I went to see "Pegasus 3" this afternoon. I guess many of you have seen it too, because as of the time I'm writing this article, its box office has exceeded 1.4 billion yuan. If each ticket costs an average of 50 yuan, then 28 million people have seen it.
I saw the first "Pegasus" movie, which had a 6.8 rating on Douban. I found it rather boring at the time, so I didn't bother watching the second one. However, the second movie actually got a 7.6 rating and doubled in box office revenue. This is very rare; usually, sequels get worse and worse.
Before watching this movie, I had certain expectations. Even without spoilers, I knew it wouldn't escape the formula of "a middle-aged person who is down on their luck, suffers injustice, and then finds themselves again in a competition and wins." I've seen at least 30 movies with this script framework, both domestic and foreign. This is the most classic dream-making formula, and the target audience is middle-aged people aged 30-50.
I was a little surprised by the cast; there weren't any actresses, not even supporting roles. Usually, for big-budget films like this, all sorts of connections and investors try to squeeze people in. If the screenwriter or director compromises, bringing in a popular, pretty face wouldn't be a big deal. But *Pegasus 3* refused. They didn't force it if the story didn't need it, which made me somewhat more favorable towards Han Han.
Getting back to the movie itself, the first half was indeed clichéd and boring, completely following the template of this type of film. The jokes were mediocre, and it made me sleepy, so I dozed off for 10-15 minutes. Even after I woke up, the plot didn't feel disjointed; I could fill in the gaps myself. If this is the quality of a movie, it would have been widely criticized online long ago.
The plot twist comes in the climax of the final race, which is the last third of the movie, and it was truly a pleasant surprise. First, the filming location—I looked it up online, it's Jiulong County in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province—is absolutely beautiful, and the various angles are very enjoyable to watch. Second, the pacing and details of the race were handled perfectly; even someone like me who doesn't drive or know anything about racing could immerse myself in the atmosphere and be emotionally engaged by the film. As for the dialogue, there wasn't much, but it was just right, with no unnecessary or superfluous lines.
The climax was seamless and satisfying, and I found it quite enjoyable to watch. For a racing movie, I think it's top-notch. Based on this scene alone, I'd give it a 7.7. The visuals and sound effects are truly best enjoyed in a movie theater; watching it on a computer or phone would significantly diminish the experience.
Maoyan currently predicts that "Pegasus 3" will gross between 4 and 4.5 billion yuan. Aside from "Ne Zha 2," which is a notable exception, most films that dominate the holiday box office fall into this range. The remaining box office will be divided among "Boonie Bears," "Silent Night," and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes." "Boonie Bears" has a slight advantage in audience attendance, but it's not significant. As for the other two films, they're pure cannon fodder; no amount of fan support from the actors will help.
A few days ago, when we were talking about robots, many readers mentioned that robot dogs have already been used in actual combat on the Russian-Ukrainian battlefield. I was curious, so I searched for information and found that the Ukrainian army has indeed begun to deploy robot dogs, mainly for reconnaissance and transport missions, but at most they are only playing an auxiliary role. The real battlefield is still dominated by drones.
The biggest difference between drones and robot dogs lies in cost. A robot dog costs tens of thousands of dollars, while a drone only costs a few hundred dollars. Therefore, robot dogs are also one of the targets of drones. If a drone is found, it will crash into it, making a profit.
The urban warfare between Russia and Ukraine is now vastly different from traditional urban warfare. During the day, soldiers hide in bunkers and do not move, fearing being scanned by infrared instruments. Windows are covered with barbed wire to prevent drone attacks and bombings. Only at night can they take advantage of the darkness to launch attacks. Robotic dogs also go out during this time to undertake some reconnaissance and transport tasks.
Therefore, some netizens say that it is difficult for robots to be used on a large scale on the battlefield. They are hard to match drones in terms of effectiveness and cost, as drones are cheaper and easier to use. Drones have already reshaped the form of modern warfare.
While I'm writing this, let me also update you on the situation between Russia and Ukraine. Currently, Russia still holds the upper hand, slowly advancing its front lines. Russia's advantage lies in its mobilization capacity, able to recruit 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers per month, maintaining a four-figure daily expenditure. Ukraine, as the defender, can achieve a better casualty ratio (1:2.5). However, Ukraine's mobilization capacity is nearing its limit, with the conscription age dropping from 27 to 25, forcing it to begin consuming the nation's future to cope with the war.
Honestly, as an observer, I feel heartbroken. Brothers of the same nation are caught up in war because of differing stances, and so many young people die casually on the battlefield. They should have had happy and fulfilling lives, but instead, they are being used as expendable resources in the war. This is the greatest tragedy of modern human civilization.
Whoever it is, please step forward and end this as soon as possible. It doesn't matter who wins or loses, as long as no more people die. That is my wish.
The above is what I wrote this afternoon. There's bound to be a lot of drinking at the old classmates' reunion tonight. I went straight to bed after I got home. My mom knew I had to go to work, so she woke me up at 10 PM. My head is still buzzing, and the whole world feels swaying. I need to send this out quickly so I can go back to sleep later. 
Original Article: View Chinese Version
