暑期大片: 海盗与超人的巅峰对决

Hannah Storm: Pirates of the Caribbean is back and, boy, did it make a splash.The sequel Dead Man's Chest starring Johnny Depp squashed Superman's all time box-office record for an opening weekend, taking in a whopping 132 million dollars, finishing far ahead of Superman Returns which made 21.9 million dollars in its second weekend. The Devil Wears Prada was third at 15.6 million. The People Magazine editor at-large and Early Show contributor Jess Cagle is here. Hi, Jess.

Jess Cagle: Hi, Hannah, how are you?

Hannah Storm: You predicted this, 130-plus million, right?

Jess Cagle : I think it would be at least 80 million, (Wow.) I guess I was about half right.

Hannah Storm: I mean this shocked everybody, didn't it? (It shocked everyone) Biggest opening of all time.

Jess Cagle: Biggest opening of all time. It broke all kinds of records. It was the first movie to cross 100 million dollars within two days. Nobody expected, really, that this was even impossible, and what has changed is these giant multiplexes that had been built, having enormous stadium theatres and so a lot of theatre owners, once they saw the lines, they made those theatres available. So they self-managed to sell a lot of tickets, a lot (Oh, so they) more than anyone knew.

Hannah Storm: So they actually switched over once they saw the demand, they opened up. Well, I, cause I tried to get seats online about, about 12 hours before a movie showing, and it was impossible, they were sold out.

Jess Cagle: They did not want you to see it. I don't know why, I don't know what Johnny Depp has to conceal¹ Hannah.

Hannah Storm: I mean every,everybody wanted to see this, right? Men, women, I mean kids, may, maybe not little tiny kids who will be little frightened for it.

Jess Cagle: I think a lot of, I think a lot of young kids, well, you are right, it is, it is a little scary for a kid maybe under six or seven. The amazing thing about the movie is it, it appeal(s) to men and women over 25 and under 25. Very few movies appeal to all age groups and all genders².

Hannah Storm: Right. Now let's talk about maybe potential for all time here, highest-grossing movie. The first one grossed about, what, 300 million.

Jess Cagle : A little over 300 million. It looks like this one is on track to do at least that. I think Titanic³ still ranks as the,the most successful movie of all time. And um, I don't know if it's gonna crack that, but I think it's going to make it at least what the first one made.

Hannah Storm: And what is it about Titanic that you think, now, what does it take to sort of crack that barrier, become one of the great movies ever, a great money makers⁴ ever?

Jess Cagle : It, it has to appeal to a special, it has to appeal to everyone like Pirates did, but it also has to appeal to all age groups, to the extent that they will go to see it over and over and over again. I don't know that adults, especially, are gonna go see Pirates of the Caribbean over and over and over again.

Hannah Storm: What does it say about Johnny Depp, and his box-office stardom?

Jess Cagle : He is become, he was famous for a long time, (hmm) but he's really a household name now. (Right) It's really incredible. The first one, the first Pirates got him an Oscar nomination⁵. I don't know if that will happen again, but ...

Hannah Storm: For the same role, that would be, I mean, for that to happen again, it would be amazing,right?

Jess Cagle : It would be strange,his,his performance in, in the new one is not quite as noticeable, because he's competing against...

Hannah Storm: Himself.

Jess Cagle: ...so many special effects and,and all of that. Yeah.

Hannah Storm: Right. Wow, and,and they look like geniuses for making a third one, I tell you what...

Jess Cagle : Absolutely. Almost already shot.

Hannah Storm: Roll quick, Superman, is it, is it a disappointment, or?

Jess Cagle : Superman is a big disappointment.

Hannah Storm: It's so expensive to make.

Jess Cagle : So expensive to make. The last thing that Superman needed was to have Pirates of the Caribbean open, you know, (Hmm) er, in the second weekend.

Hannah Storm: Oh,my. And it's such a good movie Superman.

Jess Cagle : It is a great movie. And it still made a tremendous 140 million in (Oh, yeah) ten days, so it's ok.

Hannah Storm: Jess Cagle. Thanks for being with us.

1 conceal   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽

参考例句：

• He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。
• He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

2 genders   

n.性某些语言的（阳性、阴性和中性，不同的性有不同的词尾等）( gender的名词复数 )；性别；某些语言的（名词、代词和形容词）性的区分

参考例句：

• There are three genders in German: masculine, feminine and neuter. 德语中有叁性：阳性、阴性和中性。 来自辞典例句
• Japan was fourth among the genders of foreign students. 日本在二十个留美学生输送地中列第四位。 来自互联网

3 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

4 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。