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.
The movie industry is in trouble these days. With online movie-viewing and illegal downloading on the rise, it’s not a surprise that the movie business is trying to figure out a way to keep people coming in to the theater. One strategy they’ve been pushing hard over the last few years is 3D.
But have they been pushing it too hard? Sure, 3D effects are cool for certain movies with cool effects, like Avatar or Coraline. But do we really need 3D versions of dramas, like Titanic, or family movies, like The Smurfs? Hear what Jason and Mason think in this movies English lesson.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
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Jason: I’ve seen some 3D movies that were awesome. Avatar...
Mason: Yup.
Jason: But why is every movie in 3D now?
Mason: It’s a gimmick, at the end of the day. I think the movie industry is looking for an excuse to not only get people out to theaters, but charge more to be in those theaters. And it’s tough because there are definitely some films where the 3D experience is awesome. Avatar, you said, I think Coraline was another one that was just an amazing thing to see in 3D. I heard that Hugo was great in 3D, which I wouldn’t have thought necessarily.
Jason: Cool.
Mason: But by and large, most of it is kind of added as an afterthought.
Jason: Yeah, like they re-released Titanic in 3D.
Mason: Right. That’s where you automatically don’t go see it, if it’s a re-release in 3D. That’s the easy one.
Jason: I actually saw it, but it didn’t…
Mason: You saw it?
Jason: It didn’t enhance the movie.
Mason: Did the ship sink more epically?
Jason: No! That’s kind of not the point of that movie, which is what’s so strange to me about it being in 3D.
Mason: Huh.
Jason: Maybe we can start a back-to-2D movement.
Mason: What would we call it?
Jason: 2D for me.
Mason: Yeah. Stay flat, man.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Comparatives and Superlatives" from this lesson
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Discussion
Jason wonders why so many movies these days are coming out in 3D. Mason thinks it’s basically just a way to get people into the theaters and make money.
Mason and Jason agree that some movies are really cool in 3D. These are movies that are really made to be seen that way, like Avatar or Coraline. What’s strange is when a movie that was originally 2D gets re-released in a 3D version, like Titanic. Jason saw the 3D version, but didn’t think the 3D did anything special.
Jason jokes that maybe he and Mason could start a “back to 2D” club. In their club they’d appreciate the old-time, “flat” versions of movies.
What do you think about the fact that so many movies are getting released in 3D? Do you think it’s good for movies, or just a gimmick? What’s the best 3D movie you’ve ever seen?
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