Applause roared like a tidal wave throughout the theater. Nearly all 1,800 seats were filled, and most of the audience had risen to their feet, clapping energetically as the credits rolled. It seemed as though Fast & Furious 5 had won over everyone in the room.
"Do you think it'll be a hit?" Ms. Deng asked, clapping along with the crowd.
Rupert Murdoch adjusted his glasses and replied calmly, "From a commercial film perspective, this one scores a solid 85 out of 100. With Matthew Horner's added appeal, the box office should easily surpass the previous installment."
Ms. Deng, despite being the wife of a billionaire, couldn't help but wonder aloud, "How does he make every film a blockbuster?"
"Some people are just born for the world of commerce," Murdoch said, accustomed to seeing successful figures. "Some, perhaps, are born for the movies."
"It's hard to believe that movies alone could build a billion-dollar fortune," Ms. Deng remarked in amazement.
Rupert lowered his voice. "More than a billion, I'd say. Two billion at least."
The last person to amass such wealth purely from cinema was George Lucas. Matthew Horner's fortune must already have surpassed Lucas's by now. Too bad this guy wouldn't bite on News Corp's offer here—he'd have to find another taker.
The thunderous applause continued, with Lin Feng seated toward the back of the media section, clapping along enthusiastically. Sitting behind him were general audience members, some of whom had let out unrestrained exclamations of excitement during the film.
Fast & Furious 5 had come to an end, and as the screen went dark, Lin Feng felt certain that this was, without a doubt, a Matthew Horner film.
Only the fourth and fifth films in the series had been released here in theaters, while the first three hadn't had the opportunity to enter this market. Still, Lin Feng had managed to see the first four Fast & Furious films through other channels.
Now, with this fifth installment, he could reflect on the series as a whole.
Of the first three films, the first was the best, while the third was the worst. But from the fourth movie onwards, with Matthew taking the lead, the quality had skyrocketed, and this fifth film outshone even the fourth.
It was the most thrilling, exhilarating, and inspiring entry in the Fast & Furious series yet.
Opening where the last film left off, members of the street-racing family staged a bold rescue of Matthew's character, who had been captured after the U.S. police broke their word. Then the action quickly shifted to Brazil, where the crew tangled with local gangs, faced off with enemies, set their sights on a target, and began gathering a team for the mission.
With Matthew at the helm, the energy and charisma he brought to each moment were captivating.
It was fair to say that this film painted a brutally honest picture of the Brazilian police. But, recalling other Brazilian films he'd seen, Lin Feng doubted that Brazilians would mind; they often portrayed themselves just as harshly.
These foreigners and their penchant for turning everything into entertainment—Lin Feng couldn't quite understand it sometimes. Perhaps they simply lacked certain boundaries.
What made Fast & Furious 5 such a thrill wasn't how all-encompassing it was, but how it perfectly embodied both speed and passion.
The scene with Matthew and Paul Walker, each driving a powerful black muscle car with a massive "piggy bank" vault in tow, played in Lin Feng's mind repeatedly. It was a moment of pure, pulse-pounding exhilaration.
The friendships, trust, and family bonds interwoven with the high-octane action scenes made the fifth film the most memorable yet.
With Matthew as the undisputed lead, the cast delivered outstanding performances.
The script was also well-crafted, with lines that struck emotional chords.
Lin Feng recalled a comment from a prominent director in China, who once said that a weak script couldn't be salvaged by a director, only by the investors, who could shape the story's direction based on their desired returns.
In this film, Matthew's character emphasized that money could always be earned back, but family—his family—was the most important thing. The idea of "family" was irresistibly appealing.
And, of course, there were the women.
At the thought, Lin Feng's mind conjured up an image of Gal Gadot.
Cool, independent, strong, and with endless legs, her character embodied these qualities in Fast & Furious 5. She was the film's female lead and the team's resident beauty, as everyone else aside from Mia was male, and Mia was already taken.
As for the other female character, Nini, Lin Feng didn't give her much thought.
Gal Gadot's character, riding a motorcycle alongside Matthew's muscle car-driving character, brought to life a romantic speed-fueled journey of passion—the life they both embraced.
If these two good-looking people had a real-life romance, they'd be a stunning couple.
Lin Feng couldn't shake the thought of the two of them together. What would it be like if they actually got together in real life?
A strong, ex-military actress paired with a rugged star who could take down terrorists with his bare hands—if they got married, would their fights resemble Mr. & Mrs. Smith, with guns drawn, or would they just demolish their house?
As the applause finally died down, people began to leave. Sitting toward the back, Lin Feng remained in his seat, savoring the explosive action scenes one last time.
The movie had been jam-packed with memorable moments from start to finish.
For Lin Feng, both an entertainment reporter and an avid movie fan, an action film's success hinged on its signature action scenes. Just as the quality of a suspense film depended on the intelligence of its script.
By that standard, Fast & Furious 5 was a nine out of ten.
He knew that a commercial action film didn't have to stick to strict realism, and this was not some CGI-heavy Transformers fare. Here, real cars were smashed, an effect that no CGI could replicate.
And then there was Matthew's character, Sean.
As the leader of the street-racing family, he was unforgettable—muscular arms, efficient combat skills, a sunny smile, a strong sense of leadership. Audiences would undoubtedly be captivated by this character.
The idea of "family" was embodied by this character and carried throughout the team's actions.
When Matthew and Paul Walker's characters were surrounded by a fleet of police cars while hauling the vault, Daniel Wu and Tyrese Gibson arrived just in time, in police cars of their own, to break through the lines. Their timely arrival was thrilling, encapsulating themes of teamwork and brotherhood.
When the dust settled, and they'd secured the drug lord's money, everyone wore happy expressions, with Matthew smiling at his companions. Their success was due to teamwork and family-like bonds, making for an inspiring victory.
The background music as they opened the vault was nothing short of perfect.
With its reggae style and vibrant energy, the soundtrack meshed beautifully with the Brazilian locale, creating a seamless, flawless picture.
And the film's ending had a bit of romantic flair as well.
Matthew drove a Mercedes with Gal Gadot beside him, racing down the highway. Handsome and beautiful, they were the perfect ending.
Alas, even the most thrilling movies must end, and theaters must empty.
The theater hall gradually emptied, going from packed to sparse. Lin Feng composed himself, removed his Penguin media badge, stuffed it into his pocket, and headed slowly toward the exit.
Outside the theater, he reunited with his cameraman, retrieved their gear from storage, and the two of them left for a nearby parking lot, ready to head back and work on the press release overnight.
Lin Feng sat in the driver's seat and, upon starting the car, felt a sudden unease.
After just watching Fast & Furious 5, driving responsibly felt…difficult.
If he let adrenaline take over and floored the gas, it'd end badly.
For movie fans leaving the theater, brimming with excitement, it could be heartbreaking to face speed limits and the lurking officers waiting to hand out tickets.
Lin Feng's mind was still racing with cars; everything from the movie was still fresh, filling him with visions of cars, muscle cars, muscular men, muscle cars and men, beautiful women, and powerful cars.
Maybe it was better not to drive like this.
"You drive," he said to the cameraman in the passenger seat. "I'm worried I'll floor it."
The cameraman gave him a look and shook his head firmly. "If you don't want us to crash, it's better if you drive."
No kidding—he'd just watched Fast & Furious 5 too, and his blood was still pumping.
Lin Feng had no choice and suggested, "Let's sit for ten minutes and calm down."
"Yeah," the cameraman agreed. "We both need to shake off the film's effect."
Every guy dreams of tearing up the road, but reality has too many constraints and limits. Not everyone has the freedom to drive recklessly.
Still, moderate driving and the occasional burst of speed are always welcome.
Fast & Furious 5 had undoubtedly set a new standard for commercial action movies.
After calming himself a bit, Lin Feng took out his phone and posted on his social media.
"Just left the Fast & Furious 5 premiere—this movie was INSANE! It's 'Speed + Passion' all the way. The finale was next-level 'car chase mayhem,' totally beyond imagination!"
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