VOA慢速英语2011--A Crowd of Superheroes at the Movie Thea

THIS IS AMERICA - A Crowd of Superheroes at the Movie Theater

STEVE EMBER:Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: And I'm Shirley Griffith. Action, horror, love and laughter -- the summer movie season is here. And this week on our program, we take a look at some of the offerings.
(SOUND: "X-Men: First Class")
STEVE EMBER: Kevin Bacon plays Sebastian Shaw in "X-Men: First Class" -- one of a crowd of movies based on comic book heroes. It tells the story of how the heroic X-Men and their usual enemies, the Mutant Brotherhood¹, came to be.
(SOUND: " X-Men: First Class")
"First Class" is the fifth movie in the "X-Men" series. The first one came out eleven years ago.
Writer Stan Lee and artist Jack² Kirby created the superhero team for Marvel³ Comics in nineteen sixty-three.
Two other Marvel releases are "Thor" and "Captain America." But another choice is the "Green Lantern," based on the superhero series from Marvel competitor DC Comics.
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is the third movie in the series based on the children's action toys.
(SOUND: "Transformers: Dark of the Moon")
But, like a lot of these films, this one has a parental⁴ guidance rating of "PG-13." It contains science-fiction violence and also language that may be inappropriate for children under the age of thirteen.
STEVE EMBER: Films for the whole family include "Cars 2" and "Kung Fu Panda 2."
Jack Black is back as the voice of the giant panda Po and Dustin Hoffman returns as Shifu, a red panda and wise kung fu teacher. Here Shifu explains how he found inner peace.
(SOUND: "Kung Fu Panda 2")
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Another children's movie is "Judy Moody⁵ and the Not Bummer Summer." Jordana Beatty stars as Judy, a fun-loving third grader with big hopes for the summer. She wants to go to a circus camp. Her mom and dad, however, have different plans.
The parents take a trip to California. They leave Judy and her brother in the care of Aunt Opal, played by Heather Graham. Happily for the kids, Aunt Opal helps make an unforgettable summer.
(SOUND: "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer")
The movie is based on the Judy Moody book series written by Megan McDonald.
Another children's book made into a movie is "Mr. Popper's Penguins⁷." Jim Carey plays a successful businessman whose life -- and apartment -- are changed when six penguins are left in his care.
STEVE EMBER: Movie-goers can find love in films like "Crazy Stupid Love," All's Faire in Love" and "A Love Affair of Sorts."
But only the romantic comedy "Larry Crowne" stars two of Hollywood's biggest names. Tom Hanks plays a middle-aged⁸ man who has lost his job and his sense of security in life. He returns to college where he meets Julia Roberts, his teacher who has troubles of her own.
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Horror movie fans have several choices. In "Apollo 18," astronauts go on a secret, final mission to the moon -- and discover they are not alone.
(SOUND: "Apollo 18")
The 3-D movie "Priest" is set in a dark future following years of war between humans and vampires¹⁰.
(SOUND: "Priest")
Another vampire⁹ movie is "Fright Night."
And for scares without the vampires, there's "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark." Bailee Madison plays Sally, a young girl who goes to live with her father and his girlfriend. Soon, evil spirits in the house try to take Sally to the dark side.
(SOUND: "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark")
STEVE EMBER: "The Help" is a drama that takes place in the state of Mississippi in the American South of the nineteen sixties. It explores the relationships between wealthy whites and the blacks who work for them in their homes. The movie is based on the two thousand nine novel by Kathryn Stockett.
The main characters are a young white woman, Skeeter, and two black maids, Aibileen and Minny. They form a friendship when Skeeter asks if she can tell their stories in a book.
(SOUND: "The Help")
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH:"Life in a Day" began as a project on YouTube. Director Kevin MacDonald wanted to make a documentary that shows one day in the life of the world. He asked people to upload video taken on July twenty-fourth, two thousand ten.
More than eighty thousand people in one hundred ninety countries uploaded videos. People were also asked to tell what they love and fear, and what makes them laugh.
The result is the movie "Life in a Day," which opens in theaters in the United States this July twenty-fourth.
STEVE EMBER: Steven Spielberg is out with a new movie. He produced "Super 8," a film led by a cast of child actors, including Elle Fanning, the sister of Dakota Fanning. "Super 8" is about a group of young people in the nineteen seventies who decide to make a homemade horror movie. They accidentally record a train wreck¹¹ and, in the process, uncover a top-secret military project.
Steven Spielberg can relate to "Super 8." He made homemade movies when he was young.
STEVEN SPIELBERG: "It's a lot easier today because it's so easy to get a video camera, go out and make a movie and you can put it right on YouTube. In a sense, not only can kids today make their own movies, they've got distribution. We didn't have that in the eight-millimeter days. We had to lug¹² a projector¹³, we had to plug it in to somebody's wall, put up a screen and show it to someone patient enough to sit there for five minutes and watch. J. J. began his career the same way."
J. J. is "Super 8" writer and director J. J. Abrams. He compares the film to older movies like "E.T." and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" -- both directed by Steven Spielberg. J. J. Abrams says the films are about more than the science fiction storyline.
J. J. ABRAMS: "They are all about suburban¹⁴ American ordinary people going through something that was hyper-real. There are fundamental and relatable relationships, broken families in some form, often friendships that are really critical and important."
(SOUND: "Super 8")
Finally, we take our own trip to the movies. We asked some people what they think of the summer films they have seen so far.
REPORTER: "And you said you saw a movie fairly recently, a summer movie, what was that?"
MOVIE GOER 1: "It was the “Hangover 2."
REPORTER: "And what did you think of it?"
MOVIE GOER 1: "I thought it was very funny. It was the sequel, funnier than the first one, matter of fact."
REPORTER: "So are you more a comedy fan."
MOVIE GOER 1: "Yeah, comedy and horror."
REPORTER: "So what horror movie are you going to see?"
MOVIE GOER 1: "We’re actually going to go see ‘Super 8’ now, which is kind of horror, sci-fi-ish. So, looking forward to it."
REPORTER: "What movie are you seeing?"
MOVIE GOER 2: "‘Bridesmaids.’ Comedy."
REPORTER: "And what do you think?"
MOVIE GOER 2: "I think it’s hilarious¹⁵, so far. It has me in tears right now."
REPORTER: "And, who does that star?"
MOVIE GOER 2: "Maya Rudolph. She’s hilarious."
REPORTER: "And what’s your name?"
MOVIE GOER 3: "Monica."
REPORTER: "And what did you go see today?"
MONICA: "Mr. Popper’s Penguins. I thought it was really cute. It was really cute. My kids liked it. They’re seven and nine and we all had a good time."
REPORTER: "What did you think of “Mr. Popper’s Penguins?"
MOVIE GOER 4: "I thought it was really cool. And, I thought Lovey was funny."
REPORTER: "Oh he’s a penguin⁶?"
MOVIE GOER 4: "Uh-huh. He loves people a lot."
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Our program was written and produced by Caty Weaver¹⁶. I'm Shirley Griffith.
STEVE EMBER: And I'm Steve Ember. Have you seen any of the new movies? You can offer your opinions -- and read what other people are saying -- at voapspecialenglish.com. You can also write to us on Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English. Join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.

1 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

4 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

5 moody   

adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的

参考例句：

• He relapsed into a moody silence.他又重新陷于忧郁的沉默中。
• I'd never marry that girl.She's so moody.我决不会和那女孩结婚的。她太易怒了。

6 penguin   

n.企鹅

参考例句：

• The penguin is a flightless bird.企鹅是一种不会飞的鸟。
• He walked with an awkward gait like a penguin.他走路的步子难看得就像企鹅。

7 penguins   

n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why can penguins live in cold environment? 为什么企鹅能生活在寒冷的环境中？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Whales, seals, penguins, and turtles have flippers. 鲸、海豹，企鹅和海龟均有鳍形肢。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

9 vampire   

n.吸血鬼

参考例句：

• It wasn't a wife waiting there for him but a blood sucking vampire!家里的不是个老婆，而是个吸人血的妖精！
• Children were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampire.由于听过许多有关吸血鬼的传说，孩子们晚上不敢去睡觉。

10 vampires   

n.吸血鬼( vampire的名词复数 )；吸血蝠；高利贷者；（舞台上的）活板门

参考例句：

• The most effective weapon against the vampires is avampire itself. 对付吸血鬼最有效的武器就是吸血鬼自己。 来自电影对白
• If vampires existed, don`t you think we would`ve found them by now? 如果真有吸血鬼，那我们怎么还没有找到他们呢？ 来自电影对白

11 wreck   

n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难

参考例句：

• Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
• No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。

12 lug   

n.柄，突出部，螺帽；(英）耳朵；（俚）笨蛋；vt.拖，拉，用力拖动

参考例句：

• Nobody wants to lug around huge suitcases full of clothes.谁都不想拖着个装满衣服的大箱子到处走。
• Do I have to lug those suitcases all the way to the station?难道非要我把那些手提箱一直拉到车站去吗？

13 projector   

n.投影机，放映机，幻灯机

参考例句：

• There is a new projector in my office.我的办公室里有一架新的幻灯机。
• How long will it take to set up the projector?把这个放映机安放好需要多长时间？

14 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

15 hilarious   

adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed

参考例句：

• The party got quite hilarious after they brought more wine.在他们又拿来更多的酒之后，派对变得更加热闹起来。
• We stop laughing because the show was so hilarious.我们笑个不停，因为那个节目太搞笑了。

16 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。