【英语趣味课堂】电影-Movie

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 awesome² special effects, yeah, I was quite impressed. How bout¹ 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 anticipation³ 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, tragic⁴, 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. 

 

学习内容：

 

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 enhanced⁵ images 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 flaw⁶ 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.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

2 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

3 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

4 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

5 enhanced   

a.加强的

参考例句：

• Peak updraft strength is slightly enhanced with hodograph curvature. 山顶上升气流强度随速矢端迹曲率加大而稍有加强。
• The black wimple enhanced the whiteness of her skin. 黑色的包头巾使她的皮肤显得更加白皙。

6 flaw   

n.缺陷，瑕疵，裂缝；vt.使有缺陷，损害

参考例句：

• The flaw in this stamp makes it less valuable.这张邮票因为有点缺陷，不那么值钱。
• Jealousy is a big flaw in his character.嫉妒是他品格中的一个大缺点。