It was already the final month of the year when [Hex - Part 1] was at the end of the last end of his run. In North America, the movie had beaten every other biggie to emerge as the king of the box office.
Just three weeks after its release, another big budget movie has been released. A sci-fi action movie based on a popular Japanese manga. The manga was so popular that a 70 million dollar Hollywood movie was finalised to be made on it.
But it had faltered at the box office.
The cause of it was not [Hex - Part 1] directly as it was already at the end of its run back then. With over 580 million dollars in North America and 358 million dollars from overseas.
The issue came from people already having spent their money on [Hex - Part 1] and not wanting to go to cinemas so early again. Both the movies were anyway trying to be blockbusters.
One succeeded and the other failed.
One thing that made it fail was also the sub par writing and the characters. The movie was worse than the manga and it even ended up helping [Hex - Part 1] in its fourth week.
People who were there to watch the sci-fi flick ended up watching [Hex - Part 1] due to the superior reviews.
Due to that, Hollywood lost another movie that could have been a blockbuster. But they did get [Hex - Part 1].
It wasn't just any blockbuster but it also became a big topic in the independent movie discussion community with MeTubers and other film reviewers talking about fan theories and the next part.
A lot has changed in the first movie. Olio and Aiden changed parts of the book to make it more interesting while the second part followed the novel's story more closely.
That was taken as a decision that got mixed reception but it did make the movie better for most people.
At least it opened up people for discussions around the movie and Aiden heard it once when he was walking across the campus of the New York Film School.
He was wearing a disguise so people don't recognise him and admiring the buildings. Apparently, the whole campus was built in 1911 when one of the politicians fell in love with a theatre actress, making him more interested in the area of arts.
Hence, the idea of campus has come up.
Though, it was just a rumour and nothing was proved regarding it.
While watching one of the buildings, he had heard the conversation regarding [Hex - Part 1] ending.
Two people who looked like students were talking about it.
"I think the ending of [Hex] was pretty dumb." One of the students had said. Hearing that, Aiden had perked his ears.
"I liked it a lot. Felt like it was fitting well with the narrative of the movie. Why do you think it was dumb?"
His friend replied.
"You like it because you have not read the books. If one reads it, it gives away the cliff they are trying to go with. It's a failed strategy just because of that."
"Not everyone will read the books."
"Yeah, but it will come on the internet sooner or later. You know how it goes. Someone will surely put out a Metube video of it and then, it will be out."
"They could just tweak it then. I doubt the books are definite here."
Hearing that conversation, Aiden had smiled, feeling nice that people were discussing his movie. That was always nice as an actor.
Pulling down the cap on his head, he walked past the two students and headed towards his destination. He was in college to meet Jeremy's friend today.
Jeremy had already informed him about coming to meet him, so he was told to head straight to his office.
But in such a big college, it was always hard to find places. So, he had to ask a few people before he got the place.
'Ah, this must be it.'
After he found it, he headed straight inside and in the corridor, he found a man who was looking at what looked like the poster of a 80s time travel movie.
It was a movie that had become a classic after it had come out. Aiden had watched it religiously in childhood as it was an extremely fun and innovative movie. There was just a certain fresh vibe about some movies that was hard to recreate.
Even the sequels had been on the same level of the first movie and had continued the legacy of it. A movie that had become a pop culture phenomenon.
Although it was sad, Aiden doubted he had played even one character that has become a pop culture phenomenon. Kai was the closest to it and although he knew that someone like him would have entire character studies in the future, he unfortunately wasn't a big part of pop culture.
As he just stood there thinking about it, the man who was looking at the poster noticed him. Maybe he found it odd that he was wearing sunglasses inside the building.
"Hey, come here." The man called out. Aiden walked up to him and wondered what he wanted.
"Yes?"
"Do you like this movie?"
"Obviously. I doubt there's anyone who won't like it. It's incredibly fun."
"It is, isn't it?"
The man said it like he was talking to himself and nodded his head with a smile on his face. He certainly looked happy.
Aiden was about to leave him and go look for the professor when the man opened his mouth again.
"So, do you think anyone will be able to top this as the best time travel movie?"
That was a strong question. After that movie, there were several others that did well. Time travel as a concept was extremely viable to movie business as it arose a feeling in all humans that was mutual.
What if one could go back in time and change things or see their futures? Everyone would think of something like that once in their lives.
But still, if he was talking about the best movie, he had the most fun watching the one in front of him. Others were good and did what they set out to do but it never became something that had stayed with him.
Though, he did think that there would be a movie who would set standards one day.
"I do think there will be one movie that will do it. Maybe not now but 10 years from now on. Or even 50 years but there will be one movie that will top this."
Aiden replied and the man looked at him with a bit of surprise.
"Do you really think a classic can be topped? It's much more likely that filmmakers would just make another sequel out of this movie than try to top it with a standalone.*
"I think every movie should be topped one day. It may or may not happen but I think that's how cinema should go forward. In the 90s, we were just learning about VFX and now, the technology makes it seem like everything is real. So, it changed. The style of filmmaking evolved with it. Every movie would be topped one day one way or another, just in a different way as cinema moves forward. Though, this movie will always be the pioneer."
Aiden replied as best as he could. He really believed that better and better movies would be made as time moves. Humans were a lot of bad things but creativity was probably their best element.
"That's an interesting answer. You helped me out there." The man said and Aiden tilted his head, wondering what he was talking about.
"Helped you out?"
"Yeah, I wanted to hold a debate in my class today but didn't have a good topic, so I was just thinking about it standing here when you came up. I got the topic thanks to you. 'Will classics ever be topped?', Nice topic right. Your answer was very interesting too. I will tell them to my students."
Hearing that, Aiden blinked his eyes and came to a realisation. He quickly asked.
"Students? What do you mean?"
"Oh, I'm a Professor of this faculty. My name is Sean Hunting. It's nice to meet you. Are you here to meet someone?"
Sean pushed his hand towards him after introducing himself and Aiden shook it. It was only then he focused more on his face. He had brown hair that looked dyed but his beard was already getting those white strands. His wrinkles gave him a soft charm and made him look more approachable.
Looking at him, he felt like it was the image of an ageing man.
That was exactly how Jeremy had described him.
"Ah, yes." He said after the handshake and began removing the cap and sunglasses he was wearing. "Aiden Silvereye, I was actually here to meet you, Professor."
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