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Seabiscuit

Date: Aug 06 2003

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Intro

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

extraordinary

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

Seabiscuit is a story of three men – a jockey (Tobey Maguire), a trainer (Chris Cooper), and a businessman (Jeff Bridges) – and the overworked, down-and-out racehorse that became a triumphant champion. Set during the Great Depression, Seabiscuit is based on the best-selling book that was one of the most popular and widely read books of recent years.
Anna recently saw Seabiscuit. Listen to her tell Miguel what she thought of it.

Dialog

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

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

Miguel

Anna

Miguel: Anna, I know you’re big on horses, so you must have been excited to see this Seabiscuit movie, right?

Anna: This Seabiscuit movie!?! Of course I was! Opening day, first in line, first showing.

Miguel: So you did actually see it already.

Anna: I did!

Miguel: OK. So tell me, does it live up to the hype?

Anna: I hope you don’t think me bad about horses, but it doesn’t. It’s a good movie, but it lacked in some areas.

Miguel: Like what? With the acting, or the story, or what?

Anna: Oh no. The acting was phenomenal. The story was phenomenal. But it’s one of those movies that if you read the book, the movie got a little bit boring. If you didn’t read the book, God it was the greatest story you ever heard.

Miguel: So I haven’t read the book, so you’re saying I’m gonna enjoy it.

Anna: Right. Because they take about 40 minutes and they set up each character’s history and for me having read the book, knowing the history, it’s like, c’mon, c’mon, let’s get to the horse racing, and that took a little longer. I’d recommend seeing it though. It’s beautiful, and there’s nothing prettier or more noble and elegant than a galloping horse.

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Discussion

I told Miguel that I didn’t think Seabiscuit lived up the hype, but I want to make it clear that I do think it’s a great film. All three of the main actors do an extraordinary job, and the film is entertaining from start to finish. My only problem with it was that I had read the book, so I knew what was going to happen.
If you have two hours to spend watching a movie, I don’t think you could choose a better one than Seabiscuit.
See you at the movies!
Anna