Entertaining movies

Vocabulary

a = adjective adv = adverb idm = idiom n = noun v = verb

alternative a. something which is done in a different way, not done in the normal way

In the US, alternative films are usually artistic films or foreign language films. artsy a. extremely artistic, overly artistic, too artistic This often suggests that someone tried too hard to make something artistic. entertaining a. something which entertains; amusing and interesting hilarious a. something which is very funny; something which makes you laugh intense a. 1) containing strong emotions or feelings 2) extreme

An intense film is one which emotionally drains you or makes you tired. Intense is not necessarily negative, it just means that a movie is not light or relaxing. light a. relaxing, amusing, not too intense

This is the opposite of “intense.” mainstream a. something which is usual, or commonly done

Mainstream films are those which are usually highbudget, popular, and made for entertainment. “Mainstream” is the opposite of “alternative.” superficial a. 1) not deep or profound; lacking real content 2) only on the surface suspenseful a. something which makes you keep guessing or makes you question how something will end thought-provoking a. something which makes you think used to describe many different things, such as movies, books, conversations, ideas, issues, etc.

Exercise 1

Use the words given to fill in the blanks.

alternative artsy entertaining hilarious intense light mainstream superficial suspenseful thought-provoking

Christine: What did you think of the movie? Did you like it?

Sarah: Not really, it was a little too (1) .................... for me. It seemed like the director was trying so hard to impress us with strange close-ups and avant-garde dialogue that he forgot to include a story. I thought it was really boring.

Christine: I thought the movie was really (2) .................... . I love it when a movie makes you think. It’s a nice change from the (3) .................... dialogue and two-dimensional characters you usually see in films these days.

Sarah: I don’t really care for (4) ................... films. They are so dark and depressing. The characters are always so (5) ................... . Why does a movie have to be sad to be deep?

Christine: Yeah, I know what you mean, but (6) ................. cinema is nothing but gunfights and exploding cars. I get so sick of movies like that. I prefer movies with substance.

Sarah: But sometimes, you don’t want to think; sometimes, you just want a (7) ................. movie. Like that comedy with Billy Crystal - that was so (8) ................ I laughed so hard that I cried.

Christine: Movies have to be more than (9) ................. to me.

Sarah: Did you see that mystery movie with Nicole Kidman that? That was so (10) ................ . I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Christine: I loved that movie. The plot was great, and the acting was incredible. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were nominated for an Academy Award.

Sarah: Well, at least we agree on something. I guess we’ll have to stick to mysteries in the future.

Exercise II

Fill in the blanks with the words given: alternative artsy entertaining hilarious intense light mainstream superficial suspenseful thought-provoking

1. If we go to a movie, I would like to see a ............ . I don’t want to have to think - I just want to be entertained.

2. Most movie theaters are primarily interested in making money, so they prefer to show ........... movies which have a greater earning potential.

3. There is an ........... cinema downtown which specializes in artistic films and foreign language films.

4. That movie was ........... I have never laughed so hard in my life.

5. That documentary was just a ........... look at the life of Oscar Wilde; it would have been better if they had gone into more depth and fully discussed his early years.

6. Although the story was simple and the acting was average, I thought the movie was still very ...........

7. That murder-mystery was fantastic. It was incredibly ........... - I had no idea how it would end.

8. That new Swedish film was so ........... that we were up all night discussing it.

9. I thought the movie was really strange. Why was half of it in black and white? Why did she keep dreaming in French? I think the whole thing was just a little too ........... for me.

10. I don’t want to see anything that is too ........... Can’t we just see a movie which is light and entertaining?