Dubbing Films....Death by hanging...
So here it goes. I was born and raised in the Netherlands. All films, in both cinema and on television, are broadcasted in their original language and subtitled. Even most children films and programs.
We also received German and French chanels on which everything is dubbed. At the moment I´m living in Spain and it´s the same story.
It´s ridiculous. Last night I watched Return of the Jedi in Spanish. Even though, or maybe because, I love this film I switched it off after 15 minutes because it was the stupidest thing I´ve ever had to watch because it was dubbed in to Spanish. It was almost as bad as Trainspotting and Braveheart. I admit, Mel Gibson´s Scottish accent isn´t the bees knees but in Spanish it sounds even more ridiculous.
If there was one thing I could change about Europe it would be the ridiculous dubbing of films. I don´t understand people themselves want it anyway.
1. It takes everything out of a film, from every form of emotion down to the character of every conversation.
2. There is a reason why people in countries were films are dubbed have traditionally bad English. France, Spain, Italy and to a certain extent Germany. Compared to Scandinavians and Dutch people they have the English of a 4 year old.
3. If they were left in their original language it would be possible for both native speakers in the country as well as tourists to enjoy the newest films. Good for business.
Funny thing is, when you watch a French, Spanish, Italian or German film in England or Ireland it will always be subtitled.
Ok...just needed to say that...
Ta.
We also received German and French chanels on which everything is dubbed. At the moment I´m living in Spain and it´s the same story.
It´s ridiculous. Last night I watched Return of the Jedi in Spanish. Even though, or maybe because, I love this film I switched it off after 15 minutes because it was the stupidest thing I´ve ever had to watch because it was dubbed in to Spanish. It was almost as bad as Trainspotting and Braveheart. I admit, Mel Gibson´s Scottish accent isn´t the bees knees but in Spanish it sounds even more ridiculous.
If there was one thing I could change about Europe it would be the ridiculous dubbing of films. I don´t understand people themselves want it anyway.
1. It takes everything out of a film, from every form of emotion down to the character of every conversation.
2. There is a reason why people in countries were films are dubbed have traditionally bad English. France, Spain, Italy and to a certain extent Germany. Compared to Scandinavians and Dutch people they have the English of a 4 year old.
3. If they were left in their original language it would be possible for both native speakers in the country as well as tourists to enjoy the newest films. Good for business.
Funny thing is, when you watch a French, Spanish, Italian or German film in England or Ireland it will always be subtitled.
Ok...just needed to say that...
Ta.
Comments
Dubbing does take some off the real feeling, acting and overall interpretation the director had out of a foreign film. It is also done on the cheapest scale so they can make an extra buck. If I were you I'd just order or rent an English copy of the movie.
They can be hilarious when dubbed too. I remember a Godzilla movie made in Japan and dubbed in Aussie-English. There was a scene shot on a soundstage that looked like main street USA with American actors originally speaking in English (I guess in Japan they were re-dubbed in Japanese). But they were re-RE-dubbed again in Aussie-English and still their mouths didn't move with the dialogue! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
[ 05-25-2002: Message edited by: Artman @_@ ]</p>
I once invited friends over to see a dramatic film that I had seen in subtitled versons, it is one of the best films ever (Mephisto) and the only version I could get was dubbed . . . they laughed through the whole film....
I think that subtitles are slowly becoming the norm . . . and they are getting better... now they'r done in yellow with small outlines of black.
[quote] I think its because 80% of the US can't read that fast. <hr></blockquote>if that's true, that is very depressing . . .
But the problem of dubbing is the fact you need great actors with an interesting voice. If the people who make the dubbing are poor actors the result will be lame.
Viewing a film in the original version is an avantage if you have a perfect understanding of the original language of the moovie. I do not like the subtitles : when you read them, you do not look the picture, perhaps you ear the perfect accent that's suit the moovie, but you are not able to look enough carrefully the images.
"Jah" should not be "Yeah!"
In my opinion in SERIOUs film, suibtitling is far superior. I don't care if you're too stupid to read that fast - I want the actual emotiuon carried byy the film's hired actors. I don't care if I don't speak japanese - I want to hear every wingchangchun that the film posesses.
from Police Story 2 "Beat him out of recognizable shape!"
from New Legend of Shaolin "My daughter is so nice, she knows I love eating chicken."
from Supercop "Bump him dead."
from Operation Condor "Sock him unconscious."
from Ultimate Vampire "Suck the coffin mushroom now!"
from Diabolical Erroneous Monk "Fat head! Look at you! You're full of cholesterol."
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
[ 05-26-2002: Message edited by: Artman @_@ ]</p>
<strong>Viewing a film in the original version is an avantage if you have a perfect understanding of the original language of the moovie. I do not like the subtitles : when you read them, you do not look the picture, perhaps you ear the perfect accent that's suit the moovie, but you are not able to look enough carrefully the images.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I disagree. Like I said, I´m Dutch and, if anything, watching films in the original English version has contributed to my understanding of English. A big reason why now I can watch them without subtitles is because I never watched them in a dubbed form either.
English is just as much a foreign language to me as it is to you so it is in no way easier for me to learn it than it would be for you.
If you keep dubbing everything you´ll never be able to understand a decent conversation in English and thus will never improve.
<strong>
I disagree. Like I said, I´m Dutch and, if anything, watching films in the original English version has contributed to my understanding of English. A big reason why now I can watch them without subtitles is because I never watched them in a dubbed form either.
English is just as much a foreign language to me as it is to you so it is in no way easier for me to learn it than it would be for you.
If you keep dubbing everything you´ll never be able to understand a decent conversation in English and thus will never improve.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I do not see where we disagree. You are right to make the effort to see the moovie in the original language : congratulations, i do it from time to time. This is certainly the best way to learn a foreign language. But it's not the best way to appreciate the moovie if you are not very good in the language. Now , that you understand perfectly english , you have an advantage to listen the original version.
[ 05-27-2002: Message edited by: powerdoc ]</p>
<strong>
I do not see where we disagree. You are right to make the effort to see the moovie in the original language : congratulations, i do it from time to time. This is certainly the best way to learn a foreign language. But it's not the best way to appreciate the moovie if you are not very good in the language. Now , that you understand perfectly english , you have an advantage to listen the original version.
[ 05-27-2002: Message edited by: powerdoc ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
My point was that, even while I was learning English I got as much out of the film as a native speaker because of the subtitles. It´s not like you don´t see the film if you´re reading the subtitles at the same time. Unless you suffer from some sort of tunnelvision. As an added bonus you develop your knowledge of the language the film is in so in the end you don´t need subtitles. There is a reason why schools use video material in the native language to teach English, French, German etc.
Still, dubbing is done because of the reasons stated above. To make money without the cost overrunning the profits and the neglect of learning or experiencing something different (another's culture or language).
I saw one Himalayan film where the subtitles weren't really needed. I could sense from the performers and the direction what they were saying, doing and where the plot was going. Surprises and all. Some other filmmakers or actors just don't get it I guess. That it is not only entertaining but educational and enlightening at times too.
There are times when MAJOR PLOT POINTS are missed because of either the dub or the subtitles. Disgusting.
You'd think that the distribution company would try to get as important a film as that one right before it shipped it out.
I hate them, personally, I can't watch a foreign-language film if it isn't subtitled.
I watched "La Femme Nikita" dubbed... *shudder*