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The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker

Date: Apr 14 2010

Themes: News

Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives

Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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History was made at this year’s Oscars. For the first time, a woman won the award for Best Director. The movie she won for, The Hurt Locker, also won the award for Best Picture. And it might not be the kind of film you would expect a female director to make.

The Hurt Locker is a hard-hitting, action-packed war movie. It tells the story of a special team of soldiers whose job is to disarm roadside bombs in Iraq. Devan recently saw the film. Find out if she thinks it deserved to win the award for Best Picture.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jeff

Jeff

Devan

Devan

Jeff:  Did you happen to catch the Oscars?

Devan:  I did. It was pretty interesting. There were some monumental things that happened.

Jeff:  Do you know some movies that won an Oscar?

Devan:  Yeah, well that’s what I was talking about, like there was a history-making moment where the winner of Best Director was Kathryn Bigelow, who directed The Hurt Locker, and she’s the first woman to ever win Best Director at the Academy Awards. So that was pretty cool.

Jeff:  Have you seen the movie?

Devan:  Yeah. It’s about a bomb squad in Iraq, so it’s about like the Iraq war. And, you know, it just kind of brings a lot of questions to mind, like what would it be like to do such a dangerous job.

Jeff:  You think it deserved to win the Best Picture award?

Devan:  I definitely think so. I think that it’s the best of all the movies that have come out about the Iraq war. And it’s really interesting that a woman directed this like really heavy war film, you know, that’s usually like associated with like male directors. So, that was really interesting, too.

Jeff:  And it’s relevant to current issues in our world.

Devan:  Yeah, exactly.

 

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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The Hurt Locker won the Academy Award for Best Picture this year. The director of the film, Katheryn Bigelow, also won an award. She became the first woman in history to win an Oscar for Best Director.

Devan saw the The Hurt Locker and was impressed by it. She says it is a serious war movie that talks about important issues and raises interesting questions. She also thinks it is interesting that The Hurt Locker was directed by a woman, since war movies are typically associated with male directors.

Is it surprising to you that a woman directed a hard-hitting war movie? Do you think it’s important for films to talk about current issues like the war in Iraq?

 

Comments

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Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Oh cool I didn't know that! Yes it is an important thing to show the reality about our life and world condiction into the movies…For instance,that last movies "2012" it is an example about it…It is an important issue that all the nations should take care! ;)

08:17 PM May 18 2010 |

Romio79

Romio79

Russian Federation

May be it was a kind of respect to the soldiers serving there.

08:20 PM Apr 21 2010 |

kawasaki4x4

United States

I didn't see Avatar to know what the reasoning was.  That movie was too science fiction to me.  The Hurt Locker is realistic of what allied forces face in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I don't know if politics had anything at all to do with it ….the actors/directors guild are liberals and so biased against the Iraq war, and far removed from having loved ones serving in a combat zone. They wouldn't do anything to make the war seem right or glorify it. I don't think it would have gotten the nod if they didn't believe it was best.  The choices this year were slim however.

07:55 PM Apr 20 2010 |

Romio79

Romio79

Russian Federation

kawasaki4×4, may be you are right. I can't say it for sure 'cause i haven't seen yet all movies nominated this year. Only Avatar and The Hurt Locker. And i guess that to give Oscar for the best movie to The Hurt Locker is rather political than art desicion.

As for the Forrest Gump i like it tooSmile   

04:31 PM Apr 20 2010 |

new_moon_cat

Brazil

I am not a movie enthusiast, although I like to go to the movies once in a while… So, for me it was really surprising that a woman directed a war film, not to mention the fact that the movie at issue won the Oscar for best picture!... In my opinion, films should talk about current issues whenever it is possible. People can really benefit from movies that provide fun whilst making them think.=)

02:54 AM Apr 20 2010 |

kawasaki4x4

United States

Weak choices this year I thought…I just couldn't stand the idea of blue people !  My favorites of all time are Old School and Forrest Gump.

06:54 PM Apr 19 2010 |

Romio79

Romio79

Russian Federation

I'am surprised. Really surprised that such a movie won Oscar, especially for best picture.

05:32 PM Apr 19 2010 |

kawasaki4x4

United States

It makes you think alright.  Whats makes a guy do his time, and then volunteer to go back to a war zone?  This is a unconventional ground war and its good that is shown from a ground perspective.  Not my favorite movie ever, but made me think…and appreciate the job those guys do. 

08:08 PM Apr 18 2010 |

rebel lee

rebel lee

China

I was surprised Kathryn Bigelow won the Academy, not because she is a woman.I mean,Avator was so so so popular.

And I don't think it's important for films to talk about current issues,Because films are art,and art has nothing to do with the current issues.

As long as a film can make people think,I would say that's good one.

12:02 PM Apr 18 2010 |

josemaria

El Salvador

I saw the movie but i didn't really like it. I do not think it is a action packed movie neither realistic. Regard the issue that if the movie deserves the best picture prize I am not really a movie reviewer.

 

... If somebody have some suggestion regarding my English written skills please let me know… I am still learning as many of you. 

06:45 PM Apr 16 2010 |

Gerly

Gerly

Dominican Republic

I listen about this movie yesterday here in english babe and decide to watch on youtube,I liked and then I download,I saw the movie last night until 3 a.m. is very good,and very realistic.

 

 

03:43 PM Apr 15 2010 |

bensonhuang

Taiwan

When I caught this movie, I felt the intensive tension between the bomb squad and Iraqi residents. Although I am just one of audience, I can't stop worrying for them who are suffering with the endless roadside bombs, grenades  and bullets.

01:29 PM Apr 15 2010 |

bocetin

bocetin

Turkey

you all commenting just people who dont have any conseption of the world.

01:00 PM Apr 15 2010 |

mickee85

mickee85

Philippines

I haven't seen this movie yet, I really want to see it but after reading all your comments I was kind of "really? err I thought it was great" I've watched the oscars and hurt locker got a lot of award. I really have no idea what the movie is all about, I'm still wishing to see this though. James Cameron ex wife won as best director, my vote goes to James but he hadn't won it, that's alright though.

12:02 PM Apr 15 2010 |

kawasaki4x4

United States

I hope to see that as well.  Its a good balance with the al qaeda videos of thier senseless cowardice.

12:25 AM Apr 15 2010 |

rosendo

rosendo

Mexico

i have not watched the movie yet bcs it has not arrived here. but while the movie come from the usa,  i will be watching the video "WikiLeaks raw US Apache footage of Massacre in Baghdad" is like the same , but the difference is that it was written by other person who didnt win an oscar..

saludos.

12:15 AM Apr 15 2010 |

kawasaki4x4

United States

I recommend this.  Although I am not EOD it is pretty realistic about some of the crazy situations that happen outside the wire there or in Afghanistan.  These are brave dudes that really don't get credit for all they do. 

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_eod23.46aa0c1.html

11:56 PM Apr 14 2010 |

bocetin

bocetin

Turkey

this movie is a piece of crap… it never deserves an award. it is full of propaganda of america which made iraq to this stuation.an award never justifies a war…

05:59 PM Apr 14 2010 |

mossavi

mossavi

Afghanistan

yes, i agree wiht all of you

 

05:57 PM Apr 14 2010 |

Dreamcather

Thailand

this film showes about the real situation in  Iraq I saw it the best war movie in my mind. It deserve to win the oscars  and right now don't be surprise that the women can do anything even movies they also did it great for sure  

 

for every braveheart soldier on the  battelfield R.I.P

05:08 PM Apr 14 2010 |

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