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Do you enjoy foreign movies with subtitles?

Discussion in 'Movies & TV' started by ClaraBell, Apr 28, 2015.

  1. ClaraBell

    ClaraBell New Member

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    This is something I thought I could never learn to enjoy. For years I couldn't see any point in trying to follow the film and read the subtitles before they quickly disappeared! However, once I got the hang of it, I found it to be quite easy, a challenge even.

    Even though it took a while for me to learn to like subtitles, I find it much more rewarding than watching a dubbed movie - dubbed movies take away all of the natural expression from the actors, and the dialogue can seem really cheesy as a result. Maybe it's just a personal thing.

    How do you get along with subtitled films?
     
  2. hedonologist

    hedonologist New Member

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    I do actually, it's a good way of leaning the language itself actually. I've watched a few South African films lately, although I already understand Afrikaans pretty well. I also watched Der Untergang, which I think is probably one of the most widely viewed foreign film in the anglosphere, at least in recent times.

    It doesn't seem too common though for English speakers to view foreign films.
     
  3. Grumpy

    Grumpy New Member

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    I wouldn't be able to watch a whole film in another language with subtitles as that'd become too boring & repetitive for my liking and I wouldn't be able to enjoy it.

    That being said, I don't mind films that have some dialogue in foreign languages. Films that come to mind are for example Taken, and some old WWII films that I enjoy watching on occasion.
     
  4. damsocial

    damsocial New Member

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    Yes i do!!! i think all the movies should be watch in his original language, it makes more sense, the jokes are more real, i don't know why but it's more of and expirience watching as it was made, the translation some times can be too literal and misses some of the important messages and you get completly lost, i know people don't like reading, but think about all the americans movies that go to all those foreing countries, will you like them to be translate or will you like it to be in original language?...it's just my opinion.
     
  5. OliverJason

    OliverJason New Member

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    Yes! I do enjoy watching foreign movies especially when it is a Chinese or Japanese movie that has martial arts, subtitles doesn't really bother me at all because I can read and watch at the same time. And of course, subtitles are indeed essential to the viewers in able to understand what's going on to the movie. But I do not recommend to watch pirated movies from China or such because it offers a poor quality of subtitle and thus, your mind will just be twisted and bogged as you try to decipher the entangled subtitle.
     
  6. Ellie

    Ellie New Member

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    Yes I do despite being slow at reading. I speak German and French which is useful because I can follow films in those languages and the subtitles just help and I am learning Spanish at the moment so I have been watching a lot of Spanish films with English subtitles and have really enjoyed them. Having travelled widely through Scandinavia, I also find that I can watch Scandinavia films and understand a reasonable amount without having to resort to reading the subtitles. I find Chinese and Japanese movies somewhat harder to follow but again enjoy the martial arts ones that are based around historical events.
     
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  7. beatrice83

    beatrice83 New Member

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    I used to hate watching foreign films. I found myself so focused on the subtitles that I would miss out on the actual scenes. It felt more like I was reading a story than watching a movie.

    Then a friend of mine insisted I watch Cinema Paradiso. I will admit that I struggled to fully enjoy the movie the first time around. I was still too focused on the subtitles. I ended up watching it a second time and now it's one of my favorite foreign films.

    Now I am hooked. I still end up watching movies with subtitles multiple times. I want to make sure I'm able to enjoy the dialogue as well as the acting and cinematography. I feel that it is definitely worth the extra effort in order to enjoy such great films.
     
  8. dragonslayer

    dragonslayer New Member

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    It is a good way to learn a language. It is probably the only way to get a grasp on how things sound, since we are a bit isolated from foreign languages in America most of the time.
    It is also a good way to learn a new way of thinking. I have found this in Israeli films, as they tend to have some deep meaning. Check out the movie "Walk on Water" for example.
    The only drawback is that I have to be in a certain mood to watch them. I am reading a movie after all.
     
  9. biany

    biany New Member

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    As legendas mantém a originalidade. Muitas pessoas não gostam por focar na fala ou nas imagens e acabar perdendo detalhes do filme, o que é natural em certos momentos, mas assistir filmes legendados com frequencia deixa os olhos cada vez mais treinados a acompanhar a ação e as legendas simultaneamente.
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2015
  10. kokas650

    kokas650 New Member

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    As it happens in most of the countries, movies and tv shows are all dubbed. I honestly love subtitles and feel that if something doesn't have subtitles I can't follow the tv show/movie correctly.

    In Portugal we only have some movies dubbed, the kids ones, and it's only in the afternoon screening, because if you go to the movies at night to watch one of those movies, it will have subtitles.

    So, for me having subtitles is a major plus, and I have no problems with reading and watching at the same time. Maybe it was because I always watched stuff with subtitles and now I'm used to it.
     
  11. alyssa_nicole017

    alyssa_nicole017 Member

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    Honestly, I am not a fan of foreign movies with subtitles. Why would I want to read the whole time I'm supposed to be watching a movie instead of paying attention to the movie? When I watch a movie I would want to actually watch the movie. Not read the subtitles.
     
  12. fatema

    fatema New Member

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    I hate foreign movies with English subtitles! It's just so confusing, I can't pay attention to what is happening and read the subtitles at the same time. I hate subtitles all in all, I can't even watch English movies with English subtitles. I will try to pay attention to the movie, and read the subtitles. Some people just mute the movie and read the subtitles. I can't do that either. There's something about subtitles that really distract and annoy me. If there's a movie with subtitles, I won't watch it, not even for 5 minutes. I would honestly just not understand what the actors are saying then read subtitles. I think that gives my brief opinion of subtitles.
     
  13. tinnie

    tinnie New Member

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    Well English is not my first language so basically all I watch is a foreign movie/show with subtitles. But ever since I understand English so well, I tend to ignore the subtitles and only look at them if I don't understand something or I didn't hear it properly. Because many times they can be quite distracting if the sentence is formulated differently so I read something different and hear something different.

    Also I tried watching anime once and it was difficult for me to focus on subtitles 100% of the time to understand. I totally forgot what that's like.
     
  14. orwelo

    orwelo New Member

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    Absolutely, and I would say that those who are only watching movies in their native language are missing out. It might take a while to get used to, but if English is your native language you may find that many foreign movies are driven by dialogue, character development and the human condition. If you prefer explosions, constant action and Hollywood endings you may not want to bother watching foreign movies with subtitles. However, if you're young you may grow out of Hollywood style movies, so quality foreign movies are something to consider.
     
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  15. FireOnIceCream

    FireOnIceCream New Member

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    I cannot appreciate watching foreign movies with subtitles, not because of poor production or bad plot, but because I cannot concentrate on the actors performances. The thing is I would just be reading on the whole film and I cannot appreciate the cinematography of the film, the scenery and of course the award winning performance of the actors. But, I do say there are many quality films all over the world that is not in English.
     
  16. Kogitsune-kon-kon

    Kogitsune-kon-kon New Member

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    I find them refreshing, since they allow me a window into the minds of other cultures. My favourite film is actually English subtitled, and is an absolute gem I would have missed if I didn't give the subtitle thing a go. It is a little difficult to get used to at first, but once you get used to it, you can learn so many things you wouldn't have learnt otherwise. Plus if you're learning another language, watching a film in that language with English subtitles is a fantastic learning aid.
     
  17. tlcrocket

    tlcrocket New Member

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    I wish I could, but I don't for three reasons. First, reading subtitles diverts my eyes just enough that I feel I'm missing things. Second, I am way too annoyed by the typographical errors. Finally, reading subtitles causes you to lose nuance. Consequently, I fell I am not getting the full impact of the film. It is occasionally even an issue with the British and Australian movies and TV I watch. While still English, since some expressions aren't familiar, even they lose some context and subtlety.
     
  18. bluegreen

    bluegreen New Member

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    Well I am Portuguese, and I am used to subtitles since I could read.. But lately I tend to turn off subtitle in english movies because its a good way to learn english! Well in what concerns to other languages, yes I like subtitles, because when you dub movies, it is strange because the lips movement doesnt have anything to do with what you dub if you know what I mean..
     
  19. shaneckawilliams

    shaneckawilliams New Member

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    Yes I do!!! I love Bread and Tulips, The Ong Bak series, Instructions not Included, Bliss (2007; Turkish Film), The Stoning of Soraya M. is the best. I don't think it has subtitles because most of it is in English, but it's a great movie. Tsotsi is a great movie as well, very good.
     
  20. stardust.kie

    stardust.kie New Member

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    It depends. When I'm really into the culture or want to learn the language, movies/shows with subtitles are really enjoyable. But overall, it's hard to enjoy foreign movie with subtitles, unless it is really interesting.
     

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