「翰林技術高中三年級上學期 Lesson 3: Superheroes Rule the Big Screen」- Reading

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In case you haven't noticed, the world is full of superheroes. Movie theaters, buses and billboards all have posters promoting the latest superhero blockbusters, while trailers for them pop up all over the Internet. Iron Man, Superman, and a long list of other characters are big stars in the film industry nowadays. They excite moviegoers around the world with nonstop action and dramatic fight sequences. Yet where did these superheroes come from, and why are they so hot right now?

Almost all the current collection of movie superheroes first appeared in comic books. In the 1960s, two American publishers were leading the industry and competing against each other to produce the most popular characters in the genre. On one side were Marvel comics, with popular heroes like Spiderman, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, and Dr. Strange. Their main competition came from DC Comics, who had Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman, among many others. Both companies had talented and imaginative illustrators who created exciting stories in vivid and colorful detail.

Now, comic book superheroes have become global screen superstars. The main reason is advances in special effects technology. Until quite recently, superheroes and their superpowers rarely looked convincing on screen. Modern CGI (Computer-generated imagery) techniques make flying men and women, huge explosions, and incredible fight scenes appear totally realistic in the latest movies. Swinging above crowded streets on a spider's web, for example, no longer looks as ridiculous as it sounds.

There are other reasons for the success of superhero movies. Stories about humans with fantastic powers who fight and destroy their evil enemies have universal appeal. Movie makers avoid complicated plots that need to be followed carefully. They know that most people just want to sit back in a comfortable seat, dip into the popcorn, and watch the bad guys get wiped out. These films offer people an escape from their routine lives and make them wish the heroes and the amazing action were real.

The more superhero screen successes there are, the more money will be spent making new ones, with even better special effects. Box-office success also attracts big-name actors and filmmakers to the superhero genre. That's why there are plenty more such films in the planning stages. So, if you find a superhero film a great way to escape and relax, you can look forward to seeing lots more exciting entertainment in the future.

怕你沒注意到，這個世界充滿了超級英雄。電影院、公車和廣告看板都有海報在宣傳最新的超級英雄賣座鉅片，而另一方面網路上到處都會跳出這些電影的預告片。鋼鐵人、超人和一長串的其他角色都是現今影業中的大明星。接連不斷的動作場面和戲劇化的打鬥場景，吸引了世界各地的電影愛好者觀看。然而這些超級英雄從何而來，還有他們為什麼現在這麼紅呢？

幾乎現今電影作品中所有的超級英雄，最早都出自漫畫書。在 1960 年代，美國兩大出版商主導這個產業，並且為了要創造出同類型當中最受歡迎的角色彼此競爭。其一是漫威漫畫，有像是蜘蛛人、鋼鐵人、驚奇隊長和奇異博士的人氣英雄。他們的主要競爭對手來自 DC 漫畫，有蝙蝠俠、超人、神力女超人、水行俠等英雄。兩家公司都有才華洋溢又想像力豐富的插畫師，用生動且繽紛的細節創造出精彩的故事。

如今，漫畫書中的超級英雄已變成全球大銀幕的超級巨星了。主要原因是特效技術的進步。直到最近，超級英雄與他們的超能力在銀幕上才幾可亂真。現代電腦合成影像的技術讓最新電影中的飛人、大爆炸和難以置信的打鬥畫面栩栩如生。舉例來說，在熙攘的街道上空吊著蜘蛛網盪來盪去，這種景象再也不像聽起來的一樣荒謬了。

超級英雄電影還有其他成功的原因。具有超能力的人類對抗並且消滅邪惡的敵人，這一類的故事令全世界的觀眾著迷。拍電影的人小心避開了要聚精會神才看得懂的燒腦情節。他們知道大部分的觀眾只想在舒適的椅子上坐著放鬆，伸手拿爆米花，看著壞人被殲滅。這些電影讓人們得以逃離日常生活，並讓他們幻想這些英雄與酷炫的動作場面能成真。

越多超級英雄電影的亮眼成績，就會有越多經費用來製作同類型新片，特效甚至更升級。票房成功也吸引大咖演員和製片商投入超級英雄電影的行列。那就是為什麼還有很多同類型電影正處於籌備階段。所以，如果你覺得超級英雄電影是解脫和放鬆的好管道，你可以期待在未來看到很多更精彩刺激的娛樂。