The Issue Of Subtitles

[pauljeremiah]

I was reading Mark Kermode's book "The Good, The Bad and The Multiplex" the other day, where he started to talk about films from Asia and Europe being remade by American studios. He believes the reason for this is that US audience refuse to read subtitles (a trend he has noticed slipping into the UK film scene too).

He then goes on to talk about how these remakes are loosing a lot in translation, for example he uses the Scandinavian film "Let The Right One In" which was remade in the US as "Let Me In". One is a story about children where one happens to be a Vampire, while the remake is a vampire film that just so happens to feature kids.

What I want to ask is, do you have a problem watching non-English films or reading subtitles?

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by pauljeremiah

What I want to ask is, do you have a problem watching non-English films or reading subtitles?

Nope.

[dallywhitty]

Frankly, I look down on people who refuse to watch subtitled films in the same way that I look down on people who refuse to watch black-and-white films. I can understand if your vision isn't the greatest and you have trouble reading the subtitles, but otherwise, there's no excuse. I work in retail and there have been numerous times where I've recommended a film to somebody and they've brushed it off upon realising that it was a foreign title.

[HyperRealist]

Your average Micheal Bay movie goer probably can't read.

[Tony208]

Speaking of subtitles, here's a very interesting article about dubbing

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...e-weird-427453

i think a-listers in territories like hong kong for example often dub american animated movies

maybe dub international movies for USA so they don't have to remake them on second thought that probably won't work either

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by pauljeremiah

I was reading Mark Kermode's book "The Good, The Bad and The Multiplex" the other day, where he started to talk about films from Asia and Europe being remade by American studios. He believes the reason for this is that US audience refuse to read subtitles (a trend he has noticed slipping into the UK film scene too).

He then goes on to talk about how these remakes are loosing a lot in translation, for example he uses the Scandinavian film "Let The Right One In" which was remade in the US as "Let Me In". One is a story about children where one happens to be a Vampire, while the remake is a vampire film that just so happens to feature kids.

What I want to ask is, do you have a problem watching non-English films or reading subtitles?

Not at all. Some of my favorite films are subtitled, and I won't usually watch them dubbed, if a dubbing exists.

[darry]

At least 90% of the movies i watch have subs, mainly Chinese, South Korean, German or French etc.

On a side note, I watched a movie last night, The Man From Beijing, and the whole thing was dubbed in German, even though the film was set in Sweden and China, everyone spoke German. Felt weird. Definitely think dubbing hurts the 'feel' of the movie.

[Erik E. Erik]

My wife was once a fan of dubbing early in our relationship. Eventually I sort of wore her down in my refusal to watch dubs whenever possible, and she recently said to me, "Can you believe that I once thought dubs were better?"

I love foreign films, and I will turn down movies (Oldboy on Netflix streaming) where they have a dubbed version only.

[cinemaphile]

I have no problem watching a subtitled movie, but I also have no problem with foreign films being remade.

Some people just don't have any interest in foreign films. It's not always just remade to put it in a different language. Often times the setting is changed to something more familiar/identifiable to American audiences, and people and cultures have different behaviors and personalities, so that can change the story.

I don't get people that just refuse to watch subtitled movies, but I also think people who are just automatically against remaking any films are being snobby and ridiculous. Remaking a film to appeal to an audience that might not enjoy the foreign film doesn't change the original. Your precious foreign version still exists exactly as it did. This is just another interpretation of the story.

People love films like The Magnificent Seven, The Departed, 12 Monkeys... well these films would not exist if they weren't remakes of foreign films.

[Scottie]

I hate dubbed films, but I enjoy subtitles.

The only problem I have with the subtitles is when they are completely different from what is being spoken, i.e. English subtitles on an English film.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

I have no problem watching a subtitled movie, but I also have no problem with foreign films being remade.

Some people just don't have any interest in foreign films. It's not always just remade to put it in a different language. Often times the setting is changed to something more familiar/identifiable to American audiences, and people and cultures have different behaviors and personalities, so that can change the story.

I don't get people that just refuse to watch subtitled movies, but I also think people who are just automatically against remaking any films are being snobby and ridiculous. Remaking a film to appeal to an audience that might not enjoy the foreign film doesn't change the original. Your precious foreign version still exists exactly as it did. This is just another interpretation of the story.

Name one remake that's better than the original foreign film. Just curious.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by Gate

Name one remake that's better than the original foreign film. Just curious.

I never said better, but plenty are just as good. Like I listed above - The Departed, 12 Monkeys, Magnificent Seven... also True Lies, The Ring, Girl w/ Dragon Tattoo, The Italian Job, Some Like It Hot... those are just the first few that jump to mind.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

I never said better, but plenty are just as good. Like I listed above - The Departed, 12 Monkeys, Magnificent Seven... also True Lies, The Ring, Girl w/ Dragon Tattoo.... those are just the first few that jump to mind.

Soon to be added to that list, 'Oldboy'. But that'll probably become an unpopular opinion.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

I never said better, but plenty are just as good. Like I listed above - The Departed, 12 Monkeys, Magnificent Seven... also True Lies, The Ring, Girl w/ Dragon Tattoo.... those are just the first few that jump to mind.

Well I suppose there are no obvious candidates and it's ultimately in the eye of the beholder...

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by pauljeremiah

What I want to ask is, do you have a problem watching non-English films or reading subtitles?

Nope.

[RandyK]

Originally Posted by Gate

Nope.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Nope.

What they said.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Gate

Name one remake that's better than the original foreign film. Just curious.

David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I bet Passion will prove to be better than the original.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by pauljeremiah

What I want to ask is, do you have a problem watching non-English films or reading subtitles?

I have no problem with subtitles or with people who don't care for them.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

Not at all. Some of my favorite films are subtitled, and I won't usually watch them dubbed, if a dubbing exists.

Same here, except for Studio Ghibli films since the English dubs are of such high quality.

It was an adjustment at first when I watched my first foreign film a few years ago (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), but now I don't have a problem with it at all. I'm the only one in the house that will watch a foreign film, but that's beside the point.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Same here, except for Studio Ghibli films since the English dubs are of such high quality.

It was an adjustment at first when I watched my first foreign film a few years ago (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), but now I don't have a problem with it at all. I'm the only one in the house that will watch a foreign film, but that's beside the point.

Those were the exact ones I was referring to when I'll actually watch the dubs. They're awesome.