth.

In the bustling crowd, Jesse immediately caught the commotion. After finishing an interview, he cleverly looked in the direction of the commotion.

This look was crucial, his eyeballs almost popped out—

What's going on?