UNIT 2 What’s on at the theater?
I. Lead-in Work in pairs, discuss the following
questions and then share your answers with the
whole class.
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Do you prefer to watch movies at
home or at the theater? Why?
Which do you prefer,
contemporary movies or at
classic movies? Why?
Which do you prefer, Chinese
movies or foreign movies? Why?
If a book has been made into a
movie, do you prefer to see the
movie or to read the book first?
Why?
II. Create a dialog with your partner according to
the given situation, referring to the useful
expressions in the form if necessary.
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A has two tickets for a
car exhibition and
invites B to go together
this weekend. B gladly
accepts the invitation. B
learns that A has a
friend working at the
exhibition center and
can get free tickets.
Useful expressions.
…I am wondering If you’re
free tomorrow night.
Are you busy this evening?
What are you doing
tonight?
What are you up to
tonight?
 I guess I am. Why?
Why do you ask?
Yes, what’s on your mind?
have you any pans?
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Useful expressions.
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Will you come with me?
Would you like to
go/come with me?
Do you want to come with
me?
Yeah, definitely! Thanks
for inviting me!
Certainly, thank you for
the invitation.
Sure, thank you very
much/ever so much.
Sounds great!
Useful expressions.
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It’s my pleasure.
My pleasure.
No problem.
It’s nothing.
I’m flattered you went
through all this trouble
just for me.
Thank you for all the
trouble you’ve gone to.
Thank you for the trouble
you’ve taken in securing
the tickets.
Sample dialog. Pay attention to the colored
expressions.
A: Hi, are you busy this weekend?
B: Yes, What’s on your mind?
A: I’ve got two tickets for the car exhibition. Would you like to
go with me?
B: Sure. Thanks for your invitation.
A: It’s nothing.
B: I’ve been wanting to see the exhibition, but it was not at all
easy to get a ticket. How did you manage to get two tickets?
A: A friend of mine works at the exhibition center. She was able
to get three free tickets.
B: Wow, people are paying almost 100 yuan for a ticket on the
black market. Thank you very much indeed for inviting me.
A: No problem.
III. Create a dialog with your partner
according to the table below, referring to the
useful expressions in the form if necessary.
Role A
Role B
Asks what B thinks about It’s good, but not as good
The Lion King
as Beauty and the Beast.
Insist it is very good.
Asks for reasons.
Agrees, saying the murder
Similarity between lions
lives and the human lives in the Lion King is similar
to the murder in
Shakespeare's play
Hamlet.
Useful Expressions.
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…What did you think
about…?
What do you think
about…?
What’s your opinion of…?
…is an excellent piece of
work, but not as good as
the previous ones.
It’s a wonderful
/excellent movie, but not
half as good as the
previous one.
It’s a great /super/killer
piece of work, far better
than the previous one.
Useful Expressions.
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..was incredible!
It’s unbelievably good.
you can hardly imagine
how wonderful the movie
is.
…one of the most
spectacular things about
it was…
one of the most
amazing/impressive/striki
ng/sensational/breathtaking things about the
film is…
Useful Expressions.
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State-of-the-art…
…up-to-date…
most modern…
… so many fantastic
settings and otherworldly costumes..
… so many
strange/beautiful/mag
nificent settings and
elaborate/traditional/c
olorful costumes…
Sample dialog. Pay attention to the
colored sentences.
A: What did you think about The Lion King?
B: Well…I think this cartoon was pretty good, but not
as good as Beauty and the Beast. It’s a killer flick.
A: Really? But I think The Lion King was unbelievably
good.
B: I thought it was just OK. Why do you think so?
A: Well, it’s so interesting that the lives of the lions
were similar to the lives of human beings.
B: you’re right. The murder in The Lion King was
almost the same as the murder in the
Shakespearean play Hamlet.
IV. Create a dialog with your partner
according to the table below, referring to the
useful expressions in the form if necessary.
Role A
Role B
The plot
Ask B’s opinion of the
movie.
First-rate
The characterdevelopment
Agrees with B, thinking
Not very strong
the weak characterization
has something to do with
the casting
The casting
Disagrees
The acting
Rather poor
The lines
Not many interesting or
witty lines.
The heroine
Agrees
Useful Expressions.
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… the plot was first-class.
But I don’t think the
character development
was that strong.
The plot is firstrate/superb, but the
character development is
not so/that strong/good.
… the casting was great…
The cast is strong.
They have an all-star cast.
Useful Expressions.
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…the acting was a little
weak.
But the acting was bit
weak/poor.
But the acting was not
much good.
They just didn’t have a lot
of funny or meaningful
lines.
They didn’t have many
interesting and witty lines.
Useful Expressions.
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I can’t imagine anyone
else playing that part.
I don’t think anybody can
compare with him in
playing/acting that part.
I doubt whether anyone
can compare with him for
that role.
He’s soooo cute.
He’s
sweet/lovable/delightful/a
dorable.
Sample dialog. Pay attention to the colored
sentences.
A: What do you think about the movie?
B: I think the plot was first-rate. But I don’t think the
character development was so strong.
A: Yes, the characterization was rather weak. Do you
think it is because of the casting of the movie?
B: No, the cast was strong. But the casting was
rather poor. And the lines are not interesting at all.
A: Well, maybe. But I liked the heroine of the movie.
She is excellent.
B: Yeah, l liked her too. She’s adorable.
V. Questions for Discussions
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Which do you like best, action movies,
comedies, horror movies or cartoons?
Explain why.
What’s the best/worst movie you’ve ever
seen? Describe it.
Should movies be rated to show what
audience they are suited for? Explain why.
Who are your favorite actors or actress in
China?
How often do you rent VCDs or DVDs?