I just couldn't get passed the usage of English in this film. I'm a purist in this way, and this aspect just totally irked me. I'd even go as far as to say it ruined the otherwise pretty good movie. The acting was good and the concept was unique and fresh. If only they'd been speaking German it would have recieved an 8 from me and not a 5.
It isn't a German movie, it's an American movie.
You gave it a 5 because they didn't speak German? That's pretty much stupid. If it had been in German then the subtitles would have been the same as what you heard in english. It's, of course, your own opinion, but I can't see how that should make such a difference.
You know that's why people see movies, so they DON'T have to read!
Yeah I'm a huge fan of movies, i love to read dont get me wrong but honestly I dont want to sit for two hours reading a screen.
If I wanted to read for two hours I would pick up a book.
That's just my opinon on the whole subtitle issue. Forien films I'll make an exception.
Suspect: Screw you.
Olivia Benson: I can screw you harder.
Ok, so no one here ever wants to watch a Miyazaki in its original language? Or watch Amelie? Or Good Bye Lenin? I personally would much rather read subtitles than not see one of these fantastic films at all, or see a cheap dubbed version of it.
Personally, I could NOT get over the fact they were in Germany speaking English with American accents!!! (Not to mention the fact that Thomas' parents speak with an English accent for no apparent reason whatsoever... I mean, they're actually speaking German, not English, right? Can you speak German with an English accent? I'm not sure...) I do realize that there are many other great films that take place in a country where they would normally be speaking another language, but this one seemed completely absurd. For one thing, as has been mentioned, their accents aren't all the same. If they're all speaking the same language, their accents should at least be more similar (I know, there are tons of different English accents. But if you're trying to fool us into thinking we're in Germany to begin with, don't wreck the illusion by having two different American accents, some British accents, and even "German" accents). The whole concept of this movie is, as has been said, that they are German kids REBELLING against the Nazi regime by doing American things. And the English/American accent thing totally ruins that! I think that if they didn't want to make this movie in German, then there wasn't all that much of a point making this movie at all. I'll admit it was a decent movie, but certainly not worth another watch, and I would definitely tell people to stay away from it, and rent something decent instead (looking for a Christian Bale movie, try Equilibrium; looking for a German movie, try Run Lola Run; Good Bye Lenin!; The Downfall; The Edukators; looking for a good music movie, there's always the overlooked The Committments...).
Reading isn't very hard. I think we all learned how in about grade 1.
6/10
I think you lack imagination. The movie's not about their language or their accents, it's about their situations and character.
I will say, however, that I WON'T watch a foreign film dubbed in english. I absolutely refuse because it takes so much away from the acting. Gimme subtitles.
My Bottom Line - Swing Kids is simply a great movie. But that may have something to do with my love for WW2 history and jazz and swing music. If you love the two, or just one or the other - hell, if you like pretty good movies, just watch it.
Get over the language barrier, it's a movie it's meant to be enjoyed. It's meant to tell a story to enlighten audiences who maybe didn't know that swing kids were persecuted by the nazi regiem.
I know I didn't,when I first saw this movie about 8 years ago. This movie is what got me into history, made me want to educate kids about history, so they can go into the world and make sure this kind of thing never happens again.
I know if this film was in any other language but english I would not have seen it and it wouldnt have impacted my life like it has. And I still would not know of the persecution of the swing kids. Because I never was tought that Hitler would send people to camps just because of what music they listend to, or how they dressed.
So my point is just enjoy the film. If it ever comes out in German dubed language enjoy. But for now just enjoy it in it's purest form, how the film makers originaly saw it and made it.
Suspect: Screw you.
Olivia Benson: I can screw you harder.
@ meril_lupin :
"Can you speak German with an English accent? I'm not sure..."
i so hope you were kidding there lol
counter-question that will help you to find an answer to your question: can you speak english with a german accent???
im so lmao here, sorry lol
In movies about Ancient Rome, or Greece, or Egypt, they do not speak in the original languages (how many here can speak Coptic?). When you are reading a book that takes place in a foreign country, they do not write it in the native language and provide you with subtitles at the bottom of the page; they translate it for you.
It is much the same issue here. Movies are ultimately about ideas, and language is simply a means of conveying ideas. Change the language, and the ideas remain the same.
The fact that they spoke English didn't bother me so much...I think they should have at least been given accents, though. It would have made it more believable for me. But I still enjoyed the film immensely.
sharei couldn't get "passed" your pitiful grasp of the english language while reading this post.
grapesicle!
THe reason it was made in english was that they wanted the movie to connect to teens to get them interested and aware of history and understand what happened and how. I'm not saying all teens in the 90's weren't into History or hated subtitles, just that the majority wasn't. They made this film for people ages 9-22, a film that would put pre WII Germany into their perspective.
Granted the accents were confusing(Especially Christian Bale's, fresh off of Newsies in a New York accent), this film needed to be in English for it was made to enlighten American teens(Germans already knows its history to a Tee) and the Americanish accents were in favor(of the leads)
Hell if this movie became a Broadway musical or play, it would be in English in America and Brittain and in German if it toured to Germany. (Do german's see american Broadway shows in english? No, they do the shows in German)---think of Swing Kids like that.
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I was just irked at the fact that whilst some of the actors spoke in American accents others spoke with a German accent; it should have been consistent.
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"I'll give you the moon, Mary."
For someone who is a purist your English sucks!
You should've said "I couldn't get PAST it"
[deleted]
....couldn't get *past*, not 'passed'
Passed is a verb and it doesn't work here.
If you're such a purist when it comes to English, how come you said passed instead of past? You can't chastise someone else's use of English when you're so poor at it yourself.
shareI've seen enough movies...and plays...like this one to realize that the director sometimes has to make a choice about accents...just because someone is an actor, it doesn't automatically mean they're good with accents...some are, some just aren't. And as the movie was aimed at a young audience, it was probably thought that having the kids speak with possibly iffy accents would be a lot more jarring to the ears of the young audience then just having them speak with their natural accents. Frankly, it didn't bother me at all.
shareAmongst the many problems with subtitles are the inability to convey accents within the original spoken language ie those that relate to class, regional or national differences-is the OP and their supporters seriously saying that all films set in Germany have to be made in German?-and who won the bloody war anyway? Oy Vay!
'What is an Oprah?'-Teal'c.
I for one hate movies with subtitles. I am reading instead of watching the movie. I cannot take my eyes off the bottom of the screen without missing some dialogue. I prefer dubbed movies. And don't say that subtitles are more accurate. Unless you can actually speak that language, or have a copy of the script you do not know if the subtitles or the dubbing is the exact translations of the dialogue. As far as accents go, some actors always used them (Laurence Olivier, Paul Muni), others did not, Clark Gable, Claude Rains, Robert Donat, etc
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