VOA慢速英语2016--Summer Movies: Sharks, Surfers, Science Fiction

Summer Movies: Sharks, Surfers, Science Fiction

Summer is here in the United States. It is extremely hot in most of the country. Heavy rain storms are not unusual.

The unpleasant weather helps drive the movie business. Americans flee to cool, dark movie theaters to escape the heat and rain.

Hollywood’s summer films are often based on adventure and escape.

This summer’s offerings are no exception¹. This weekend, a sequel to a popular science fiction disaster film from 1996, opened in theaters.

“Independence Day: Resurgence” stars Liam Hemsworth. Actors Vivica Fox, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pulliam returned to play their characters in the original “Independence Day” movie. Roland Emmerich directed the first film and this latest.

The story line is similar to the first “Independence Day.” Space aliens are planning to destroy Earth. Humans work together to stop the attack.

Movie critics generally are not being kind to the film. A Forbes magazine review called it a “disastrous disaster movie.” The Chicago Tribune critic wrote that actor Will Smith, the star of the original Independence Day, made the right decision to pass on the sequel.

But, the review in the film industry magazine Variety was more positive. The critic did write that the storytelling “tests patience.” But the film gives, in his words, “generously when it comes to the goods most viewers will have come for.” And what most viewers come for are explosions², destruction³ and wild special effects.

Another summer movie that seems to be a look to the past is “The Shallows.” Could it be 2016’s version⁴ of “Jaws?” That 1978 film starring a huge mechanical⁵ shark made millions of movie goers afraid to step into the ocean.

“The Shallows” is about a surfer, played by Blake Lively, who is trapped on rocks near the coast of Mexico. A giant shark waits nearby for any attempt she might make to reach land.

The movie may win some fans simply because it features Lively in a bikini. But critics are praising the film for much more.

A review in the Chicago-Sun Times says it “immensely entertaining” and calls Lively’s performance “solid.”

The Toronto Sun review is similarly⁶ supportive. It says “‘The Shallows”’ is brisk⁷ and engaging, and a great vehicle for Lively.”

For those interested in quieter adventure, Disney’s “Finding Dory,” might be the better choice. Tens of millions of moviegoers have seen the film since its release⁸ last weekend. The movie has made more than $200 million in U.S. ticket sales.

The animation⁹ is a sequel to the hugely successful 2003 film, “Finding Nemo.” This time the fish in question, Dory, suffers memory loss and is looking for her parents.

Rolling Stone magazine said the movie is filled with “humor, heart and animation miracles¹⁰.” Most critics agree. The collective¹¹ movie review website “Rotten Tomatoes” found that 94 percent of reviews of the film were favorable¹².

Words in This Story

adventure - n. an exciting or dangerous experience

science fiction - n. stories about how people and societies are affected¹³ by imaginary¹⁴ scientific developments in the future?

alien - n. a creature that comes from somewhere other than the planet¹⁵ Earth?

to pass on - phrasal verb to decide against something

bikini - n. a piece of clothing in two parts that a girl or woman wears for swimming or for lying in the sun and that does not cover much of the body?

brisk - adj. done with quickness and energy?

engaging - adj. very attractive or pleasing in a way that holds your attention?

1 exception   

n.例外,除外

参考例句：

• Everyone should keep discipline and you are no exception. 每个人都应该遵守纪律,你也毫无例外。
• There's an exception to every rule. 每项规则均有例外。

2 explosions   

爆炸( explosion的名词复数 )； 爆发； 激增； （感情，尤指愤怒的）突然爆发

参考例句：

• Soon afterwards five explosions were heard from the area. 此后不久从那个地方传来五次爆炸声。
• They were monitoring the upper air to collect evidence of atomic explosions. 他们正在检测高空空气以收集原子爆炸的证据。

3 destruction   

n.破坏，毁灭，消灭

参考例句：

• The enemy bombs caused widespread destruction.敌人的炸弹造成大面积的破坏。
• Overconfidence was his destruction.自负是他垮台的原因。

4 version   

n.版本；型号；叙述，说法

参考例句：

• His version of the events is pure supposition.他对这件事的说法纯属猜测。
• What is your version of this matter?你对这件事情的看法 怎么样？

5 mechanical   

adj.机械(学)的；力学的；机械似的；手工操作的

参考例句：

• He borrowed a mechanical book from me.他从我这儿借了一本力学方面的书。
• He looks very mechanical.他看上去非常呆板。

6 similarly   

adv.类似地，相似地

参考例句：

• He was late and I similarly was delayed.他迟到了，我也晚了。
• These two pages are similarly glued together.这两页好像粘在一起了。

7 brisk   

adj.轻快的，生气勃勃的，（天气等）令人振作的

参考例句：

• The actress is walking at a brisk pace.那位女演员正以轻快的步伐走着。
• It's great to work outdoors during brisk fall days.清爽的秋日里在户外工作是很愉快的。

8 release   

vt.发布，发表，发行；释放，放开

参考例句：

• After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
• This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。

9 animation   

n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作

参考例句：

• They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
• The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。

10 miracles   

n.奇迹( miracle的名词复数 )；奇事；令人惊奇的事；非凡的事

参考例句：

• He can do miracles with a few kitchen leftovers. 他能用厨房里几样剩饭做出一顿美餐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This tonic will work miracles for your depression. 这种补药对治疗你的忧郁症十分有效。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 collective   

adj.集体的，共同的；n.团体，集体

参考例句：

• I do feel deeply the strength of the collective. 我确实深深地感到了集体的力量。
• They hold together for collective security.他们为了共同安全而团结在一起。

12 favorable   

adj.赞成的，赞成的；有利的，良好的，顺利的

参考例句：

• The book received a favorable review.这本书赢得了好评。
• Each nation suppressed news that was not favorable to it.每个国家都扣留对它不利的消息。

13 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。

14 imaginary   

adj.想象中的，假想的，虚构的，幻想的；虚数的

参考例句：

• All the characters in this book are imaginary.此书中的所有人物都是虚构的。
• The boy's fears were only imaginary.这小孩的恐惧只是一种想象。

15 planet   

n.行星

参考例句：

• Neptune is the furthest planet from the sun. 海王星是离太阳最远的行星。
• Rubbish, however, is only part of the problem of polluting our planet. 然而, 垃圾只是我们这个星球的污染问题的一个方面。