Film reviews

Film reviews

Listen to the film reviews to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

Transcript

Obviously, this is the sequel to Fun in the City, which is a film I didn't like so it's fair to say my expectations were low. So, you could say I wasn't disappointed, as it met my expectations. It was awful! It was so awful, I'd rather not spend any more time on it by talking about it. But, that wouldn't be a film review and I think I owe you all a review to save you wasting your money going to see it.

So, it starts off with this big wedding scene. And, I won't go into why, but the whole scene is just there so they can make this one joke. It's not even a funny joke ... it's just, ah, it's just terrible. It's got nothing to do with the rest of the film. Anyway, it starts there. Then, instead of the characters and the plot staying in New York where the original film was set, one of them wins a ticket to India and decides to take all her friends. It's what directors do when they've run out of ideas … let's take our characters on tour!

Anyway, they gossip, cry and shop, and they repeat this until the end. No real people would ever act like this. I didn't have any sympathy for their problems or even care what happened to them. Don't go and see it, you'll only encourage them to make another sequel. The world doesn't need three of these films. Please save your money and go and see the other big film this week: Twilight Mirror.

So, if you're a fan of the book it's based on, you're probably as excited as I was about this. For everyone else, this is a film fans have been waiting ten years to see. I have to confess, I was a bit nervous. I'd seen the posters and they didn't look right. I didn't love them at all. And I wasn't sure about the actors they cast either. So I went in not sure what to expect. But … I loved it.

One thing I really liked about it was the pace. They went backwards and forwards between the real world and the computer world and it worked really well. The special effects brought the computer world to life and I totally believed in it. But, more than that, I felt emotionally connected to the story and the characters. The whole film worked on so many levels. It reminded me of going to the cinema as a child – how much fun that was. I can't recommend it enough.

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

Download
Worksheet85.83 KB

Language level

Average: 4 (45 votes)

Submitted by iriska on Thu, 04/03/2021 - 18:46

Permalink
Frankly, I`m so obsessed with watching movies and drama is my weak spot. The last film I watched was «Last Christmas». This touched my heart, made me smile, laugh and, yes, cry of course. There are some silly as well as far-fetched moments but generally it has special atmosphere of love and Christmas. This one more Christmas Eve is going to be usual for young Kate, a frustrated and pessimistic Londoner who works as an elf in a Christmas shop. She doesn`t expect sth special for this day. But things soon take a turn for the better when she meets Tom. If you`re fond of charming Emilia Clarke and charismatic Henry Golding you here. Kate begins to realize how to live happily and not to spend her life for silly fears. She has to make a choice to give her heart to kind and weird stranger or to stay in her own grey routine. This movie is light and tough for our emotional state at the same time but it teaches us to appreciate every moment of life.

Submitted by Roma Hrytsyshyn on Thu, 04/03/2021 - 17:25

Permalink
The last film I watched was “Once upon a Time ... in Hollywood”. That was a genre of comedy and drama. From the very beginning, I didn't plan to watch the whole film in one sitting, I thought I would watch half an hour and then go to bed. But I didn't notice that a little more than an hour had passed! The story was about TV actor Rick Dalton in 1969 in Los Angeles and his backup Cliff Booth, and how they are moving through the film industry. That plot was based on real events because then the actress Sharon Tate was killed. Thus, the director of the film, Quentin Tarantino, decided to remake the ending of the real story and showed a different version of events. Acting, directing techniques, music - all at the highest level. Actors fitted their roles like never before. Besides, they were both ones of my favorites - Leonardo Di Caprio and Brad Pitt. In a nutshell, sometimes the plot of the film had a surprising twist and it was amusing and exciting at the same time. There were jaw-dropping and breathtaking pictures of the events. Especially I liked the director's style. It is a masterpiece of its kind. I definitely recommend watching this film once.

Submitted by Konsul Ann on Thu, 04/03/2021 - 16:18

Permalink
My last film that has given me the creep is "Wonder". By genre, it's a drama. The film is based on a novel by writer Palacio. This is the story of a boy named Augustus who has a congenital disease called Collins' tricher syndrome. due to this disease he underwent 27 operations. The events unfold on how he first went to school. In my opinion, this film is very instructive and sincere. He teaches us how to communicate with people. THIS film will be close to everyone, because each character has their own problems that at least one person could have. A very good film that will make you cry and think about your life.

Submitted by Veronichka on Thu, 04/03/2021 - 12:32

Permalink
The last film I watched was Me before you. This is a romantic drama. The plot is based on a book by English writer Jojo Moyes. According to the plot of the film, this is a story about Louisa Clark, who unfortunately lost her job and now she takes care of Will Traynor. Ну is paralyzed after a motorcycle accident. He no longer feels the joy of living , he hates himself and everyone around him and goes through each day doing nothing but taking his medicine. But when Louise appears in his home , she brings a new light to his life and the film shows how their relationship develops. The main role was played by Emilia Clarke - the well-known mother of dragons from the Game of Thrones series. I really like the way she expresses her emotions. During and after watching the movie in my eyes were tears. This is a fantastic love story, a story of the struggle between life and death, but unfortunately without a happy ending. Тhis film makes us think about how happy we are if we can see, hear, walk and feel. I experienced all the emotions of this film. And I recommend it to everyone who like to cry, as well as to those who love sensitive love stories that go through life's troubles.

Submitted by Adriana Botvynnyk on Thu, 04/03/2021 - 08:12

Permalink
Hello, friends! Last time I saw a very interesting cartoon, "Soul". It’s a family cartoon, a little fantasy and an adventure. In the film’s plot, it is the story of a music teacher who had long dreamed of performing jazz music on the stage, and he got this chance. But after the accident, his soul is separated from his body and transferred to the Seminar "You" in which the souls develop. There he meets the soul 22 and teaches her how to live in the world around him. For me, this cartoon has become very instructive, because not every human being gives his or her right to life to another human being. After watching the cartoon, we should all think about the value of life.

Submitted by sone4ko345 on Mon, 01/03/2021 - 16:37

Permalink
The last time I watched Doolittle. This is a fantastic adventure comedy. The plot is based on a series of books by English writer Hugh Lofting. According to the plot of the film, this is a story about Dr. Doolittle, who can talk to animals. He lost his wife seven years ago and has been living with animals in his large house ever since. Only the illness of the young queen forces him to go in search of medicine, where he gets into various adventures. This film is suitable for both adults and children. In my opinion, this film teaches us love for animals and the ability to help other people, despite different life circumstances. If you love comedy and animals, this movie is for you.
Profile picture for user El Cuy Mágico

Submitted by El Cuy Mágico on Wed, 03/02/2021 - 21:06

Permalink
Last movie I saw was “Dracula untold”. Even though I only could see a part I found it an entertaining movie. Despite of Its plot has a lot of fantasy I enjoyed it as I really like history and I found some historical references on it.

Submitted by kawa on Sun, 31/01/2021 - 11:23

Permalink
That last film I watched was Vikings. After seeing this film, I came to the idea that the directors are just trying to not finish the film so briefly and making a lot of episodes in order to earn more money: letting the watcher just see some character thinking over something. In other words, the most time of the film is spent on describing events and movements, wars between the fighters. they just allure the watcher and let him/her just wish to know what gonna happen in the next episode. Nevertheless, this film is really very suspenseful und highly recommended.

Submitted by Layria on Wed, 13/01/2021 - 19:52

Permalink
The last film I watched was Soul at Disney+. I really love the main character, he is so tender. It´s a about a musician who dies in a accident and has to teach a "little old soul" to find a purpose in the life. He thinks the most important achievement in life is to act in a concert, but the same experience in the sky makes him think different.The film is suitable for teenagers an adults and encourage you to see how important is to enjoy the life in every moment.