Chapter 202 The Story of Jack Zhao and Irene
There were two other movies released at the same time as "The Sixth Sense", but these two movies were just for fun and not worth mentioning at all.
This past Friday, "The Sixth Sense" grossed $15.239 million in theaters, a pretty good result.
For an original, non-sequel, and non-adapted film, this first-day box office result is satisfactory enough.
More importantly, the film's reputation has been overwhelming, whether it's from media critics or fans, it's surprising enough.
In several cities commissioned by Touchstone Pictures to survey, more than 92% of moviegoers gave A+ reviews, and some theaters even had 100% positive reviews, with not a single negative review in the extreme.
Most fans' evaluations of "The Sixth Sense" reveal the excellent quality of the film.
But this is not over yet. With the development of the Internet in North America, online media consultation has reached a certain scale.
Young movie fans are more willing to exchange their opinions online. On social platforms such as Facebook and forum websites, as fans become tap water, the reputation of "The Sixth Sense" has further spread.
"Hey guys, you must go to the cinema to watch "The Sixth Sense", you will regret it if you don't go."
"It was so touching that I cried several times in the cinema."
Some netizens below wondered: "What movie can make you cry in the cinema? I don't believe it."
"If you don't believe me, go see it yourself, man. Don't blame me for not reminding you, you need to prepare tissues."
"It's really touching, and the twist is surprising enough. I can't say more. I need you to go to the cinema and experience it for yourself."
Under such a call, more people who had no plans to watch movies began to gradually go to the cinema to find out.
And the excellent quality of "The Sixth Sense" can conquer most people.
Because Joel couldn't get box office tickets in other areas of San Francisco, he had to come to the movie theater on Powell Street near Chinatown in San Francisco.
He heard that although it is an independent cinema, it releases new movies simultaneously with North American cinemas.
Indeed, the owner of this cinema actually started showing some movies from Hong Kong Island.
Relying on the Chinese culture in Chinatown, movies such as "A Better Tomorrow", "God of Gamblers", and the "Police Story" series have all been screened here and are very popular with local Chinese.
However, since it was discovered that some white people and other people of color would occasionally come here to try their luck because they could not buy tickets in other areas, theater owners have synchronized with North American theater chains.
He also increased the ticket prices, causing complaints from nearby Chinese audiences.
But when opening a movie theater, the main purpose is to make money.
In fact, there are quite a few independent cinemas like this in North America. Since there are no franchised cinema chain managers, they have more freedom.
But having said that, not joining a theater chain means there is no guarantee, and all risks are borne by yourself. If you are not careful, the theater may go bankrupt.
Therefore, this movie theater owner is also considering whether to join a theater chain recently so that he can be protected.
But it's none of Joel's business. He just couldn't get a ticket, so he came here to try his luck.
Not to mention, even though it was a Saturday, there were still too few people nearby who could afford the luxury of watching a movie. Most of them were viewers from other neighborhoods.
But Joel found a strange pair, a Chinese young man and a white girl sitting two seats in front of him.
The two of them were holding hands, but remained speechless. The sour smell of love filled the air.
However, the two of them were not in the right state. Joel remembered that he was in the same state when he broke up with his high school girlfriend. He didn't say a word and silence meant everything.
However, as the movie started, Joel had no time to watch this strange couple and was fully engrossed in the movie.
He is not a fan of Little Gilbert, but "The Sixth Sense" still made him immersed in it unconsciously.
The little girl who was killed, the appearance of various ghosts, and the touching conversations in the car made Joel unable to hold back his tears.
He thought about his mother and decided to wait until the movie was over to call her in Oklahoma.
And as the film comes to an end, the high-energy reversal in the last five minutes comes.
Joel watched the development of the plot in surprise. It turned out that Dr. Malcolm, played by Bruce Willis, had died long ago. He was a ghost. Only Cole, played by Haley, could see him.
When Dr. Malcolm saw the wedding ring on the hand of his wife who was having emotional problems, and then looked at the ring he had dropped, he remembered what Cole said to him.
Cole said he could see dead people, but Dr. Malcolm never believed it.
All kinds of memories came to mind, and Dr. Malcolm discovered that he had died long ago. It's just that a person can't realize his own death, so that he thinks he and his wife have emotional problems.
It's not that, and no, his wife has never let go of her feelings for him and lives alone. On her wedding anniversary, she would go to a restaurant and order two meals.
After understanding all this, Dr. Malcolm felt calm. He loved his wife, but he also knew the pain that living in the past would cause his lover to suffer.
So he decided to let go, let his wife forget him, and find a better future.
The conversation in the car continued with this scene. The audience in the theater accepted the emotional impact of the conversation in the car, and then ushered in the high-energy reversal in the last five minutes.
In the end, the continuous emotional sublimation continues to impact the audience.
Joel quietly wiped away his tears. He is a man, a MAN, and he cannot be seen to be moved to tears by a movie in the cinema.
When the movie ended, Joel was surprised to find that the audience spontaneously applauded and dedicated their applause to this wonderful movie.
Joel laughed, and he clapped too, and the auditorium burst into applause.
Such a good movie deserves applause, right?
The young couple in front was very strange. The young Chinese man and the white woman followed the crowd out and were speechless.
According to this atmosphere, Joel analyzed that it is usually a precursor to a breakup.
Watch a deeply touching movie and then break up, ending a beautiful relationship.
In the past, Joel would not have cared about it, but Joel, who had just watched the movie, had not yet let go of the excitement in his heart.
So, he decided to help the poor couple.
"Hey! Are you two breaking up?" Joel shouted from behind.
Jack Zhao and Irene looked back and saw a fat white man calling them from behind.
"Are you calling us?" "Otherwise, I'm calling you." Joel shrugged: "Are you going to break up?"
Jack Zhao was still a little embarrassed, he was a little shy, but it was Irene who glanced at Jack Zhao and said, "No, actually I came to say goodbye."
"Oh? Why?" Joel was surprised.
Erin said: "I have been pursuing him for more than a year. I know he has feelings for me, but he never agreed. I can't hold on anymore. Today is our first and last date."
"Irene, I..." Jack Zhao hesitated and wanted to explain, but when he saw Irene's resentful eyes, he held it back.
At this time, Joel smiled and said: "Hahaha, you two young people, let Joel, the emotional master, help you!"
After saying that, without waiting for the two of them to react, Joel pulled them into a fast food restaurant next to the cinema and sat down.
"I'm very hungry, do you mind if I eat something?" Joel looked like he was asking, but he called the waiter forcefully and ordered three things, something called egg fried rice.
Joel said he had never eaten it before and wanted to try what egg fried rice is.
Before the fried rice was served, Joel started asking questions: "When did you meet?"
Eileen replied: "We have known each other for a long time. The first time we met was when the movie "The Island" premiered. I came here to watch the movie and met him."
"That's not too early, it's been two years." Joel exclaimed.
"Yeah, it's been two years. I haven't heard a word from him saying he likes me for two years." Erin sighed, tapping her fingers on the dining table erratically, just to vent.
Joel turned to Jack Zhao and asked: "What about you? Don't you like Irene?"
"not me……"
Jack Zhao didn't know what to say, but Joel immediately answered: "That means you like her. If you like her, why don't you agree? Oh my god, do you know how many people like a girl like Irene?"
"I..." Jack Zhao looked at Irene, whose eyes could turn into water. He sighed silently and said in his heart, "I can't do it. The gap between our identities is too big."
The eyes on Joel's fat face narrowed into slits, as if he could see through Jack Zhao's inner world: "I understand, you are worried about the class gap between you, and cross-class love is not easy.
Erin, if Jack Zhao is willing to cross the hierarchy, will you do so? "
Erin nodded firmly: "I have been prepared for it a long time ago. My friends say I look like a fool, but I have no regrets."
“Very good,” Joel nodded with satisfaction, turned to Jack Zhao and said, “I don’t know what concerns you have, but I know that if you don’t do some things and don’t strive for them, it will never be possible.
Muster up your courage, see Dr. Malcolm, it is not easy to find a true lover, you must seize the opportunity! "
What Joel said actually didn't have much encouraging effect, but he was the first person to say such words to Jack Zhao.
Jack Zhao looked at Joel's encouraging eyes and Irene's expectant eyes, and finally spoke what was in his heart.
Although their mother and brother also support Jack Zhao and Irene being together, they also understand the gap in status and class and will not say such things like Joel.
As for the others, they were more sarcastic and secretly said that Jack Zhao wanted to eat swan meat.
Okay! It’s okay if these Chinese brothers don’t support it, and they use a Chinese proverb to mock Jack Zhao.
No one firmly supports Jack Zhao, but instead constantly undermines his self-confidence, which makes Jack Zhao still unable to accept Irene's love.
Just tonight, under Joel's encouraging eyes and spurred by the turbulent emotions after watching the movie, Jack Zhao was finally willing to let go of his psychological defenses and tell everything.
After hearing this, Eileen was silent for a long time, and then said after a while: "It turns out that in your eyes, I can't even compete with other people's gossip behind your back."
After getting along with Jack Zhao for a long time, Irene can use idioms.
"No, Eileen, I...sigh!" Jack Zhao didn't know what to say, so he could only sigh heavily.
Erin held her small bag and looked at Jack Zhao disappointedly: "We don't want to meet again, you bastard, I regret knowing you."
After saying that, Erin ran out.
Joel was stunned. He was here to bring the young lovers together, not to break them up. However, he quickly reacted and urged Jack Zhao: "Why don't you hurry up and give chase?"
Jack Zhao realized what he was doing and rushed out of the restaurant, but Irene had already disappeared into the crowd.
Jack Zhao returned to the restaurant in despair. Only at this moment did he realize that he was so useless. He actually cares about other people's gossip, cares about face, and doesn't dare to face his true feelings.
It turns out that I have been escaping all this time. What kind of man is this?
Seeing this, Joel also sighed, patted Jack Zhao on the shoulder and said: "Man, there are some things that you will miss forever.
When I was in love with my high school girlfriend..."
Joel told a lot about his first girlfriend, but I wonder if Jack Zhao listened. Jack Zhao was silent, looking at the gradually decreasing crowd outside the window and the gradually extinguishing neon lights.
Without touching a bite of the egg fried rice, the restaurant waiter told the two that it was about to close.
Joel suggested: "Why don't you go to the bar and have a drink? You need to get drunk now and then have a good sleep and think about the problem later."
Jack Zhao followed Joel out of the restaurant like a zombie.
Passing by the cinema, he saw a poster for "The Sixth Sense", and the image of Bruce Willis saying goodbye to his wife was still playing in his mind.
Jack Zhao suddenly came to his senses and said to Joel, "I figured it out. I shouldn't worry about things that didn't happen."
"Ah? What's wrong?" Joel looked confused.
"Thank you, Joel, I know what to do." Jack Zhao decided to take action. He couldn't wait to stop a taxi and planned to find Eileen.
Joel stood there for a long time, and then smiled: "It should have been done long ago, boy, don't forget to tell me, I want to hear the end of the story..."
Looking at the taxi driving away, Joel shook his head: "As expected of me, the master of emotion. It's worth having a drink tonight to celebrate."
As he spoke, Joel walked towards a nearby bar.
He wanted to reflect on it carefully. There were still many details in today's movie that he didn't understand. He felt that he needed to watch it again tomorrow.
(End of chapter)