Monsters vs. Aliens

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

• jump out
• ooze
• underdog
• inner strength

• eye-popping
• 3D
• voice-over
• spaceship

• bridge
• stand out

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

With their cute characters, bright colors, and imaginative plots, animated movies traditionally appeal to children. But in recent years, some animated films like The Incredibles and Shrek have featured more sophisticated jokes and deeper themes, helping them reach adults as well as kids.

The new animated movie Monsters vs. Aliens tells the story of Ginormica, a 50-foot woman, and her fellow monsters, who must save the earth from a bunch of nasty aliens. The movie has eye-popping 3D animation, and Reese Witherspoon does the voice-over for Ginormica. But is the movie entertaining if you’re older than 13? Listen to Jason tell Dale what he thinks about the film.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

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

Dale

Jason

Dale:  It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen a beautiful, good 3D movie.

Jason:  Oh, man, you gotta see Monsters vs. Aliens.

Dale:  How was that?

Jason:  It’s good! Yeah. The monsters look really cool. Each of the monsters is like really individualized. And they all look completely different. The idea is that there are just these monsters that the government has collected over time. And then they have to use them to battle these aliens that have invaded the earth.

Dale:  So there’s like spaceships, and like “take me to your leader” kind of thing?

Jason:  Yeah, and there’s all kinds of opportunities to use 3D with all the different creatures that are in the movie.

Dale:  So it did stand out and jump out at you?

Jason:  Yeah yeah, stuff…There’s definitely some ooze flying your way.

Dale:  Do you think it’s more of a kid thing?

Jason:  It’s mostly an underdog story. It’s about someone who, you know, discovers her inner strength and does things she never thought she could do. It just so happens she also happens to be 50 feet tall. But they managed to come up with a theme that bridges ages, I think.

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Present Perfect Tense" from this lesson

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3