Some of my friends/collegues in China would like some movie recommendations. Clearly, they’d like modern English–specifically, they would prefer American-style. They also prefer comedies; Leagally Blonde was mentioned as an example. So, The Lion in Winter and Henry V, my favorites, are out. Can I get some recommendations, please?
Apropos of nothing, Throw Momma from the Train.
Although I’m not sure why I feel this way.
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure/Bogus Journey
Comedy? Check.
American English? Check.
Ooooh, send them a bunch of 1930s Warner Brothers movies and have them talkin’ outta the side o’ their yaps like molls and mugs!
Well, off the top of my head, didn’t Jackie Chan do several American remakes of movies that were already hits in China/Hong Kong? These would be familiar stories, with familiar scenes, so the context would be great for learning a language. Jackie’s accent gives them a happy intermediate to shoot for.
If they like action films, you could try the Lethal Weapon series of movies. Actually, I’m watching Speed right now, and the dialogue is simple (the Keanu factor) and broken up by long pauses suitable for saying “what did he say?” so it’d be a nice choice.
Wayne’s World, Fight Club and Top Gun will give them some slightly out-of-date slang, but otherwise should be very entertaining (not sure how the shooting-down-the-Communists plot of the latter will go over).