Jackie Chan: where action meets comedy

Unlike most martial arts action heroes, Jackie Chan prefers his films to add a bit of physical slapstick comedy that is typical of old-time actors like Buster Keaton. For years Chan has enjoyed an incredibly successful career as an actor, director, writer, producer of his own films, but he is also known for his lovable character and for the fact that he usually does his own stunts (and after injuring himself countless times, most insurance companies refuse to insure him now).

His fights, however, are carefully choreographed and he wants people to see his movies as family entertainment rather than violent action films that made Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Segal famous.

Here is a TV interview (the host is German but the conversation is actually in English) with Jackie Chan and a gap-fill activity to practise for the CPE exam.

Cinema or DVD?

Do you prefer watching a film at the cinema or renting/buying the DVD? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Listen to Todd and Mark talking about their preferences and answer the question after each part - you can select more than one correct option. If you prefer, you can also listen to their conversation while reading the transcript.

The 100 sexiest movie stars

Hollywood loves lists, right? So who are the 100 sexiest movie stars of all time? Find out who they are and why they've made it to the list, and read about your favourite actor or actress. Is there anyone you think should have been included but was actually left out? Tell us clicking on the 'comments' link!

See also:
The 100 best adapted screenplays

Vocabulary: what's the word?

Would you like to practise some vocabulary related with making movies? Take this BBC quiz and check how much you know!

Get ready for the Oscars!

The Academy Awards are just around the corner (this year's ceremony will be held on the 24th February) but how much do you remember about last year's winners? Take this short quiz and find out!

Vocabulary quiz: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

The movie 'Crouching tiger, hidden dragon' helped turn talented director Ang Lee into one of the most respected directors in the film industry. It also shot its leading actor, Yun-Fat Chow, to international stardom, even though he was already an acclaimed actor in his native Hong Kong and received several awards. Here's a short vocabulary activity: complete the review of this Academy Award winner with the words given. If you need a hint, click on the question mark (?) next to each blank. Then click on 'check' to see how many words you got right.

Nicole Kidman, movie star

Nicole Kidman is one of Hollywood's biggest names today. The 40-year-old Australian actress has starred in many different types of films, from light comedies like Bewitched to thrillers (The Others) and critically acclaimed productions such as Cold Mountain and The Hours, which gave Nicole her first Academy Award. But audiences probably remember her best in Baz Luhrman's musical Moulin Rouge, where she plays the beautiful courtesan Satine and shows that she can also sing.

Learn more about Nicole Kidman listening to this recording (good for pre-intermediate students!). There are also some comprehension questions to help you, and an accompanying audio script.

Click here to watch a clip of Nicole and Robbie Williams' duet version of Something Stupid, originally recorded by Frank and Nancy Sinatra.

Adding sci-fi to your favourite movie

It seems that there is no limit to imagination once you've mastered the use of Photoshop! After inviting internet users to make their favourite Hollywood stars pose as models for famous Renaissance artists, the website Worth 1,000 words launches a new challenge: can you add a sci-fi element to a movie that was definitely not packed with obvious computerized effects? Here's what people have been doing.

See also:
Renaissance pop

Adapting novels: the pressures on the screenwriter

The top Golden Globe winners this year were movies whose screenplays were adapted from novels (Ian McEwan's Atonement, Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men and Jean-Dominique Bauby's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) and a Broadway musical (director Tim Burton's adaptation of Sweeeney Todd). How hard is it for screenwriters to adapt books and plays to the big screen? What kind of pressures do they face? Read more about that in this article published by the Associated Press.

See also
an interview with screenwriter John Milius about his adaptation of the novel Heart of Darkness, which became the film Apocalipse Now.

A film review: vocabulary practice

When we talk about a film, we often need to use some specific vocabulary related to the world of cinema. Read this review and choose the best word to complete each blank. This is good exam practice for advanced students. Then check other suggestions of vocabulary acitivies below.

See also
Movie expressions: a quiz