THE FILM I WILL REMEMBER FOREVER

Give a review of a film you have recently seen and liked (disliked). Use the Topical Vocabulary. Remember: A review should guide and inform. A mere tell­ing of the story is not a review.

Outline for Motion Picture Review

l. Type of film: feature film, comedy, black-and-white, short, etc.

2. Production: What studio released the film? Was it a co-pro­duction? Was the film dubbed?

3. Story (plot): Is it by a well-known author? Is the story origi­nal? True to life? What is the climax of the story? Is the ending logical?

4.Direction: Who directed the film? Was the introduction of characters and scenes skilful? Are useless scenes included?

5.Photography: Is it artistically done? Are there good shots? Are close-ups used effectively?

6.Acting: Name the leading characters. Are there any stars? Any outstanding performances of minor roles? True-to-life inter­pretation of characters?

7.Sound effects: Does speaking or acting predominate? Does the dialogue seem real? Do actors speak effectively? Are charac­teristic noises employed? Is the music suitable?

8.Critics: What do critics say about the picture? Are their opin­ions sound? Do you share their points of view?

9. General impressions and conclusions: The impression the film made on you. How was the effect achieved? Do you think this film is worth seeing?

Get acquainted with a girl’s review of the film “Anastasia” and make up your own one by analogy.

THE FILM I WILL REMEMBER FOREVER

Well, it's really difficult for me to make up my mind what to speak about. Large cities offer such a wide choice of comedies, tragedies, dramas, thrillers and so on. Sometimes you are dazzled by the titles and feel completely at a loss where to go. But again and again I come back in my thoughts to the American cartoon "Anastasia". Though at first I was rather sceptical about the idea to watch it I must say that this brilliant cartoon is really worth seeing. I'd call it one of the most successful joint ventures of the 20^th century Fox Animation Corporation Company and Mosfilm Soundtrack Studios. Generally I’ve always been interested in the tragic end of the Romanoff’s family. My mind seems to reject the possibility of such inhumane slaughter and I've been always cherishing the hope that one of the czarist’s offspring is alive.

The plot of the film is rather simple. First the action takes place in Winter Palace in St. Petersburgh. Life was paradise for eight-year old Princess Anastasia. But everything comes to an end when a curse is placed on the entire royal family. It really comes true when a mob storms the palace, beginning the Russian revolution. With the help of a young palace servant Dmitry Anastasia and her beloved grandmother, Marie, escape. Marie manages to climb aboard a train to Paris, but the poor girl is swept up amongst the confusion and is left behind. All Anastasia has left of her grandmother is a key to the music box she gave her, inscribed with a promise that they would be together in Marie's home in Paris.

Then we see Anastasia ten years later after the fall of the Russian Empire. An 18-year -old girl named Anya stumbles into a charming con named Dmitry. He convinces Ann that she could be Princess Anastasia and should accompany him to Paris to claim her royal heritage. The young man has a music box and a worthy imposter, so he hopes to collect a large reward. Then the spectators are carried away by the numerous unexpected adrenaline-pumping adventures, when Anastasia and Dmitry are coming up against the treacherous Rasputin, who will stop at nothing to complete his curse. However, fate stores more surprises for the young couple. Anya recollects her royalty and recognized by her grandmother. Dmitry thinks that the peasant girl he has fallen in love with is now beyond his reach. But Anastasia chooses to start her next journey that is her life with Dmitry.

I must say that it was a fantastic experience that stands out in my memory quite vividly even now. I was in raptures about the cartoon. Some of the scenes were so touching that they could wring the heart of the viewers in an emotional passage. The articulation of every character was so distinct that I could hear and understand every word without straining my ear. One can't but admire the outstanding talent of the cartoonists that created this fabulous tale. I was bewitched by those beautiful melodies that tuned the spectators to the inner state of the characters. In fact my scepticism about the cartoon vanished into the thin air.

Of course, there are some points that may be argued. I certainly would disagree with an American interpretation of Rasputin’s character. I personally visualize him as a very devoted to the czar and czarina man. Besides the way the Russian people are shown is not very realistic sometimes.

I realized the healing power of cartoons. The whole thing brought peace and harmony into my soul, I felt rested and refreshed after the film. Figures of the leading performers and minor characters were dancing gracefully across my memory and the words “…once upon a December” are still in my ears.

HOLLYWOOD

Ex. I. Before reading the text look up in the dictionary and make sure you know the meaning and pronunciation of the following words:

1.drive-in cinemas to aim at smth. patent,n

sound stage mercilessly patent, adj

pompous readily stardom

to shoot to stardom figurine Oscar

phenomenon

2. to be nominated for an Oscar

an Oscar nomination / winner

all of a sudden

With the development of television motion picture industry has lost some of its attraction. But it has never given in, the film industry has always searched for ways to attract custo­mers back. It was achieved by using the latest achievements in technology, by opening drive-in cinemas and by taking up new themes.

„Hollywood" is the name of a Los Angeles district which appeared in 1910, and it also stands for American cinematog­raphy. It is part of American entertainment industry aimed at amusing, educating and giving the public what it wants. Ameri­can cinema was born in the East when „Patent Cinema Compa­ny" was formed in 1908. It included 8 cinema-making firms. Those who did not go into company went to the West. The “independent" producers soon made half of the American movies, the number of film companies in California was gro­wing. In the twenties American film industry blossomed. Produ­cers needed more money and American banks readily gave money as movies brought big profits. Producers grew more and more dependent on businessmen. Unknown actors could beco­me famous in a day, poor people became rich all of a sudden and Hollywood became the „town where all dreams come true".

The 1920s saw Hollywood as the centre of movie industry with a world-wide market. The production of sound films began in Hollywood in the late 1920s and resulted in building huge sound stages many of which are used even now.

Hollywood helps to create the „American Dream" and to convince people that the American way of life is the ideal one. In the beginning movies were like a dream giving an escape from reality and showing that longing for happiness and success could be fulfilled.

The fate of a movie often depends on the advertisement. Before the release, grand shows, parties with big stars, inter­views are organized. At the same time in the1980s more than 1/3 of American actors were unemployed. The star-system is also cultivated because it gives big profits. A star is a kind of goods that can be bought and sold. Everything, including stars’ private lives, is used by managers to build up their public image. A star must compete with other stars, a star must always be in a good form. Not everybody can stand the stress and strain of star­dom. Nervous breakdowns are a commonplace phenomenon in Hollywood.

Stars are often used mercilessly and are forced to appear in weak movies, as they have signed a contract with the studio. The contracts are signed for several years and stars have no right to appear in films made by other studios. As a reaction to this already in 1913 Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charles Chaplin, Bill Hart founded their own company “United Artists". In the fifties several actors became producers - - Lancaster, Douglas, Waine, Sinatra, Grant. Stars demonstrated their abili­ty to be independent. In 1969 Barbra Streisand, Sidney Poitiers, Paul Newman founded their own association „First Artists". Later Steve McQueen and Dustin Hofman joined them. They decided to work without pay, to make movies using set budgets and then to divide the profits equally.

One of the greatest events in Hollywood is the annual pre­sentation of Oscar, the legendary figurine which is the highest Award of the American Cinema Academy. This organization was founded in 1927. Its aim was to further the development of cinematography. Every year in February the American press publishes the titles of films which have been chosen for the competition. On the presentation day there is a magnificent show in the Los Angeles Music Centre. Awards are given to the best actor, to the best actress; for the best script, for music, etc. Foreign films also participate in the competition. Soviet films “War and Peace" and “Moscow does not believe in tears" have been awarded Oscars by the American Cinema Academy. Another tradition is the ceremony of leaving one's footprints or handprints on the pavement in front of the Chinese Theatre. Some actors consider it too pompous and do not accept the invi­tation for the ceremony.

Ex. II. Translate the following sentences into Russian:

1. But it has never given in, the film industry has always searched for ways to attract custo­mers back.

2. It is part of American entertainment industry aimed at amusing, educating and giving the public what it wants.

3. Unknown actors could beco­me famous in a day, poor people became rich all of a sudden and Hollywood became the „town where all dreams come true".

4. In the beginning movies were like a dream giving an escape from reality and showing that longing for happiness and success could be fulfilled.

5. The star-system is also cultivated because it gives big profits.

6. Not everybody can stand the stress and strain of star­dom.

7.Stars are often used mercilessly and are forced to appear in weak movies.

8. Its aim was to further the development of cinematography.

Ex. III. Put in the right preposition:

1. My criticism wasn’t aimed … you.

2. It also stands … American cinematog­raphy.

3. Those who did not go … company went to the West.

4. Producers grew more and more dependent … businessmen.

5. Unknown actors could beco­me famous … a day, poor people became rich all .. a sudden and Hollywood became the „town where all dreams come true".

6. He longed … Pat to phone.

7. … the beginning movies were like a dream giving an escape … reality

8. A star must compete … other stars.

Ex. IV. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions in your own words:

a drive-in cinema patent a sound stage

pompous stardom mercilessly

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1725