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Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Date: Jan 21 2009

Themes: Pets

Grammar: Past Perfect Tense

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.

There’s a saying in English, “There’s no place like home.” Even if you don’t like certain things about your home, it still seems like the best place on Earth to you because it’s where you come from. It’s familiar and comfortable, and it’s the place where your happiest childhood memories took place.

But sometimes, home can feel like a cage. Especially if your home happens to be a zoo. In the new Madagascar movie, a group of animals from the New York Zoo escapes to Africa. In Africa, they get to be wild and free and meet other animals of their own kind. But how will Africa compare to their home, the zoo? And, more importantly, how will the second Madagascar movie compare to the first one? Find out from Amanda and Jason.

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.

Amanda

Amanda

Jason

Jason

Amanda:  I was so bummed you couldn’t come with us on Saturday.

Jason:  Madagascar?

Amanda:  Yes! Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.

Jason:  So I saw the first one where they get deported from the New York Zoo into Madagascar. What happens in the second one?

Amanda:  Well, I don’t want to give away too much, but they get to accidentally crash and plummet down to Africa, where they are for the first time amongst species of their own kind. So as you know, they live in the New York Zoo, and there’s just one of each of them. They don’t know anything about family, and they are pretty much their own family.

Jason:  Uh-huh.

Amanda:  The hippo. The giraffe. The lion.

Jason:  Isn’t there a penguin though?

Amanda:  Well there are these frisky little penguins, but they aren’t part of that lead cast at all. They’re actually the antagonists of the film.

Jason:  They seem out of place in Africa.

Amanda:  The penguins? Why do you say that? The climate?

Jason:  Yeah.

Amanda:  The penguins are up to no good. But it was a really touching beginning, and I actually was crying within the first ten minutes.

Jason:  Wow. Really? Within ten minutes? That’s amazing. Was it Sacha Baron Cohen who made you cry?

Amanda:  He wasn’t the one who made me cry, but the storyline is it’s Alex, who’s the king of the zoo, which is the lion. He was actually kidnapped from his family when they were in Africa. And so they go into the history where he’s a little lion cub. And he’s kidnapped by the hunter, and his father is shot. And I’m bawling.

Jason:  Oh, so it’s a little bit of a Bambi-like thing.

Amanda:  A little bit. And I was actually shocked that that’s how the movie started out, ‘cause there are children in there, from probably six months to five years old in there. It’s pretty hardcore.

Jason:  Yeah.

Amanda:  My favorite part was that Bernie Mac was the voice of Alex the lion. And I hadn’t heard anything about Bernie Mac being in the film, at all. And it was kind of a nice reminder that he had just passed recently, that this was one of his last performances.

 

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Discussion

Amanda saw Madagascar and was bummed that Jason couldn’t see it with her. In the new film, a bunch of animals from the New York City Zoo get in a plane crash and end up in Africa. Many of the animals originally came from Africa before they were brought to the zoo, but they don’t remember it and they aren’t used to life in the wild. In addition to the African animals there are some penguins in the movie, which Jason thinks is funny since penguins come from Antarctica, not Africa.

In the beginning of the movie, it shows the lion, Alex, getting kidnapped as a cub and his father getting killed. Amanda found this part really sad. She even cried. It was surprising to her that such a children’s movie would have such a sad scene in it.

According to Amanda, the best part of the movie is the actor Bernie Mac’s performance as the voice of Alex. Bernie Mac died recently so Amanda found it touching to hear him in one of his last roles.

Where were you born? Do you agree with the saying “there’s no place like home?”

 

Comments

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Little_Squid

Viet Nam

 Oh, i`ve seen this movie ! It`s really funny !

But it`s short & not good as the 1st one !

It`s the really interesting movie ^^

04:24 PM Jan 27 2009 |

marly2ramos

Philippines

I love that movie. I had seen both Madagascar 1 & 2.  That was a very nice movie. It deals with friendship and family. I saw the Madagascar 1 several times.  It was fun to watch especially the scene from which Alex was so hungry and He saw every body as his food….. I really love that movie. It was fun to watch it again and again.  

02:22 PM Jan 27 2009 |

Shugopy

Shugopy

Paraguay

I think I will watch the second part, sound interesting and I enjoy 3d animation movies.

07:58 PM Jan 26 2009 |

Amido Hernan Rios

Colombia

It's a history where the characters might be ourselves and there isn't any doubt that the house is the best place for all.

09:48 PM Jan 24 2009 |

The Jasmine

Syrian Arab Republic

Oh ,,i'd been touched by that part,too..Madagascar 1 & 2 r good Films to be watched ..the sense of humor & the melody r beautiful..

According to "There's no place like home" that's absolutely sure ,,nothing like home ,,i was studying in another town not that far from my home in spite of that i was eager to my city every time i came back home.

Home Sweet HomeKiss

 

09:47 PM Jan 23 2009 |

longhung510

Viet Nam

i think "there is no [laca like home"

 

 

09:21 AM Jan 23 2009 |

longhung510

Viet Nam

Oh, I actually touching about your dog.

09:08 AM Jan 23 2009 |

shyqj

shyqj

China

Madagascar 1 is very intresting.i can't wait to watch the second

08:55 AM Jan 23 2009 |

la mer

Thailand

"There is no place like home" I think it's absolutely true!!!!!

08:23 AM Jan 23 2009 |

guobingyou

guobingyou

China

I love the movie very much!It really got to me.

07:48 AM Jan 23 2009 |

Hughes

Hughes

Taiwan

This cartoon makes me happy!!!! and I love penguins, they're smart and funny :)

03:40 AM Jan 23 2009 |

lulinka

lulinka

Slovakia

I didnt see it yet, bu I think that it is beautiful movie… Im looking forward to watching it.

12:14 PM Jan 22 2009 |

Bb

Saudi Arabia

I'm waiting 4 the next week 2 watch it 'cause I don't have time ( a lot of exam this week >< )

@@ ~> I'm shocked ( I don't heard about Berni Mac death )

11:07 AM Jan 22 2009 |

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

I have this movie in my notebook but I haven't seen it yet.  

 Maybe in Saturday I'll see it LaughingI like cartoon movie is cute and sweet

08:10 PM Jan 21 2009 |

Willowscath

Spain

It's great!

08:02 PM Jan 21 2009 |

SÉRGIO

SÉRGIO

Brazil

Home Sweet Home!!

06:49 PM Jan 21 2009 |

Gothika

Gothika

Czech Republic

I haven't seen this movie yet, but soon I will…

I did watch Madagascar 1, and I liked alot…

My favorite character is, the bad and wicked penguins…

It's a real good movie, if you want to learn English…

I mean you'll get the right  way to pronounce the words in English…

As I said, i didn't watch the movie yet, but believe me…IT'S A MOST SEELaughing 

04:28 PM Jan 21 2009 |

fionafiona

fionafiona

Hong Kong

haven't watch it yet ><

But I have already watched ONE ^^

03:39 PM Jan 21 2009 |

lanekey

lanekey

China

i love this film.the lion is so cute,lovely and crazy.

02:43 PM Jan 21 2009 |

Canna :)

Canna :)

China

I haven't watch it.. but it seems funny :P emm.. I will try to watch it :DD

02:01 PM Jan 21 2009 |

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