Thunderbolts* Movie Review (Slow English Listening Comprehension Practice)
- Alex
- May 19
- 2 min read
Level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
Step 1: Listen to the audio.
Step 2: Listen to the audio again and answer the questions below.
Step 3: Listen to the audio and read the transcript.
Step 4: Read the transcript out loud to practice fluency and pronunciation.
Step 5: BONUS! Answer the discussion questions with your classmates.
Comprehension - True or False?
Last week, the speaker went to the movie theatre by himself.
The speaker's friend doesn't like superhero films.
The speaker was very excited to see the film.
The speaker enjoyed the movie very much.
The director wanted to focus on amazing special effects.
The actress who played Yelena jumped off the tallest building in the world.
The main characters are happy at the start of the movie.
The speaker thinks you should see the movie.
Transcript
Last week, I bought movie tickets for my friend and me. Since we both like superhero films, we decided to see the new Marvel movie called Thunderbolts*. I had read some positive reviews of the film online, but honestly, I was a little worried that I wouldn't like it because I hadn't enjoyed a Marvel movie in a long time.
So, was this one any different? I'm happy to say that it was very good. In fact, I would say that Thunderbolts* is the best superhero movie I have seen in a long time, and there are very specific reasons for this. First of all, the action scenes are incredibly exciting. Because the director wanted to focus on practical effects, you can feel the impact of every kick and every punch. There is an incredible scene at the start of the movie in which the main character, Yelena, jumps off the second-tallest building in the world. The scene looks amazing because the actress insisted on actually going to the top of the building and jumping from it for real--with some safety wires, of course!
In addition to the amazing action sequences, the theme of the movie is also very relatable. All of the main characters are trying to find purpose and meaning in their lives. In particular, Yelena is suffering from loneliness and depression, and she is finding it hard to keep going in life. However, because it is a movie, she eventually finds meaning and purpose, but it is a long and difficult journey to arrive at that point.
I don't want to spoil too much, but the movie does an excellent job of showing you the internal struggles of its characters. So, if you enjoy superhero movies that focus more on people, relationships, and emotional struggles on top of physical struggles, I think you will probably enjoy Thunderbolts*.
Discussion
Do you like superhero movies? Why or why not? If you enjoy them, which ones are your favourites?
How do people find meaning and purpose in their lives?
-----
If you enjoyed this listening exercise, please consider buying one of my books. They are available in PDF, e-book, and paperback formats. Until next time, keep learning and keep practicing!
Answers
F
F
F
T
F
F
F
T
