英語趣味課堂：看電影 movies

Michael: Alright, so Simon, do you have a favorite movie?

Simon: Again, that's difficult question so I can't say one favorite movie but I can say that I really, really enjoyed The Lord of the Rings, well mainly because as a elementary school student I read the book, and as a small child my father would tell me stories about Lord of the Rings so when they finally came out on the big screen with big money production and awesome special effects, yeah, I was quite impressed. How bout you?

Michael: Oh, I liked it as well, and I read the book when I was in high school. I like the movies a lot but it still doesn't compare to the first time reading the book. The book was fantastic but of all the adaptations of that book this movie is probably the one, or those three movies are probably the one that I enjoyed the most.

Simon: Yeah! That's true! A lot of adaptions are really quite terrible aren't they?

Michael: Which of the three did you like the most?

Simon: I liked the first one. The first one. It has story and it had, you know, what-will-happen-next anticipation and yeah, but all three were good.

Michael: Well, it's interesting, you're favorite is a trilogy, and my favorite is a trilogy too, and that's the Godfather trilogy, and my favorite is the second one.

Simon: Oh, you like the second one. That's surprising! Most people like the first one the best.

Michael: I like the first one a lot but I like the second one because DeNiro is in it and I like the story of Don Corleone in Sicily as well.

Simon: Ah, yeah, flashbacks!

Michael: Yeah, and I think that the real conflict in the story comes out in the second one. More so than in the first. I see the Godfather trilogy to be very similar to a Shakespearean kind of trilogy, tragic, I think that Michael Corleone is a tragic hero and I like Shakespearean trilogies to so perhaps that's why I like it.

Simon: Oh, that's a really good explanation.

學(xué)習(xí)內(nèi)容：

special effects

I was impressed by the movie's special effects.

'Side effects' are audio or visual effects that are used with a movie, television show or other kind of production to make the presentation more interesting. These can be computer enhanced5images that make the show seem more real for the viewer. Notice the following:

In new 4D movies the special effects include smells and movement of the theater seats.

Sometimes in old movies the special effects actually make you laugh.

doesn't compare to

I like movies, but it still doesn't compare to books.

if one thing 'doesn't compare to' something else they are similar, but one of them will always be better. Notice the following:

The wine here is okay, but it doesn't compare to what they drink in France.

The new version of the movie doesn't compare to the old one.

trilogy

It's interesting that your favorite movie is a trilogy.

A 'trilogy' is a three part series. Notice the following:

The Lord of the Rings was a very popular trilogy.

This is book is the last part of a trilogy series.

flashback

The Godfather has a flashback scene.

When a character has a vivid memory about the past because they feel some connection to the present it is called a 'flashback.' Notice the following:

Throughout the movie the main character has flashbacks from his childhood.

After being in war it is common for soldiers to have flashbacks.

tragic hero

I think Michael Corleone is a tragic hero.

A 'tragic' hero has a character flaw which eventually causes his death or destruction. Notice the following:

Hamlet and Oedipus are famous tragic heroes.

He is a tragic hero in his life because he tries to save everyone else from themselves, but doesn't see his own problems.

1 bout

n.侵襲，發(fā)作;一次(陣，回);拳擊等比賽

參考例句：

I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一陣緊張。

That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的發(fā)作使她虛弱了。

2 awesome

adj.令人驚嘆的，難得嚇人的，很好的

參考例句：

The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.愛爾蘭的教堂一直掌握著令人敬畏的權(quán)力。

That new white convertible is totally awesome.那輛新的白色折篷汽車簡直棒極了.

3 anticipation

n.預(yù)期，預(yù)料，期望

參考例句：

We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我們在車站等著，期待她的到來。

The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各種動物都變得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即將發(fā)生。

4 tragic

adj.悲劇的，悲劇性的，悲慘的

參考例句：

The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海灘后果可悲。

Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是個注定不得善終的人。

5 enhanced

a.加強的

參考例句：

Peak updraft strength is slightly enhanced with hodograph curvature. 山頂上升氣流強度隨速矢端跡曲率加大而稍有加強。

The black wimple enhanced the whiteness of her skin. 黑色的包頭巾使她的皮膚顯得更加白皙。

6 flaw

n.缺陷，瑕疵，裂縫;vt.使有缺陷，損害

參考例句：

The flaw in this stamp makes it less valuable.這張郵票因為有點缺陷，不那么值錢。

Jealousy is a big flaw in his character.嫉妒是他品格中的一個大缺點。