In this world, people have duality. Most often, they show their good side to their families. Old Dann was no exception. With so many wealthy individuals in New York City, why did the criminals target the Dann family specifically? It wasn't as simple as choosing blindly.
From Cheney's mouth, Chris Dann learned that they targeted Old Dann because they had dealings with each other long before. Moreover, Old Dann held information about another even more terrifying group backing Cheney!
During the interrogation of Cheney, the police also set their sights on Chris Dann, leading to a thrilling car chase. Chris's sleek black motorcycle drew numerous admiring exclamations in the theater.
After escaping from the New York police, Chris Dann returned to his suburban villa, reminiscing about his childhood. His memories were filled with his father's love. How could such a person be evil?
Good people always show their good side when needed, hiding their other sins.
This trait was evident in almost every character in the film. Sheriff Lynch helped Chris Dann not just to use him to fight the gang but also to expose the dealings between his superiors and the gang, hoping to climb higher. Jay Rachel's congressman father, seemingly a friend of Old Dann, actually accepted commissions from another force to interfere with the trial, ensuring the murderer wouldn't receive the death penalty, thereby pushing Chris Dann to take action himself.
Daisy had long clenched her fists in excitement. Except for Jay Rachel, who was relatively pure, every character, including the protagonist, had an extremely complex humanity, hiding a dark side under their surface. Once this dark side erupted, it would not only destroy themselves but also everything they could influence.
She particularly loved such characters, especially the setup of Chris Dann's father. The duality of darkness and light exuded an irresistible charm, reflected in Chris Dann as well. The young Chris Dann was confused and in pain, one misstep away from irreversible ruin.
In the New York theater, Edmond Princeton vaguely felt that Chris Dann would face an extraordinarily complex situation.
Someone with life experience like him knew this wasn't a simple black-and-white world. It's not just black or white; often, there's white in black and black in white...
He glanced at Derk sitting beside him, who was deeply engrossed in the movie.
A simplistic worldview like Marvel's really didn't suit adults. Derk must have been unable to bear *Thor*, which was why he switched theaters.
"I didn't expect it to be even worse than *Spider-Man 3* and *Iron Man 2*," Derk whispered, "It's more childish than any previous Marvel film, completely aimed at teenagers."
"Could you keep it down?"
Perhaps they had disturbed another moviegoer, as someone turned around to remind them, "This film requires full immersion."
Derk quickly shut his mouth. The atmosphere in this theater was entirely different from the one next door. Apart from the film's own sounds, there was almost no other noise.
The audience's focus was entirely on the film, not on their sodas or popcorn.
Derk also concentrated on watching the movie. Even though it wasn't his preferred genre, he gradually became captivated. The film, despite its deep theme he didn't like, featured thrilling car chases and brutal hand-to-hand combat scenes.
Compared to the exaggerated CGI scenes in *Thor*, these realistic action sequences felt much more authentic, like real-life death matches.
And the complex characters were far more compelling than the simplistic protagonists in *Thor*, whose intelligence seemed stuck in adolescence.
On screen, a new clean energy project was officially launched on a small island near New York, with a large amount of equipment transported over.
The criminals Chris Dann captured were repeatedly sent to court by Jay Rachel, only to be diagnosed as insane by doctors bribed by the gang. Jay even visited the mental hospital on the island and encountered a strange magician suffering from mental illness.
Near the mental hospital was the clean energy project heavily pushed by her father.
Meanwhile, under Chris Dann's torture, Cheney revealed that he worked for a more terrifying group, as did Old Dann.
Combining Cheney's confession with his father's records, although lacking concrete evidence, it was clear that Old Dann was intricately linked with New York's biggest criminal organization.
This realization struck Chris Dann hard.
Rainer appeared at the right moment, once again trying to act as his life mentor.
"Chris, your father was on our side. We are engaged in a great cause!" Rainer declared, standing before Chris Dann as he did during training, "Only we can understand the greatness of this cause."
Amid Chris Dann's confusion, Rainer explained further.
Rainer led an organization passed down from the Middle Ages, committed to eradicating evil. They had initiated actions like the burning of Athens, the Crusades, and the witch hunts, aiming to eliminate recognized evil.
This organization, over the years, had passed into Rainer's hands. Growing up in Brooklyn, Rainer experienced much hardship, hating the city that abandoned him. After taking over the organization, he firmly believed that New York was a city of chaos, belonging to crime, and needed to be destroyed.
Rainer had planned for years. He knew Old Dann for a long time and supported him financially, helping Old Dann achieve great business success. According to Rainer's plan, Old Dann persuaded a nearby influential congressman with promises of wealth and a bright future to establish a clean energy power plant in New York. However, just as the project was entering the planning stage, Old Dann met with an accident, halting the project. To avoid higher-level scrutiny, the project paused for several years, only recently being pushed forward by the congressman.
"New York destroyed my childhood, your childhood, and your father!" Rainer said, "Evil should be completely eliminated!"
Chris Dann agreed that evil should be eradicated, but how?
Rainer proposed destroying New York entirely, erasing it from the map, and establishing a new order.
"This is the only way to save New York!" he declared.
To save, one must first destroy. It seemed logical, but Chris Dann wasn't Rainer. His views were more complex, influenced by his father's teachings of kindness. He knew Rainer's method wouldn't save New York.
The ideological and philosophical clash was inevitable. The film clearly contrasted Rainer's single-minded ideology with Chris Dann's complex beliefs through their conversation.
"For a great cause, individual sacrifices are unavoidable!" Rainer emphasized a spirit of dedication, "This is devotion!"
Chris Dann retorted, "Did you ever ask if they were willing to sacrifice?"
The ideological and philosophical differences escalated into a verbal confrontation.
"Will you not help me, Chris?" Rainer demanded.
Such a fanatic ideology would not gain many adherents, and Chris Dann was no exception.
In Lincoln Center's premiere hall, Kenneth Turan detected political undertones, finding Rainer's organization reminiscent of certain extremist groups...
Todd McCarthy noted in his book, "Ideological conflicts are unsolvable."
Rainer's followers gradually emerged from the shadows, filling every corner of Chris Dann's villa.
"Take him away!" Rainer ordered, "Send him back north!"
He looked at Chris Dann, "This is your father's cause! Will you betray him?"
Chris Dann didn't want to oppose Rainer, but his conscience wouldn't let him watch New York be destroyed. The city, though filled with scoundrels, also had good people like Jay Rachel.
A battle ensued. Outnumbered, Chris Dann was captured, but Rainer spared him, holding out hope, and imprisoned him.
Rainer had Chris Dann sent back north while he led his men to the island near New York to activate a particle accelerator at the clean energy plant. Once modified, the machine would become a powerful neutron bomb capable of destroying New York.
As they departed, Jay Rachel, searching for Chris Dann, encountered the convoy. The leader decided to silence her, diverting their focus, allowing Chris Dann to turn the tables. He sent Jay to notify Sheriff Lynch for backup while he rushed to the island to stop Rainer.
In the villa's basement, Chris Dann opened a safe, revealing a black mask and matching equipment. Riding his motorcycle to the dock, he switched to a speedboat and reached the island.
Modifying the particle accelerator wasn't a quick task; it required time. Upon arrival, Chris found the island controlled by Rainer's men. At Rainer's command, the inmates, including Cheney, were released from the island's mental hospital.
Rainer, a complex character driven by ideology, wasn't entirely ruthless, showing a strange loyalty to both Chris Dann and his indirect subordinate Cheney.
Chris had to fight alone, using the darkness to his advantage, constantly ambushing Rainer's men.
_________________________
🔥 33% OFF on Patreon!From May 26 to June 3, use code EA00B for a discount on all tiers.
Join now and get early access to chapters!
[ w w w . p @ t r e o n . c o m / I N N I T ]