Laura: You?re right. The special effects were amazing! And I like the fact that they created so

many fantastic settings and other-worldly costumes, weapons and creatures.

Now Your Turn SAMPLE DIALOG

A: What did you think about The Lion King?

B: Well… I think this cartoon was pretty good, but not as good as Beauty and the Beast. It?s a killer flick.

A: Really? But I think The Lion King was unbelievably good. B: I thought it was just OK. Why do you think so?

A: Well, it?s so interesting that the lives of the lions were similar to the lives of human beings.

B: You?re right. The murder in The Lion King was almost the same as the murder in the Shakespearean play Hamlet.

Model 3 the plot is first-class.

John: It?s kind of cool that they still used the same Star Wars theme song for this movie.

Laura: Yeah! It just reminds me of the previous Star Wars scenes. John: I know exactly what you mean! Hearing that song makes me think of the past.

Laura: I think the plot was first-class. But I don?t think the character development was that strong.

John: Do you think that has anything to do with the casting of the movie?

Laura: No, the casting was great; the actors are excellent, but I think the acting was a little weak. They just didn?t have a lot of funny or meaningful lines.

John: Well, maybe, but I liked the little kid that played “Skywalker”. I can?t imagine anyone else playing that part.

Laura: Yeah, I liked him too. He?s soooo cute! Now Your Turn SAMPLE DIALOG

A: What do you think about the movie?

B: I think the plot was first-class. But I don?t think the character development was so strong.

A: Yes, the characterization was rather weak. Do you think it is because of the casting of the movie?

B: No, the cast was strong. But the acting was rather poor. And the lines are not interesting at all.

A: Well, maybe. But I liked the heroine of the movie. She is excellent. B: Yeah, I liked her too. She?s adorable! V. Let?s Talk Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock was a British director. His movies frequently show innocent people caught up in situations beyond their control or even understanding.

Hitchcock preferred the use of suspense in his movies. In surprise, the director provides the viewer with frightening things. In suspense, the director tells or shows things to the audience which the characters in the movie do not know, and then skillfully builds up tension around what will happen when the characters finally learn the truth. Hitchcock had a great sense of humor. Once at a French airport, a suspicious customs official looked at Hitchcock?s passport, which was marked simply PRODUCER. The curious official asked, “And what do you produce?” “Gooseflesh.” replied Hitchcock.

Alfred Hitchcock always managed to make a brief appearance in his movies: He was sometimes getting on a bus, or crossing a street, pr walking in front of a store, or across the courtyard in an apartment. However, for the movie Lifeboat in 1944, he was faced with a difficult problem. The entire movie was set in a lifeboat out at sea, and there were only a few characters in the boat. Originally, he wanted to float by as a dead body, but he was afraid he?d sink! His clever solution was to place a photograph of himself in a newspaper that one of the characters read during the course of the movie.

1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D 5.D

VI. Furthering Listening and Speaking Listening

Task 1: Only One Line

Peter has always wanted to be an actor, but never succeeded because he had a hard time memorizing lines. A friend of his told him about a small part in a play. He promised Peter that he could do it

because he?s only have to remember one line. Peter decided to take the part. His only line was, “Listen, I hear the guns roar!” Peter practiced and practiced, “Listen, I hear the guns roar!” On the opening night of the play Peter was very nervous. Backstage, he practiced his line, over and over again, “Listen, I hear the guns roar! Listen, I hear the guns roar!” Finally came his turn, Peter went onto stage. He heard a loud BOOM and cried out in spite of himself, “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?”

1. memorizing lines 2. remember one line 3. I hear the guns roar 4. a loud boom 5. forgot his line

Task 2: Movie Reviews

I love movies! And after I see them, I like to comment on them. These are movies I saw this year I would like to recommend: Among comedies I highly recommend “Monsoon Wedding”. It?s an Indian movie. The story is about an Indian wedding. Preparations for the wedding bring out funny and sad situations touching on love and a past rape. This movie shows some of the wonderful customs of India, and the importance of family and love. It?s great!

Among dramas, I like “Adaptation”. It is an excellent movie! But for me the first part of the movie was too fast to follow. I hope to see it again on DVD with captions.

“The Pianist” is set in the Second World War. It?s about a young Polish-Jewish pianist, who lives in Warsaw with his family. The Nazis sent his family to die in the concentration camps. He was safe, but would have died without unusually good luck and the kindness of a few non-Jews. This is a powerful movie with thought-provoking themes. “Rabbit-Proof Fence” is set in the 1930s in Australia, and it?s based on real events. It is about three native girls who are separated from their families by the racist police who send them to special centers. There the girls are taught practical skills, and the government tries to integrate them into white Australian society. They can away from the camp and walked 1,500 miles to find their mothers. This is a sad, touching story that you should not miss.

1.A 2.C 3.C 4.A 5.D

Task 3: Let's go and see the movie.

Lisa: What kind of movie do you want to see, Nick?

Nick: I really want to see Monster Night, the horror movie advertised in newspapers.

Lisa: Monster Night? It sounds scary. I don't like horror films. Nick: OK. It's not yet in theaters anyway. It won't be coming out until next week. What movies are playing now?

Lisa: Let me check... There's an action film starring Jet Li, and... Monster Night! It's already in theaters.

Nick: What? It is? Which theater is it playing at?

Lisa: It's showing at the theater in the mall. But I really don't want to see it.

Nick: All the critics have given Monster Night great reviews. What time is the next showing?

Lisa: Well, if we hurry, we can make the three o'clock show. The show after that is at 4:30. But I'm too frightened to see this one. Nick: Come on, Lisa! Don't be a chicken. Let's go! We have to get tickets before they sell out!

1.F 2.T 3.F 4.T 5.F Speaking

Views on Movies

Interviewer: Hello, Robert and Richard, I?d like to ask you something about movies. Do you prefer going to the theater or watching movies on video at home?

Robert: I prefer, personally, going to the theater, because I believe there are certain movies that come over better when you see them in a large theater. The sound effect is much better.

Interviewer: What about you, Richard?

Richard: Just the opposite. It?s more comfortable to sit at home. Interviewer: There?re many different movie genres, for example, science fiction, action, comedy, romance. What?s your personal favorite?

Robert: My favorite would be action movies.

Richard: And mine would be nice movies that touch me deeply. Interviewer: How do you like the old black and white movies of the forties, and fifties compared with the modern blockbusters?