Ways to convince naysayers to watch subbed movies?

[YamiJustin]

It really irks me how some people refuse to watch movies simply because they are in a foreign language. They prefer dubs, even if the dub is terrible. Examples I can think of are Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Spirited Away or any Studio Ghibli film.

I have a hard time convincing them to do so. I am hoping I can find ways to bring them to the light!

[Vlad Draculi]

The Ghibli movies are not bad dubbed. They could have been so much better had Disney used actual voice actors and not just someone who can put a big name on the poster, but they are far from bad.

When I think of bad dubs, I think of things like the original Akira, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Gundam 0079 movie trilogy, and Escaflowne dubs.

When it comes to live action, I just don't get it. I hate watching dubs in live action even if it is good because the audio looks like it is out of synch, which is annoying. I hate the fact that Universal will not give us the Japanese version to King Kong vs Godzilla. Hell, I wouldn't care if they gave us their cut, just have the original actor's voices.

People are just lazy though. They don't think they can watch and read something at the same time.

[Gamma_Winstead]

You can't really convince someone to watch a film I'm a way they don't want to watch. People shouldn't be forced to watch a subbed version simply because you think it's better.

[Thomas Guycott]

Just tell them there isn't a dub.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by YamiJustin

It really irks me how some people refuse to watch movies simply because they are in a foreign language. They prefer dubs, even if the dub is terrible. Examples I can think of are Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Spirited Away or any Studio Ghibli film.

I have a hard time convincing them to do so. I am hoping I can find ways to bring them to the light!

It depends on the movie, and if it's a true dub or a voice-over (true dubs match the lip movement, voice-overs don't so the dub doesn't match the lips). If it's a true dub, I have no problem watching a movie dubbed. If the audio isn't synched to the lips, I prefer subbed.

[SeaFox]

I would say there's little reason to try and convince them.
If they don't want to watch it that way, it's their loss.

Some people just can't read fast enough to watch a movie subtitled and actually enjoy it.

[neoz]

Originally Posted by Gamma_Winstead

You can't really convince someone to watch a film I'm a way they don't want to watch. People shouldn't be forced to watch a subbed version simply because you think it's better.

Originally Posted by SeaFox

I would say there's little reason to try and convince them.
If they don't want to watch it that way, it's their loss.

Some people just can't read fast enough to watch a movie subtitled and actually enjoy it.

I agree with Gamma and Sea.
You can't force people to watch a movie if they don't want. I mean would you want to be forced to do something you didn't want to do and would you enjoy it? And like Sea said, some people aren't good speed readers. It can take a bit of practice to learn how to read and watch subs. While I prefer dubs, I can now watch and fully enjoy subbed anime as well. But if someone told and or tried to force me to watch anime. That would be a problem. The best way to try to get people to watch subs is to teach them. Have them start off small and a slow show. Nothing fast say like Kill la Kill.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by neoz

I agree with Gamma and Sea.
You can't force people to watch a movie if they don't want. I mean would you want to be forced to do something you didn't want to do and would you enjoy it? And like Sea said, some people aren't good speed readers. It can take a bit of practice to learn how to read and watch subs. While I prefer dubs, I can now watch and fully enjoy subbed anime as well. But if someone told and or tried to force me to watch anime. That would be a problem. The best way to try to get people to watch subs is to teach them. Have them start off small and a slow show. Nothing fast say like Kill la Kill.

I pause the movie each time to read the subtitles. I also can't watch a foreign film in the cinemas, it has to be something pauseable at home. That's how I watch most of my foreign films, and I have quite a few.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I wach Godzilla movies dubbed (when available).
Though I watch the Dragon Tattoo Triology subbed, because of all the close ups and the dub doesnt matched the lips.

[neoz]

Hey sometimes you have to pause. There can be so much going that even if you are a fast reader it can go by. I have to do that when there are signs that are subbed and they are talking.

[SeaFox]

I have to pause too sometimes when it's on-screen text being subbed, especially for funsubs that are subbing small on-screen text (like a cellphone or PC screen) and are matching typesetting and timing of the original image.

It can be annoying having to back up and pause at the right moment if it's quick, but better than them styling and timing for reading, and making a mess on-screen for an extended length of time.

I don't normally have issues with dialog.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by SeaFox

I have to pause too sometimes when it's on-screen text being subbed, especially for funsubs that are subbing small on-screen text (like a cellphone or PC screen) and are matching typesetting and timing of the original image.

It can be annoying having to back up and pause at the right moment if it's quick, but better than them styling and timing for reading, and making a mess on-screen for an extended length of time.

I don't normally have issues with dialog.

Have you ever ran across those moments in fansubs when the same word is misspelled differently in different locations throughout the movie? I've seen fansubs like that, so annoying.

[SeaFox]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Have you ever ran across those moments in fansubs when the same word is misspelled differently in different locations throughout the movie? I've seen fansubs like that, so annoying.

In movies... not so much. But in series fansubs, yes. That normally happens when new official info comes out about characters or terms and something that had to be guessed at before by the subbers turns out to be bad information. The better sub groups will release patches at the end of the series run to correct that in earlier episodes, same as they would for OP/ED theme lyrics that aren't the official linear notes from the CD single.

I've actually seen Engrish get corrected in artwork in OVAs once. Not bad official subs, but the picture itself. It was in the Goku Midnight Eye OVAs.

[Vic Vinegar]

I used to be "one of them" not too long ago. It's tough convincing people to watch a work in the fantasy or sci-fi genre, particularly those set in the west. Initially, I found it easier to try out subs whenever a show or movie was set in Japan, especially if Japanese culture figured heavily. I recommend trying that approach: gently nudge people toward watching with subtitles by stating that one would miss the spirit of titles like Kids on the Slope if one were to view the dubbed versions, however faithful and serviceable though they may be.

[GeoffOliver]

I don't usually care how someone watches something, as long as they don't try to influence me. :P With that said, whether something is only available dubbed/subbed shouldn't defer you from watching it.

For the record, I'm generally a dub person for anime, subbed for foreign live-action (except something like Godzilla and kung-fu movies where the camp value of the dubs is a part of the experience, not that I watch much of either). I'm a pretty good reader, so I'm perfectly capable of going subbed either way. It's just a preference.

[varmintx]

Don't let these people discourage you, getting them to watch subs is easy:

[Show spoiler]

[neoz]

^^^

We had the same idea.

[Vlad Draculi]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

It depends on the movie, and if it's a true dub or a voice-over (true dubs match the lip movement, voice-overs don't so the dub doesn't match the lips). If it's a true dub, I have no problem watching a movie dubbed. If the audio isn't synched to the lips, I prefer subbed.

Except in those times they had to drastically change the dialog just to make the lip movements work, which completely ruins the context of the scene.

[Cat III]

I'm with the people saying that it's worth no great effort to convince someone to watch subbed movies. Sure they're missing out, but that's their loss. You should also consider that some people's eyesight makes it difficult to read subtitles. I've also heard complaints that reading subs impedes watching the characters and action. Probably depends on how fast one reads.