[Chapter 598: National Treasure Hits Big]
As May arrived, the North American summer movie season kicked off in full swing. Hollywood's seven major studios rolled out their heavy-hitters one after another. On May 9th, Universal Pictures released the highly anticipated Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World.
Directed once again by the legendary Steven Spielberg and backed by a hefty $75 million budget, the film was widely expected to dominate the box office. When it premiered, audience enthusiasm surged, with an impressive $72.73 million earned over its opening weekend.
Just as everyone anticipated the film would surpass the billion-dollar mark, even dreaming of it breaking Mission: Impossible's all-time record, negative reviews began to surface. Word of mouth soured quickly.
According to live audience surveys from Cieasre Research, viewers gave it an average grade of only A-, a significant drop from the A+ of the original. On IMDb, audience ratings hit just 7.5, down from 8.3 in the first film. Media reviews hovered at a modest 65% approval.
These ratings, especially from those in theaters, poured cold water on Universal's top executives' expectations.
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The film's issues lay mainly in two areas.
First was the glaring plot weakness. The male lead, Dr. Ian Malcolm, upon learning that his girlfriend had recklessly gone to the dangerous island, inexplicably took their daughter with him. Knowing full well that the island was a dinosaur-infested death trap and that his girlfriend was already in peril, bringing his daughter along defied all reason. No rational father would make such a choice. This illogical decision severely undermined the character's credibility and alienated audiences emotionally.
Furthermore, many decisions made by the expedition and hunting teams strained believability. For instance, a technician faced with two T. rex dinosaurs chose not to flee toward a cliff but instead stayed put, resulting in his demise. Such actions defied logic and felt like contrived plot devices sacrificing character intelligence.
Likewise, the cameraman opened numerous doors behind which dinosaurs waited, yet all the dinosaurs obediently waited until every door was open before charging. This suggested humans possessed some control over the ferocious beasts, directly contradicting their wild, uncontrollable depiction.
Other details felt off as well. For example, when the T. rex approached a tent, the characters only noticed its presence as it reached the entrance; yet later, when chasing it, loud noises were clearly heard well in advance. In another scene, the female lead, trapped on a roof surrounded by two velociraptors, experienced the raptors suddenly turn on each other after sliding down, abandoning their attack -- a complete departure from their intelligent, pack-minded nature.
At the climax, when two characters attempted to lure the T. rex into a ship's cabin to tranquilize it, the beast remained surprisingly passive during the time-consuming process, robbing the scene of tension.
These plot holes fragmented the narrative, often pulling viewers out of the immersive dinosaur world and leaving some feeling intellectually insulted.
The second major flaw was the shallow, one-dimensional character development, lacking the nuance and depth memorable from the first film.
While the male lead and secondary male character played it safe with predictability, the female lead Sarah was a bigger problem. Her actions portrayed her as a sanctimonious martyr, alienating audiences. In the pre-social media era, most North American viewers held standard values and were generally turned off by such overtly moralistic behavior.
Moreover, she and Nick carelessly endangered and caused the death of several team members while trying to save a baby T. rex but never showed any remorse. As an animal scientist, her ignorance about the enormous risks of taking a young dinosaur from the wild gravely contradicted her professional image.
She ran around in clothes stained with dinosaur blood, all while knowing the T. rex had an acute sense of smell -- yet she displayed zero situational awareness. Such behavior felt like an insult to the audience's intelligence and made her character deeply unlikeable, preventing viewers from connecting or sympathizing.
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Despite Bella's fan club doing their best online to protect the film's reputation, negative comments focusing on plot holes and Sarah's sanctimoniousness inevitably spread.
Thankfully, the movie's strengths were evident.
First was the breathtaking visual effects. Using cutting-edge technology, the film brought a lifelike dinosaur world to life, transporting viewers into a prehistoric era. Seeing such realistic creatures and spectacular effects in a cinema was an unprecedented feast for the eyes.
Second, the tense, thrilling adventure sequences sparked adrenaline in audiences, prompting gasps and cheers during screenings.
Overall, the film couldn't be called a flop but fell short of classic status -- more of a high-quality commercial spectacle. Thanks to the original's reputation, it still earned well. Profits were assured, but breaking box office records remained a pipe dream.
Since founding DreamWorks with his friends, Spielberg had shifted from auteur director to savvy businessman. He no longer devoted all his energy to crafting masterpieces like Jaws or the original Jurassic Park but instead prioritized commercial ventures.
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True enough, as the workweek began, Monday's box office dropped sharply to $8.17 million -- a 56% decline from Sunday. From Tuesday through Thursday, ticket sales continued slipping, totaling just $20.18 million.
At the end of the first full week, the film grossed $101.08 million -- a decent result.
But the second week's decline intensified, with only $27.81 million over the weekend. Though it maintained the box office throne, no one doubted it would struggle even to match the first film's $353 million domestic haul, much less the $250 million mark.
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Meanwhile, the lively North American market didn't distract Linton from filming Titanic on the Mexican coast at Rosarito. Devoted fully to directing, he put aside box office dramas and worked closely with the crew.
However, the Nicolas Cage and Sherilyn Fenn-starring National Treasure was set to release on June 6th, with its premiere on June 4th.
For Sherilyn Fenn, this was her first leading role in a major commercial production, so naturally, the film's box office was on her mind. She arrived at the Rosarito set early, joining Linton, Kate Winslet, and Li Xiaoran in night games with Linton -- not winning but playing intensely over two nights.
Linton took a day off from shooting to fly back to Los Angeles with Sherilyn Fenn and Li Xiaoran to attend the premiere and support the movie's press.
Based on his bestselling novel, the source material had sold 16 million copies worldwide over three years -- over five million per installment -- with a vast established fanbase.
The plot was admittedly over the top: treasure hunter Ben Gates learns from his grandfather John Adams Gates of a secret fortune hidden by America's founding fathers -- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin -- as a war chest. The key lay in the Declaration of Independence, triggering a breathless treasure hunt.
Even more implausible, the film's ending sees Gates finding the treasure only to donate it freely to the nation and win the affection of female lead Abigail Chase.
Yet, America's cultural appetite for history made this premise hugely appealing. The film's mix of conspiracy, fortune, and adventure tapped perfectly into the audience's tastes, driving the novels' success and leading to high anticipation for the movie.
Plus, Nicolas Cage was at the peak of his acting power and box office draw.
From opening weekend, National Treasure took in a strong $43.17 million, topping the box office. Unlike Jurassic Park 2, its reception was very positive.
Cieasre's live audience survey rated it an A. On IMDb, it earned an 8.1 average. Media praise measured at 78%.
The studio's distribution team predicted a North American total of $170 million, a runaway hit considering the modest $55 million production budget.
Nicolas Cage and Sherilyn Fenn both saw their star power, popularity, and commercial value soar.
Sherilyn Fenn herself hardly dared to believe her luck -- since meeting Linton, everything felt like a dream come true. Earlier endorsements of Vitality Pills had earned her the title "Beauty Angel," massively boosting her fame and upgrading her status from B-list to near A-list.
Now, landing a major commercial lead skyrocketed her excitement. Her agent promised that after the film's release, she'd officially become a recognized Hollywood A-list actress. If overseas numbers held strong, she might even break into top-tier stardom.
Ecstatic and exhilarated during the press tour, Sherilyn Fenn called Linton late one night, promising to visit the set after the tour to "bring some warmth."
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Back on set, Linton ignored box office news. His focus remained solely on filming Titanic.
Since the poisoning incident, with the adjustment in the director's methods, filming efficiency skyrocketed, propelling production into high gear.
By mid-June, the eight-week theatrical run of Mr. Nice Guy ended in North America with a final gross of $51.82 million.
Xu Qing honored her promise, flying from Los Angeles to Rosarito to accompany Linton for a full week.
During those seven days, she led countless lively activities, infecting Li Xiaoran and Kate Winslet with her energy. Every night, they ignited new themes for parties, granting Linton unforgettable pleasures.
If not for her agency lining up media appearances and business meetings to capitalize on the film's buzz, she might have stayed on set forever, partying every night with Linton.
Yet, commitment to career, solidifying her status, and converting fame to profit meant she had to depart after only a week. The schedule was tight with promoting Final Destination 2's August release, where she held the female lead role.
As soon as Xu Qing left, Sherilyn Fenn came from her own North American press tour, eager to join the Rosarito set and "bring some warmth" to Linton once more.
Having been out for sixteen days, National Treasure had grossed over $117 million domestically, successfully breaking the $100 million mark.
Beginning its rollout overseas in over 30 countries, the film earned a strong $61 million in its first week abroad.
This time, Sherilyn Fenn had three days off before jetting overseas to continue promotion.
During those three days, she shed her usual shyness to adopt a bold, passionate demeanor. She prepared an array of gifts for Linton: sheer, seductive nightgowns; alluring Victoria's Secret lingerie; an assortment of stockings -- everything dripping with temptation.
She even packed goodies for Li Xiaoran and Kate Winslet. The three joined forces, delivering nightly parties so dazzling Linton experienced unbridled joy.
After three days, Sherilyn Fenn reluctantly left Mexico, returning to Los Angeles. The studio arranged for her to fly with Linton's private jet to Europe to carry on National Treasure's international campaign.
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Meanwhile, Linton quietly stayed on set, wholeheartedly focused on Titanic's filming.
Evenings remained filled with lively games with Li Xiaoran and Kate Winslet -- an essential daily pastime.
Perhaps fate had turned. Since the poisoning ordeal, despite the director James Cameron's strict demands, the rearranged management fueled a smooth, efficient production. Seeing the director, Linton, and Kate holding firm to excellence reignited the cast and crew's confidence, pushing everyone to act with renewed dedication.
Time flew by. After over four grueling months, the Titanic crew wrapped principal photography in Canada and Iceland at June's end. Filming finally concluded.
*****
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