Chapter 66: Fate/Zero Premiere, The Fourth Holy Grail War Begins!

Although film critics harbored no favorable feelings toward Matou Shinji and his film, they couldn't directly give it a negative review before its release.

After all, giving a negative review without watching a film would damage the credibility of film critics more than Matou Shinji and his movie.

Not being able to give a negative review doesn't mean they can't speak ill. In their columns, they could subtly criticize Fate/Zero, pick flaws from the already released materials, and engage in indirect negativity.

The actions of the film critics played right into Shinji's hands. These old fellows were willing to boost the publicity for Fate/Zero. If Matou Shinji didn't take advantage of it, wouldn't he be neglecting the reputation of "pluck the goose while it's molting"?

So, while film critics were giving Fate/Zero negative reviews, voices supporting Fate/Zero appeared in various major media outlets and quickly engaged in a war of words with the critics.

Both sides argued in major media outlets, working hard to maintain the hype around Fate/Zero until the premiere.

The premiere of Fate/Zero was scheduled for the first Thursday of May 2004, intending to dominate the summer box office.

The premiere took place at the Type-Moon Cinema in Fuyuki City.

Just by the name, you could tell who owned this newly opened cinema.

Thanks to Japan not having a "Paramount Decree," film companies could both produce movies and own cinemas.

However, Shinji had no intention of running a cinema. The significance of Type-Moon Cinema's display and symbolism far exceeded its practical purpose.

On the day of the premiere, the area in front of Type-Moon Cinema buzzed with people. Countless fans and media personnel surrounded the red carpet, creating a lively scene comparable to China's Spring Festival travel rush.

Shinji arrived early, walking down the red carpet to the interview area, standing shoulder to shoulder with Arturia, and facing the reporters.

"Arturia is the precious gift given to me by the heavens. No one is more suitable to play the role of King Arthur than her!"

When asked about his opinion on Arturia, Shinji responded in this manner.

Hearing these words, Arturia looked at Shinji with a reproachful glance and shook her head helplessly.

Shinji didn't mind how Arturia viewed him. At this moment, all he had to do was praise Arturia, leaving the rest to the reporters to write about.

After finishing the interview, Shinji didn't linger in the interview area. He turned and walked into his own cinema.

As a new cinema, the decoration of Type-Moon Cinema was luxurious, giving a sense of high-end elegance.

The most eye-catching feature was the main screening hall – an IMAX theater that could accommodate 2000 people.

As a movie enthusiast who had traveled through time, how could Shinji forget about this extra-large special screen?

Unfortunately, because the current IMAX filming technology wasn't perfect, Shinji didn't use the IMAX method to produce the movie. The IMAX version of Fate/Zero was a pseudo "fake IMAX version" – simply using an IMAX screen for projection.

Not just the IMAX hall, in Shinji's plans, he also intended to open various special-screen projection halls in the future, such as 4DX, Dolby Atmos, StarMAX, SCREENX, and so on, serving as promotional windows for commercial films with special screens.

"I think this will be an unprecedented feat."

Shinji enthusiastically introduced his grand blueprint to Arturia.

"Oh, is that so? Master, do your best."

Arturia clearly wasn't very interested.

Fortunately, at this moment, other members of the crew also entered the cinema, and Arturia quickly avoided her master's entanglement.

"Why haven't I seen Miss Flora?" Arturia curiously asked.

"Cloris-san is keeping an eye on the premiere in North America and didn't come to Japan," Sakura explained.

"You guys care about her so much?"

Shinji felt his teeth ache as he overheard their conversation.

"Of course, I even have Cloris-san's personal email," Sakura boasted, taking out her phone. "She sends me messages almost every week."

Shinji shook his head. "She seems quite idle."

After a brief exchange, guided by Cu Chulainn, they all walked into the hall that could accommodate 2000 people together.

"I have good news for you."

Udagawa Nao whispered to Shinji as they walked. "For the whole of May, there's no noteworthy competition in Japan. Toho's 'Love Calling at the Center of the World' has been moved to July. It seems Toho is afraid of our Fate."

"Of course," Shinji, now sitting in his seat, exuded confidence. "This is my movie."

The number of people entering the Type-Moon Cinema hall in Fuyuki City kept increasing. In the front rows were crew members and colleagues from the industry, and in the middle were entertainment media reporters from around the world. The largest group at the back consisted of ordinary audience members.

Without any surprises, the IMAX hall with 2000 seats was fully occupied, showcasing the popularity of the Fate IP within the industry.

Apart from this premiere, at almost the same time, nearly 5000 cinemas globally were screening Fate/Zero. After today, this screening scale would expand to 8000 cinemas.

The attendance rates for all premieres of Fate/Zero were quite high. In popular commercial areas of major cities like Tokyo, London, New York, etc., theaters experienced full-house situations.

As the world's first prequel to a blockbuster with special effects, Fate/Zero garnered considerable attention. and the IP of Fate also has the prototype of "Star Wars" before his time travel.

Since the premiere was held in Fuyuki City, Aoko was unfortunately unable to attend.

After all, Fuyuki City was practically the stronghold of the Anti-Aozaki Organization. If her grandfather found out she had been to Fuyuki City, Aoko believed she would be restricted for the rest of the year.

So, Aoko could only drag Kuonji Alice to attend the premiere in Tokyo. To cover her true intentions, Aoko arrived in Tokyo a week earlier and invited second-generation magus and disciples from other magus families, claiming it was a gathering to exchange magical insights.

Besides the young magus, the film critic group also organized a group viewing.

"Matou Shinji is really a reckless director!"

Kawachi Ippei, sitting in the corner of the cinema, complained bitterly.

His grievances were quickly echoed by his colleagues.

"Yeah, he didn't even send us critic invitations. Who does he think he is!"

Because there was no unified invitation for film critics, they had to pay for their own tickets to enter. This made them feel deeply insulted.

If it weren't for directly criticizing the movie to death, film critics would never buy a ticket like this.

After so many years, having to buy a ticket to watch a movie was a violation of their dignity!

So, Shinji's crimes in the eyes of the film critics increased by one.

However, Shinji wouldn't care about these criticisms.

Although there were significant time differences globally, Fate/Zero's major early premieres were synchronized to reflect the movie at the same moment.

On the big screen of Type-Moon Cinema in Fuyuki City, the opening animations of Type-Moon Film Company, Bandai, and Time Group flashed by, officially starting the movie.

Under the dark sky, in a dimly lit church, a silver-haired woman was constructing a magic circle using mercury, with a black-haired man standing behind her.

These two were, of course, Irisviel von Einzbern and Kiritsugu Emiya. With a few simple lines of dialogue, the movie explained that they were performing the summoning ritual for Heroic Spirits.

Old Fate fans could understand Kiritsugu and Irisviel's character backgrounds through their conversation, while newcomers could learn about what the Holy Grail War was.

The scene quickly switched to Fuyuki City, introducing Tokiomi, Waver, and Kariya one after another.

Similar to Kiritsugu's group, Shinji succinctly conveyed to the audience the reasons why these Masters were participating in the Holy Grail War.

Tokiomi sought the Root, Waver wanted to prove himself, and Kariya aimed to free Sakura from the Matou family.

After introducing the main Masters, the summoning ritual for Heroic Spirits began.

At this moment, in different locations, the four Masters almost simultaneously started their summoning rituals, placing their Holy Relics on the magic circles, extending their right hands engraved with command spells, and chanting the incantations loudly.

Regardless of the magus, their longstanding wishes were the same.

Around a miracle, magus who sought that miracle and engaged in bloody slaughter for it summoned Heroic Spirits from the Throne of Heroes.

At this moment, the incantations were echoing across this vast land.

"Proclaim!"

"Thou art under my command, entrusted with my destiny by thy sword."

The camera began switching between the summoning scenes of the four Masters, presenting the complete summoning incantation to the audience through the alternating recitations.

Of course, the incantations were just a form of expression. In such a tense duration, Shinji still retained these summoning scenes to use the camera to convey the personalities of the main characters.

Using Waver's excited smile to show his youthful and passionate side, as well as his immaturity; Kiritsugu's expressionless face hinted at his ruthlessness; Tokiomi's confident demeanor revealed his arrogant intelligence; Kariya's gnashing teeth and grimace instantly elicited sympathy.

Not only the four Masters summoning Heroic Spirits but even the onlookers at the ritual, including Irisviel, Kirei Kotomine, Kirei's younger brother Kirei Kotomine, and Zouken Matou, had their personalities and character designs revealed in the opening credits, lasting less than five minutes.

"Thou, clad with the Great Trinity, come forth from the circle of restraint, Guardian of the Heavenly Scale!"

With these words, the summoning ritual approached its conclusion.

Thunder roared, and the winds stirred.

The magic circle of the summoning shone with a brilliant light, and the powerful gusts of wind made it impossible for the Masters to keep their eyes open.

Finally, the circuits in the magic circle connected with otherworldly realms, and from the dazzling radiance overflowing continuously, the figures of Heroic Spirits standing within the circle appeared.

They came from beyond, enveloped in whirlwinds and lightning, shrouded in the phantoms of legends.

Departing from the realm of humans, elevated to the status of spirits with non-human divine power.

The gathering place of these extraordinary beings originated from the Throne of Heroes, where the suppressed divine power was released. Countless Heroic Spirits, born from the dreams of countless people, simultaneously descended upon the earth.

The Masters were all captivated by the majesty of the heroes they had summoned, uttering ecstatic words.

"We won, Kirei. This battle is our victory."

"Fantastic! So, this is a Servant!"

"Finally, it succeeded."

"Young lady— Why?"

...

Then, in the towering and profound church, in the forest at night, on the stone benches surrounded by darkness, in the basement teeming with insects, someone asked with a chilling voice.

"I ask thee, art thou my Master?" *N

Subsequently, the camera zoomed in, eventually focusing on the summoning circle, and then the title appeared – Fate/Zero.

The Fourth Holy Grail War had begun.

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