Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm-Chapter 459 - 458: That’s All I Have to Say—Take Care of Yourselves

As Martin and Keira walked toward the press area, the first question was immediately directed at him.

"Martin, how do you respond to the negative reviews from critics like David Denby and Roger Ebert regarding Step Up?"

Martin raised an eyebrow. "Hey, this is the premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean."

Then, he broke into a smile. "Alright, I'll answer that."

His expression turned serious.

"I know that recently, critics have published their reviews of Step Up, and between the lines, their disdain is practically dripping off the page."

"I still remember a particular line from Roger Ebert's review. He wrote: 'Watching this film was an agonizing experience, its sheer mediocrity unbearable. Perhaps two or three moments were mildly entertaining at best.'"

"To Roger Ebert and his peers, Step Up is a shallow, childish story with meaningless dialogue. He mocked the way the characters spoke, saying the mix of British, Brooklyn, and hip-hop accents made them sound like aliens. He even described the dancers as nothing more than a gang of street thugs."

"Ebert also wrote: 'If you want to know what this movie is about but don't want to waste your money, just walk into your kitchen, gather a choir of men to sing hellish hymns, have a child bang pots and pans loudly, then close your eyes and let your imagination run wild.'"

At this point, Martin chuckled.

"Now, as an ordinary actor, I have a response for these 'great and noble' critics—"

"In the spring of 1977, at the test screening of an upcoming sci-fi movie, the critics and many industry professionals mocked the film mercilessly, branding it as one of the dumbest things they had ever seen. They declared it dead on arrival."

"But that film, which was doomed before it even hit theaters, embarked on its journey amidst the ridicule and sneers of the media and industry elites. Twenty-six years later, those who once dismissed it as worthless are either long gone or pretend they never said anything."

"And that 'dead-on-arrival' movie was—Star Wars!"

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"I'll be the first to admit that Step Up is not a masterpiece. It's not revolutionary. It has its flaws. It may never leave a legendary mark on cinematic history like Star Wars did."

"But if you truly love dance, if you love life, if you love romance—if you genuinely enjoy thrilling films and just want an electrifying escape from this chaotic world—then Step Up is the movie for you."

"Watch it once. Twice. Three times."

"The more you watch, the more you'll realize how much more it has to offer."

"Do you know what kind of people exist in this world?"

"There are those who believe they are the ultimate authority, thinking their words alone can manipulate the minds of the so-called ignorant masses."

"There are those whose thinking has become so outdated that they can no longer keep up with the times, yet they still believe their opinions are the ultimate measure of all things."

"There are those who sit atop a throne gifted to them by the public, looking down upon the people—forgetting who put them up there in the first place."

"And what happens to people like that?"

"When they refuse to acknowledge they've been left behind... when they cling desperately to their so-called authority... when they insist on looking down on the very people who once uplifted them... they are discarded. Forgotten. Left to rot in the seats the public once placed them in—until they are nothing more than relics of a bygone era."

"To those self-proclaimed 'great' film critics, I say this—your venomous words cannot break me. They only make me stronger."

"And your critiques of Step Up? They're nothing but dust on the hem of my pants—completely insignificant!"

"The audience votes with their feet. And they already have. The box office speaks for itself."

"And you—"

Martin paused for a moment, scanning the cameras.

"You critics have already been abandoned by the people."

His words were like a thunderclap.

It was a scathing takedown.

Standing at the theater entrance, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire were both stunned. They had taken time off to attend the Pirates of the Caribbean premiere, but now they found themselves frozen in place, listening to Martin's bold declaration.

Tobey Maguire sighed. "I respect Martin for having the guts to say this. But... isn't he afraid of backlash during awards season? These critics might not have as much sway over the box office anymore, but they still hold influence over the aging Academy voters. Some of them are even Oscar voters themselves."

Leonardo's face was flushed with excitement. He had been waiting to hear someone say this for years!

As someone constantly dismissed as a "pretty-boy actor," he had been at the mercy of critics for years. Yet, for the sake of an Oscar, he had no choice but to endure it. Even when critics trashed his performances, he had to pretend to be grateful for their "guidance."

Of course, it felt awful.

But unlike Martin, he didn't have the guts to fight back.

So all he could do was silently cheer in his head: Damn right!

Hearing Tobey's concerns, Leonardo's eyes widened. "Why should Martin care? He's not just an actor—he's a major player in the industry. He's rich. He's powerful. And he's a voting member of the Academy himself! Hell, he's the youngest Academy member in history. So what if he pisses off these critics? What can they do to him?"

Tobey raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "You must be loving this, huh? I still remember you cursing out the critics after Titanic got snubbed during awards season."

Leonardo immediately glanced around to make sure no one was listening. Everyone was still focused on Martin. Only then did he sheepishly reply, "Ugh, that was in private. I'd never dare say something like this publicly. But damn, listening to Martin go off? That feels good."

Both of them burst into laughter.

Back in the interview area, Martin delivered his final words.

"The times have changed."

"With the rise of the internet, everyone now has a voice. The days when critics could single-handedly dictate a movie's fate are over."

"If those people can accept this reality, maybe they'll find new ways to survive—perhaps online."

He gave a small shrug.

"That's all I have to say. Take care of yourselves."