Describe Your Favourite Movie
You should say:
-When and where you saw it
-What type of film it was
-What the film was about
-And explain why it is your favourite film
Ideas:
This is not an official answer to this question. Instead, 5 different movies are described.
Movie 1: The Lion King
“Well one of my favourite movies of all time has to be the Lion King, it’s just such an epic story and it’s timeless you know? I remember being mesmerised by it when I was a child and I could happily still sit down and watch it today as an adult, which is the sign of a pretty decent movie! As well, I think the characters are really compelling you know? My favourite characters are Timon and Pumba, hands down because they’re such great banter! They’re so goofy but so wholesome! And of course Rafiki who is a legend! He’s just such a weirdo but he has a kind of mystical aura about him! And there were so many unbelievably memorable scenes you know? I still remember when the buffaloes were chasing Simba, I remember when Scar let go of Mufasa, and of course the epic battle with the lions against the hyenas and where Simba faces Scar. On top of that, I think some of the main themes are so relevant to today, you know, you have friendship, you have bravery, you have love, and the characters learn lessons that we also need to learn in life as well! And maybe the last thing I’ll mention is the soundtrack, which has to go down as one of the most legendary soundtracks in movie history! I mean everybody recognises it immediately!“
Movie 2: Forrest Gump
I think for me Forrest Gump is one of those wholesome movies that you can watch with the family. I can actually remember watching it for the first time as a kid along with my family and everybody was in stitches! Obviously it’s a fascinating story as well. It’s basically about a guy who is mentally challenged and he really struggles to fit in- He’s bullied, he falls in love with a girl who plays with his heart, and he ends up in the most unbelievable circumstances like taking part in a war and saving people, he accidentally became a football star and a ping pong champion and ran across America. Oh, and he invested in Apple stock and became super wealthy! Not only is it a good story but the main character Forrest Gump is incredibly endearing and his misunderstandings are what makes everything so funny. Finally I would say that it’s quite an emotional film you know. Again, you have themes of love, friendship and courage. All the ingredients for a great movie!
Movie 3: Lord of the Rings
So I’m a massive Lord of the Rings nerd, so for me it’s definitely up-there as one of the most epic movies of all time! The first time I saw it was at Christmas with all of my family and I’d heard a lot of people raving about it but the title sounded really weird to me so I actually wasn’t that fussed in the beginning. But I have to say once I started watching it, I was hooked. They created a world that was so unique and captivating and it was like nothing I’d ever seen before. Anyway, yeah, so it’s basically a fantasy movie about a dangerous journey that some characters have to take in order to save their world but obviously there’s a few challenges that they have to overcome. And you know I’m a big fan of fantasy movies so it was really entertaining for me to see all of these different creatures that lived there in this world they’d created. Obviously Golem is the most famous. I think Aragorn is my favourite character though just because he’s so cool but Gimli is a close second because he’s hilarious! And you know I’m such a fan that I actually went and visited Hobbiton with my brother in New Zealand, one of the most famous filming locations of the movie. So it’s safe to say that we’re huge fans! Oh and the soundtrack is again so epic and nostalgic for me!
Movie 4: The Matrix
So The Matrix for me is one of the all-time greats. And I think it hits different because of its philosophy. I remember first watching it with my brother when we were ten or so and we just thought it looked so cool and mysterious. But as I got older I obviously understood the concept of escaping The Matrix, which was pretty mind-blowing. Anyway, the story is all about a young hacker call Thomas Anderson or Neo who discovers that he’s living in a simulated reality called “The Matrix” which was created by machines to enslave humans and use them for energy. He essentially escapes The Matrix and joins forces with a group called “The Resistance” who live in the free world. Basically he’s like this saviour who liberates humans from the machines and saves the world. I think one of the most famous scenes that everybody knows is when Neo has to choose between the red or the blue pill, you know, choosing The Matrix or the real world. There were also some cool scenes where Neo and some of these characters could dodge bullets and I was just so blown away by the cinematography of that! And there was a scene where Neo was learning loads of skills just by downloading them directly to his brain. That karate fight between him and his teacher Morpheus was one of the most memorable scenes for sure! Honestly I could go on and on about different scenes. It was just epic from start to finish!
Movie 5: Django Unchained
So Django is this gripping, epic story about an enslaved African American guy called Django who was freed and teamed up with this quirky German bounty hunter called Schultz. They went around killing wanted man for money which was pretty badass but eventually Django found out that his wife who he’d gotten separated from was alive and living on a cotton plantation. So he obviously goes on a mission to try and save her. It’s just such a wild movie with heaps of crazy moments which is to be expected being directed by Quentin Tarantino! It was a great story but I think the actors were just so convincing. Leonardo DiCaprio actually improvised in this amazing scene where he accidentally cut himself but he made it look like part of the scene, it was so believable! Jamie Foxx played the protagonist and my favourite actor Christopher Waltz played this fun, eccentric, witty character incredibly! Honestly I couldn’t fault it, it had everything! Drama, love, emotion, comedy, and it really hits you that this brutal slavery existed. One last thing, the music, it was absolutely unreal! So yeah, one of my favourite movies ever and one that I could watch again and again!
Vocabulary:
Of all time – Among the best ever. Ex: “The Matrix is one of the best sci-fi films of all time.”
Epic – Grand, heroic, or massive in scale. Ex: “The battle scenes in Lord of the Rings are epic.”
Timeless – Never feels old, always relevant. Ex: “Forrest Gump has a timeless story.”
Mesmerised – Completely captivated or spellbound. Ex: “I was mesmerised by the visuals in The Matrix.”
Decent – Pretty good, satisfactory. Ex: “The sequel was decent, but not as good as Django Unchained.”
Compelling – Gripping, hard to look away from. Ex: “Django’s revenge story is so compelling.”
Hands down – Without a doubt, clearly. Ex: “Lord of the Rings is hands down the best fantasy series.”
Great banter – Fun, witty back-and-forth talk. Ex: “Schultz and Django have great banter in Django Unchained.”
Goofy – Silly or playful. Ex: “Forrest’s goofy charm makes him lovable.”
Wholesome – Heartwarming, feel-good. Ex: “The Shire scenes in Lord of the Rings feel wholesome.”
A legend – Someone iconic or unforgettable. Ex: “Neo is a legend in The Matrix!”
A weirdo – Someone quirky or odd. Ex: “Schultz is a bit of a weirdo with his fancy talk.”
Mystical aura – A magical, otherworldly vibe. Ex: “Gandalf has a mystical aura in Lord of the Rings.”
Unbelievably memorable scenes – Moments that stick with you forever. Ex: “The bullet-time dodge in The Matrix is unbelievably memorable.”
On top of that – Additionally, as a bonus. Ex: “Django has great action, and on top of that, an awesome soundtrack.”
Main themes – Central ideas or messages. Ex: “Freedom and rebellion are main themes in The Matrix.”
Relevant – Still meaningful today. Ex: “Django Unchained’s take on racism is still relevant.”
Bravery – Courage in the face of danger. Ex: “Django shows bravery fighting Candie’s men.”
Soundtrack – The music in a film. Ex: “Django’s soundtrack mixes hip-hop and Western tunes.”
Go down as – Be remembered as. Ex: “The Matrix will go down as a sci-fi classic.”
Legendary – Iconic, widely celebrated. Ex: “Morpheus is a legendary character.”
In stitches – Laughing uncontrollably. Ex: “Forrest’s stories had me in stitches!”
Fascinating – Deeply interesting. Ex: “The Matrix’s concept of reality is fascinating.”
Struggles to fit in – Has trouble belonging. Ex: “Neo struggles to fit in before learning he’s The One.”
Falls in love – Develops romantic feelings. Ex: “Django falls in love with Broomhilda.”
Ends up – Ultimately becomes or results in. Ex: “Neo ends up becoming The One.”
Unbelievable circumstances – Crazy, unexpected situations. Ex: “Forrest faces unbelievable circumstances, like meeting presidents.”
Nostalgic – Evokes fond memories of the past. Ex: “Forrest Gump feels nostalgic for the ’60s and ’70s.”
All-time greats – The very best ever. Ex: “Lord of the Rings is among the all-time greats.”
Mind-blowing – Shockingly impressive. Ex: “The bullet-time in The Matrix was mind-blowing.”
Famous scenes – Well-known, iconic moments. Ex: “The red pill scene is one of The Matrix’s famous scenes.”
Blown away by – Amazed or overwhelmed by. Ex: “I was blown away by Django’s intensity.”
Cinematography – The art of camera work and visuals. Ex: “Lord of the Rings’ cinematography is breathtaking.”
Go on and on about sth – Talk endlessly about something. Ex: “I could go on and on about The Matrix’s philosophy.”
Epic from start to finish – Consistently grand and thrilling. Ex: “Lord of the Rings is epic from start to finish.”
Gripping – Intensely engaging. Ex: “Django’s revenge plot is gripping.”
Pretty badass – Really tough or cool.Ex: “Django’s showdowns are pretty badass.”
Wild movie – Crazy, intense film. Ex: “Django Unchained is a wild movie.”
Convincing – Feels real or believable. Ex: “DiCaprio’s Candie is scarily convincing.”
Improvised – Made up on the spot. Ex: “Some of Schultz’s lines feel improvised.”
Believable – Seems realistic or authentic. Ex: “Neo’s transformation is totally believable!”
Protagonist – The main character. Ex: “Django is the protagonist of Django Unchained.”
Eccentric – Quirky or unusual. Ex: “Schultz is an eccentric bounty hunter.”
Witty – Clever and funny. Ex: “Tarantino’s dialogue is super witty.”
Couldn’t fault it – Perfect, no flaws. Ex: “I couldn’t fault The Matrix’s action.”
It hits you – Emotionally powerful. Ex: “The slavery scenes in Django—man, it hits you.”
Up-there – Among the best. Ex: “Lord of the Rings is up-there with the greatest films.”
People raving about sth – Everyone praising something. Ex: “People are raving about Django’s action scenes.”
To not be that fussed on sth – Not really caring about something. Ex: “I wasn’t that fussed on the sequel.”
Hooked – Completely absorbed or addicted. Ex: “I was hooked on The Matrix from the start.”
Unique – One-of-a-kind. Ex: “Tarantino’s style in Django is unique.”
Captivating – Holds your attention completely. Ex: “The Lord of the Rings world is captivating.”
Fantasy – Imaginative, magical genre. Ex: “Lord of the Rings is pure fantasy.”
Entertaining – Fun and enjoyable. Ex: “Django is wildly entertaining.”
Creatures – Non-human beings, often fantastical. Ex: “The orcs in Lord of the Rings are creepy creatures.”
Filming locations – Places where the movie was shot. Ex: “Lord of the Rings’ filming locations in New Zealand are stunning.”
It’s safe to say – Clearly true. Ex: “It’s safe to say The Matrix changed sci-fi.”
Endearing – Lovable, charming. Ex: “Forrest’s innocence is so endearing.”
Nerd – Someone obsessed with niche interests. Ex: “Neo’s a bit of a nerd with his hacking skills.”
Matching Exercise
Match the words (1-10) with their correct definitions (a-j):
- Hands down
- Wholesome
- In stiches
- End up
- Endearing
- Up-there
- Rave about sth
- To not be fussed on sth
- Hooked
- Cinematography
A. Heartwarming and feel-good.
B. Completely absorbed or addicted to something.
C. Not really caring or excited about something.
D. The art of camera work and visuals in a film.
E. Lovable and charming.
F. Laughing uncontrollably.
G. Without a doubt, clearly the best.
H. Among the best or top-tier.
I. Praising something enthusiastically.
J. Ultimately become or result in something.
Answer
- G (Hands down – Without a doubt, clearly the best)
- A (Wholesome – Heartwarming and feel-good)
- F (In stitches – Laughing uncontrollably)
- J (End up – Ultimately become or result in something)
- E (Endearing – Lovable and charming)
- H (Up-there – Among the best or top-tier)
- I (Raving about sth – Praising something enthusiastically)
- C (To not be that fussed on sth – Not really caring or excited about something)
- B (Hooked – Completely absorbed or addicted to something)
- D (Cinematography – The art of camera work and visuals in a film)
Fill in the 15 gaps using the following vocabulary:
couldn’t fault it/ cinematography/ it hits you/ great banter/ ends up/ hooked/ It’s safe to say/ blown away by/ in stitches/ epic/ raving about it/ wholesome/ up-there/ convincing/ gripping
Mark and Terry are chilling at a diner. Mark can’t stop talking about a movie he watched last night
Mark: Dude, I watched Mad Max: Fury Road last night. It was (1) __________! (2) __________ it’s one of the wildest action films ever.
Terry: Big claim! What’s it about?
Mark: It’s this post-apocalyptic chase where Max, this loner, (3) __________ teaming up with a rebel called Furiosa to save women from a psycho warlord. The action’s non-stop man. I was (4) __________ from the get-go. Honestly it’s so (5) __________ .
Terry: Sounds good! Any highlights?
Mark: The (6) __________ is unreal—dusty deserts, fiery explosions, crazy stunts. I was (7) __________ by every shot. Plus, the characters have such (8) __________, like between Max and Furiosa. Had me (9) __________!
Terry: Any heart to it, or just chaos?
Mark: Totally. Furiosa’s fight for hope feels so (10) __________, like you’re rooting for her. It really (11) __________ . The acting’s so (12) __________ too, you believe every second. Honestly, I (13) __________—it’s flawless.
Terry: Man, since you’re (14) __________ I think I’m going to have to add it to my list!
Mark: You won’t regret it. It’s (15) __________ with the all-time greats, for sure.
Answers
Mark: Dude, I watched Mad Max: Fury Road last night. It was (1) epic! (2) It’s safe to say it’s one of the wildest action films ever.
Terry: Big claim! What’s it about?
Mark: It’s this post-apocalyptic chase where Max, this loner, (3) ends up teaming up with a rebel called Furiosa to save women from a psycho warlord. The action’s non-stop man. I was (4) hooked from the get-go. Honestly it’s so (5) gripping.
Terry: Sounds good! Any highlights?
Mark: The (6) cinematography is unreal—dusty deserts, fiery explosions, crazy stunts. I was (7) blown away by every shot. Plus, the characters have such (8) great banter, like between Max and Furiosa. Had me (9) in stitches!
Terry: Any heart to it, or just chaos?
Mark: Totally. Furiosa’s fight for hope feels so (10) wholesome, like you’re rooting for her. It really (11) it hits you. The acting’s so (12) convincing too, you believe every second. Honestly, I (13) Couldn’t fault it—it’s flawless.
Terry: Man, since you’re (14) raving about it I think I’m going to have to add it to my list!
Mark: You won’t regret it. It’s (15) up-there with the all-time greats, for sure.
More samples, vocab and quizzes about movies below!
