《007:幽灵党》开启邦德系列电影新时代

“Spectre” Begins New Era for Bond Films 《007:幽灵党》开启邦德系列电影新时代

Many critics consider “Skyfall” the greatest of James Bond films.

But, the latest in the series, “Spectre,” may be a strong competitor for that title.

“Spectre” steps into new territory, and critics are giving it high praise.

British actor Daniel Craig returns for his fourth performance as James Bond. American Sam Mendes directed the film. Mendes was also director of “Skyfall.”

The latest story finds Bond on a personal journey to find an enemy from his past. He lost much that was important to him in “Skyfall” including the spy agency director, “M,” whom he revered². 

Bond travels from Mexico City to Rome, to the mountaintops of Austria, to the desert near Tangier and, finally, back to London. Bond is seeking archenemy Franz Oberhauser, played by Christoph Waltz.

Oberhauser leads an international terrorist³ group called Spectre. The group, it turns out, is responsible for much of Bond’s personal tragedy beginning with the 2006 film “Casino Royale.”

The plots of “Casino Royale,” “Quantum of Solace” and “Skyfall” come to completion in “Spectre.” A new era of Bond is born as a result. The character falls in love and is willing to honor love over mission. This softer side of Bond, alone, helps make “Spectre” interesting.

Director Mendes references⁵ Bond movies of the past in “Spectre.” For example, a familiar white cat makes a brief appearance. The animal character was first seen in the 1963 Bond film “From Russia With Love.” The beautiful cat belonged to the evil Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

Another connection: The final battle in “Spectre” takes place where it all started, at the damaged MI6 building that was bombed in “Skyfall.”

“Spectre” earned about $70 million in U.S. ticket sales its opening weekend. It has sold about $300 million worth of tickets around the world. It is not quite as high as “Skyfall” earnings⁶ after the same amount of time. But it is closer than any other movie in the series.

Words in This Story

journey – n. an act of traveling from one place to another

revere¹ – v. to hold very high in respect

archenemy -– n. a chief enemy

era – n. a period of time that is associated with a particular quality, event, person, etc.

reference⁴ – v. to mention (something or someone) in speech or in writing: to refer to (something or someone)

familiar – adj. possibly known but not clearly remembered

mission – n. an important task or duty

1 revere   

vt.尊崇，崇敬，敬畏

参考例句：

• Students revere the old professors.学生们十分尊敬那些老教授。
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven.中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。

2 revered   

v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句

3 terrorist   

n.恐怖主义者，恐怖分子

参考例句：

• Without the gun,I'm a sitting duck for any terrorist.没有这支枪，我就成了恐怖分子下手的目标了。
• The district was put on red alert during a terrorist's bomb scare.这个地区在得到恐怖分子炸弹恐吓后作了应急准备。

4 reference   

n.提到，说到，暗示，查看，查阅

参考例句：

• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。
• I like to have my reference books within my reach.我喜欢把参考书放到伸手可取的地方。

5 references   

n.参考( reference的名词复数 )；证明书；（为方便查询所用的）标记；（帮助或意见的）征求

参考例句：

• Applications with a full curriculum vitae and two references should reach the Principal by June 12th. 申请书连同完整个人简历和两份推荐信必须在6月12日以前送达校长处。
• The book is full of references to growing up in India. 这本书谈到许多在印度怎样长大成人的事。

6 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。