Chasing Stars in Hollywood

The news of David Geffen, Steven Spielberg, and Jeffrey Katzenberg forming DreamWorks indeed stole some of the spotlight from the release of "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises." At a press conference that morning, the trio announced a list of 25 film projects and expressed their intention to enter the animated film market.

Throughout Wednesday, the media focused on uncovering more details about DreamWorks. However, at 5 PM, when Egret opened the live broadcast of the "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises" premiere, most media and public attention was redirected to this DC superhero blockbuster.

The red carpet event alone, featuring a star-studded guest lineup comparable to the Oscars, provided a feast for viewers glued to their screens. Of course, the fans were most eager to see the film itself, though most would have to wait until the midnight screenings the next day.

Simon, the mastermind behind the entire DC film universe, did not appear on the red carpet this time. Instead, he quietly entered the screening hall with Janet through the back entrance of the theater.

The red carpet ceremony, starting at 5 PM, lasted nearly an hour. By 6 PM, all the guests were seated inside the Chinese Theater. After a brief introduction by the host, the final installment of the Batman trilogy made its public debut on the big screen.

Seated in a relatively rearward position in the theater, Grace Spurlock, who had arrived on the West Coast the previous day, stopped trying to spot a young man's figure among the glittering crowd in the front rows. The short-haired girl in a white low-cut dress beside her also breathed a sigh of relief, reflecting on the red carpet experience half an hour earlier, ensuring she hadn't made any mistakes before turning her attention to the screen.

The girl, named Quis Gough, had just turned 18 this year—or more precisely, she would turn 18 in five days. Of course, such details were unimportant.

As one of the more notable models under Grace's agency, Quis Gough, with her doll-like face and short hair, differed slightly from Zoe, who was often seen by Simon's side, but still perfectly suited his aesthetic preferences.

The girl, who started her career at 15, had gained some recognition in recent years under Grace's management but still lacked a significant breakthrough opportunity. After receiving three coveted Victoria's Secret Angel spots from Simon, Grace quickly compiled and sent all her models' profiles to him, not excluding even the underage girls still in training. While the minimum age requirement for the Victoria's Secret show is 18, getting her clients in front of Simon Westero would never be a bad move.

In the end, only Quis Gough was chosen. Simon provided no explanation, but Grace understood that perhaps her other clients lacked distinct personal characteristics. The top-tier supermodels nowadays are known for their unique and recognizable looks.

The prime examples are the 'waist sprites' and 'leg sprites' personally promoted by Westero. Although some feminists criticized Westero for these nicknames, claiming they objectified women, they didn't realize that in the fashion world, receiving a nickname from a prominent figure like Simon Westero was worth any sacrifice.

After securing the first spot, Grace planned to poach other potential talents from rival agencies to impress Simon further. Unexpectedly, Simon quickly provided her with a 'resource' by inviting Quis Gough to attend the premiere of "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises" on the red carpet.

Many might wonder why certain stars from across the ocean would endure various jabs and sneers to walk the red carpets at film festivals. The key lies in the fact that it offers a quick path to gaining substantial exposure. The premiere of "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises," heavily covered by global entertainment media, was no less influential than many film festival opening ceremonies. A red carpet appearance at such an event, if handled well, could significantly boost one's fame.

Moreover, the fresher the face, the more pronounced the effect. Established supermodels like Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista are instantly recognizable, and while their appearances might still dazzle, they mainly add to their already considerable fame. But the sudden appearance of an unfamiliar doll-faced girl, who could rival Hollywood stars in looks and charm, would surely make the hundreds of thousands watching the premiere ask, "Who is she?"

The result was predictable.

Inside the Chinese Theater's screening hall, Grace, initially contemplating post-event media strategies, was soon drawn to the brightening screen. She usually didn't watch many movies, but her family hadn't missed any of the previous DC Universe films. Thinking of how her kids would be envious of her seeing this movie first, Grace set aside her thoughts and focused on the big screen.

The most distinctive feature of all DC Universe films is their grand, epic feel. A more fitting description would be 'epic-level.' Of course, this characteristic largely results from the extravagant production budgets.

As the conclusion of the Batman trilogy, the film opens with a sweeping aerial shot of Gotham's steel jungle after the studio logo sequence, immediately giving viewers a sense of watching a true blockbuster. The camera gradually zooms in, and the ticking of a clock, resonating with the audience's hearts, is heard. Then, with a loud bang, a glass window in a skyscraper shatters.

Behind the shattered window, two henchmen wearing clown masks shoot grappling guns towards the rooftop of the opposite building. The scene cuts to a figure in a purple suit, carrying a bag, standing hunched on a busy street, holding a clown mask in one hand. The scene switches again to several robbers in a van driving towards a bank, discussing a figure named 'Joker' orchestrating the heist.

The audience quickly realizes this is a bank robbery. However, many viewers are more struck by the menacing aura exuded by the figure in the purple suit, despite his minimal dialogue.

Simon once again referenced the opening of Nolan's "The Dark Knight" for this trilogy's conclusion. However, the subsequent plot diverged significantly from Nolan's version. The heist starts smoothly, but this time Gotham police respond swiftly. A figure in a purple suit, who stayed behind to 'cover' the others, retrieves a special briefcase from the bank's vault while the others leave with the money.

The robbers, in a van, clash with the police. As the purple-clad figure secures his escape route, the injured bank manager, seeing the suitcase in his hand, becomes agitated, trembling as he warns the man that he can take the money but not the case. The man in purple finally reveals his face, a scarred clown face, and with a cat-like playfulness, states that he's not interested in money but only in fear, boundless fear.

The robbers' van suddenly explodes, and in the ensuing chaos, the clown calmly leaves with the mysterious case. The five-minute prologue hints at two key elements: the Joker and a Mother Box. Even without explicit clarification, most viewers, having seen previous DC Universe films, can immediately identify the object as another Mother Box. Additionally, while it was widely known that the Joker would be the main villain in this trilogy's conclusion, Daenerys Entertainment had kept the actor portraying the character under wraps until now. Many in the theater began to recognize that the Joker was played by River Phoenix, the young Hollywood prodigy who had been nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at 18 and won the Venice Best Actor award two years ago. In just a few minutes, Phoenix vividly brought to life a Joker exuding a dangerous and evil aura.

Despite the recent surge in popularity of DC Universe films, they had received little recognition from the Oscars beyond technical categories. Yet, just five minutes into the movie, many critics in the Chinese Theater had already concluded that River Phoenix, with his exceptional portrayal of the Joker, was a shoo-in for next year's Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

In history, River Phoenix would have died of a drug overdose last year. Simon's influence, however, had altered many aspects of Hollywood, including Phoenix's fate. During the filming of "Seven" with Daenerys Entertainment, Phoenix had been weaned off drugs under strict monitoring. His acting talent was undeniable, and his naturally sinister aura perfectly suited the Joker character. After careful consideration and repeated auditions, Simon ultimately chose Phoenix for the role. However, to maintain the element of surprise, Daenerys Entertainment had kept the casting choice a secret until the premiere.

Seated inconspicuously in the theater with Janet, Simon needed only to observe the reactions around him to gauge that Phoenix's portrayal of the Joker was on par with Heath Ledger's iconic version.

After the prologue and opening credits, the plot formally unfolds. The DC Universe had fully integrated by this point. Although the story remained centered around Batman and Gotham City, various details like TV broadcasts, newspapers, and dialogue subtly hinted at the existence of other superheroes, such as Superman and Cyborg. Bruce Wayne, while investigating the Joker's recent crime spree in Gotham, also expressed concerns about Superman, the alien visitor.

This laid the groundwork for next year's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." As the plot progresses, the story of the stolen Mother Box unfolds. It is revealed that the Mother Box was an artifact intended for auction, stored in the bank by a private collector. Discovered centuries ago in a European noble's estate, its origins and purpose were unknown. The noble family, facing financial difficulties, decided to sell off their ancestral treasures, with the mysterious Mother Box being a highlight of the auction. However, the Joker intercepted it before it could be sold. The theft of the Mother Box leads Batman to intensify his pursuit of the Joker.

Meanwhile, the Joker kidnaps several scientists to study the Mother Box, including a botanist and extreme environmentalist named Pamela Isley. The powerful Mother Box proves too much for the mere humans to control. During an experimental accident, Nicole Kid

man's character, Pamela Isley, undergoes a transformation similar to Cyborg's, gaining plant-controlling abilities and becoming Poison Ivy. Brainwashed by the Joker, Poison Ivy aids his schemes, quickly mastering some of the Mother Box's uses with her newfound powers. In a subsequent experiment, the Joker uses the Mother Box to open a space-time rift, releasing a neurotoxin into a small town, causing chaos akin to an apocalyptic outbreak.

Seeing the suffering of the town's residents, Poison Ivy parts ways with the Joker and soon encounters Catwoman. Simon subtly hinted at a relationship between these two characters, though without explicitly stating it. Given the more conservative norms of the 90s, any overt portrayal of LGBTQ relationships would be inappropriate. However, viewers attuned to such dynamics would catch the underlying tones. With the experiment a success, the Joker plans to use the Mother Box to open countless space-time rifts, spreading his neurotoxin worldwide and turning everyone into 'Jokers.' Batman, despite his best efforts, fails to prevent the Joker's plan. As the neurotoxin begins to spread from Gotham to the world, Poison Ivy, having defected from the Joker, develops an antidote to the neurotoxin.

The ideal method is to use the Mother Box's space-time rifts to disperse the antidote. Unfortunately, unlike the well-prepared Joker, Poison Ivy has only a limited amount of the antidote, insufficient for mass distribution. As the situation reaches a critical point, Poison Ivy devises another solution: using plants' natural purifying abilities to counteract the Joker's neurotoxin. With Catwoman's help, Poison Ivy finds an ancient vine in Gotham's botanical garden that can combine perfectly with the antidote and purify the toxin rapidly. In a visually stunning sequence, Poison Ivy sacrifices her life force to accelerate the growth of countless vines, which spread from Gotham to cleanse the world of the Joker's neurotoxin. The once steel-jungled city transforms into a green sanctuary.

In a final confrontation, Batman subdues the Joker, and the space-time rifts created by the Mother Box are closed. Though at great cost, Gotham and the world are saved once more. In the story's epilogue, Gotham returns to peace. At an auction where Bruce Wayne competes for the Mother Box, he loses to a mysterious woman named Diana Prince. The film ends with Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince sitting across from each other in a café, mirroring a scene from "The Dark Knight."

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