A Sexy, Action-Comedy
By Wen Lei



Just as the hot weather in Xiamen becomes even hotter - Mr. and Mrs. Smith, has become the hottest blockbuster of the summer, topping the box office in North America in its opening week.

Some critics have complained it is just a popcorn flick, a typical Hollywood movie with no real content, containing just a handsome actor and a beautiful actress, eye-catching gunfights, and some funny jokes. But sometimes that is exactly what an audience wants during the summer. Mr. and Mrs. Smith may not be cerebral enough to include in your personal DVD collection, but it's definitely worth the price of a ticket and two hours in an air-conditioned cinema.

It's fantastic to see two of the most gorgeous people on this planet at the peak of their movie-star perfection. What makes the movie one of the hottest action movies ever is the chemistry between Brad Pitt, the only man ever named "Sexiest Man Alive" twice by People Magazine, and Angelina Jolie, who tops this year's FHM's (a men's magazine) sexiest-women list. Undoubtedly, quite a few in the audience go just to see the two flirting, kissing, and fighting, and to catch the spark between them that suggests a hot love affair offstage.

Fortunately, they show their talents at acting as well as looking sexy on the screen. In this respect, I think, Angelina Jolie does a better job than Brad Pitt. Indeed, she acts in one of her best roles yet. Her character has more depth than in Tomb Raider, and she portrays far more emotional conflicts than the average action star. In short, she seems more human in this flick than ever before.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith is by no means original. It is actually adapted from a Alfred Hitchcock movie of 1940 with the same name, and it likewise contains echoes of True Lies. But I don't think its unoriginality should undermine our appreciation for it. After all, almost all stories build on ideas from earlier ones. For instance, who can deny the connection between Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice.

Plenty of Brad Pitt's and Angelina Jolie's fans would say they would look gorgeous in any outfit. I'm not sure that is true, but I do know they look great in this movie. Men will have more to say than I could about the sexy, SM(sadomasochism) suit that Angelina Jolie wears for one of her assassination missions. What I like most are the white shirts and boots (nothing else on them at the time) that they have to grab to cover themselves when their house is blown up - and in those shirts they continue to fight!

It may be unrealistic. It may be brainless. And very likely nobody is going to win an Oscar from it. But it's summer time; time to be entertained! So, grab a bucket of popcorn and a large coke, and have two hours of fun this summer watching two extremely attractive people in constant peril.



 

 

Shakin Stevens



被誉为英国新猫王的Shakin Stevens, 在英国及欧洲均是家喻户晓的超级巨星, 以演唱老式的Reckabilly为主. 在80年代, Shakin Stevens以一首"Because I love you", 红遍海内外. 在演绎这首歌时, Shakin Stevens一改昔日活蹦乱跳的演唱风格, 而是诚恳地唱出这首动听情歌以至轰动了整个欧美, 也掳获了无数乐迷的心. 时至今日, 仍有许多年轻男女藉这首歌表达彼此心中的爱慕之情.

Because I love you

If I got down on my knee and I pleaded with you
If I cross a million oceans just to be with you
Would you ever let me down?
If I climbed the highest mountain
Just to hold you tight
If I said that I would love you every single night
Would you ever let me down

Well, I'm sorry if it sounds kind of sad
It's just that I'm worry, so worry
That you'll let me down
Because I love you
I love you, love you
So don't let me down

If I swam the longest river just to call your name
If I said the way I feel for you would never change
Would you ever fool around

 

 

Harry Potter's magic world
By Lily Yang



The Harry Potter series is a great miracle. Every book of the series has become a best seller, yet no one can adequately explain the Harry Potter phenomenon. Worshipped by kids, enjoyed by adults, Harry Potter is well loved all around the world.

I myself submitted to the lure of Harry Potter when my cousin first offered to lend me the series to read. This was before Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire had been published. When I began to read the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, I became hooked almost from the first page.

Waiting for the publication of book four, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, became my daily "job" at that time. I was impatient to learn what would happen during Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts School. What was the Goblet of Fire? What new difficulties would Harry face? Would Voldemort be resurrected and do harm to Harry and his friends? Could Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, gain his freedom and live with Harry?

Book four did not let me down. Simply put, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a great read. Its publication has made the Harry Potter series even more successful. In this book, Harry is more mature, and his heart beats more quickly when he meets a lovely girl, Cho Chang.

It's easy to see why kids love these books. Children can easily identify with the characters, and the plots capture their imaginations. It is also very easy to understand why adults enjoy these books. Reading the Harry Potter series is pure relaxation. Wizards, witches, supernatural animals, curses, humorous conversations, complex plots, and unpredictable endings, all help busy adults rediscover the fun of life.

I like Harry Potter so much that I bought the original editions through the internet. It cost me 300 yuan, but I consider it worthwhile, because I am a super fan of Harry Potter.

 

Vocabulary
flick 电影
gorgeous 光彩照人的
sadomasochism 被虐待性变态
cerebral 理性的
assasination 刺杀

 

Editor's words
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