Vocabulary
1. Blockbuster (n)
/ˈblɑːkˌbəstər/:an extremely popular and successful movie
Ex: I'm sure this movie will become a blockbuster.
2. Medium (adj)
/ˈmiːdiːəm/: a way to convey a message, information or content
Ex: The Internet has become the world's most common medium of communication.
3. Insist (verb)
/ɪnˈsɪst/:to demand something without accepting refusal; to persist in doing something
Ex: He insisted that his idea was correct.
4. Convenient (adj)
/kənˈviːnjənt/:simple to do, easy
Ex: The apartment is in a convenient location right in the middle of the city
5. Argue (verb)
/ˈɑːrgjuː/:to support an idea with reasons or evidence
Ex: She argued that her plan would lead to an increase in sales.
6. Opt for (phrasal verb)
/ɑːpt fər/:to choose
Ex: I opt for Chinese food when I eat out
7. Adaption (n)
/ˌædəpˈteɪʃən/: a movie/TV series/play based on a written work of art
Ex: I just finished watching a great adaptation of "The Tempest" by Shakespeare.
8. Minute (adj)
/maɪˈnuːt/: extremely small
Ex: The architects are going over the minute details of the plans.
Reading
It is not so uncommon for best-selling novels to be turned into movies. If it were not for novels, we would not have had blockbusters such as Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, The Lord of the Rings, The Notebook, Forrest Gump, Green Mile, etc.
Regardless of the popularity of all the movies listed above, there have always been debates on which medium is better at conveying the story – a book, or a movie. People cannot seem to find common ground on whether it is better to understand the plot by reading it or by watching it unfold before your eyes.
Nowadays, movie-lovers often insist on stories being more interesting in movies than in their paperback counterparts. First of all, they argue that movies are more convenient time-wise. Reading 607 pages of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows would definitely last longer than watching two movies based on the same novel. Also, they argue that technological advancements and frequent use of 3D and 4D gives the viewer a very realistic feeling of actually being in the center of the action. It turns understanding a story into a proper adventure.
While movie-lovers would always opt for watching one of many adaptations of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, book-lovers will claim that the written story itself offers more details. People who insist on books offering a better story than movies claim that books give readers a chance to imagine everything on their own. Of course, most novels offer detailed descriptions of the setting and the characters. But still, the author rarely limits the reader by giving minute details. Therefore, even though the reader already knows that a character is wearing a green coat, that doesn’t mean that the shade of green is already decided on. That detail, for example, is absolutely up to the reader to choose.
1. What are some popular novels that have been turned into movies?
2. Why do some people prefer to watch movies?
3. Why do some people prefer to read books?
Discussion
1. What is your favorite movie?2. What is your favorite book?
3. Which do you prefer, reading books or watching movies? Why?
4. What are your favorite novels that have movie adaptations?
5. In your opinion, what is the best movie adaptation of a book that you've ever seen? Elaborate.
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