Different actors bring their own flavor to James Bond, but the core of the character remains largely the same, which can lead to a bit of fatigue. However, John Mason is a completely different story. While still a British agent, he has absolutely no trace of 007. Because of this, British film critics praised Roger Moore's performance and Gilbert .'s scriptwriting.
"Roger Moore delivered a flawless portrayal of John Mason, completely free of any 007 influence. However, we mustn't overlook the crucial role played by Gilbert ., the film's director and screenwriter. It's thanks to his creative vision that this classic spy character was born."
There aren't many truly classic spy characters in film. Ethan Hunt and Jason Bourne haven't even appeared yet, so only James Bond could really claim that title. But this British film critic elevated John Mason to the same level as 007. While some 007 fans might have found this a bit much, many who had seen "The Rock" readily agreed.
---
With incredibly high recognition and popularity, "The Rock" raked in an impressive $10.237 million in its opening week in the UK, successfully claiming the top spot at the local box office. Other markets also saw strong performances; though not as enthusiastic as the UK, the love for a good film is undeniable. In France, the film pulled in $7.425 million in its opening week, and in Germany, it grossed $6.529 million. These two nations, among Europe's strongest economies, might not have film markets as large as North America's, but they can still contribute significant box office revenue. In fact, they've been traditional Hollywood strongholds since after World War II.
Despite French filmmakers, ever since the New Wave movement, often not giving American movies much credit, French audiences have shown with their wallets exactly what kind of films they enjoy. When "Jurassic Park" premiered in France, the French Minister of Culture even urged moviegoers to boycott it. Yet, "Jurassic Park" ultimately raked in a massive $28.9 million in France, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year in the French market. Now, "The Rock" faces a similar situation. Several French directors have come forward, urging French audiences to give French cinema some breathing room and resist the Hollywood "threat." But French moviegoers aren't listening, honestly supporting "The Rock" with their ticket purchases. Perhaps it's this haughty refusal to compromise that has led to such a tough time for the French in Hollywood. Forget the British or Italian influences, even their German neighbors fare better in Hollywood than the French.
---
In Italy, "The Rock" also had a strong opening week, earning $5.37 million. Italian audiences held the film in high regard, especially since its director, Gilbert ., is of genuine Italian descent, with his grandparents having lived in Italy! This shared identity made the people of his ancestral home very supportive of this young American whose roots were in Milan. Unfortunately, Italy's struggling economy has significantly impacted its film industry, limiting its box office contributions and even trailing behind France. Spain's numbers were a bit lower, at just $2.43 million. But don't underestimate these smaller markets! A lot of overseas box office revenue is built up little by little from these smaller territories.
---
Even though the film was only released in five countries, far from a global release, it still managed to pull in $31.991 million overseas in its first week. Combined with its North American box office, the film once again topped the global weekly box office. In many cases, if a film takes the North American weekly box office crown, it usually secures the global title as well.
---
Whether it's French cinema or Italian cinema, it's not that they lack talented filmmakers, but rather they don't have a massive market to sustain their film industry. The market is arguably the decisive factor in the survival of a film industry. If the market is large enough to support the industry, it can survive even if it doesn't expand beyond its borders. Hong Kong cinema is a prime example of this. The decline of Hong Kong cinema hasn't fully manifested yet, and the entire Southeast Asia, including Japan and Korea, remains a traditional market for Hong Kong films. Once these markets embrace other things or no longer favor Hong Kong cinema, the industry, deprived of its vast market support, can only fall into decline.
---
The country to the north, on the other hand, presents an opportunity for Hong Kong cinema to save itself. Unfortunately, few people possess the foresight, and even fewer have considered this possibility. The nation across the Pacific is quite simple; despite several successful instances of films venturing abroad, Chinese-language cinema essentially remains confined to its own small circle. Yet, relying on its vast market, it has stubbornly survived, not being completely overwhelmed by imported Hollywood blockbusters. Instead, it has grown stronger, and its market has expanded. This is, undoubtedly, a remarkable achievement. As for the unpleasant incidents that occurred along the way, let's just overlook them for now!
---
It's worth noting that, as a highly-watched Hollywood director, Gilbert .'s works became a priority for China Film Group's import list after the import contract was signed. Both of his films achieved impressive results there: "Real Steel" garnered 11.25 million RMB, and "Speed" also brought in 8.66 million RMB. Because of this, as soon as "The Rock" was released, China Film Group began discussions with Warner Bros. to import the film. However, it will be a bit later before it reaches Chinese audiences, likely not until July or August.
---
That's actually quite soon. Some films are only imported a year after their North American release, by which time their overseas box office has already been mostly tallied.
---
Inside the CAA President's office in Century City, Martin Bob was speaking with Michael Bay: "The results this time are impressive, Michael. 'Bad Boys' brought in $54 million at the North American box office. And looking at the overseas trends, the global box office could very well surpass $100 million. For a mid-to-small budget film like that, it's enough to establish your footing in Hollywood."
Upon hearing this, Michael Bay, with a proud tone, stated, "Not just establish my footing, I want to become the top director in Hollywood."
Given Michael Bay's considerable achievements, Martin Bob was happy to offer some encouraging words: "It's good to have that dream, but Michael, becoming a top Hollywood director isn't that simple. You still have a lot to learn!"
Michael Bay asked, "Learn from Gilbert .?"
"Indeed, learning from him is the right approach," Martin Bob sighed. He had high hopes for Michael Bay's potential, but if only Michael Bay were Gilbert ., how much more successful would he be? He couldn't even imagine it. But sadly, it was just a fantasy; Gilbert .'s glory had nothing to do with him, and in fact, he was even targeting CAA.
---
To be fair, it's not entirely accurate to say Gilbert . targets CAA; he only targets Martin Bob's faction, while maintaining a very friendly relationship with Pat Kingsley and Ennio Martin's camp. Martin Bob had even heard that at the premiere, Gilbert . had invited Tom Hanks, a major client of Ennio Martin. Normally, a director's invitation wouldn't concern Martin Bob, but this was for Gilbert .'s new film. How could this not infuriate Martin Bob when such a golden opportunity went to Ennio Martin?
Martin Bob had tried to talk to Ennio Martin, suggesting he offer Gilbert . a package deal, but Ennio Martin flat-out refused. There's no doubt that Tom Hanks had given specific instructions: CAA's usual methods wouldn't work with Gilbert . Thinking back to Roger Moore, whose fame had skyrocketed after starring in "The Rock," Martin Bob couldn't help but feel regret. If only he had convinced Sean Connery to take "The Rock" back then, he wouldn't be consumed by envy and resentment over "The Rock's" impressive performance now.
---
Michael Bay also inquired about the box office of "The Rock." Martin Bob stated he didn't have the exact figures, but mentioned that the North American box office had already surpassed $100 million. This made Michael Bay quite envious, though he didn't lose his confidence. He believed that if the film had been under his direction, he could have also achieved over $100 million at the North American box office.
---
After leaving Martin Bob's office, the long-faced director, intrigued, put on a hat and headed to a nearby cinema to watch "The Rock," wanting to see how big the gap was between him and Gilbert . After watching the movie, Michael Bay had to admit that Gilbert . was a master of pacing, and his camera work was quite innovative, but it wasn't to the point of being unsurpassable. Michael Bay felt that if he had directed it, he could have achieved the same, or even better, results. After seeing the film, Michael Bay's confidence grew even stronger; it seemed that the "genius director" Gilbert ., highly praised by Hollywood, was nothing more than that.
---
As he left the cinema, Michael Bay was stopped for an interview. He responded, "This film is a first-rate action thriller, rich in style and full of humor. It borrows elements from other films, as there isn't much new content in it. However, every element in this film has been meticulously polished to a shine, such as gunfights, explosions, rapid currents, hand-to-hand combat, interrogations, torture, imprisonment, escapes, and scientific gibberish. Director Gilbert . expertly arranged these elements into an efficient and exciting film, including big laughs, sensational special effects sequences, and sustained suspense. It's interesting how excellent actors like Roger Moore, Nicolas Cage, and Ed Harris find a way to take center stage in this film, making the characters somewhat strange yet utterly convincing."
The reporter was taken aback. This review sounded like it came from a professional film critic! So the reporter asked, "Are you a professional film critic?"
Michael Bay paused, then shook his head, "No..."
Without waiting for further questions, Michael Bay pulled his hat lower and hurried away.
---
The next day, the interview footage of the "enthusiastic citizen" Michael Bay was aired, unedited by the TV station. Perhaps they felt Michael Bay's words were too good to cut. However, no one recognized that this enthusiastic citizen was Michael Bay, the director of "Bad Boys," which had premiered on April 7th of that year. After all, he hadn't yet reached the pinnacle of directing, so not everyone would recognize a fledgling director like him. And Michael Bay didn't have the kind of captivating looks that would draw attention like Gilbert .
This was Michael Bay's first time viewing Gilbert .'s film from an objective standpoint, and this single viewing left a deep impression on him. Martin Bob was right; in Hollywood, one needs a goal, and Gilbert . was now Michael Bay's goal.