英语美文：Christmas Movies 圣诞热片

 　　Battle of the Blockbusters

　　Cinema goers in the UK are licking their lips in anticipation¹ of the films to be released in time for the Christmas holidays. And this year it looks like they will be spoiled for choice as fantasy films continue to dominate the Christmas market.

　　The latest Harry² Potter adventure, Harry Potter and the Goblet³ of Fire, has already become the most successful film in UK cinema history, earning over ￡14 million (130 million RMB) in the first three days of its release. Fans of the franchise⁴ have been flocking to cinemas all over the country to watch Harry's progress.

　　But if Harry thinks he's going to have it all his own way this year, he may be in for a surprise. That's because a new blockbuster saga⁵ is on its way to UK cinema screens.

　　Based on the classic novels of CS Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe poses a threat to the dominance of the Harry Potter films. The film follows the adventures of three children who discover a gateway⁶ to the magical world of Narnia. Once they have entered Narnia they become involved in a war between good and evil.

　　The producers of the Narnia films will be hoping to emulate⁷ the success of the Lord of the Rings films which topped the Christmas box office between 2001 and 2003. Since the Narnia novels have sold more than 65 million copies worldwide, it seems likely that the films will also be a runaway⁸ success.

　　However, there is one other fictional⁹ heavyweight who could challenge Harry Potter's hold over the Christmas audience. King Kong roars his way back onto the silver screen on 14th December. Directed by Lord of the Rings director, Peter Jackson, this film is a big-budget remake of the 1933 classic. The giant ape has been recreated digitally and is more life-like and terrifying than ever.

　　So whether you are a fan of monster monkeys, schoolboy wizards or enchanted¹⁰ worlds, it looks like this Christmas will be a great time for going to the movies.

　　大片争夺战

　　英国的电影迷们已经迫不及待地期望着观看圣诞档期电影。今年，幻想影片仍将继续占据圣诞档期的电影市场。

　　最新的哈里波特系列――《哈里波特与火焰杯》已经创下了英国电影史上最成功的纪录。仅在影片发布的三天里就创下了一千四百万英镑的票房（约合人民币一亿三千万）。全国的哈里波特迷们都蜂涌到电影院观看这部电影。

　　但是，如果哈里认为他将独霸整个市场，那可就大错特错了。因为，一部火爆大片即将在英国银幕上映。

　　改编自CS Lewis的经典小说《纳尼亚王国历险记》的电影《狮子、女巫、魔衣橱》有可能会撼动哈里波特系列电影的统治地位。电影以三个孩子的历险故事为主线。他们发现了一个通往纳尼亚魔幻世界的通道。当他们进入纳尼亚的时候，发现自己被卷入了一场正邪之间的战争。

　　该片的制片人希望纳尼亚系列电影能创造《指环王》系列电影的辉煌。《指环王》系列电影曾在2001至2003年连续占据圣诞节的票房榜首。纳尼亚系列图书在全球共售出了六千五百万本，因此，该系列电影也极可能会连连走红。

　　除此之外，还有一部科幻巨片会与哈里波特争夺圣诞档期的观众。12月14日，电影《金刚》强势出击。由指环王导演皮特?杰克逊导演的《金刚》是投入巨资对1933年版本的翻拍。新电影中的大猩猩经过数码技术制作，比原来的更加生动可怕。

　　无论你是喜欢怪物大猩猩，还是魔法学校的巫师，或者是一个魔法世界，今年的圣诞节去看电影，将是一个绝好的时机。

1 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。

2 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

3 goblet   

n.高脚酒杯

参考例句：

• He poured some wine into the goblet.他向高脚酒杯里倒了一些葡萄酒。
• He swirled the brandy around in the huge goblet.他摇晃着高脚大玻璃杯使里面的白兰地酒旋动起来。

4 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

5 saga   

n.(尤指中世纪北欧海盗的)故事，英雄传奇

参考例句：

• The saga of Flight 19 is probably the most repeated story about the Bermuda Triangle.飞行19中队的传说或许是有关百慕大三角最重复的故事。
• The novel depicts the saga of a family.小说描绘了一个家族的传奇故事。

6 gateway   

n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法

参考例句：

• Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
• A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。

7 emulate   

v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿

参考例句：

• You must work hard to emulate your sister.你必须努力工作，赶上你姐姐。
• You must look at the film and try to emulate his behavior.你们必须观看这部电影，并尽力模仿他的动作。

8 runaway   

n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的

参考例句：

• The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
• He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。

9 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

10 enchanted   

adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
• He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。