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Watchmen

Watchmen

Date: Mar 18 2009

Themes: Alternative, History

Grammar: Count and Noncount Nouns

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.

Following the success of films like Hellboy and The Dark Knight, Watchmen is the latest comic book to be adapted into a movie. But this one is about more than cool superheroes and crazy visual effects. Watchmen is based on a popular graphic novel that deals with serious topics like the Cold War and the threat of a nuclear holocaust.

Turning a book or comic book into a movie is always risky, because fans of the original book are usually pretty critical of the film. Mason loved the graphic novel Watchmen. Listen to him and Marni discuss the adaptation.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Mason

Marni

Marni

Mason:  So did you watch the Watchmen, Marni?

Marni:  I have not seen it yet, but tell me about it, I’m dying to see it.

Mason:  So you know, Watchmen was a big hit comic book that came out in the mid-80s.

Marni:  It was a graphic novel, correct?

Mason:  Right, technically a graphic novel. I don’t really have a problem calling them comics, but we won’t get into that.

Marni:  Alright, alright.

Mason:  But it’s definitely got these apocalyptic kinda tones to it, ‘cause that was the Cold War era.

Marni:  Right, right. And so they…that’s sort of a theme throughout the film?

Mason:  Yeah. So it’s kind of using these superheroes in a sense to talk about the context and fear that was going on, of like, people thought the bomb was gonna drop and the world was gonna end.

Marni:  Alright, interesting. But how was the film though, visually is it…

Mason:  It’s visually quite beautiful I think. And it was very well adapted, almost frame-for-frame from the comic. But there’s an emotion that’s kinda lacking from it, I felt.

Marni:  I’ve actually heard that from other people.

Mason:  I walked out of the theater and I didn’t feel that joy of like, I just saw this thing come to life.

 

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Discussion

Mason is a big fan of the graphic novel Watchmen. A graphic novel is a special kind of comic book that is more complicated and sophisticated, like a novel.

Watchmen is set in 1985. It uses superheroes to talk about the Cold War, when the U.S. and the Soviet Union competed with each other to be the world’s most powerful nation. During this time, both countries developed many nuclear weapons. People were afraid that there would eventually be a nuclear holocaust.

In the movie, superheroes save the world from nuclear destruction. Is that something you worry about today?

 

Comments

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cusa

Mexico

hola como estas

03:16 PM Mar 20 2009 |

pripces

Turkey

yes, absolutely !

Before all of world's problems,I worry about economic crisis and future.because nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.added to that global warming is another issue to worry about.

11:32 AM Mar 20 2009 |

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

i worry about credit crunch and the financial crisis coz its consequences are not predictable. I want stability and growth, i want to be on top of my finances and now it's something really hard to fulfill.

10:02 AM Mar 20 2009 |

fangfangli888

China

Yeah,watchman,I love him.This movie is a good one,if you haven't seen it,maybe it worth looking!

01:46 PM Mar 19 2009 |

tsaoyan

China

i haven't seen this film,but fromm the picture i think it would be a sience fiction story ,and i will see it ion the internet.

06:53 AM Mar 19 2009 |

mirandabo

Taiwan

I love peace and I don't like this kind of film at all. I think we should worry about the issues about environmental protection first. Polar bears are dying. Save the animals and save the world!

06:13 AM Mar 19 2009 |

muyubaby80

China

I haven't seen the Watcmen before.but i think i will go to ciname to see this film !

04:11 AM Mar 19 2009 |

tiagon85

Brazil

Nuclear bomb is a big issue nowadays and can be our worst problem in the future. Try to imagine a world war that uses a lot of powerful weapons. It has to be controled.

 

 

12:59 AM Mar 19 2009 |

idrnouel

Dominican Republic

I don't like these kind of movies. I prefer to go out for dinner.

11:55 PM Mar 18 2009 |

power.

power.

Mexico

it's good movie you should to see it..or you prefer another movie,which movie do you like?

10:30 PM Mar 18 2009 |

want-to-know

Russian Federation

I think we live in the era of information wars. We should be less afraid of nuclear attack than of brain-washing.

06:48 PM Mar 18 2009 |

chameleon_06

Turkey

yeah it is a good movie,my favourite character is jon=)))he is so stupid

04:06 PM Mar 18 2009 |

Athan

Athan

China

To be frankly,I don't worry about the nuclear holocaust,cause these days people are becoming more mature about using nuclear weapons and the effects they would lead.It's no good for all humanity.But I do worry about the environment of the world.Cause the more our society industrializes,the worse our environment gonna be.But the thing makes me comfort is that the scientists from all over the world are devoting themselves into it,saing our planet.

02:53 PM Mar 18 2009 |

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

I not seen  Watchman yet, but I'm dying to see it.  I heard it's good movie.

12:58 PM Mar 18 2009 |

Luowen Lin

China

heard of it

10:39 AM Mar 18 2009 |

umarkj

umarkj

Saudi Arabia

After this lesson, I'm dying to watch this movie soon .

I like this kind of movies. it gives me some kind of power and care of people.

This movie talk about a comic book which I didn't  read one before. but I'll start to read one today. I'm going to buy one this night. is there anyone want to joine me ? Wink

10:22 AM Mar 18 2009 |

iman82

iman82

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

yes, i think the world will be end by unclear bombs or atom bomb, any way the world will be end i always say "there were several reasons for death and the death of one" so don`t worry all of stuff is one.

09:49 AM Mar 18 2009 |

Eydo

Eydo

Turkey

I haven't seen this film. So no comment:)

09:06 AM Mar 18 2009 |

L_a_d_a

L_a_d_a

Ukraine

I have seen this film, and really to say i dislike it. To spend more then 2 hours for nothing it`s not for me.

07:12 AM Mar 18 2009 |

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