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Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Date: Dec 10 2008

Themes: Friend, Romance

Grammar: Adjectives

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Director Kevin Smith is known for using controversial topics in his smart, quirky comedies. Many of his films, like Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, feature characters who use drugs and a lot of bad language. Dogma, which stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as two fallen angels, angered some religious groups because it makes fun of the Catholic Church. But Smith’s latest movie, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, may be the most controversial yet.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is about two broke roommates who decide to make a sex movie to help pay the rent. It includes some pretty graphic sex scenes, which upset some viewers. But fans of the movie say that in spite of the racy subject matter, Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy. Listen to Mason tell Marni what he thinks.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Mason

Marni

Marni

Mason:  You know, the last thing that I ever expected to turn into a heartwarming romantic comedy was pornography.

Marni:  Oh, and yet…

Mason:  But Kevin Smith can do it.

Marni:  Kevin Smith?

Mason:  Kevin Smith, yeah, he directed the Zack and Miri Make a Porno movie.

Marni:  Oh, I had no idea he directed that.

Mason:  The movie was really…I mean, it was really cute, ultimately. There were the down and dirty bits, because, you know…

Marni:  Right, because they make a porno, which is traditionally known for being dirty.

Mason:  Right. So there are some lesser actors that may or may not have come from the world of adult film. However, the main actors remain pure and chaste.

Marni:  And it’s Seth Rogen, right?

Mason:  Yeah, and I do love how his last movie really was Knocked Up. But the whole premise of Knocked Up being, boy, no one would ever want to sleep with this guy.

Marni:  Right.

Mason:  And then a year later the movie comes out that’s him and Elizabeth “Hottie” Banks making a porno.

Marni:  Right. And so, the premise is that they make a porno because they’re desperate?

Mason:  Because they’re broke. They’ve been friends since high school, and they’re just roommates, and they’re kinda ne’er-do-wells. And the power gets shut off and they can’t pay their bills. So they’re like, well, people pay for watching sex on TV…

Marni:  Well, I was wondering if it was more social commentary based on our current economic situation, like, hey, maybe this is gonna become commonplace.

Mason:  They did not lose all of their money in the stock market, so…

Marni:  OK.

Mason:  But you know, maybe that was in the subtext. It’s possible that that was between the lines and I missed it.

 

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Discussion

Mason was surprised by how sweet and touching Zack and Miri Make a Porno was. He says Kevin Smith did a good job directing this movie. Even though some scenes were really racy, it was cute overall.

Seth Rogen isn’t known for being a super-attractive guy, and the characters he plays are often losers. So Mason finds it funny that in this movie, his character gets to make a porno with a beautiful woman.

In the movie, Zack and Miri decide to make a porno because they’re too broke to pay their bills. When Marni hears the premise of the movie, she wonders if Kevin Smith wanted to make a statement about the current economic crisis. But Mason doesn’t think that the movie is political.

Have ever done something creative to make money? Have you seen any other Kevin Smith movies?

 

Comments

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zstyong

United Kingdom

fuck

01:00 PM Dec 13 2008 |

blue_ali

blue_ali

Turkey

maybe l can watch this film too

why not be

really but l love acion fılms

 

11:44 AM Dec 13 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Even that I have no money,it always appears to me,thanks for God hehe…I have never needed to have a “big idea” to achieve it :D

07:26 PM Dec 12 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Humm this film seems funny,but I prefer watch some comedy films at home in the TV or DVD…I think that I have never been seen some directed film by Kevin Smith,at least I don't remember…

07:16 PM Dec 12 2008 |

EstebanM

EstebanM

Colombia

I like Kevin Smith's style to make movies, although i'm more familiarized with another kind of films. 

10:50 PM Dec 11 2008 |

Kirillks

Kirillks

Russian Federation

I think it's normal film, but it's not great!

09:32 PM Dec 11 2008 |

jht2007

China

i haven't see it now ,so i have no comment .but from all the comment ,i think it must be a good film.

09:24 AM Dec 11 2008 |

nguyenquangtin

Viet Nam

Seem it has something between the lines. I'll watch it.

09:18 AM Dec 11 2008 |

renee

renee

China

hmmmm where is the film??

01:40 AM Dec 11 2008 |

RAMPO1093

Egypt

i think the idea of this film be areal  in most country

but many person like to be a pornography not to earn mony 

but to be famous

i'm seeking to watch that movie

08:16 PM Dec 10 2008 |

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

good conversation

 I haven't seen this movie Smile

07:48 PM Dec 10 2008 |

sinam

sinam

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

it seems good movie.

i'd like to watch this movie.

05:56 PM Dec 10 2008 |

toumache

Germany

yet ,it contains ideas that are indeed bright.Thanks for all the efforts.

02:19 PM Dec 10 2008 |

toumache

Germany

not really intersting as a topic.

02:17 PM Dec 10 2008 |

Renata Lima

Brazil

very good story!!

I would like to watch this movie.

01:59 PM Dec 10 2008 |

onopi4

onopi4

Russian Federation

I necessarily see this film

01:46 PM Dec 10 2008 |

izzy5999

izzy5999

China

the way of the main actress making money in the movie is no longer a new thing in many college students who want to wear fashion clothes but whose family cann't afford them

12:49 PM Dec 10 2008 |

abolfath

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Good story that made me one step aware of English, however controversial matters is like to walk on the edge of a sharp sward that you are not prone to error especially in this porn matter. I like to see this film.

10:57 AM Dec 10 2008 |

Lover for Ever

Saudi Arabia

haha great movie

I like it _

08:58 AM Dec 10 2008 |

leonlai

leonlai

China

Well,sounds good movie,let me check it out.

08:19 AM Dec 10 2008 |

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