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Just Like a Movie Level 1
Modern, original fiction for learners of English. Brad and his girlfriend Gina love the movies and go every Saturday night. They want to get married but haven't got much money. Then one day, Brad gets an idea from a movie about how to make a lot of money--an idea that involves murder. But Brad's plan doesn't go quite as he hoped and he discovers that real life doesn't always have a happy ending.
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2004
11 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Sue Leather
60 books13 followersSue Leather has been in the ELT field for thirty years. Originally from the north west of England, between 1985 and 2000, she worked as a teacher, teacher trainer and educational manager in Spain, UK and the Netherlands. She has an MA in Education from the Institute of Education, University of London. She has written a number of articles for ELT journals and magazines, and is a frequent presenter at international conferences. In 2000, she set up her own consultancy group, Sue Leather Associates, and works on educational projects all over the world. Her main interests within ELT are materials development, teacher training and trainer training.
Sue has been writing original learner fiction since 1990, and has written some thirty readers . Her Dead Cold , published by Cambridge University Press, won the Extensive Reading Foundation award in 2005. Sue is currently Co-Series Editor for Page Turners, a series of original fiction for National Geographic/Cengage Learning. She now lives on the beautiful west coast of Canada, where she gains inspiration for her work.
Sue has been writing original learner fiction since 1990, and has written some thirty readers . Her Dead Cold , published by Cambridge University Press, won the Extensive Reading Foundation award in 2005. Sue is currently Co-Series Editor for Page Turners, a series of original fiction for National Geographic/Cengage Learning. She now lives on the beautiful west coast of Canada, where she gains inspiration for her work.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 7, 2025
7/7/2025
May 25, 2024
This is one of Cambridge's very short novels for people learning English. It's level 1—one of the easiest levels.
The story is interesting.
The main character is not very likable, but it's fun to see things from his perspective. It sounds like he's talking directly to the reader, which is cool.
The writing is a little choppy. That's to make it easier to read, but I think it could be a little smoother. Because the writing needs to be simple, there are places that it is not natural. For example, one character goes out to dinner with another character. When they see the bill, she says, "I know you're poor. It's OK. I like you. I want to pay." "You are poor" is not something a polite person says to another, so it's maybe teaching learners bad habits. Overall, however, the writing tells a fun story in fairly basic English, so it's successful.
I think these books are great for people learning English. Some of my students really like them. "Just Like a Movie" is a good addition to the series.
The story is interesting.
The main character is not very likable, but it's fun to see things from his perspective. It sounds like he's talking directly to the reader, which is cool.
The writing is a little choppy. That's to make it easier to read, but I think it could be a little smoother. Because the writing needs to be simple, there are places that it is not natural. For example, one character goes out to dinner with another character. When they see the bill, she says, "I know you're poor. It's OK. I like you. I want to pay." "You are poor" is not something a polite person says to another, so it's maybe teaching learners bad habits. Overall, however, the writing tells a fun story in fairly basic English, so it's successful.
I think these books are great for people learning English. Some of my students really like them. "Just Like a Movie" is a good addition to the series.
August 24, 2025
Weak plot
January 16, 2013
11/11 Cambridge readers
70min
Movies girlfriends happy money life handyman marry love rich handsome
Q. Main characters love movies. They sometime go to cinema. Which do you like go to cinema or watch TV?!
A. I like to go to cinema because there are a lot of difficult from cinema and house. For example, I can see big screen and listen big sound in cinema.
Q. Main character want to spend life such as movies. For example, rich life( have big pool and garden etc...) What movies do you want to spend your life such as?!
A. I want to spend my life such as Spirited Away(千と千尋の神隠し). The movie was fantasy and a little terrible for me. But I want to experience it.
Q. What is important for marry someone ?!
A. I think that love and money. If we have a lot of money but we have no love, we cannot marry. If we have only love, we cannot alive.
70min
Movies girlfriends happy money life handyman marry love rich handsome
Q. Main characters love movies. They sometime go to cinema. Which do you like go to cinema or watch TV?!
A. I like to go to cinema because there are a lot of difficult from cinema and house. For example, I can see big screen and listen big sound in cinema.
Q. Main character want to spend life such as movies. For example, rich life( have big pool and garden etc...) What movies do you want to spend your life such as?!
A. I want to spend my life such as Spirited Away(千と千尋の神隠し). The movie was fantasy and a little terrible for me. But I want to experience it.
Q. What is important for marry someone ?!
A. I think that love and money. If we have a lot of money but we have no love, we cannot marry. If we have only love, we cannot alive.
October 28, 2015
Cambridge/ level 1
10/20 = 20 minutes
movie/ love/ marry/ lie/ money/ police/ millionaire
"Now they're rich, millionaires! And I'm here! In prison!"
The main character Brad is captured by police because he makes things seem his wife Carrie to be dead by murder. He thinks he can get a lot of money left by her because she is from a rich family to marry his true girlfriend Gina. However, this plan goes wrong and everything turns out very clear, so he is captured. And Carrie and Gina write this story and send it to some movie producers and get so much money. This passage is like sarcastic and I like it.
This book is level 1 so of course it's easy, but the contents are really good. Well organized contents I think.
10/20 = 20 minutes
movie/ love/ marry/ lie/ money/ police/ millionaire
"Now they're rich, millionaires! And I'm here! In prison!"
The main character Brad is captured by police because he makes things seem his wife Carrie to be dead by murder. He thinks he can get a lot of money left by her because she is from a rich family to marry his true girlfriend Gina. However, this plan goes wrong and everything turns out very clear, so he is captured. And Carrie and Gina write this story and send it to some movie producers and get so much money. This passage is like sarcastic and I like it.
This book is level 1 so of course it's easy, but the contents are really good. Well organized contents I think.
October 9, 2013
CAMBRIDGE level1
10/08 40min
seven words summary / couple, women, movie, kill, rich, poor, friend
Q. If your boyfriend is planning to kill someone to get money, what are you doing?
A. If my boyfriend kill someone to get money, of course I stop him. Money is important and it is true, but there are more important things in the world.
First I thought this book is love story. But it was not just love story. It was not only love story but also suspense. So it was very interesting and the end of this story was good.
10/08 40min
seven words summary / couple, women, movie, kill, rich, poor, friend
Q. If your boyfriend is planning to kill someone to get money, what are you doing?
A. If my boyfriend kill someone to get money, of course I stop him. Money is important and it is true, but there are more important things in the world.
First I thought this book is love story. But it was not just love story. It was not only love story but also suspense. So it was very interesting and the end of this story was good.
October 5, 2012
time : 25 minutes
7 word summary
poor couple marry kill rich prison movie
discussion questions
1.the man tried to kill rich wowan to get money. what do you think about it?
- it is stupid. the man is really stupid. it is the worst to kill someone. he had any other ways to be a rich.
2.the man thinks i am a really handsome. have you ever met anyone like a him.
- yes. i had met a man, he think i am a handsome. he was full of confidence.
7 word summary
poor couple marry kill rich prison movie
discussion questions
1.the man tried to kill rich wowan to get money. what do you think about it?
- it is stupid. the man is really stupid. it is the worst to kill someone. he had any other ways to be a rich.
2.the man thinks i am a really handsome. have you ever met anyone like a him.
- yes. i had met a man, he think i am a handsome. he was full of confidence.
May 1, 2013
"-Cambridge University, level1.
-Time:100min
-7 words summary:love,money,kill,rich,poor,marry,movie
-discussion question:Do you want to money even if you kill someone? →No, I don't. I don't think money is the most impirtant thing like the man in this book. Even more, killing people is too bad if there is any reasons.
-I thought the man's idea was very stupid. haha It is impossible to spend life just like a movie.
-Time:100min
-7 words summary:love,money,kill,rich,poor,marry,movie
-discussion question:Do you want to money even if you kill someone? →No, I don't. I don't think money is the most impirtant thing like the man in this book. Even more, killing people is too bad if there is any reasons.
-I thought the man's idea was very stupid. haha It is impossible to spend life just like a movie.
May 14, 2014
1.Cambridge Readers Level 1
2.05/14=45 minutes
3.movies,girlfriend,poor,money,kill,lake,smile
4.a)Brad Black and his girlfriend Gina went to the movie every weekend. They were very happy, but they had no money. So, he try to make the their life just like a movie.
b)You must think that this is the happy story, but I can't say so…
5.My friend recommended this book to me. This is so interesting! I rarely give a book five stars, but I give five stars to this one!
2.05/14=45 minutes
3.movies,girlfriend,poor,money,kill,lake,smile
4.a)Brad Black and his girlfriend Gina went to the movie every weekend. They were very happy, but they had no money. So, he try to make the their life just like a movie.
b)You must think that this is the happy story, but I can't say so…
5.My friend recommended this book to me. This is so interesting! I rarely give a book five stars, but I give five stars to this one!
October 23, 2014
1. Cambridge level1
2. 10/21＝80
3. movie weekend girlfriend happy poor idea life
4. 'Yeah,' I said. 'It's my story... Gina and Carrie wrote my story and sent it to some movie producers. They made millions of dollars!”
I never imagined this would happen. It is very interesting
5. At first, I guessed this story is romantic love story, but it is completely different.
It is more interesting than I expected. After all women are strong, clever, and strong.
2. 10/21＝80
3. movie weekend girlfriend happy poor idea life
4. 'Yeah,' I said. 'It's my story... Gina and Carrie wrote my story and sent it to some movie producers. They made millions of dollars!”
I never imagined this would happen. It is very interesting
5. At first, I guessed this story is romantic love story, but it is completely different.
It is more interesting than I expected. After all women are strong, clever, and strong.
June 16, 2016
1. Cambridge, level 1
2. 15/06/2016: 80 mins
3. movie; love; happy; no money; far from reality; wrong idea; sad story
4. A man who admires life like a movie and a woman who really likes a movie got married. At first, they were very happy and nothing went wrong, but later, his wrong idea made everything sad.
5. This story is written in both side, a man and a woman, so it was interesting and easy to understand circumstances.
2. 15/06/2016: 80 mins
3. movie; love; happy; no money; far from reality; wrong idea; sad story
4. A man who admires life like a movie and a woman who really likes a movie got married. At first, they were very happy and nothing went wrong, but later, his wrong idea made everything sad.
5. This story is written in both side, a man and a woman, so it was interesting and easy to understand circumstances.
September 28, 2012
-CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS,level1
-Time;60minutes
-7-word summary:Movie-Love-Money-GoodBye-Friend-Arrest-OSCAR
-Discussion questions:
1.Can you get married the partoner who is poor?
In my case, if my partoner is poor, we think our future at once.
2.Do you like a movie?
Yes, especialy I like a foreign film.
-Time;60minutes
-7-word summary:Movie-Love-Money-GoodBye-Friend-Arrest-OSCAR
-Discussion questions:
1.Can you get married the partoner who is poor?
In my case, if my partoner is poor, we think our future at once.
2.Do you like a movie?
Yes, especialy I like a foreign film.
January 24, 2013
Cambridge Univercity Press, Level 1
Time = 1/20 = 80 min
7 word = movie, love, money, poor couple, good bye, friend, kill
Discussion question
1, The main character like to watch movie, do you like watching movie?
Yes, I do. I like go to cinema to watch movie. My favorite movie is harry potter.
2,Can you get married with poor man?
Maybe I can't. I can't be happy without money.
Time = 1/20 = 80 min
7 word = movie, love, money, poor couple, good bye, friend, kill
Discussion question
1, The main character like to watch movie, do you like watching movie?
Yes, I do. I like go to cinema to watch movie. My favorite movie is harry potter.
2,Can you get married with poor man?
Maybe I can't. I can't be happy without money.
December 11, 2013
2013 12/7 90minutes
CAMBRIDGE
movie love money stupid dream lie chance
Which do you choose love or money?
I choose love, because I want to be with someone who I really want tobe with.
I think the reality is not like this book.
I really do not like the main man.
It is natural for men to think that I want to be rich.
CAMBRIDGE
movie love money stupid dream lie chance
Which do you choose love or money?
I choose love, because I want to be with someone who I really want tobe with.
I think the reality is not like this book.
I really do not like the main man.
It is natural for men to think that I want to be rich.
May 7, 2014
Just like a movie (Cambridge Level.1)
05/07 It takes about 100 minutes
movie, money, poor, love, kill, prison, smile
『A sad story... That's life. It's just like a movie...』
Money is very important to live but money is not everything. A man loved a woman and he decided to get enough money for his girlfriend and for their lives. A man hoped his great success like a movie but..、
05/07 It takes about 100 minutes
movie, money, poor, love, kill, prison, smile
『A sad story... That's life. It's just like a movie...』
Money is very important to live but money is not everything. A man loved a woman and he decided to get enough money for his girlfriend and for their lives. A man hoped his great success like a movie but..、
January 19, 2024
2024 English Reading
A reread. The story is about a poor young man who wanted a lot of money so he could marry his sweetheart. He went to the cinema with his girlfriend and watched a movie about a young woman who married a rich old man who died soon after. The young woman inherited a lot of money after that. He thought it was a good plan and wanted to carry it out.
A reread. The story is about a poor young man who wanted a lot of money so he could marry his sweetheart. He went to the cinema with his girlfriend and watched a movie about a young woman who married a rich old man who died soon after. The young woman inherited a lot of money after that. He thought it was a good plan and wanted to carry it out.
Read
July 22, 2013JUST LIKE A MOVIE Sue Leather
7/20 = 60minutes level 1
gina-canada-carrie-two lives-lake-movie
How often do you watch a movie?
I watch a movie twice a year.
This book was very easy and I could understand all!
I like this series.
7/20 = 60minutes level 1
gina-canada-carrie-two lives-lake-movie
How often do you watch a movie?
I watch a movie twice a year.
This book was very easy and I could understand all!
I like this series.
Read
February 26, 2014soooo coooool ilove it!! yeah just like a movie
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2014
veramente una piacevole lettura.
June 22, 2014
it supposed to be a sad story, but it made me lough wallahi
October 13, 2015
I think this a very good story.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews