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Shutter Island

Date: Apr 28 2010

Themes: Pop Culture

Grammar: Present Perfect Progressive

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Intro

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It sounds like a match made in heaven. One of Hollywood’s most respected directors, Martin Scorsese, teams up with one of Hollywood’s favorite leading men, Leonardo DiCaprio, to make a thriller based on a best-selling novel. So why hasn’t Shutter Island gotten more acclaim?

The movie Shutter Island is about the mysterious disappearance of a murderess from an island prison for the criminally insane. Ella recently saw the film. Find out if it lived up to her expectations.

Dialog

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Jeff

Ella

Jeff: So Ella, what do you think of that new Scorsese movie?

Ella: I am so disappointed. I love horror movies, thriller flicks. But Shutter Island, it was just a huge disappointment. It was so predictable and it was just like “Oh, they’re on an island, they’re in a fortress, it’s all locked down, something scary is gonna happen!” But nothing scary happened. It was…I was just so disappointed, compared to his movies in the past. Have you seen his other movies before?

Jeff: Yeah, I’ve seen…I was just thinking about Taxi Driver earlier today. I really like that one. I feel like a lot of his earlier stuff I’m in favor of, like I don’t think the newer stuff measures up.

Ella: I think he’s losing his mind.

Jeff: Yeah, an Oscar for The Departed? I disagree.

Ella: I never saw that, so I can’t say anything about that yet.

Jeff: Well, I’ll go ahead and let you decide for yourself, but that wasn’t my favorite.

Ella: So, how do you think he’s evolved, you know, compared to his older movies, to now?

Jeff: I think that’s the problem. He hasn’t evolved. His new ones are a little too formulaic.

Ella: Yeah.

Jeff: And he’s kinda been pulling the same punches for years.

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Discussion

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Ella loves horror movies and thrillers, so she was excited to see Shutter Island, which looks scary. But Ella didn’t think the movie was scary at all. She was disappointed by the film.

Martin Scorsese directed Shutter Island. Jeff is a fan of some of Scorsese’s earlier films, like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas. But he has been less impressed by Scorsese’s more recent work. He thinks Scorsese’s movies have become too formulaic and predictable. Scorsese hasn’t learned to pull any new punches.

Who is your favorite movie director? Are you someone who is predictable, or do you like to try new things?

Comments

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21 through 32 of 32
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euden-d

Bhutan

I don't really have any favorite movie director. I like to try new things sometimes but I am also kinda predictable person.

I haven't seen the movie yet but I would like to.

c106317

Taiwan

Yes,I agree with Ella. This movie was not scary at all as I thought.

But I'm just curious about who else have seen this movie? I want to know your thought about the end of the movie if u had seen it.

Is he a lunatic or not?? cuz we had different opinions after we've seen it!! hehehe…..

mionfabian

Brazil

I didn't see this movie yet… And I don't have a favorite director.

But I like almost all Steven Spielberg's flicks.

but in my favorite movie, Serendipity, Peter Chelsom wasn't predictable.

And for me, John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale are a match made in haven for that film.

just it! :)

c7112676

Taiwan

although i haven't seen this movie, i really like Titanic performed by Leonardo.

it's worth seeing it!! Peter Jackson is my favorite director, i like his novel series of the lord of the rings, especially the movie is perfect!! i also see the lovely bones directed by him. really inspiring and touching. i strongly recommend this movie.

his movies doesn't let me down so far!!

by the way, i'm a person likes to try new things, and i think the life should be like this. always try new things have various surprise in your life.

Ahshan

China

no matter what you do ,you should live up to your principles! or you will not be measure up ! and you should learn how to team up with someone who can help you out!

dhouha89

Tunisia

WATCH IT IT IS SO GOOD

RubyEy

China

Oh, I love this movie.

the mystery resists until the end

survivor

Dominican Republic

Well,another island doesn't it ,s the same movie that Leonardo DiCaprio appeared in the past? The Beach. I think That,s the name is equal to that one with only one difference, the other one doesn't have suspense at all.