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Reviews. Vocabulary
Not having read a book about loss before, I must point out that...
Liking
Most of us like to discuss movies and shows that we have seen and books that we have read.
This post provides you with a range of adjectives and phrases for describing what you have seen
and read in a way that is precise and varied.
We often want to say that we found a movie or a book enjoyable. Two very useful ‘-able’
adjectives here are readable and watchable. Books that are readable are easy and enjoyable to
read (sometimes despite being about subjects that might seem difficult or boring): It’s a very
readable account of the history of this great city.
Movies and shows that are watchable give you pleasure when you watch them: It’s probably not
his best movie but it’s very watchable. An adjective with a similar meaning is entertaining: It’s
not a great novel but it’s fairly entertaining.
Meanwhile, a book that is very enjoyable may be described as a good read: I’d really
recommend his latest novel – it’s a good read.
A number of adjectives describe movies and books that are very interesting. Absorbing is used
for a movie or book that is so interesting, it completely holds your attention: I really liked her
last novel – I found it very absorbing.
Engrossing means the same, but is stronger: The movie was completely engrossing from start to
finish.
A movie or book that is intriguing, meanwhile, is very interesting in a way that is unusual or
mysterious: I found the storyline so intriguing – I had absolutely no idea what was going to
happen next.
Other adjectives and phrases describe books and movies that are very exciting: Gripping is one
such adjective and riveting another:
This is a series with great characters and a gripping storyline.
You’ll love the novel – it’s riveting stuff.
Compulsive is used to describe movies and books that are so exciting, you cannot stop watching
or reading them. The adjective is often used in the phrases (for movies, shows, etc) compulsive
viewing and (for books) compulsive reading:
His latest book is compulsive reading.
I find hospital documentaries like these compulsive viewing.
The adjective compelling means the same: I found the whole series very compelling.
Meanwhile, a book that is (informal) unputdownable is so exciting, you cannot stop reading it
(you cannot ‘put it down’): His last novel was totally unputdownable. I read it over two days.
We hope that you read something unputdownable or watch something riveting this week!
It is hands down (easily and without any doubt) the best movie this year.
mesmerizing: /ˈmezməraɪzɪŋ/ having such a strong effect on you that you cannot give your
attention to anything else. E.g. Her performance was mesmerizing.
Impressive: making you feel admiration, because they are very large, good, skilful, etc. Sp.
Impresionante, imponente, excelente:an impressive performance. One of the most impressive
novels of recent years She was very impressive in the interview.
Moving: causing you to have deep feelings of sadness or sympathy. Sp. Conmovedor: e.g. a
deeply moving experience.
Outstanding: extremely good; excellent. E.g. Outstanding performance.
Powerful: effective. E.g. Powerful acting
Stunning: impressive: gave a stunning performance.
mesmerizing: /ˈmezməraɪzɪŋ/ having such a strong effect on you that you cannot give your
attention to anything else. E.g. Her performance was mesmerizing.
Credible
Entertaining
Fast-moving
Innovative
Memorable
Unputdownable: (of a book) so exciting or interesting that you cannot stop reading it.
Disliking
The only drawback was...
Clichéd:/ˈkliːʃeɪd/ used so often that it no longer has much meaning and is not interesting: e.g. a
clichéd view of upper-class life.
Excruciating:/ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/ extremely painful or bad.E.g. There are two versions of this
excruciating film. Excruciatingly (adv): e.g. excruciatingly boring.
Implausible: Not seeming reasonable or probable; failing to convince; not believable. Sp.
Inverosímil. E.g. A rather implausible story.
Overhyped: promoted or publicized to excess exaggerating its good qualities, in order to get a
lot of public attention for it: Promoters grossly overhyped the movie.
Sentimental: producing emotions such as pity, romantic love or sadness, which may be too
strong or not appropriate; feeling these emotions too much. Sp. Sensiblero: a slushy, sentimental
love story
Slushy: stories, films / movies or feelings that are considered to be silly and without value
because they are too emotional and romantic. Corny. Sp. Sensiblero: e.g. slushy romantic
fiction.
cheesy:
1. not very good or original, and without style, in a way that is embarrassing but amusing. E.g. a
cheesy horror movie. That’s the cheesiest chat-up line I’ve ever heard.
2. too emotional or romantic, in a way that is embarrassing. E.g. a cheesy love song a cheesy
romance novel.
drippy: boring, stupid and weak or sentimental. E.g. her drippy boyfriend. Adrippy love song.
Tedious: lasting or taking too long and not interesting. Boring. E.g. A very long and tedious
film.
Unconvincing: not seeming true or real; not making you believe that sth is true: e.g.
I find the characters in the book very unconvincing.
I found the plot rather predictable/disappointing.
Other expressions
in the nick of time: at the very last moment; just in time before something bad happens.
E.g. They escaped from the smoke-filled house just in the nick of time.An unprecedented
catastrophe had been avoided just in the nick of time.
An art film: (also art house film) is typically a serious, independent film not aimed at a mass
market audience. An art film is intended to be a serious artistic work, often experimental and not
designed for mass appeal.
art house: a movie theater that specializes in films that are artistic or experimental rather than
merely entertaining.
Sample sentences
The real-life struggle (a hard fight in which people try to obtain or achieve sth, especially sth
that sb else does not want them to have. Sp. Lucha) of brilliant minds
with schizophrenia /ˌskɪtsəʊˈfriːniə/ and Alzheimer's /ˈæltshaɪməz/ disease may not sound like
the ingredients of an entertaining afternoon's viewing.
Russell Crowe's stunning performance as mathematical genius John Nash and Judi
Dench's moving portrayal of novelist Iris Murdoch will have you rushing out to buy the
books on which these two films are based.
It is in their thematic content that the two films resemble each other most.Both focus
on the withdrawal (the act of moving or taking sth away or back. Sp. Retirada) of the
protagonists into their own inner world and the effect this has on their long-suffering but
devoted marital partners. Also common to both films is the fact that we witness the two
academics in their youth and old age. Hats off here to Crowe's make up team- he
is remarkably convincing as the sixty-six-year-old Nash receiving his Nobel Prize.
Iris differs from A Beautiful Mind in this respect, relying instead on other actors to play
the vivacious (having a lively, attractive personality) young Iris - a very credible Kate Winslet-
and her stuttering (having difficulty speaking because he cannot stop himself from repeating
the first sound of some words several times; stammering) companion. In addition, unlike the
more linearAmerican film, flashbacks are used to good effect to switch (change from one
thing to another) backwards and forwards between the two contrasting stages of Murdoch's life.
The strength of Iris lies in its powerful acting and mundane (ordinary) realism, with the
novelist seen in her cluttered (full of a lot of things and untidy) Oxford house. However, if, as I
do, you favour something more visually appealing, but no less plausible, then A Beautiful
Mind is a definite must-see.
Sample answer 2:
"Now, in the last 12 months the world of music has lost some incredible talent."
"Words like 'icon', 'pioneer' and 'innovator' are often overused, but not when it comes to
one man who tragically left us last month. Tonight the Brits honour the remarkable David
Bowie. Please welcome Annie Lennox."
"On the 10th of January this year, the world was stunned and shaken by the news that David
Bowie had suddenly passed away.
I suspect that everyone is still trying to process this sadly unexpected event...
Even if they didn't know him personally - many people must feel as if things will never be quite
the same again.
For me, it's almost impossible to mention Bowie's name in the past tense.
Everything he represented as an artist was and always will be - vital and incredibly present.
Like the miraculous moon landing that inspired the song, he drew us away from our suburban
lives, expanding our horizons - turning everything on its head into gloriously subversive
technicolour.
As an innovative writer, performer and Rock star... there was no one and nothing else like
him. He was truly unique.
The legacy of his extraordinary sound and vision will be loved and revered for as long as
the earth still spins.
The BRITs Icon Award is only presented to unparalleled artists - whose writing, recording and
performance set them apart as having made a lasting impact on the nation’s culture,
recognising the very highest level of British music achievement."
To accept the award, I'd now like to invite David's dear friend Gary Oldman to the stage.
Thank you. We are all coming to terms with the magnitude of David's passing. The Jones family
lost a husband and a father, those closest to David lost a dear friend and the world lost a man
and artist of transcendent talent.
As Annie so gracefully said, David's contribution, his influence on popular music, on
culture itself, has no equal. He was the very definition, the living embodiment of that
singular word "icon" and I am so deeply touched and honoured to be here tonight to accept
this award for David and his family. In recent years, David sparingly spoke about music and his
process, but in one of these rare instances, he graciously and eloquently expounded, "Music has
given me over 40 years of extraordinary experiences. I can't say that life's pains or more tragic
episodes have been diminished because of it, but it has allowed me so many moments of
companionship when I have been lonely and a sublime means of communication when I have
wanted to touch people. It has been both my doorway of perception and the house that I live in.
Over his career, David challenged and changed our understanding of the medium. Whether
in music or in life, he emphasised originality, experimentation, exploration, and in his very
unique way, he also reminded us to never take ourselves too seriously.
David was funny, hilariously so. And the laughs were many and massive.And I shall miss
them.
A related story. A few years ago we were standing on a street corner. And he was approached by
this big fellow, rocker type, long hair, you know, leather clad, and he offered up this piece of
paper for David's autograph. David signed the piece of paper, and as the fella walked away, he
turned to me, and said, "He's gonna be disappointed." I said, "Why?" He said, "Cos I just signed
it 'Gary Oldman'". His outlook was always positive and I never once heard him complain.
I can share with you that David faced his illness with enormous courage, dignity, grace and
customary humour. Even in dire circumstances. When he wrote to tell me the bad news that he
had cancer, he added 'the good news is I've got my cheekbones back'. He was the sweetest soul
ever, with the best cheekbones, until it was done. David, you were mortal but your potential
was superhuman and your remarkable music is living on. We love you and we thank you.
Watch video here
Read more:
http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/describing_a_story
https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2016/09/21/its-very-entertaining-words-for-
describing-movies-and-books/
It’s probably not his best movie but it’s very watchable
Это, наверное, не лучший его фильм, но очень смотрибельный
Meanwhile, a book that is very enjoyable may be described as a good read: I’d really recommend his
Между тем, книга, которая очень приятна, может быть охарактеризована как
latest novel – it’s a good read.
хорошее чтение: я бы действительно рекомендовал его последний роман — это хорошее чтение.
Absorbing is used for a movie or book that is so interesting, it completely holds your
Поглощение используется для фильма или книги, которые настолько интересны, что полностью
attention:
удерживают ваше внимание:
I really liked her last novel – I found it very absorbing. Мне очень понравился ее последний роман – я
нашел его очень увлекательным.
I found the storyline so intriguing – I had absolutely no idea what was going to happen next.
Я нашел сюжетную линию настолько интригующей, что совершенно не представлял, что произойдет дальше.
Other adjectives and phrases describe books and movies that are very exciting:
Gripping is one such adjective and riveting another:
«Захватывающий» — одно из прилагательных, а «захватывающий» — другое:
You’ll love the novel – it’s riveting stuff. Роман вам понравится — он захватывающий.
Compulsive навязчивый is used to describe movies and books that are so exciting, you cannot stop
watching or reading them. The adjective is often used in the phrases (for movies, shows, etc) compulsive
viewing and (for books) compulsive reading: Compulsive используется для описания фильмов и книг, которые настолько захватывают, что вы не можете
перестать смотреть или читать их. Прилагательное часто используется во фразах (для фильмов, шоу и т. д.) навязчивый просмотр и (для книг) навязчивое чтение: