Why do people dislike reading subtitles?

[newwiseman]

Subtitles are only good when they are done right. Translation is important but the font, size, and how long it's on screen are all important, especially for scenes where many people are talking.

I've certainly seen more bad subs in movies than good, fansub groups seem to be the leaders in the field.

 

[DaJoW]

Subs, it's what I'm used to and dubbing completely breaks my immersion. I don't really need subs for English shows and movies, but I very much prefer it it to dubbing at least.

Only thing I prefer dubbed is anime (what little I've watched) as I cannot stand the stadard female voices. They usually give me a headache.

 

[Risingblade]

I can't multitask while reading subtitles, I always end up missing half the plot if I do so

 

[pspman45]

I like Subtitles even if it is in English, then you can actually understand what someone is saying when they talk real low or an explosion is happening

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

It kind of depends. Sometimes it depends on the voice actor. For example I don't like Johnny Young Bosch's voice for Vash the Stampede in TriGun, but whoever does the Japanese voice I do like, so I watch TriGun with subs. However I prefer whoever does the English voice of Alucard and Integral in Hellsing, so I watch it dubbed instead.

In general, I tend towards watching things subtitled. I think English voice actors, especially in older productions, either weren't as good or were less into it, so the Japanese voices are just better to hear. Nowadays I think anime is taken a little more seriously by the VAs, so it's just personal preference.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

I hate dubbed movies and Americanized versions of great foreign movies. What's wrong with the original version? My friend told me that it's dumb it wasn't in English in the first place...I was dumbstruck.

Soooo what's your guys's opinions on subbed/dubbed/Americanized versions of films?

1. Some people may not be good at reading quickly. Some subtitled movies switch quicker than people can follow the conversation.
2. People aren't always good at dividing their attention, reading, paying attention to which character is speaking, trying to construe emotions from a language they're unfamiliar with, keeping pace with the action on the screen (not explosive action but character action/interaction).

I personally dislike some subtitles because the translations are off or don't make a whole lick of sense in english. Some companies don't pay for nuance/idiosyncrasy translations, just literal translations and some of those come out mangled (All your base...).
I can watch some anime with subtitles, but as I get older I find less time to watch shows/movies except late at night. When I'm tired I don't feel like reading, so I go for dubbed versions.
Its all about convenience and personal comfort.

 

[DirgeNovak]

I rarely watch movies that aren't in a language I know,but when I do, it's with subtitles. I grew up with dubs only, and I now loathe them.

Here in Québec, pretty much every movie is dubbed in French. It's either A) dubbed in France, and therefore shit, or B) dubbed in Québec with Quebecer actors speaking with a fake France-French accent, which is just as bad - even though the actual dub work is quite remarkable.

Also, if the subtitles are forced on me and the movie is in French or English, they really get on my nerves. If the movie is in Spanish or Russian, I try to have subtitles in the original language too so I can get the words I don't understand. It's the best way to learn a language outside of class, really.

 

[SckizoBoy]

My friend told me that it's dumb it wasn't in English in the first place...I was dumbstruck.

As am I? Does he not comprehend that movies aren't limited to the English speaking world?!

OT: A lot of the stuff I watch I can understand in the original language. So I'm not overly fussed about alternative language insertion of either persuation.

I was so psyched about being able to watch Ip Man (the Donnie Yen one) without subs at all!

However, most old-y style-y wuxia films must, I repeat, must be in Mandarin. Even if it's dubbed in Cantonese, I will rage.

 

[Danglybits]

I hate dubbed movies and Americanized versions of great foreign movies. What's wrong with the original version? My friend told me that it's dumb it wasn't in English in the first place...I was dumbstruck.

Soooo what's your guys's opinions on subbed/dubbed/Americanized versions of films?

In response to what your friend said,"....Wow."
I prefer to watch a movie in the language it was made. I hate live action subs because I find the disconnect between mouths and voices really distracting.

I also want to watch a film as close to the original as possible, when things are translated and dubbed things are often changed. Subtitles should also be well timed so that I'm not reading dialogue from and about actions that haven't occurred yet or having dramatic tension ruined.

This doesn't work for everything though, like cartoon comedies. Those are based a lot on timing so precise that reading doesn't work as well as speech. Fansubs are fun because some times they put in notes and context to enhance your understanding of the scene and help bridge the cultural and language gap. Like Oruchuban Ebichu.

 

[Danglybits]

It kind of depends. Sometimes it depends on the voice actor. For example I don't like Johnny Young Bosch's voice for Vash the Stampede in TriGun, but whoever does the Japanese voice I do like, so I watch TriGun with subs. However I prefer whoever does the English voice of Alucard and Integral in Hellsing, so I watch it dubbed instead.

In general, I tend towards watching things subtitled. I think English voice actors, especially in older productions, either weren't as good or were less into it, so the Japanese voices are just better to hear. Nowadays I think anime is taken a little more seriously by the VAs, so it's just personal preference.

I agree. I watch stuff in the language that it sounds best in. I don't like Fullmetal's dub at all and I love JYB in so many other things but he's not a good Vash (too one note) so I watch that subbed.

 

[WayOutThere]

What I dislike more than anything else is that when I'm listening to voice acting in a language I don't understand I can't fully appreciate it. I love good voice acting so it?s not really subtitles themselves that I have a problem with.

 

[WayOutThere]

For example I don't like Johnny Young Bosch's voice for Vash the Stampede in TriGun

To each their own, personally I thought his voice performance was terrific.

 

[FamoFunk]

Sub don't bother me, if a film etc. was originally in another language I'd much prefer to see it with subs.

After 10/15 mins I don't even realising I'm reading the subs while watching the film.

 

[meepop]

I hate dubbed movies and Americanized versions of great foreign movies. What's wrong with the original version? My friend told me that it's dumb it wasn't in English in the first place...I was dumbstruck.

Soooo what's your guys's opinions on subbed/dubbed/Americanized versions of films?

Before this thread gets too far...

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.319489-Poll-Subs-or-dubs?page=3#13040028

The Search Bar is your friend. It won't hurt you.

OT: I prefer anime in dub unless its by 4kids. Most of the time, the English VAs do a wonderful job. Also, I'd rather be able to multi-task, and its easier for me to comprehend through audio instead of audio+video.

The crappy early dub work does not mean that EVERY dub job is bad.

In response to the Search Bar thing, I have a question I can't seem to figure out an answer to. If we're not supposed to make new topics if there were old ones that we can post on, are we supposed to post on those? Because while you could make the argument that the question's going to be answered, the person looking into it may have a far different point of view that no one considered. What would happen in that case?

OT: I tried watching something with subs once. It took my attention away from the visual, and I can't read *that* fast. The fact that the characters speak in a different language doesn't help much either, because it can become very confusing. Plus, if that were the case, I'm pretty sure there are manga and visual novels of the animes in question. There could also be audiobooks (Albeit not very many) of them. Really, though, it's a matter of what works for you. Again, personally, I prefer dubs, but that's me. Everyone is different.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Dubs for anime, subtitles for everything else.

 

[ace_of_something]

Well, I'm dyslexic and if I don't have a problem reading them...
People talk about terrible dubs but subs can happen too. You just don't realize it as much.

You'd be amazed at how often subtitles in foreign films are not timed right. So what can happen is when person A is speaking, person B captions are on screen or as the film goes on the lines trail further and further behind. This happened a lot with old kung fu movies.

 

[aprildog18]

I loove subtitles. I haven't watched many translated foreign movies. For anime I prefer the one that is better.
All in all, I want to have the subtitles for all movies even if it is already in a language I know.

 

[Dusk17]

I dont like subtitles for the simple reason that I am never JUST watching the movie/show/whatever, I am multi tasking, I am doing homework, studying,or playing video games at the same time as I am trying to watch or at least listen to a program and I cant do that with subtitles.

 

[dickywebster]

I do dislike americanised films, but i do remember the remake of the grudge dvd having a comment from the director about how it needed to be remade/dumbed down so american audiences could understand it more as it would have an american lead.

To this day im not sure how far he was joking or how far he was basically insulting the whole country.
But i generally call american remakes of films hollywood running out of ideas and instead trying to basically whore itself out for a quick buck by making bad remakes.

As for subtitles, i dont mind them, i read a lot so im a fast reader and its only a mild distraction, but i know friends who hate them cause they cant read fast enough and have to keep pausing it.

 

[zHellas]

Because you touch yourself at night.

Seriously, what the heck is it with these "Why do people *stupid question*" threads?

Because they don't do enough meth.

XP

*high fives you for liking Breaking Bad too*

OT:

I like subs best, but depending on what it is I'll watch dubs.