双语趣听精彩世界 第114期:北美电影市场低迷,中国来拯救

 　　纽约时报评论说,今年美国的电影市场十分低迷,比去年同期下降了15%.很多电影缺乏新意,部分内容与去年和前年的电影类似,是造成观众流失的原因之一.

　　北美电影市场低迷,中国来拯救

　　The New York Times says movies have had worst summer since 1997.

　　According to box office data company Rentrak, between the first weekend in May through the end of August, ticket sales in the United States and Canada are expected to total roughly $3.9 billion, a 15 percent decline from the same stretch last year.

　　Analysts¹ in the spring had predicted an 11 percent drop, citing viewing distractions² like the World Cup and scuttled³ release plans for films like "Fast and Furious 6" and Pixar's "Good Dinosaur," which both had production problems. But the decline was worse than expected, and the reason, analysts and studio executives said, may have been a nasty case of déjà vu.

　　Tom Cruise's futuristic "Edge of Tomorrow," for instance, looked like a hit — and that was exactly its problem. The title was too similar to "The Day After Tomorrow," released in summer 2004. The barren landscape too closely resembled Mr. Cruise's 2013 film "Oblivion." Characters walking around in robot exoskeletons? Been there ("Pacific Rim"), done that ("Real Steel").

　　Despite stellar reviews, "Edge of Tomorrow" took in $99.9 million at North American theaters, a major disappointment for Warner Bros., which spent at least $250 million on production and domestic marketing⁴.

1 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

2 distractions   

n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱

参考例句：

• I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难，因为使人分心的事太多。
• There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多，使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 scuttled   

v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走

参考例句：

• She scuttled off when she heard the sound of his voice. 听到他的说话声，她赶紧跑开了。
• The thief scuttled off when he saw the policeman. 小偷看见警察来了便急忙跑掉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。