After watching the entire movie, Peter gave Marvel Studios' first major comic book adaptation a very high rating.
The special effects were, of course, top-tier, representing the best level Hollywood had to offer today. The process of Iron Man building his own armor was captivating in itself.
Moreover, Peter hadn't expected Robert Downey Jr.'s natural fit with the role. Initially, he had worried that Robert Downey Jr. might ruin the film, given the actor's past mistakes.
Originally, Robert Downey Jr. had been a brilliant actor—Peter still remembered his outstanding performance in Chaplin but later, drugs had destroyed this talented actor.
It was said that he had reformed, but the influence of drugs is not something easily cast aside, so Peter did not hold high expectations for him.
Perhaps because he had no expectations, Peter was all the more pleasantly surprised when Robert Downey Jr. delivered an excellent performance in the film.
Other attendees at the screening, including cinema representatives and veteran critics, shared this sentiment; it was as if the character Tony Stark had been tailor-made for Robert Downey Jr.
Of course, the performances of the other characters were also impressive. Kate Beckinsale, dressed in a fitted dress, served as a stylish presence, while Don Cheadle's portrayal of Rhodes was sufficiently humorous.
Jeff Bridges' Obadiah Stane exuded an imposing presence, and Stan Lee's cameo was a delightful surprise, along with the post-credits appearance of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
Though the story was straightforward, Peter could already sense Marvel's ambition; a vast universe subtly began to emerge within this film.
Nick Fury's line, "Tony Stark, you think you're the only superhero in this world?" particularly stirred Peter's imagination, making him eagerly anticipate future developments.
Peter wasn't exactly a Marvel fanatic, but he was familiar with Marvel's numerous comic characters, including high-profile ones like Spider-Man and the X-Men.
He knew that the Spider-Man rights were held by Sony Columbia, with a third installment reportedly in development.
The X-Men rights were owned by 20th Century Fox, with the latest installment, X-Men: Last Stand, scheduled for release this summer.
With the high-profile comic character rights unavailable, Peter was eager to see which superheroes Marvel Studios would bring to life next and how their stories would intertwine with Iron Man.
Peter was also captivated by Black Widow, dressed in a sleek black suit and possessing a graceful figure. This character was portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, a notable superhero in her own right.
More importantly, Peter was a normal man, and naturally, he appreciated seeing an attractive woman.
Although Scarlett Johansson's screen time was limited, her appearance and styling were eye-catching.
Especially when he saw her using her shapely legs to subdue an opponent, a fellow public critic sitting next to him couldn't help exclaiming:
"God, I'd gladly be crushed by her legs!"
Peter wanted to say the same, but of course, that was impossible. Everyone in the U.S. knew that Scarlett Johansson was Gilbert's prized possession.
Over the years, Scarlett Johansson had grown even more beautiful and sensual, with traces of the iconic Marilyn Monroe in her aura.
Many in Hollywood had tried to pursue her, but none dared to act.
The reason was simple: Scarlett Johansson had Gilbert backing her. His name alone carried tremendous authority, and it was clear he had no intention of sharing her with anyone, male, female, or otherwise.
Hollywood rumors said that because Mel Gibson had looked at Naomi Watts a bit too long, Gilbert had retaliated, sending him to prison for over a decade.
If anyone publicly pursued Scarlett Johansson, they'd probably end up feeding the fish in the Pacific Ocean.
After seeing Scarlett in her black bodysuit, Peter was reminded of Charlize Theron's look in The Matrix.
He seemed to understand Gilbert's preference: a woman with a seductive figure wearing a tight suit could indeed ignite desire.
The screening concluded successfully. Jon Favreau led Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Kate Beckinsale, and other cast members to appear, engaging with the audience who had attended the preview.
Peter also received a few small gifts from the screening: some shopping cards and a few themed toys.
This was an unspoken standard practice. Directly giving cash was considered too crude and could easily be used against you by someone with ill intentions. Shopping cards were much more appropriate, usually valued at several thousand dollars each.
It was a necessary part of the process, and in this aspect, one couldn't be stingy; otherwise, people might go back and speak ill of you.
Of course, beyond these standard public relations practices, the film itself still had to meet quality standards. If it was a poor movie, no amount of gifts would make people say anything good about it.
Moreover, there were cinema representatives present. If the film's quality was subpar, they definitely wouldn't offer favorable screening slots.
What disappointed Peter was that he didn't get to see Scarlett Johansson, preferably in the tight costume from the film.
Scarlett Johansson was indeed wearing the bodysuit, but it was for Gilbert's eyes only.
"Like it? I brought it back from the set," Scarlett displayed her alluring figure in front of Gilbert, one hand already tracing over him.
"What? Still not warmed up enough?" Gilbert responded in kind, running his hand over her.
Scarlett's eyes glazed over: "I also want a little baby!"
"Want to be a mother this early?"
"What's wrong with that? Isn't it fine? Babies are fun!"
Gilbert was speechless. So wanting a baby was just for fun, huh? Well, that did suit Scarlett's personality.
"All right, enough fooling around." Gilbert gently pushed Scarlett's hand away. "Let's talk about serious matters. Have you been keeping up with training lately?"
"Of course. Ever since you mentioned it, I haven't stopped. I've been consistent," Scarlett said, looking at Gilbert for praise as if seeking acknowledgment.
Gilbert smiled: "Good job. The script is almost finished. It should be ready by next month. Study it carefully when it's done."
Scarlett had some understanding of Gilbert's cyberpunk project. He frequently mentioned a character named V.
Pouting, she asked, "Can I play that V guy? You said it sounded really cool."
"Is that so?" Gilbert remembered mentioning it a few times. "We'll see later. This is a core character; it's not easy to get that role."
In reality, Gilbert was still deciding whether V should be male or female, and which story path to follow.
If V were female, having Scarlett continue in the role would be fine. The cyberpunk world's advanced cosmetic industry could explain why Lucy and V looked alike, which was perfectly reasonable.
Of course, all of this depended on whether the subsequent plans succeeded; otherwise, it was all just speculation.
Gilbert wanted to shoot a series, which truly surprised the executives at Warner and Disney.
It wasn't that they doubted Gilbert's ability; rather, television production and film production were entirely different, and they worried Gilbert might not handle it well.
Given this, Gilbert felt he needed to make some clarifications.
.....
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