每日英语：Losing It at the Movies: Silly Beats Sober in China's Box Office

A low-budget Chinese comedy that has become a dark-horse hit on China's movie screens has sparked intense discussion of what Chinese filmgoers should be watching.

Sober：冷静，清醒　　　　filmgoers：影迷

' Lost in Thailand,' which cost only 30 million yuan ($4.8 million) and was made by actor-turned green-hand director Xu Zheng, earned 700 million yuan in less than two weeks after its debut on Dec.12, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. The movie tells the story of two managers who compete to find the company's biggest shareholder in Thailand to secure a contract approval, making fools of themselves in the process.

debut：初次登台　　　　shareholder：股东　　　　

It is expected to soon beat 'Painted Skin II,' a 3D domestic blockbuster that earned roughly 726 million yuan ($116 million) in the 39 days it was in theaters. Local media said 24.1 million people have seen the movie in the first 13 days of its release.

blockbuster：轰动，巨型炸弹　　　　

'Lost in Thailand' is cleaning up in the November to March period, which is usually regarded as the busiest season for Chinese cinema. But another entrant, from better-known comedic director Feng Xiaogang, is underperforming. His 'Back to 1942,' in a departure from his previous work, is a dramatic telling the drought in Henan Province 70 years ago that killed three million and left millions homeless.

entrant：进入者，新会员　　　　·

The film cost 200 million yuan, a considerable sum for a movie budget in China, and its cast includes American actors Tim Robbins and Adrien Brody, the latter playing famous journalist Theodore White. But since its November release it has taken in only around 400 million yuan, according to Xinhua.

The movie depicts the hardship of the era as well as the hard choices people make to survive. In a press conference in August, Mr. Feng said he wanted to make a movie that showed how disasters degrade the fabric of a nation and its people. 'The movie provides a mirror for everyone,' he said. 'Maybe looking into it makes you feel uncomfortable. But that is better than admiring yourself blindly.'

depicts：描述，描画　　　　　　

The success of the lighthearted movie and the relative disappointment of the disaster drama has sparked a debate online about what people should watch. On its Sina Weibo microblog, the Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily was critical of the success of 'Lost in Thailand.' 'Modern comedy can help to relax. The reflective epic about this nation sublimates our soul,' said People's Daily. 'We need popcorn but we also need bitter pills.'

sublimate：使升华，使高尚　　　　

But many online said they felt no need to be sublimated. 'I am just an ordinary person. What I need is have food, stay warm, not be kidnapped, and have the freedom to roar with laughter,' said one Weibo user. 'Dear Party and government, please leave us alone.'

kidnapped：诱拐，绑架　　　　

'Life sucks already. Why should I spend money to buy a hard time?' said another Weibo user.

'Lost in Thailand' has one at least one big-name fan. 'I am so happy to see 'Lost in Thailand' by Xu Zheng, who directed a film for the first time, is such a success at the box office, ' said Jackie Chan in his verified Weibo account. 'As a predecessor, the happiest thing for me is to see Chinese movie producers make a good showing and produce movies that people really like.'

at the box office：在票房收入中　　　　predecessor：前任，前辈