Holiday Movies

歲末強檔電影Don't miss these movies headed to your local theater 冬季強檔電影搶先看by Drew Devlin

Hollywood rolls out its best during the summer and winter holidays. Audiences flock to theaters to see films, often with big-name actors, as they hit the big screen. See what’s coming to your local theater during this holiday movie season – it starts now!

Two movies featuring famous characters from literature will draw people in. A Christmas Carol is Charles Dickens’ famous tale of a miser who has a change of heart. In the film, funnyman Jim Carrey plays several roles: Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet-to-Come. The film uses the 3-D format, which will bring moviegoers face-to-face with Victorian London in a way never experienced before.

In Sherlock Holmes, Robert Downey Jr. portrays the most famous detective in literature . This new film is based on characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Downey, as Holmes, plays the brilliant detective who also has good fighting skills. When a deadly plot threatens England. Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson (Jude Law), race to save the day.

Animated films
This Christmas, Disney rolls out a new animated princess film. The princess and the Frog. This musical fairy tale marks a return to the same hand-drawn animated style as early Disney films. set in New Orleans, the story follows a princess who kisses a frog and undergoes an amazing change.

In Fantastic Mr. Fox, the Fox family lives under a hill with Badger, Weasel and Rabbit and their families. Mr. Fox uses his wits to take food from three farmers. They then try to "outfox" Mr. Fox George Clooney voices Mr. Fox. Avatar is a futuristic science-fiction story. On a far-away planet, a reluctant hero takes on the challenge of saving civilizations. The film's state-of-the-art special effects will amaze audiences. In Planet 51, an American astronaut lands on Planet 51. He is shocked to find a happy community of little green aliens living there. What's even more shocking is that the aliens live in a manner very similar to American life in the 1950s.

More Info
Over the years, some of Hollywood's holiday movies have become so popular that they're now considered classics-like 1946's.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, starring Jimmy Stewart. And, who can forget little Natalie Wood in the heart-warming MIRACLE ON 34 TH STREET? Another classic Christmas Movie is 1954's WHITE
CHRISTMAS with Bing Crosby. This holiday season why not rent one of these classic movies and get into the holiday spirit?

Grammar
The film's state-of-the-art special effects will amaze audiences.
state-of-the-art=the highest level available.
the film has special effects that are at the movie industry's highest level and will amaze audiences.
state-of-the-art sound system
state-of-the-art research laboratory.
state-of-the-art security system.
state of the art- is refer to the highest level of development.
Charles' small new laptop is an example of the state of the art in computer technology.
Nowadays, the state of the art in wireless communication allows people to receive their email on their cell phones very quickly.

Vocabulary
literature (n)-文学，文学作品 Reading great literature can improve your writing and vocabulary.
*My professor specializes in classic British literature.善于或专精于．．古典文学
*The author's most famous piece of literature criticizes racism.
format (n)- 形式Today, most people prefer the DVD format to videotapes.
*If you have seen this director's movies before, you're familiar with his unique format.
*The meeting will be conducted in our regular format.
*The file is saved in a compressed format.压缩
portray (v)-The actor portrayed the character in the play very realistically.
plot (n)-电影或故事的情节 ，也指阴谋The movie's plot was filled with adventure and romance.
*The plot of the movie is too complicated for most audiences.
*In the middle of the navel the plot starts to develop in a surreal way.超现实
*The plot to assassinate the president was discovered by the FBI.刺杀．．阴谋
draw- attract
3 D-three dimensional
miser - stingy person, unhealthily desire to keep money.
fantastic (n)-extremely well. new idea of Mr. Allen's is fantastic!
wits (pl n)-intelligent
The street child didn't have any education; he lived by his wits.
reluctant (adj)-not volunteer
The child was very reluctant to go to bed since the movie was not yet over.
*We reluctant helpers not only didn't help, but they also became a problem.
*The people in the town are reluctant to accept the new policy
alien (n)-foreign, creature from outer space
Some people believe that alien's live on other planets.
*E.T. is one of the most recognized movie aliens of all time.
*Many people claim that they've seen aliens.
an alien culture.
science-fiction: 科幻小說
*Bob loves science-fiction movies.he has a huge collection.
*The science fiction navel was a best-seller last summer.

Chat Room
flock-群 a flock of ...一群
flock usually call a group of animals such as sheep, goats, or birds travel together.
a flock of sheep/goats/birds
不同的动物用不同的字来叫＂一群＂
herd- call a group of cattle or wild animal such as elephants, zebras, whales or seals.
a herd of cattle/elephants/zebras/whales/seals.
pack-refer a group of wolves and dogs ( wild dogs) a pack of wolves/hunting dogs/wild dogs.
有一些动物有特别的名称
gaggle-call a group of geese.- a gaggle of geese
school-call a group of fish- a school of fish
pride- call a group of lions - a pride of lions
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badger(n) -badger (v) someone into verb+ing
badger someone + infinitive
weasel(v) out-avoid to do something you should do. weasel(n)
to badger someone-repeatedly bothering people
weasel out of doing something-slyly to avoid to do something.
monkey around-調皮搗蛋
ram-hit with force
hog -霸佔-to hog something