美国国家公共电台 NPR 'Godzilla' Descends On Mexico City As Filmmakers Shoot Scenes In The Metropolis

 

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

People in Mexico City only got to see a partial solar eclipse today. But the huge metropolis¹ is bracing² for a different phenomenon. Godzilla has descended³ on the city, threatening to destroy it over the next two days or at least cause some major traffic problems. NPR's Carrie Kahn reports that fans and local officials are thrilled that the giant monster has landed in Mexico City, boosting the city's reputation as a growing international film destination.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELLS RINGING)

CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE⁴: As the bells ring out from the majestic⁵ cathedral in Mexico City's downtown Zocalo plaza⁶, a huge plume⁷ of smoke rises in the sky down the street. Crews there are filming a critical scene in the sequel to the sci-fi thriller⁸, "Godzilla 2: King Of The Monsters."

GERMAN CASTILLO: (Speaking Spanish).

KAHN: "We better run and hide, or we'll all get eaten," says German Castillo, who couldn't see the filming over a huge makeshift wall of the large police vehicles blocking the street in front of the action.

CASTILLO: (Speaking Spanish).

KAHN: Not discouraged by the barriers, Castillo jokes that Godzilla is going to fill up fast with some of the more robust⁹ Mexicans like himself as he laughs and rubs his round belly¹⁰. There are a few disgruntled store owners upset about closed-off streets and traffic. But most everyone is thrilled Godzilla has come to town, like 17-year-old Fernando Duran.

FERNANDO DURAN: (Speaking Spanish).

KAHN: "Except he can't see anything," he says, "just reporters out on the street in front of the action."

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: (Speaking Spanish).

KAHN: Like this local TV personality warning the curious to stay away. "Sadly," she said, "Godzilla won't make any personal appearances. He'll be added later in post-production with the aid of computers." No problem, says Duran. He'll wait to see "Godzilla" in the movie theaters.

DURAN: (Speaking Spanish).

KAHN: "I'll see him fight there - just wish I knew who he was going up against." he says.

Not a whole lot is being reported about "Godzilla 2," due out in March of 2019, or who will be Godzilla's worthy¹¹ opponents. There's talk about a giant moth¹² and his three-headed nemesis¹³, Ghidorah. Mexico City, however, put up a good fight to get Godzilla. It beat out Guatemala even with its volumes of volcanoes, a perfect setting for a radioactive pseudo-dinosaur to emerge out of. But according to the film's producer, Mexico City ruled the day thanks to its beautiful, colonial downtown, world-class production crews and, of course, all those Godzilla sci-fi fans. Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Mexico City.

(SOUNDBITE OF PRHYME SONG, "COURTESY")

1 metropolis   

n.首府；大城市

参考例句：

• Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
• He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。

2 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

3 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

6 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。

7 plume   

n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰

参考例句：

• Her hat was adorned with a plume.她帽子上饰着羽毛。
• He does not plume himself on these achievements.他并不因这些成就而自夸。

8 thriller   

n.惊险片，恐怖片

参考例句：

• He began by writing a thriller.That book sold a million copies.他是写惊险小说起家的。那本书卖了一百万册。
• I always take a thriller to read on the train.我乘火车时，总带一本惊险小说看。

9 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

10 belly   

n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛

参考例句：

• The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
• His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

11 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

12 moth   

n.蛾，蛀虫

参考例句：

• A moth was fluttering round the lamp.有一只蛾子扑打着翅膀绕着灯飞。
• The sweater is moth-eaten.毛衣让蛀虫咬坏了。

13 nemesis   

n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手

参考例句：

• Uncritical trust is my nemesis.盲目的相信一切害了我自己。
• Inward suffering is the worst of Nemesis.内心的痛苦是最厉害的惩罚。