Blockbusters like The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings series captivate audiences with visual spectacles and heart-pounding scenes, but Flipped takes a much more subdued, storytelling approach.
The entire film progresses without flashy flourishes, using a calm perspective to narrate its story.
Younger viewers who enjoy action-packed films may find it dull and struggle to immerse themselves, but Powell thought the film was very well-made.
Gilbert was born in 1970 and didn't live through that era, but his father probably had a better idea of what rural American towns looked like in the '50s and '60s.
In fact, the old man actually appeared in the film, and his name could be found in the credits.
During filming, he gave plenty of advice and helped the crew complete the shoot more efficiently and effectively.
Watching this youth-filled story made Powell feel deeply nostalgic, reminding him of stories from his past.
After returning to Boston, Powell planned to take his wife to see the film again and reminisce about old times. Perhaps he could even write another book, recording love stories from the '50s and '60s.
Unlike Powell's sentimentality, not all audience members were as kind.
One moviegoer muttered, "That Bryce is really annoying. Juli Baker is so cute and beautiful way better than the school beauty.
Is he blind or something?"
"Seems like Bryce is no different from anyone else. He's just more handsome, but still shallow. I like Juli Baker she's brave, strong, and has dreams.
The scene where she protects the sycamore tree was really touching."
Robert Pattinson happened to be sitting close to these two and overheard their conversation, causing his face to flush.
It wasn't like he wanted to act that way he was just following the script.
The story continues as Bryce and Juli move on to junior high, and things begin to shift. Bryce Loski's grandfather, Chet Duncan, moves in with them.
One day, Chet reads about Juli Baker in the Mayfield Times and asks Bryce more about her.
Under his grandfather's guidance, Bryce begins to reevaluate how he sees Juli Baker.
Through the sycamore tree incident, the egg situation, and the Daniel-uncle episode, he gradually breaks away from the prejudice shaped by his father and close friends toward Juli and her family.
More than that, he realizes he's fallen for Juli Baker.
From Juli's perspective, however, the sycamore tree and egg incidents actually make her feel that Bryce Loski isn't as good as she once believed.
She starts to reconsider her feelings for him and, after the Daniel-uncle episode, decides to let go of her affection.
This sequence of events might seem like a cliché romance ten years from now.
But in today's Hollywood, where characters often jump into bed within minutes of meeting, Flipped feels especially fresh and refined.
Powell habitually took out his pen and notebook, jotting down reflections during the film.
Someone nearby noticed and asked, "Sir, are you a film critic?"
"No, I'm not." Powell shook his notebook and said, "I just felt inspired. I really liked the dialogue it's full of life philosophy."
"Really?" The person turned out to be a big fan of Gilbert and responded excitedly, "I think so too. Same goes for The Return of the King it was amazing."
Powell hadn't seen The Return of the King, nor had he watched the first two films in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He just wasn't the target audience for such movies.
But this interaction sparked a bit of curiosity in him, so he asked, "Is The Return of the King still showing in theaters?"
"Of course, sir. Though the screening scale has been reduced." The fan replied, "Right now, it's grossed $631 million in North America and $1.768 billion worldwide.
Unfortunately, it still fell just short of breaking Titanic's record."
Whether a film does well at the box office depends on many factors.
The Return of the King was excellent in terms of quality, but its audience demographics skewed over 55% were male viewers.
As we all know, even the most devoted male fan might only see a movie once or twice in theaters.
In rare cases, maybe a few more times but not too often.
But if a movie captures female viewers' hearts, they often respond emotionally and impulsively when spending. That emotional impulse is why many chick flicks perform well.
Titanic wasn't a chick flick, but it won over female audiences.
The New Yorker reported that during Titanic's release, over a dozen girls went to see the movie fifteen times. That kind of craze says it all.
Interestingly, though Powell didn't like blockbusters, he had watched Titanic. Mainly because his wife loved it, and Powell could also analyze it from an academic angle.
At Harvard, he even gave lectures to his students discussing the sociological phenomena Titanic triggered perfectly aligning with his field of study.
After that discussion, they turned their attention back to the film.
Just when Juli Baker thought she no longer liked Bryce Loski, the school held a basket boy auction that made her realize she still missed him.
As Bryce Loski stood on stage in a suit, her mind started spinning.
Even though the lunch partner wasn't Bryce, her attention was entirely on him.
While she was lost in thought, Bryce suddenly walked up to her, pulled her aside, and tried to kiss her in front of everyone.
She broke free. She had always wanted to be kissed by Bryce Loski but not like this, not in front of a crowd.
She felt offended, ran home, and locked herself in her room, refusing to see him.
Then one day, while reading in the living room, she noticed Bryce Loski digging a hole on her lawn.
He was planting her favorite sycamore tree. She understood his feelings then, and the two reconciled, beginning a new chapter in their mutual affection.
The film ended there, and as Avril Lavigne's song played, the theater lights came on. Gilbert led the cast and crew onstage for a bow.
The movie might not appeal to everyone, but the audience was gracious applause rang out without pause.
After the screening, there was a special session for audience interaction and a Q&A with the press.
Powell sat in the back, but surprisingly, he was the first one called upon.
He stood and asked, "I know the original novel is set in a modern era. I'd like to ask the director what made you set the story in the '50s and '60s?"
Gilbert joked, "Because there was this old guy in the crew who used to call the shots back in that era…"
After everyone laughed, Gilbert got serious and explained, "The story in the film is, to a certain extent, based on the personal experiences of the screenwriter, Andrew Shine.
Besides, I think that today's school life is influenced by too many external distractions, like game consoles, text messaging, social media platforms.
But by setting the story in that era, these distractions don't exist, and we can really focus on the story of Juli Baker and Bryce Loski."
Powell was very satisfied with this answer. After saying thank you, he sat back down.
The questions that followed, aside from the movie itself, mostly focused on Gilbert's new film.
One audience member asked, "Although I really liked this movie, what I want to know more is will there be another Lord of the Rings? What's the new film plan?"
Faced with this question, Gilbert gave a helpless smile and said, "Although I would prefer everyone to focus on this movie itself, since so many people are curious, I'll reveal a bit.
The new Lord of the Rings story is in the works. We're going to tell the story of The Hobbit, and my new movie has started filming in Mexico. Right after the premiere, I'll be heading back to the set."
Compared to the movie itself, news about a new Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean was more appealing to the media.
However, from then on Gilbert stopped answering any questions unrelated to Flipped, leaving fans and reporters with no choice but to drop the topic.
Afterward, the film's theme song creator Avril Lavigne came on stage and performed two songs, an opportunity that Sheena Boone had managed to secure.
After the interaction session ended, Gilbert facilitated an epic meeting between Scarlett and Avril Lavigne.
As soon as the two girls met, Scarlett glared at Avril with a look full of gunpowder. Avril was puzzled what grudge could this blonde Persian cat have with her?
But seeing Scarlett tightly clutching Gilbert's arm, Avril understood she was jealous.
Avril found Scarlett a bit amusing. Gilbert isn't money; it's not like everyone's going to like him. I don't even like him myself…
The two girls shook hands with their own thoughts, wearing complicated expressions.
Gilbert, however, wasn't overthinking it. He certainly sensed Scarlett's hostility toward Avril, but this was a matter between the girls he'd leave it to them to sort out.
"From now on, the film's promotion will depend on you two. You must work well together!" Gilbert said.
Scarlett pouted, "No way, I'm not working with her."
"Scarlett…" Gilbert spoke sternly, warning her not to be willful.
Scarlett reluctantly turned her head and said to Avril, "I hope you don't drag me down. Let's work well together."
Even a clay figurine has some temper, not to mention Avril Lavigne, who could brawl with boys.
She sneered back, "Hmph, don't worry. I'm more professional than you…"
The two girls turned their heads away from each other, ignoring one another completely.
Seeing this scene, Gilbert found it rather amusing. He looked at Sheena Boone and signaled that these two little troublemakers were now her responsibility.
Sheena Boone rolled her eyes in exasperation. Teenage girls are the most annoying.
After the premiere, Gilbert took Scarlett and Robert Pattinson to appear on a few shows and then rushed back to Mexico.
And with that, Flipped officially began its theatrical run.
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