Going Bigger and Bolder with Summer Movies

 

When it comes to blockbusters, bigger and bolder is Hollywood's plan for this summer. Movie studios are counting on new and improved sequels to make up for last summer’s poor showing at theater box offices.

Disney and Marvel¹ have had a great start with Avengers: Infinity² War. The superhero movie had the biggest worldwide opening weekend in history, with more than $640 million in tickets sold. And that does not include the market in China, where the movie just opened.

The film’s secret weapon? The largest-ever group of superheroes (including Black Panther), explosive special effects in outer space and an unpredictable ending.

Joe Russo co-directed the film with his brother Anthony.

"Nobody has ever done this before. You are taking this many…really successful franchises⁴, and combining them all to one movie, to one big finale."

The film cost $320 million to make. But the Disney-Marvel studio has recovered its expenses many times over. As of Thursday, it has earned more than $1.2 billion at movie theaters.

Infinity War’s unusual storyline may also signal a change toward more imaginative big action films than in summers past.

The darkly funny 2016 film Deadpool was such a success that 20th Century Fox has produced a sequel. Fans hope that Deadpool 2 will keep the humor and unexpected storytelling of the first in the series.

Walt Disney and Lucas Film studios are hoping to earn back the production cost of the science fiction film Solo: A Star Wars Story. Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard re-shot 80 percent of the film after taking over when the original directors resigned. Howard's uncompromising demand for quality pushed production costs to over $250 million. The movie tells the story of the early years of Star Wars hero Han Solo and his hairy co-pilot Chewbacca.

Bigger and more frightening describe the latest Jurrasic Park movie from Universal. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom includes dinosaurs⁵, naturally, but also an environmental appeal; humans seek to save the huge animals from disappearing.

The robbery comedy, Ocean's 8, features diamonds, beautiful clothes and fearless females. Sandra Bullock stars along with Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway. The film is an all-female version of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s series. Warner Brothers Studios expects the film will be a big hit with girls and women.

I’m Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

bold – adj. not afraid of danger or difficult situations?

sequel – n. a book, movie, etc., that continues a story begun in another book, movie, etc.?

box office – n. used to describe how many tickets have been sold for a movie, play, etc.?

franchise³ – n. collection of related movies.?

finale – n. the last part of something (such as a musical performance, play, etc.)?

science fiction – n. stories about how people and societies are affected⁶ by imaginary scientific developments in the future?

feature – v. to give particular attention to (someone or something important)

1 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

2 infinity   

n.无限，无穷，大量

参考例句：

• It is impossible to count up to infinity.不可能数到无穷大。
• Theoretically,a line can extend into infinity.从理论上来说直线可以无限地延伸。

3 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。

4 franchises   

n.（尤指选举议员的）选举权( franchise的名词复数 )；参政权；获特许权的商业机构（或服务）；（公司授予的）特许经销权v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ford dealerships operated as independent franchises. 福特汽车公司的代销商都是独立的联营商。 来自辞典例句

5 dinosaurs   

n.恐龙( dinosaur的名词复数 )；守旧落伍的人，过时落后的东西

参考例句：

• The brontosaurus was one of the largest of all dinosaurs. 雷龙是所有恐龙中最大的一种。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years. 恐龙绝种已有几百万年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。