ESL Podcast : Talking About Movies

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Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

SCRIPT:

Martin: What did you think of that movie?

Joanna: It was okay, but I’m not really into big-budget movies with a lot of special effects and big-name stars.

Martin: Oh, you’re a film snob. I bet you only watch indie films made on a shoestring budget with low production values.

Joanna: No, that’s not true. I just don’t like crowd-pleasers that are predictable. I like movies that stretch the imagination and have some artistic value.

Martin: You mean you like those weird movies with no plot and a lot of strange characters. They’re artsy, but leave you totally confused.

Joanna: I don’t mind some ambiguity, if that’s what you mean.

Martin: Well, I’m going to see the new Spiderboy movie next week. I don’t suppose you want to come?

Joanna: Spiderboy? I’ve been looking forward to seeing that movie.

Martin: But it’s a big-budget blockbuster.

Joanna: I can’t watch artsy films all the time. Variety is the spice of life, don’t you think?

Reference

 Timeline of the most expensive productions:

Year	Production
1946	Duel in the Sun
1947	Forever Amber
1951	Quo Vadis
1956	The Ten Commandments
1959	Ben-Hur
1962	Mutiny on the Bounty
1963	Cleopatra
1978	Superman
1988	Rambo III
1990	Die Hard 2
1991	Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1994	True Lies
1995	Waterworld
1997	Titanic
2003	The Matrix Reloaded The Matrix Revolutions
	The Lord of the Rings film trilogy (2001–2003)
2005	King Kong
2006	X-Men: The Last Stand
	Superman Returns
	Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
2007	Spider-Man 3
	Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
	Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

 snob  [snɑb /snɒ-]

n.  a person regarded as arrogant and annoying

 

 

blockbuster  n.

1.

a large bomb used to demolish extensive areas (as a city block)

2.

an unusually successful hit with widespread popularity and huge sales (especially a movie or play or recording or novel)

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