"Wow, I just took a look outside. Those protesting book fans are staging a sit-in demonstration. Gilbert, it looks like your new film is facing quite a bit of backlash!"
Leo exaggerated his tone, expressing his shock at the protesters outside the theater.
Gilbert remained indifferent. "These book fans are clinging to outdated ideas. They don't realize that times are always moving forward. They refuse to look ahead."
Leo nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. I trust you—this film will win everyone over."
In the previous timeline, the protests against Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings were even louder than what Gilbert was facing now. The reasons weren't hard to understand.
First, Peter Jackson's status in the industry back then was far lower than Gilbert's now. Many book fans simply didn't have faith in him.
Second, New Line Cinema was a second-tier studio at the time, far from being a powerhouse in Hollywood.
In that timeline, The Lord of the Rings faced intense competition upon release. Naturally, rival studios didn't miss the chance to attack it.
However, with strong marketing efforts and the film's own exceptional quality, The Lord of the Rings ultimately achieved massive success.
Now, with Gilbert as the director and Disney and Warner Bros. as the production and distribution giants, most competitors had backed off, avoiding direct confrontation.
With no serious competition, there was no external pressure. As a result, even though The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring still faced protests from book fans, their impact wasn't as significant as before.
Simply put, this time, the protests were purely grassroots efforts by the fans, without any external backing.
If the film's quality was strong enough to win over the book fans, many of them would likely switch sides, becoming some of its most devoted supporters.
After discussing with the marketing team, Gilbert decided to send two premiere tickets to the Lord of the Rings fan club.
The goal was to allow the leaders of the protest to experience the film firsthand and be won over by its brilliance.
Once convinced, they could, in turn, influence and persuade the rest of the book fans.
There were many Lord of the Rings fans, and Gilbert believed that rather than passively waiting for their approval, he should take the initiative.
After all, these die-hard book lovers were protesting so fervently even without external support. If they ended up being won over, they would become just as passionate in promoting the film.
As the head of the North American Lord of the Rings fan club, Noel was one of the lucky recipients of the premiere tickets. He attended alongside the club's vice president,Hutchinson.
The two had arrived early and were seated inside the theater, watching as Hollywood's top stars, directors, and guests entered one after another.
Hutchinson looked unimpressed.
He turned to Noel and said, "These Hollywood celebrities have no minds of their own. They're all just kissing up to Gilbert.
Do they really think this movie will succeed?"
Unlike Hutchinson, who was convinced the film would fail, Noel had a different perspective.
"Hutchinson, have you watched The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring trailers? I've seen them all, and I think they actually look pretty good."
Hutchinson was displeased. "Noel, my god, you actually watched the trailers? As loyal Lord of the Rings book fans, we should be boycotting everything related to the movie and rejecting its misleading promotional tactics."
Noel defended himself. "But how can we plan a proper response if we don't understand the film? We can't just protest blindly."
"Damn it,"Hutchinson was clearly angered by Noel's words. He retorted, "We must protect The Lord of the Rings novels, no matter what.
The Lord of the Rings should only exist in written form. There should never be any adaptations of any kind. Do you understand?"
"This…" Noel hesitated. But seeing Hutchinson's stern gaze, he eventually nodded. "Alright, I understand."
"That's more like it."Hutchinson was satisfied.
He had already planned to publicly criticize the movie in the most elegant way possible, tearing it and Gilbert to shreds at the premiere, humiliating Gilbert in the process.
That was the whole reason he had even agreed to attend—otherwise, he wouldn't have come at all.
Meanwhile, Noel found himself questioning the purpose of their protest. He started wondering if Hutchinson and certain book fans had gone to an extreme.
Originally, their protests stemmed from a fear that Gilbert would ruin the beloved work, so they wanted to protect it.
But after watching the trailers, Noel felt that the movie might not be as bad as they had feared. Perhaps it was time to take a step back and reassess.
If the film turned out to be a disaster, they could continue their protests. But if it was actually well-made, then their objections would be meaningless.
Film and literature were two different mediums. Compared to books, films had a wider reach and were more easily spread.
Noel believed that if the movie was a massive success, it would only increase The Lord of the Rings' global influence—wasn't that a good thing?
Unfortunately,Hutchinson and most of the book fans didn't see it that way.
In that moment, Noel felt a sense of growing distance—his values and those of the fan club seemed to be diverging.
Compared to the two Lord of the Rings book fans at the premiere, the rest of the audience was far less conflicted. They were simply excited, eagerly anticipating the unveiling of the movie's mysteries.
Elijah Wood's entire family had come.
Before arriving, Mr. Wood had proudly boasted to his neighbors, "I received an invitation from Gilbert to attend the movie premiere."
One of them asked, "How did you get an invitation from Gilbert?"
At that moment, Mr. Wood always responded with pride, "Because my son, Elijah, is the lead actor in Gilbert's new film."
This always triggered gasps of admiration. The neighbors would express their envy, clearly jealous of his good fortune.
It seemed like the Wood family would be moving soon—Elijah Wood was on his way to becoming a Hollywood star.
Now, as Mr. Wood sat in the theater, looking at the back of his son sitting among the main cast, he couldn't help but grin foolishly.
Mrs. Wood noticed and asked, "Why are you grinning like that?"
Mr. Wood replied, "I see a bright future ahead of us, Evie. Our family's bright future."
Mrs. Wood rolled her eyes. "Did you really need to say that? It's obvious."
In the front row, among the main cast and crew, Anne Hathaway was feeling nervous. She held Gilbert's hand, and her palms started sweating.
"What's wrong, Elven Princess?"Gilbert asked with a smile.
"I'm a little nervous," Anne Hathaway admitted honestly.
"Nervous?"Gilbert reassured her, "There's no need to be. Jacqueline, you did an excellent job. The film has received great feedback at previous screenings. Don't worry."
"Forget the Elven Princess, even I, the Human King, am starting to feel nervous," Viggo Mortensen added.
It wasn't just him. Apart from Sir Ian McKellen and Gilbert, most of the main cast and crew felt some level of nervousness.
As for Gilbert's father, he was on vacation in Hawaii at the time of the premiere and did not attend.
Gilbert said,"Guys, don't be nervous. I know you haven't seen the film yet, so feeling this way is normal.
But trust me, once you see it, you'll be thrilled. This is one of the greatest films ever made."
His words might have seemed self-promotional, but they effectively calmed everyone's nerves.
Amidst anticipation, excitement, nervousness, and curiosity, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring finally unveiled its mysterious face to the world.
Someone in the audience shouted, "It's starting!" Instantly, the once lively theater fell into complete silence, and all eyes turned to the big screen.
The logos of Disney and Warner Bros. flashed by, followed by the logo of Melon Studios. The movie officially began.
At first,Hutchinson had a casual expression, but it soon turned serious. He realized that this was no ordinary film—because he heard Quenya.
"Is that… Quenya?"Hutchinson asked in disbelief, turning to Noel beside him.
Noel, unfazed, replied, "Hutchinson, Quenya was already in the trailers."
"This… this… this…"Hutchinson was at a loss for words, but he soon realized his shock was just beginning.
"The world is changing. I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, I smell it in the air. The story begins with the forging of the Rings of Power."
As Queen Galadriel's voice narrated, the story slowly unfolded.
Before The Lord of the Rings, there were two other major stories—The Silmarillion and The Hobbit.
Of course, the film couldn't cover everything, so it used this method to provide a brief background.
Then came the massive battle from the Super Bowl trailer. The alliance of Elves and Men advanced toward Mount Doom, claiming victory after victory as the Orc army crumbled.
This epic battle sequence, shown with even more detail and spectacle than in the trailer, was breathtaking.
Not just casual moviegoers—seasoned Hollywood stars were left speechless. Nothing like this had ever been seen in film history.
Compared to this, the opening battle of Gladiator, released in May, seemed like a child's play in the village square.
Ridley Scott, who had been invited to the premiere, accepted without hesitation since there was no direct competition between the films.
But after seeing this, he felt a pang of worry.
Damn it… Gladiator just became a background movie…
Tom Cruise, on the other hand, had a different reaction. Though Nicole Kidman had so far only appeared as a narrator, he had a strong feeling that this series was going to be a game-changer.
Mary would enter a brand-new era, free from past criticisms, Tom Cruise thought.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon sat with their mouths hanging open. This opening battle had completely captivated them, making it impossible to look away.
And not just them.
At this moment, all the snacks provided at the premiere—Coke, popcorn, fruit—were forgotten.
Everyone was fixated on the screen, afraid of missing even a second of the action.
Amidst the battle, the Dark Lord Sauron finally appeared, wielding the One Ring. No one could stop him.
To Gilbert, the original depiction of the One Ring seemed too weak—why did simply wearing the Ring make Sauron invincible? So, he adjusted the concept.
Now, the Ring had stronger powers: mind control that turned allies against each other, and even the ability to break through the limitations of a low-magic world to cast high-level spells.
With these enhancements, Sauron became a truly terrifying force.
On screen, the Dark Lord's presence was overwhelming—finally living up to the title of the ultimate villain.
But then, a human hero stepped forward. While Sauron was about to crush the allied forces, a surprise attack severed his arm, causing him to vanish.
And thus, the One Ring began to shape the fate of Middle-earth.
Isildur had struck down Sauron's hand, yet he succumbed to the Ring's temptation, missing the best chance to destroy evil.
Ultimately, the once-great hero fell victim to the Ring's corruption, losing his life. The Ring, in turn, ended up in the hands of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins.
As for the brief glimpse of Gollum—it sent a shiver down the spines of the audience. "So creepy," someone whispered.
The film continued.
The great battle was now a distant past, and the scene transitioned to the idyllic, picturesque Shire—a peaceful hobbit village.
The narrator switched from Galadriel to Bilbo Baggins.
Lush greenery, well-kept fields, bridges over streams, windmills by the shore, and the cozy home of Bag End—everything formed an enchanting scene.
With Howard Shore's musical score, it felt like a glimpse of paradise.
"Oh my God, this must be where God himself lives—it's too beautiful," an audience member murmured, and others around them nodded in agreement.
It was stunning—so beautiful it was hard to believe such a place existed in the real world.
Surely, people would soon be curious about this location, and some might even travel to China to see it.
Hutchinson sat frozen.
The opening battle had exceeded his expectations, capturing the essence of the books—and even surpassing them.
Though there were some changes, they served the story well and didn't disrupt the novel's spirit.
Then came the Shire. When the lush landscapes appeared,Hutchinson's jaw dropped.
He had to admit, he was already won over.
Though he refused to say it out loud, he couldn't believe that someone had actually managed to bring The Lord of the Rings to life like this.
Compared to him, Noel—who had mentally prepared for the film's excellence—accepted it much more smoothly.
He had expected The Lord of the Rings to be outstanding. And sure enough, it only took a few scenes to convince him.
Now, he wanted nothing more than to immerse himself in this world—to visit a place he had only dreamed of.
For non-book fans, the feeling was much simpler: this movie was good. They loved it. And they needed to keep watching.
The opening of the film had instantly won over every viewer. Every viewer.
Even those who harbored biases against Gilbert had to admit the brilliance of this film.
In the theater, both moviegoers and Hollywood's biggest stars felt like they weren't just watching a film—they were witnessing history.
Someone stole a glance at Gilbert in the front row, filled with admiration.
Gilbert… He did it again.
He always succeeded.
He was born to be a winner.
And really, with a track record like his, who ever doubted he could pull this off? Right now, failure seemed impossible.
.....
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