A movie is a series of pictures shown on a screen, usually with sound, that tell a story. Actors (people who act in movies) read scripts and do what the director asks them to do. Then, a cameraman films the actors saying the words and doing things with a film camera. After the filming is done, a producer puts the scenes together into a movie. Then, an editor adds music and voiceovers. Finally, the movie is put on a reel and sent to a theater. A projector shines a bright light through the film, and people sit in a dark room and watch it on a screen.
The best movies touch our hearts and change the way we see the world around us. They often have a plot about something that happens to people, but they may also focus on themes such as racism, violence, loss, friendship, family, and religion. Some movies are so successful that they make lots of money. These are called blockbusters. They usually have a happy ending, which means all the problems in the plot (story) get figured out and almost everyone lives happily ever after.
Ang Lee’s adaptation of Annie Proulx’s short story about love between shepherds is both intimate and epic in scope, featuring beautiful mountain landscapes and Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger’s powerful performances. It’s an Oscar-winner that hasn’t dated at all.