MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > /Mis/Adventures in film translation.

/Mis/Adventures in film translation.

posted 8 years ago by MinaVladimir (4086)
13 replies | jump to latest

So, I caught some of Anchorman on TV last night... And I'm watching the movie, and as usual I'm being distracted by the subtitles, when suddenly something catches my attention. Some genius soul has translated Ron's name as Ron Burgundski. Ron Burgundski! My amusement at that was only rivaled by my disappointment that the other characters didn't get the same treatment.

Anyway, have you ever come accross some bit of odd or funny translation that amused, perplexed or even made you a little bit mad?

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[–] TexasJack (12516) 8 years ago

I recall seeing a Chinese copy of Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith with some...interesting translations.

"It's over Anakin. I have the high ground"

trans

"The geography that I stands compares you superior"

Warning: Contains some hilariously out-of-place profanity: https://funnyjunk.com/Bootleg+chinese+star+wars+subtitles/funny-pictures/5904891/

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[–] MinaVladimir (4086) 8 years ago

Oh, man... This was hilarious!

Bootleg subtitles are always the best, in the worst way possible lol.

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[–] Kawada_Kira (7282) 8 years ago

These had me laughing so hard I have tears just pouring.

"Only guarantee my cuckoldry the safety"

XD

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[–] croft_alice (12180) 8 years ago

I did,but in subtitles...that's why,when I watch a movie I disable the subtitle,is bothering me😉

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[–] MinaVladimir (4086) 8 years ago

I prefer not to have the subtitles on in English as well. But sometimes you can't turn them off (the cinema, TV sometimes, watching with people who don't speak English).

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[–] croft_alice (12180) 8 years ago

Yes, those moments...well,I have to get used to it😉

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 8 years ago

Hopefully this won't get deleted, but a Chinese film I saw many moons ago with English subtitles translated what I think was supposed to be "kick him in the nuts" as "Crash his penis!"

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[–] MinaVladimir (4086) 8 years ago

Haha! Seems like there are a lot of "gems" coming out of Chinese related subtitles.

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[–] Frogarama (12942) 8 years ago

On a somewhat related note, What's Up Tiger Lily is a great movie. Woody Allen took a Hong Kong b-movie and wrote a new, dubbed script for it.

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[–] MinaVladimir (4086) 8 years ago

I just looked at the trailer and it looks pretty funny. Now, if it was just one guy doing the voiceover monotonously, translating the film at the same time, I would've been transported right back to my childhood.

Anyway, thanks for mentioning this film. I've never heard about it, but I'm interested in checking it out :).

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 8 years ago

That movie is hilarious. IMO a neglected gem.

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[–] Cookie.L.A. (2117) 8 years ago

RAINTREE COUNTY (1957)

Clift proclaims: "I've got to find the legendary raintree."
Saint: "Professor Stiles says it's precarious business."
Clift: "That can't be so."

However, instead of "That can't be so," the closed caption reads, "What an @$$hole!"

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TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JzWQCUbYrU
.

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[–] MinaVladimir (4086) 8 years ago

I thought those closed captions were supposed to be written FOR the deaf, not BY them.

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