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Can you get the full effect of a movie/series if its dubbed or subtitled?

posted 3 years ago by tcrum (31863)
34 replies | jump to latest

I'm enjoying Squid Games, but I can't say the dubbing isn't distracting. I don't think you can get the full power of a movie/tv series if you can't understand the original language.

I'm watching the last 2 episodes dubbing off, just subtitles. It has a better feel. I used to watch a lot of subtitled movies in the 90s, but I guess I got lazy. This show kind of reminded me that its worth it to read the subtitles.

[–] sslssg (35179) 3 years ago

Not really related to this, but I have used subtitles to help me with other languages I was learning. Mostly French, but I think because of that I really don't like dubbing as I don't get to hear the language.

[–] capuchin (3366) 3 years ago

I've never done this purposefully. But I understand far more French through having watched subtitled French language movies than I ever learned at school. So that's another thing in favour of subtitles: deliberate or accidental education. Heh.

[–] sslssg (35179) 3 years ago

When I was around 10 years old ish, my french teacher gave us bonus marks if we watched french tv. I did learn that way, but there were no subtitles on the french channel, and back in the 80s it's not like we could push a button and get them. I then started renting french movies with subtitles and I learned so more.

[–] nyctc7 (44104) 3 years ago

Der Suppen-Nazi von Seinfeld!! Keine Suppe für Sie!!

youtube.com/watch?v=mhNc3oaEUUE

(I think in a case like this, dubbing is better)

[–] TheMan18 (13184) 3 years ago

I've been wondering that now for quite a while as I sent the "Russian dubbed" version of "Someone to Die For" (1995) via a link to a few people as almost nowhere else, besides VHS which almost no-one in my circles uses these days, can it be found to watch in this very day and age.

[–] TheMan18 (13184) 3 years ago

To quote one IMDb review on "Killing Zoe" (1994) - "We will get the word in subtitle but we may miss the expression", so I suppose NOT QUIET, right? But still...

[–] ShogunofYonkers (78562) 3 years ago

Either way is fine for me
Some movies I've looked forward to for awhile I'd rather have subs too hear the real language but I otherwise don't care

[–] brux (14840) 3 years ago

I think so, but it's a different full effect, so some might consider that not the full full effect.
It just depends. Interesting to speculate on how one might measure that or prove it.

[–] M1sterDoct0r (4560) 3 years ago

I rarely watch dubbed content. It just feels & sounds weird & wrong to me, somehow. Even if the subtitles aren't 100% accurate, like we found out was the case for Squid Game, I still don't mind it.

I just like hearing the characters speaking in their own language. Also, I don't find it distracting. I'm a really fast reader. Not bragging, just a fact.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9443) 3 years ago

The original "Swept Away" by Lina Wertmuller. It's a brilliant, entertaining, funny, movie that dubbing actually allows non-Italian speakers to enjoy tremendously more than if they had to read from a subtitles. One of my top favorites.

[–] tcrum (31863) 3 years ago

Squid Games....How long will it take before this is remade in the US.

I'm guessing we'll see the US remake within 6 months.