【英语趣味课堂】最好的电影-Best Movie Ever

 Simon: Hi, Lesie.

 

Lesie: Hey, Simon. Have you heard that they're making the third episode¹ of the new Star Wars series²?

 

Simon: Yeah, yeah, I heard about that.

 

Lesie: Do you like Star Wars?

 

Simon: Well, the old Star Wars that they made 20 years ago, I really like.

 

Lesie: Me, too. Me, too.What's your favorite episode of the old series?

 

Simon: Of course, that would have to be number two, The Empire Strikes Back.

 

Lesie: Really, mine is the original Star Wars.

 

Simon: Oh, really! Why do you like it so much? Why is it the best?

 

Lesie: I think it's the best because the characters are really, really different. In the second and third one they're kind of, they begin to mellow³, but in the first one, they're really different.

 

Simon: Oh, you mean that each character is distinct⁴ from the other characters.

 

Lesie: Right!

 

Simon: Yeah, I like the second one better because it's a little bit darker and cooler and the bad guy, Darth Vader, of course one of the most famous bad guys in movie history, plays a bigger part and you know there's the drama⁵ and plus the, you know, the fighting, and the space scenes are all a little bit better and cooler.

 

Lesie: I see. Well, my favorite character is Princess Leia. Do you know why?

 

Simon: Well, I'm sure you'll tell me.

 

Lesie: Well, because she was the first positive strong female⁶ character I saw in the movies. She was take charge, told everybody what to do.

 

Simon: Well, she was popular with both girls and boys.

 

Lesie: Right! Hey, did you have any Star Wars toys when you were a kid?

 

Simon: Yeah, of course, I had the Luke Skywalker action figure.

 

Lesie: Oh, I see.

 

Simon: How about you?

 

Lesie: Ah, I can't remember. I don't remember if I have any, if I had any toys but I had the soundtrack to the movie.

 

Simon: So can you sing, can you hymn⁷ it a little bit of the soundtrack right now?

 

Lesie: No, but I can tell you most of the dialogue from the first movie.

 

Simon:So that you can say that you are a diehard Star Wars fan?

 

Lesie: I am a diehard Star Wars fan.

 

Simon:Yeah, when I was young, me too.

 

学习内容：

 

episode

 

Have you heard that they're making the third episode of the new Star Wars series? 

 

A television show is shown in 'episodes⁸.'  Usually an episode is between 30 minutes and an hour.  Notice the following:

 

There are usually about 12 episodes per season.

This is my favorite episode ever.

mellow

 

In the second and third episodes, the characters kind of begin to mellow. 

 

When you 'mellow,' you begin to calm down and relax.  Notice the following:

 

I just need a mellow night at home.

My dog always gets excited around other dogs, but he will mellow out in a few minutes.

distinct

 

Oh, you mean that each character is distinct from the other characters. 

 

'Distinct' is another way of saying different. Notice the following:

 

They are twins, but they have distinct taste in clothing.

These two cars look similar, but they actually have very distinct features.

space scenes

 

I like the second one better because the fighting and the space scenes are all a bit better and cooler. 

 

'Space' is the area that is in the sky and far away from earth.  A 'scene' is a place where an action or even occurs⁹.  So a 'space scene' is an even that occurs in space. Notice the following:

 

The special effects were so good that you actually felt like you were part of the space scenes.

The space scenes are the best part of the movie.

action figure

 

When I was a kid, I had a Luke Skywalker action figure. 

 

An 'action figure' is a toy that is made to look like a character from a movie, book or show.  They are usually kind of small and can move like real people.  Notice the following:

 

He had about 20 Superman¹⁰ action figures when he was a boy.

These action figures are part of a collection, so I don't actually play with them.

diehard fan

 

So can you say that you are a diehard Star Wars fan? 

 

A 'diehard fan' is a person who is extremely¹¹ enthusiastic about something or someone, usually to the point of being a little ridiculous¹². Notice the following:

 

She's such a diehard U2 fan that she follows their tours all over the world.

He is a diehard football fan.

 

 

 

1 episode   

n.（作品的一段）情节，插曲，系列事件中之一

参考例句：

• The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
• This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。

2 series   

n.连续；系列

参考例句：

• The students have put forward a series of questions.学生们提出了一系列问题。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

3 mellow   

adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟

参考例句：

• These apples are mellow at this time of year.每年这时节，苹果就熟透了。
• The colours become mellow as the sun went down.当太阳落山时，色彩变得柔和了。

4 distinct   

adj.种类不同的，有区别的，清楚的，明显的

参考例句：

• I had the distinct impression that I was being followed.我清楚地感觉到有人跟踪我。
• The party split into two distinct groups.该党分裂成两个截然不同的团体。

5 drama   

n.戏剧；戏剧艺术

参考例句：

• He acted his part very well in the French drama.他在这出法国戏剧中演得很成功。
• The college published a drama review.学院出版了一份戏剧评论刊物。

6 female   

adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子

参考例句：

• We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
• The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。

7 hymn   

n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌

参考例句：

• They sang a hymn of praise to God.他们唱着圣歌，赞美上帝。
• The choir has sung only two verses of the last hymn.合唱团只唱了最后一首赞美诗的两个段落。

8 episodes   

插曲，片断( episode的名词复数 )； 一集

参考例句：

• The novel deals with the romantic episodes of her early life. 小说叙述了她早期生活的浪漫插曲。
• Three episodes have been telescoped into a single programme. 把叁集的内容压缩成了一个节目。

9 occurs   

v.发生( occur的第三人称单数 )；被想起；被发现；（尤指基督教节日与别的节日）适逢同日

参考例句：

• It occurs to me that example is always more efficacious than precept. 我想到身教重于言教。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• When trouble occurs at one spot, help comes from all quarters. 一方有难，八方支援。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 superman   

n.具有超人能力的人，超人

参考例句：

• He is a superman in physical strength.他在体力上是个超人。
• He was a successful actor,famous for the Superman films.他是个成功的演员，以“超人”电影而著名。

11 extremely   

adv.极其，非常，极度

参考例句：

• The film is extremely good,I just cannot miss it.这部电影太精彩了，我非看不可。
• The old man was extremely difficult to get along with.这个老人极难相与。

12 ridiculous   

adj.荒谬的，可笑的；荒唐的

参考例句：

• It is simply ridiculous to attempt such a thing.试图干这种事，简直可笑。
• It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life.这是我有生以来听到的最为荒唐可笑的事。