Complex compound sentences

Using conjunctive adverbs in independent clauses

nominal clauses practice

Relative infinitive clauses

Epic Kahoot

Lunchbox differences

Lead in:

1. When you were a kid, what did you used to eat for lunch at school?

2. What the ideal school lunch?

3. Should school lunches be provided for free to kids? Why? Why not?

In 2012, Campbell Live conducted a simple experiment. Without any advance notice, they asked kids in 2 primary schools in different parts of Auckland to show them what they were having for lunch.

Watch this shocking report: 

True / false / doesn't say?

1. The news crew visited two Auckland schools.

2. The children are all well behaved.

3. All the kids at the first school had eaten breakfast.

4. The class in the South Auckland school didn't know the news crew was coming.

5. The news crew interview the principals of both schools.

6. The principal of the South Auckland school sympathises with parents who can't afford to provide their children with lunch.

7. The nutritionist is not too worried about the health impacts of the situation.

8. The reporter believes this problem will cause serious problems in the future.

9. The government will be providing free lunches soon.


Lunchbox differences

Questions

1. What does the presenter mean when he says: "the kind of 'ambulance at the bottom of the cliff' stuff"?

A) the suicide rate

B) the consequences of not taking action to prevent a disaster

C) the dangerous way ambulances drive

D) Arriving late

2. What's the difference between a decile 1 and decile 10 school?

3. What adjectives are used to describe the lunches at Westmere primary school?

_________

_________

_________

_________

_________


4. What does the word "unsuspecting" mean?

A) to have prior knowledge of something

B) to have no prior knowledge of something

C) to have no suspicions

D) to not be suspected

5. Why do some chairs not have bags?

6. What does the expression "graphic illustration" mean?

A) A clear example

B) An impactful example

C) A memorable example

D) all of the above

7. Why does the principal believe most parents struggle to provide lunch for their kids?

A) They are lazy

B) They spend too much on petrol

C) They have too many expenses

D) The need to learn how to budget

Fill the gaps:

1. d_________ly un_____y lunches

2. In other _____, this is a problem New Zealand ignores at its _______

3. The don't get NCEA by ______

4, We can make such a big difference with such a small _______

5. If we ______ them, if we grow them, they'll be ________ citizens



Error spotting: only one out of three are grammatically correct.

A "The impact of poverty in our children" 

B "We've conducted very simple experiment" 

C "without any advance notice" 

--

A "We asked all the kids put their lunch-boxes on their desks" 

B "To indicate with a tick that had eaten breakfast" 

C "None of the kids had any idea we were coming" 

--

A "...wouldn't be out of place in one the local cafes" 

B "When it comes lunch" 

C "All but two had a least one piece of fruit" 

--

A "If there isn't a bag, it's because the student doesn't have them" 

B "the class does provide one piece of fruit for all the students" 

C "Hunger is the biggest barriers to many of his student's education" 

--

A "It's tough to focus in anything" 

B "That does happen from time to time" 

C "It's not fault of those who suffering" 

Quizlet vocab quiz:

Collocations

There's also a Kahoots Quiz I made for this lesson: Right or Wrong?

Kahoots Quiz

Japan and mindfulness towards others

Quizlet:

Phrases used

Each country has its own unique culture and way of living. The way a country chooses to run its everyday life might be drastically different from others, yet if we imbibe one positive aspect each of a country’s culture (and probably discard one negative aspect of our own), we too can become happy, content and self-sufficient. Take Bhutan for example. It is one of the happiest countries in the world that measures its success in the form of GNP “Gross National Happiness” instead of GDP. Moreover, there are many other countries in the world like Norway and Netherlands that measure their economy not just in terms of the huge pay check a person is taking home, but also whether that pay check is really making him happy or not. Among the developed countries, Japan is known as one of the busiest economies in the world. Just like each country teaches its children some valuable lesson or the other – for example, in the US, children are taught to think free and aim high and in India, children are taught to respect elders – Japanese children are taught the art of mindfulness. For the uninitiated, let’s talk about what mindfulness really means. Suppose you are getting late for work and rush in to catch the peak hour metro or train. As soon as the metro door opens, you often run inside to grab a seat (or even find a place to stand) without actually waiting for people to get off first. And even though you know you are being downright offensive (to others), you nevertheless do it, because of the fear of getting another “late for work” nasty email from your boss. Let’s take another example --- how many times have you held the door for others who are walking just behind you or climbed up an escalator in a queue? Not often you would say. This art of practicing restraint and displaying perseverance is called Mindfulness --- something that Japan as a country has mastered. Japan ranks 16th in the Quality of Life Index, yet ranks an impressive 4th in public safety --- this is because you can still park your bike outside a restaurant when you go in to eat and no one will touch it or you can easily take a nap in the subway because it’s so quiet. You can go to any café and you will be greeted with a bow and a smile. The reason is simple. In Japan, people think about others as much as they think about themselves. This practice of mindfulness is not something new to Japan, it is engrained in their very culture. The Japanese monk Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769) played a prominent role in preaching the effectiveness of Zen meditation as a way of practicing mindfulness and also cultivating a healthy body, along with mind. The success of the mindfulness practice in Japan also stems from the fact that the Japanese derive happiness from the small joys in life --- in Japan, it is not uncommon to be a part of as Haiku poetry session (in which a poet captures the essence of a moment in just 17 syllables), tea ceremony (where members take time out to appreciate the design of the cups) and a cherry-blossom viewing day, where participants gaze at bright cherries for the better part of the day. Even for a daily activity like eating (which most of us do on the go), the Japanese invest in time and preparation and you are supposed to sit down and eat and finish every morsel on your plate. The Japanese also master at the nanso method, that is a form of introspective meditation developed by Hakuin Ekaku. Through this method, students are taught to master the art of introspection as they meditated, and this practice makes them more aware of their bodies. So, the next time, you shove and push someone on a crowded bus, remember to be a little more giving, or as the Japanese would say, be teinei (polite).

Japanese Mindfulness

The Science of Awkwardness

How can some these basic verbs collocate with what's below them?

Make
Show
Get
Put
Feel

uncomfortable
in context
along well with
awkward
remorse
embarrassment
discomfort
uncomfortable
what others feel
us think about

Watch:

The Science of Awkwardness

Part 0:00-1:12

Note down the 10 awkward situations mentioned in the intro:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Notice how Michael always uses a gerund (-ing form).

Part 2 1:12-3:09

Vocab

1. Explain the triangle of possible behaviours. How much freedom do we have in each part of the triangle?

2. Why does the Michael first rip the cardboard, then use scissors and finally use sandpaper? What point is he making?


Part 3 3:09-5:15

Vocab

Susceptible (adj.) - able to be influenced by sth

to be oblivious to = to be unaware of

counter-intuitive = against common sense

morbid curiosity = interest in the things that are unpleasant


1. What's the connection between self-consciousness and cooperation?

True or false

2. Concern for social rules shouldn't be moderated.

3. People who show embarrassment when appropriate have not been proven to be more prosocial.

4. Vicarious embarrassment occurs when the person who should be embarrassed is not.

5. The more EEE you are, the more easily you can endure other people embarrassing themselves.

6. Being more EEE doesn't mean you are more likely to be embarrassed yourself.


Part 4 5:15-7:00

vocab:

salient = more memorable

Gap fill

Your brain would ______ that awkwardness and physical pain are different.

Our brains _________ the breaking of social standards and the breaking of bones through the same neural ________.

digestion _________ causing nausea and _________ in your stomach.

your body instinctively __________ into a protective fetal position and fighting that reaction to act natural makes you ______.

These symptoms don't alleviate awkwardness - they _______ it.


Part 5: 7:00 - end

Why is history responsible for the physical symptoms of social awkwardness?

What does the hormone oxytocin regulate?

What is negativity bias?

What is the "wet blanket" for the "fire" of social anxiety?

What was Eleanor Roosevelt's advice?

What do you worry about in your 20s and 30s? What happens in your 40s and 50s? What do you realise in your later life?

How does the situation of ordering food demonstrate protagonist disease?

What does "sonder" mean?

Kahoot (verbs)

Michael Palin's Top 5 Travel Tips

Before listening

Discussion:

In groups of 3, come up with your own Top 5 Travel tips. What helps you get the most out of the experience?


Add these words

principles
pole
remarkable
highly
better
myself

Michael Palin’s ______ television success began in 1969 with Monty Python’s Flying Circus - yet he is even ______ known for the travel documentaries he began 20 years later, with Around the World in 80 Days.  Since then there has barely been a patch of the planet that has not welcomed this ______ engaging presenter - whose TV journeys have taken him from ____ to pole, across the Himalayas and the Sahara, and full circle around the Pacific.

“I’ve learned a lot from the world,” he says. “I’ve learned to see_______  from a different perspective, to see the rest of the world from a different perspective, to see our own country from a different perspective.”

He has also learned five important _______ of travel:


Watch:

Palin's 5 Tips

Note taking:

1. Don't be __________

...they want you to r________
....so long as you're giving out some sort of emotional r________

2. Know ___________

3. Write ______

...it's very good to write them down ___ ______

4. Go ______________

Go have a look ___ ___ ________

5. Find _____________

Make sure you have a ________

The Marvel Symphonic Universe

Pink Panther

Sponge Bob

The Simpsons

Friends

Game of Thrones

Indiana Jones

Jaws

Harry Potter

Batman

Star Wars

Listen to these well known theme songs. Try to listen to them as pieces of music, rather than thinking of the show or film.

In groups, rank the pieces from best to worst, then share your conclusions with the class.



Extra bit of fun:

Vintage Disney Sound Effects


The Ear Scene

Discuss the way music is used in this scene.

Simpler version

Pre-listening

What theme music to famous movies can you recall?











What do these adjectives mean?

original
bland
inoffensive
bold
forgettable
predictable
memorable
noticeable
safe
risky

Are they negative or positive?
What is bland music? What is bold music?
Which adjectives are positive ways to describe music?










Key words
Objective - it doesn't matter what your opinion is. It's just a fact.
Subjective - it depends on your opinion or point of view.














Guide questions. Part 1. 0:00 - 5:20

1. What happens to the first scene from Iron Man when the music is taken out?
2. What happens after a while to this kind of music?
3. How do Marvel films tend to express sadness?
4. What is the second reason the music is forgettable?












Part 2. 5:20 - 13:30

1. Film music is very objective / subjective
2. 20 years ago, the music in films was less / more noticeable
3. Danny Elfman is a composer / director
4. Danny enjoys / hates temp music
5. Temp music is music taken from another part of the same movie / another movie







Part 3. 13:30

listen and put the words in the clip into the gaps:

1. What's changed everything in score-making is m____ non-_____ editing.
3. The music makes the scene e_________ly richer.
4. The music isn't bad, it's just bland and ino_______e







Collocations



Harder version

Watch:

The Marvel Symphonic Universe

Pre-listening

What theme music to famous movies can you recall?
What makes this music memorable?

Are these adjectives to describe music positive, neutral or negative?

original
bland
inoffensive
bold
evocative
forgettable
predictable
memorable
emotionally rich
noticeable
safe
risky


Guide questions. Part 1. 0:00 - 5:20

1. What happens to the first scene from Iron Man when the music is taken out?
2. What happens after a while to this kind of music?
3. What is the second problem Tony points out about the music in Marvel films?
4. How do Marvel films tend to express sadness?
5. What is the second reason the music is forgettable?
6. What does Tony say the narrator doing in the scene from Captain America?

Part 2. 5:20 - 13:30

True or false?

1. Film music is very objective
2. 20 years ago, the music in films was less noticeable
3. Danny Elfman is a composer
4. Danny is baffled by the current trend to make film music less noticeable
4. Danny enjoys temp music
5. Temp music is music taken from another part of the same movie
6. In the text Warner Bros is apologising for plagarizing another film's music
7. The word "amicably" (in the text on screen) means "in a friendly way"
8. Tony doesn't think the legal / copyright problem is the real problem with temp music


Part 3. 13:30


listen and put the words in the clip into the gaps:

1. What's changed everything in score-making is m____ non-_____ editing.
2. At some point the music s_____ to the picture.
3. You end up with the l_____ common denominator
4. The music makes the scene e_________ly richer.
5. The music isn't bad, it's just bland and ino_______e


Collocations

Buster Keaton: the art of the gag

Before Edgar Wright and Wes Anderson, before Chuck Jones and Jackie Chan, there was Buster Keaton, one of the founding fathers of visual comedy. And nearly 100 years after he first appeared onscreen, we’re still learning from him. Learn about the artistry (and the thinking) behind his gags.

"Tragedy is a close-up; comedy, a long shot."

Discuss this quote from Buster Keaton



Watch:

The Art of the Gag

Three elements of Keaton’s filmmaking mentioned:

Fra_____

Acr_____  and st_____

Pos_____

1. The first thing you need to know about visual comedy is....

2. How did Keaton avoid title cards?

3. what does the word "convey" mean?

4. Keaton believed each ______ a comedian did should be unique.

5. What was the second problem Keaton dealt with?

6. How did Keaton find the right angle?

7. What takes up most of the frame in the first angle?

8. Why exactly does the second angle work better?

9. What are the rules of Keaton’s world? 

10. What is his number one Law?

11. Why did Keaton often place the camera back?

12. What were "impossible gags"? 

13. Why did Keaton give "impossible gags" up?

14. What is a "call back"?

15. What is an "accidental gag"?

16. What was Keaton's most famous rule?

Involving others

 Target Language

Asking for views and checking for agreement

Aims

To discuss cultural and personal differences. 

To involve others in a discussion. To discuss issues collaboratively. 

To learn how to listen actively and make decisions through consensus.

Look at the target language

One phrase is not asking others for input - which one?

• What's your idea?
• What are your thoughts on all of this?
• How do you feel about that?
• Is it okay if I jump in for a second?
• Do you have anything to say about this?
• What do you think?
• Do you agree?
• Wouldn't you say?

One phrase is not interrupting - which one?

• Can I add something here?
• Is it okay if I jump in for a second?
• If I might add something...
• Can I throw my two cents in?
• Sorry to interrupt, but...
• Sorry, go ahead. 
• (after being interrupted) You didn't let me finish.

One phrase is not expressing an opinion - which one?

• In my opinion...
• The way I see it...
• If you want my honest opinion....
• I couldn't agree with you more.
• As far as I'm concerned...
• If you ask me...

Collaborative tasks

1. Italian gestures

Watch this sign conversation without sound.

From 8.12

Italian gestures

In pairs, write the dialogue down and perform it.

Then check by watching with the sound.

Tourist:

Italian:

2. Speaking triangle - 3 minute rotating conversation

In groups of three rotate the answering of each question between you. try to give a full answer.

1. What job is the woman on the left doing?

2. What technical skills does she need to do her work well?

3. What knowledge does she need?

4. What kind of attitudes does she need?

5. What kind of personal qualities might be helpful in this kind of work?

6. Do you think this job would require more technical or social skills?

3. Showing a bit of initiative

Do this one in pairs or threes.

You've inherited a rundown old restaurant. You lazy uncle failed to make it work. died and passed it on to you. What will you do to make it a success? It's time to show a bit of initiative.

1. Think about these words: regain, relocate, redesign, redecorate. retrain, readjust, reconsider, repaint, rebrand, rearrange, research, redo, refresh

Think of how these words might apply in this case....

2. 

• What's your _____?
• What are your ______ on all of this?
• How do you _____ about that?
• The way I _____ it...
• If you want my _______ opinion....

In pairs, talk equally what you will do to get you business back up to speed.

Think about these things:

Do it by asking each other for ideas. Then respond as constructively as you can.

The menu

The customers

The prices

The decor

Colour scheme

The music

The staff

The signage

The building

What are the three or four most important changes you're going to make?

Student Film Reviews

Review: Starship Troopers (1997)

by Nils

Starship Troopers is a film by Paul Verhoeven, director of Robocop (1987). The movie is inspired by (but not based on) the classic sci-fi novel of the same title by Robert A. Heinlein. In contrast to Heinlein’s original story, which focuses more on military doctrine and the life of an interstellar soldier in between his battles, the movie is centred around grand battle scenes and as a result is rich in cinematic action.

The film is set in a universe where humans unite under a global government to battle the “bugs”, arachnoid aliens with no consciousness that kill for food and conquest. The main character, Johnny Rico joins the army to follow his gifted girlfriend, a space pilot. Rico scores badly in his exams and is therefore assigned to the Mobile Infantry - which essentially means cannon fodder. On the brink of giving up, a bug attack kills his entire family, invigorating him to give all he’s got to fight for mankind’s survival.

The battle scenes are very well done and music composed by the late Basil Poledouris pulls the viewer right into the atmosphere. However, the film feels somewhat goofy at times. For example, the training scenes are completely unrealistic (I’ve been to boot camp, so I know what it’s about). The same goes for much of the dialogue unfortunately. There's also a bit of a fascist undercurrent which the book was more sceptical about. At times this can be quite disturbing unless you deliberately choose to ignore it.

That said, it's incredibly entertaining thanks to the excellent action sequences.

All in all, it is a great action movie but it certainly lacks the depth and gravitas of the original work. I recommend it to anyone in the mood to see some exciting battles against disgusting aliens and cheesy human interactions.

3/5 stars

The Sting
By Ann-Marie

The Sting (1973) is directed by George Roy Hill (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Adapted from the book The Big Con: The story of a Confidence Man, The Sting stars Robert Redford and Paul Newman as professional grifters out for revenge and Robert Shaw as the mob boss they are up against. In the September of 1936 in America, Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) manages to accidentally steal a huge chunk of money from the mob. But in the aftermath, his partner Luther Coleman gets killed. Johnny goes to Chicago to meet Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman),  an old friend of Luther's and together they decide that the best way to take revenge is to take all of Doyle Lonnegan’s money (Robert Shaw) and that’s is where the story truly gets going. They set up an elaborate con that in their circle is known only as ‘the wire’. With a huge crew of professional tricksters they set up a fake betting parlour for the scam of a lifetime.

The movie doesn’t use flashy effects but relies on it’s great plot, talented actors and a musical score to remember. The soundtrack was produced by Gil Rodin and includes a of remastered ragtime piano songs by Scott Joplin, the most famous being ‘The Entertainer’ which is also the film's theme song. The soundtrack provides a perfect background for the fast pace of the film and the songs generally make your toes tap in time and leave you craving more.

The story itself is gripping and both Redford and Newman do an incredible job bringing these loveable rouges to life. The audience is left in the dark and often knows less than the characters do, but this just makes you take more notice of every detail and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The plot itself is full of brilliant and enjoyable twists.

It's of course the height of the Great Depression of the 30’s, and a lot of people have it hard and more than a few drift towards less honest ways of making money. This topic is touched upon when the main characters are recruiting their crew for the heist. We get to glimpse the hard life of a woman with a questionable reputation, and it's hard to remain unmoved. Admittedly, sometimes the film feel like it’s more set in the 70’s than in the 30’s, but it is not that noticeable and some of the truly incredible shots like the one made in the old Western Union Building completely immerse you in the time.

The ending of the film is brilliantly done and truly unpredictable. It gives the film a very showy finale, but you also feel like it is building up to a second part. Sadly the second movie only came out 10 years later and has both a questionable cast and a far more predictable storyline.

The Sting has been one of my favourite movies ever since I fist saw it when I was small. It's lightness of touch, quick pace and truly enjoyable soundtrack have me glued to the screen every time I watch it. Afterwards I always get an itch in my fingers and want to try my luck at a con. This movie is the forerunner for later films like Ocean’s 11 but in my book it is better than the whole lot of them.

5 out of 5 stars

Shutter Island

By Lisa

From the look of the trailer, Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island looked like a horror film… a frightening prison under authoritarian control where isolation rules. A U.S Marshall is sent to an asylum to investigate a missing patient but discovers so much more. A demon? A ghost? Something worse? I was skeptical walking into the theater, wondering if any of this would hold water.

The film starts with Teddy Daniels and his new partner Chuck, standing on a ferry. What's striking here is that there is no lead up. We are bam, smack into the story without so much as an opening montage. All we see is the two men smoking a couple cigarettes and chatting about their assignment. This becomes a momentous development however. As our hero smokes we sense that he isn't the smooth and sophisticated gangster we might expect. This is a harsher more pathetic figure with poor posture. Someone who doesn't sleep well, someone with an untypical backstory…

The men are greeted at the gate by guards whose attitudes seem immediately suspect. Soon we meet Dr Crawley, a seemingly complex, liberal and modern man who runs the asylum. However, he soon becomes uncooperative with the investigation. Both inmates and staff appear to be hiding something, but what? Evidence and clues begin to appear but not before our hero seems to become riddled by psychosis himself. "You act like all this madness is contagious." Daniels says to the guard. Is it? Soon we begin to wonder, too, but not before he uncovers the tip of an ugly, painfully intimate iceberg that merges his own troubled past but with a mass conspiracy.

The acting is superb. Kingsley is in his finest role in years. Similarly, DiCaprio reaches new levels. Elias Koteas, Ted Levine and Michelle Williams play small but wonderful roles. Cinematographer Robert Richardson captures a world all of its own.

While Scorsese is a master, I'd say that his strength is this film has more to do with character than screenplay. It’s certainly a fresh balance of both - a mix of noir and thriller. Yes, it could be compared with The Shining but this wouldn’t do it justice. It’s no one trick pony.

All this praise aside it's not for everyone. The story is convoluted and demands some attention. And at times it's all a bit too bleak and dire. Nor does it all make sense when you actually think about it. But then again that's show biz. Despite the plot having a few too many turns and folds - to the point of losing you – don’t lose faith: the story has you right where it wants you.

3 Stars

Donnie Brasco

By David

Donnie Brasco is a gangster movie directed by Mike Newell from 1997. It is based on a true story about the FBI agent Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp) who infiltrates the New York mafia. Under the name Donnie Brasco, Pistone befriends Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino) and is able to embed himself in a mafia faction led by Sonny Black. As Pistone gets more involved in the mafia business he collects evidence but gets deeply tangled up with the criminal lifestyle and hardly ever sees his family. Having Pacino in the film of course makes it feel like a classic gangster/mafia movie.

The film is great visually - the period settings and costumes really add mystique. Editing and cinematography is top-notch.

What really stands out however is the acting from Johnny Depp and Al Pacino who both do a magnificent job at portraying their characters. The relationship dynamics between Joe and Lefty come off superbly. Depp makes you feel for Joe as he begins to lose himself and forget which side he is actually on. Most of the mobsters in the movie are the usual stereotypes, but Pacino’s Lefty is special, a tragic middleman, he takes risks and does the dirty work but always gets overlooked and is never really rewarded properly. All this differs markedly Pacino’s former roles, and yet he carries it off with ease. This is a true story, but  it still basically goes where we expect mob films to go. Plus it manages to rise above the clichés through strong characters and compelling emotional themes. A solid classic.

4/5 stars.

Thor: Ragnarok

By Iris

Thor: Ragnarok, the latest release of Marvel Studios, is the sequel to 2011´s Thor and 2013's Thor: The Dark World, all adapted from the well-known Marvel Comic series. This latest Thor movie is directed by New Zealander Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilder People, Boy) and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Thor, played by the hunky Chris Hemsworth, has to save Asgard from the Ragnarok. Along with his companions Hulk, Loki and newly introduced characters he must defeat his sister Hela to save the Nine Worlds and the creatures living in them. Thor: Ragnarok, is said to be the best out of the Thor trilogy, due to its cast, action scenes, music and humor.

One reason this film went down so especially well may be because of its further development between the dramatic action and the music. Marvel Studios has been justly criticized for neglecting to have catchy tunes in their previous films. With this movie, however, Marvel has redeemed itself. Theme music and background music both create the perfect atmosphere and put the viewer in the right mood and keep them there. This is especially true in action sequences like the one where Thor gets his super boost and becomes the God of Thunder; here the music matches and intensifies the action perfectly.

Technically the film is a tour de force. The camera movement and the special effects fit together seamlessly and create enormous tension. Acting wise, on the other hand, you could say Thor: Ragnarok is about average quality, even though some scenes are acted in an ingenious way. At times the tension gets let down by a bad pun, which doesn’t go down well with action movie lovers. And fans hoping for a romantic dimension won´t be pleased because the flimsy relationship between Jane and Thor has ended. And most disappointingly,  the story doesn´t leave any room for interpretation. Except for some new characters and a different setting, it follows the set formula of Marvel movies and breaks no new ground.

Having said that, if you are a true Marvel Comic or Thor fan, you are very likely to enjoy this movie. It is an easy and entertaining experience that holds your attention through many great one-liners. Plus the action scenes are never boring or predictable, and that’s what we want from a Marvel movie after all. Worth spending two and a half hours inside on a sunny day for.

3.5 stars

Breaking Bad

By Benjamin

Breaking Bad is a series directed by Vince Gilligan, starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. It tells the story of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher struggling to make ends meet. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer Walter tries to acquire money to leave for his family through criminal means. The series is very much on the dark side and contains some of the blackest comedy in American TV history.

What stands out in this crime drama is the acting of the protagonist Bryan Cranston. You could even say that Cranston is Breaking Bad. This initially unassuming, apparently virtuous chemistry teacher gets increasingly entangled in the criminal underworld where he becomes a ruthless meth producer. Cranston portrays this horrific transformation convincingly and shockingly. There isn’t a side of human nature that he isn’t able to portray in rendering the schizophrenic Walter, known in the underworld as “Heisenberg”.

The series addresses many problems in American society, one of which is the failed health system which doesn’t seem to be improving under President Donald Trump. Poor people who don’t have the money for health aren’t supported by the government. In these circumstances, is it any wonder that so many descend into crime when the only alternative is sickness and death?

Breaking Bad is a fantastic series for our times, and under the current president of the US, the series seems to be more true than ever. The story is captivating, the acting is first-rate and the series conveys contemporary issues powerfully.

Rating: 4/5

JOY

By Mare     

After hearing that accliamed director David O. Russel would once again be working with his oscar-winning pair, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, everybody knew the bar for this film was set high. In this autobiographical drama set in the 90s we follow Joy, a single mother struggling to cope. She lives in working-class New York with her two children, her mother, grandmother and her ex-husband. One day Joy comes up with the idea of a self-wringing mop and so she sets out to make this idea reality.

The film is set in 1990 and every single set and choice of clothing is perfect to the T. You get a strong sense of what life was like back then, although I can imagine that a large part of the audience doesn’t need a film to do that.

Lawrence and Coopers’ amazing chemistry together is incredible to see. Both actors portray their characters to the fullest. Joy faces a number of struggles along the way which makes you sympathize with her throughout the film. A mention of Robert DeNiro, stunning as usual, can’t be left out.

Joy is a feel-good film, but fortunately not in the cheesy way. Joy’s strength through her struggles makes you feel as if you can fight the world too.  There are hints of feminism as we see abusive relationships, poverty, and several other factors hold Joy back. Of course, you can’t deal with every single issue on the planet in one film, but there could have been a bit more attention paid to them.

As a whole it was a well acted, truthful and inspiring film and I would recommend it. Not groundbreaking, but it certainly can’t be denied that it will make you feel joy.

3.3 Stars

Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By Boas

Based on the famous novel by Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is an award-winning sci-fi film by Garth Jennings that will make you laugh your socks off. The movie follows earthman Arthur Dent, who after discovering that his planet has been destroyed to make way for a bypass, has to follow spaceman Ford Prefect through space and time. Together they join the president of the universe, who is on his way to the planet Margrathea, in finding the answer to life, the universe and everything.

Visually the film is quite mundane. Even though there are quite a few intriguing special effects, little effort has been put been put into the sets and landscapes. But most would agree that the sarcastic and absurd characters and the great casting choice of Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent and Stephen Fry as the narrator make up for low production values (which almost add to the comic charm of the film). There are many delightful plot twists and plenty of visual humour.

The biggest problem (and the biggest divergence from the book) is the unnecessary and forced "love triangle" subplot between the president, his assistant and Arthur. This draws attention away from the main nihilistic point of the film, which is that nothing really matters and we will never find the meaning of life.

Overall though, the movie is pretty enjoyable, especially for people who are looking for a laugh. I recommend it to anyone who is looking at getting into the sci-fi genre and give it 4/5 stars.

Black Mirror: Nosedive

by Carlotta

Black Mirror is a science fiction anthology series created by Charlie Brooker. Each episode examines a different problem in our society by placing it in a near feature or an alternative present. By exaggerating the problems, the directors show the viewers how the world could be if we’d continue living our lives as we do now. For example, series three episode one, Nosedive (2016) is set in a pastel coloured world where people constantly rate each after they interact. You can get between one and five stars, the higher the rating the better. People with a high rating are admitted to the upper echelon of society, but if you have a low rating, well too bad. The episode tells the story about Lacie Pound (Bryce Dallas Howard) who is invited to be the maid of honour of her old school friend Naomi (Alice Eve). But the journey to the wedding doesn’t go as planned.

Compared to other episodes, this one has fewer special effects. Besides the fact that we can see the character’s ratings and the fact that everything is in a pastel pink hue, the world is more or less like ours. But by using a different main colour for the different ratings the play of colours becomes the most striking effect in the episode. The viewer gets forced to like the high rated pastel coloured world more than the black or dark lower rated one. Bryce Dallas Howard is amazingly good at getting the viewer to like and feel with her, which intensifies the difference between the social classes.

Charlie Brooker has perfectly summed up our social life, which is moving more and more in just this direction. People try to show only their best side on social media platforms to generate more likes and attention. If you have a high number of followers and likes you start to reach idol status. But if you don’t really fancy fame, people forget you on the internet. Sure, it’s not going as far as Nosedive but it there’s something shockingly true behind it nonetheless.

Overall, Nosedive has been my favourite episode of the whole series, because of the simple way it manages to get at something really relevant to my generation. It really gets you to question the direction our social media world is drifting in.

4 stars

Exercises made from student writing

Review: Starship Troopers (1997)

by Nils

Cloze

Starship Troopers is a film by Paul Verhoeven, director of Robocop (1987). The movie is ______ by (but not based on) the classic sci-fi novel of the _____ title by Robert A. Heinlein. In ______ to Heinlein’s original story, which focuses more on military doctrine and the life of an interstellar soldier in between his battles, the movie is ______ around grand battle scenes and as a result is rich in cinematic action.

The film is ____ in a universe where humans unite under a global government to battle the “bugs”, arachnoid aliens with no consciousness that kill for food and conquest. The main character, Johnny Rico ____ the army to follow his gifted girlfriend, a space pilot. Rico scores badly in his exams and is therefore assigned to the Mobile Infantry - which essentially means cannon fodder. On the brink of giving up, a bug attack kills his entire family, invigorating him to give all he’s got to ____ for mankind’s survival.

Phrases

At times
depth and gravitas 
feels somewhat
That said,
All in all
I recommend it
The same goes for

The battle scenes are very well done and music composed by the late Basil Poledouris pulls the viewer right into the atmosphere. However, the film (1)__________ goofy at times. For example, the training scenes are completely unrealistic (I’ve been to boot camp, so I know what it’s about). (2)_____________ much of the dialogue unfortunately. There's also a bit of a fascist undercurrent which the book was more sceptical about. (3)___________ this can be quite disturbing unless you deliberately choose to ignore it.

(4)__________ it's incredibly entertaining thanks to the excellent action sequences.

(5)________, it is a great action movie but it certainly lacks the (6)______________ of the original work. (7)_____________ to anyone in the mood to see some exciting battles against disgusting aliens and cheesy human interactions.

3/5 stars

Shutter Island

By Lisa

Sentence beginnings:

From the look
The film starts with 
This becomes
I was skeptical
All we see is 
As our hero smokes 
What's striking here is

(1)_____________ of the trailer, Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island looked like a horror film… a frightening prison under authoritarian control where isolation rules. A U.S Marshall is sent to an asylum to investigate a missing patient but discovers so much more. A demon? A ghost? Something worse? (2)___________ walking into the theater, wondering if any of this would hold water.

(3)______________ Teddy Daniels and his new partner Chuck, standing on a ferry. (4)______________ that there is no lead up. We are bam, smack into the story without so much as an opening montage. (5)____________ the two men smoking a couple cigarettes and chatting about their assignment. (6)____________ a momentous development however. (7)_______________ -we sense that he isn't the smooth and sophisticated gangster we might expect. This is a harsher more pathetic figure with poor posture. Someone who doesn't sleep well, someone with an untypical backstory…

"Soon" or "but not before"?

The men are greeted at the gate by guards whose attitudes seem immediately suspect. Soon / But not before we meet Dr Crawley, a seemingly complex, liberal and modern man who runs the asylum. However, he soon / but not before becomes uncooperative with the investigation. Both inmates and staff appear to be hiding something, but what? Evidence and clues begin to appear soon / but not before our hero seems to become riddled by psychosis himself. "You act like all this madness is contagious." Daniels says to the guard. Is it? Soon / But not before we begin to wonder, too, soon / but not before he uncovers the tip of an ugly, painfully intimate iceberg that merges his own troubled past but with a mass conspiracy.

The acting is superb. Kingsley is in his finest role in years. Similarly, DiCaprio reaches new levels. Elias Koteas, Ted Levine and Michelle Williams play small but wonderful roles. Cinematographer Robert Richardson captures a world all of its own.

I'd say
Yes, 
Despite
Nor does
It’s certainly

While Scorsese is a master, (1)_______ that his strength is this film has more to do with character than screenplay. (2)________ a fresh balance of both - a mix of noir and thriller. (3)_______ it could be compared with The Shining but this wouldn’t do it justice. It’s no one trick pony.

All this praise aside it's not for everyone. The story is convoluted and demands some attention. And at times it's all a bit too bleak and dire. (4)_______ it all make sense when you actually think about it. But then again that's show biz. (5)______ the plot having a few too many turns and folds - to the point of losing you – don’t lose faith: the story has you right where it wants you.

3 Stars

Donnie Brasco

By David

Join the sentence halves:

1. Donnie Brasco is a gangster movie

2. It is based on a true story about the FBI agent Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp)

3. Under the name Donnie Brasco, Pistone befriends Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino)

4. As Pistone gets more involved in the mafia business he collects evidence



A) but gets deeply tangled up with the criminal lifestyle and hardly ever sees his family.

B) and is able to embed himself in a mafia faction led by Sonny Black.

C) who infiltrates the New York mafia.

D) directed by Mike Newell from 1997.


Punctuate

what really stands out however is the acting from johnny depp and al pacino who both do a magnificent job at portraying their characters the relationship dynamics between joe and lefty come off superbly depp makes you feel for joe as he begins to lose himself and forget which side he is actually on most of the mobsters in the movie are the usual stereotypes but pacinos lefty is special a tragic middleman he takes risks and does the dirty work but always gets overlooked and is never really rewarded properly all this differs markedly from pacino’s former roles and yet he carries it off with ease this is a true story but it still basically goes where we expect mob films to go plus it manages to rise above the clichés through strong characters and compelling emotional themes a solid classic.

4/5 stars.

Thor: Ragnarok

By Iris

Break into 5 paragraphs

Thor: Ragnarok, the latest release of Marvel Studios, is the sequel to 2011´s Thor and 2013's Thor: The Dark World, all adapted from the well-known Marvel Comic series. This latest Thor movie is directed by New Zealander Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilder People, Boy) and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Thor, played by the hunky Chris Hemsworth, has to save Asgard from the Ragnarok. Along with his companions Hulk, Loki and newly introduced characters he must defeat his sister Hela to save the Nine Worlds and the creatures living in them. Thor: Ragnarok, is said to be the best out of the Thor trilogy, due to its cast, action scenes, music and humor. One reason this film went down so especially well may be because of its further development between the dramatic action and the music. Marvel Studios has been justly criticized for neglecting to have catchy tunes in their previous films. With this movie, however, Marvel has redeemed itself. Theme music and background music both create the perfect atmosphere and put the viewer in the right mood and keep them there. This is especially true in action sequences like the one where Thor gets his super boost and becomes the God of Thunder; here the music matches and intensifies the action perfectly. Technically the film is a tour de force. The camera movement and the special effects fit together seamlessly and create enormous tension. Acting wise, on the other hand, you could say Thor: Ragnarok is about average quality, even though some scenes are acted in an ingenious way. At times the tension gets let down by a bad pun, which doesn’t go down well with action movie lovers. And fans hoping for a romantic dimension won´t be pleased because the flimsy relationship between Jane and Thor has ended. And most disappointingly,  the story doesn´t leave any room for interpretation. Except for some new characters and a different setting, it follows the set formula of Marvel movies and breaks no new ground. Having said that, if you are a true Marvel Comic or Thor fan, you are very likely to enjoy this movie. It is an easy and entertaining experience that holds your attention through many great one-liners. Plus the action scenes are never boring or predictable, and that’s what we want from a Marvel movie after all. Worth spending two and a half hours inside on a sunny day for.

3.5 stars

Breaking Bad

By Benjamin

Break into 4 paragraphs:

Breaking Bad is a series directed by Vince Gilligan, starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. It tells the story of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher struggling to make ends meet. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer Walter tries to acquire money to leave for his family through criminal means. The series is very much on the dark side and contains some of the blackest comedy in American TV history. What stands out in this crime drama is the acting of the protagonist Bryan Cranston. You could even say that Cranston is Breaking Bad. This initially unassuming, apparently virtuous chemistry teacher gets increasingly entangled in the criminal underworld where he becomes a ruthless meth producer. Cranston portrays this horrific transformation convincingly and shockingly. There isn’t a side of human nature that he isn’t able to portray in rendering the schizophrenic Walter, known in the underworld as “Heisenberg”. The series addresses many problems in American society, one of which is the failed health system which doesn’t seem to be improving under President Donald Trump. Poor people who don’t have the money for health aren’t supported by the government. In these circumstances, is it any wonder that so many descend into crime when the only alternative is sickness and death? Breaking Bad is a fantastic series for our times, and under the current president of the US, the series seems to be more true than ever. The story is captivating, the acting is first-rate and the series conveys contemporary issues powerfully.

Rating: 4/5

Trailer

 

Genre

Thriller   /    Science Fiction   /   Romance   /    Gangster    /     Mystery     /   Comedy    /    Documentary

Drama    /     Fantasy      /      Period drama     /     biography    /      horror      /   musical   /    historical

 

Setting

Time -

Place -

 

Main characters

 

Actors

 

Director

 

Plot

 

Adjectives to describe the images

 

Adjectives to describe the music

 

Themes

Friendship     /    madness    /    love      /      loyalty      /     corruption     /       freedom   /    power

Survival      /      family     /      war     /     truth and lies     /    loss     /    self-discovery     /  coming of age

JOY

By Mare     

Word form

After    HEAR   that accliamed director David O. Russel would once again be working with his oscar-winning pair, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, everybody knew the bar for this film was set high. In this     AUTOBIOGRAPHY    drama set in the 90s we follow Joy, a single mother   STRUGGLE    to cope. She lives in working-class New York with her two children, her mother, grandmother and her ex-husband. One day Joy comes up with the idea of a self-wringing mop and so she sets out to make this idea reality.

The film is set in 1990 and every single set and choice of clothing is perfect to the T. You get a strong sense of what life was like back then, although I can imagine that a large part of the audience doesn’t need a film to do that.

Lawrence and Coopers’ amazing   CHEMIST    together is incredible to see. Both actors    PORTRAIT    their characters to the fullest. Joy faces a number of struggles along the way which makes you      SYMPATHY     with her throughout the film. A mention of Robert DeNiro,   STUN     as usual, can’t be left out.

Joy is a feel-good film, but fortunately not in the   CHEESE   way. Joy’s   STRONG    through her struggles makes you feel as if you can fight the world too.  There are hints of feminism as we see   ABUSE    relationships, poverty, and several other factors hold Joy back. Of course, you can’t deal with every single issue on the planet in one film, but there could have been a bit more   ATTEND     paid to them.

As a whole it was a well acted,   TRUTH    and inspiring film and I would recommend it. Not groundbreaking, but it certainly can’t be   DENY    that it will make you feel joy.

3.3 Stars

Black Mirror: Nosedive

by Carlotta

Cloze: 

Black Mirror is a science fiction anthology series created by Charlie Brooker. ____ episode examines a different problem in our society by placing it in a near feature or an alternative present. By exaggerating the problems, the directors show the viewers ___ the world could be if we’d continue living our lives as we do ___. For example, series three episode one, Nosedive (2016) is set in a pastel coloured world ____ people constantly rate each after they interact. You can get between one and five stars, the higher the rating the ____. People with a high rating are admitted ___ the upper echelon of society, but if you have a low rating, well too bad. The episode tells the story about Lacie Pound (Bryce Dallas Howard) ___ is invited to be the maid of honour of her old school friend Naomi (Alice Eve). But the journey to the wedding doesn’t go ___ planned.