MovieChat Forums > Gongdong gyeongbi guyeok JSA (2000) Discussion > If bad english sequence makes you sick.....

If bad english sequence makes you sick...


I know that in JSA the english pronunciation of the actress (LEE Young-Ae) is not very good. But, first, her character is a swiss, not an american or british. So her bad pronunciation is justified.

Secondly,
In 90% of american movies, the situation of forein language is worse, especially with asian languages. I don't know why, but, normally they cast a chinese actor for a japanese charater, a korean actor for a chinese character, and so on... never korean actor for a korean character.

For example, in the TV series 'Lost', there is a korean male character who can't speak english. Every single line of his dialogue is in Korean. But actually, the actor is a korean-american who can't speak korean. As a korean, I cannot understand at all his korean.

In 'Lady in the water', there is a korean girl whose role is not small in the film. But I'm sure that the actress is not a korean, maybe she is a korean-american, but anyway she cannot speak korean, but in the film she speaks korean. (I liked this film, but so called 'Korean traditional fairy tale' is too weird. It's a typically western fairy tale, not korean or chinese or japanese).

So, just stop complaining about the bad english in forein films. It's not the first time that I see this kind of complain. And I'm sick of it.






reply

Well, I certainly agree with you about Hollywood films (and TV, which tends to be even worse).

The biggest problem, I thought, wasn't her pronunciation per se, but rather her accent. If the character's never been to Korea, then she shouldn't have a Korean accent when speaking English. She should speak at least perfect German (well, Schwyzerdütsch) or French, and thus have either a German or a French accent when speaking English.

I found the English dialogue really awkwardly acted and written, which was only compounded by the fact that Herbert Ulrich didn't seem to be nearly as good an actor as his cast-mates (he also happened to be German, rather than Swedish). I felt like they should have just made the whole film in Korean, which, while unrealistic, would have provided a better cinematic experience.

reply

Well it distracted me a ton.
Her English was f#*$king atrocious. And no, her being Swiss doesn't justify it since she spoke in heavy Korean accent. Her father character was Swiss and he was acceptable.
I'd say it was both the director and the actress's fault. Director didn't think it was too much of a problem and the actress didn't work hard enough, just winged it.
But I must acknowledge that this movie was targeted for Korean audience who wouldn't have been able to judge English accents back then.
If a movie was released with that kind of English spoken lines today, it would become a laughing stock (in Korea).
I love this film except for her English part.

reply

Actually the worst acting was by the Swedish and Swiss actors (both German in real life I think). With the Swedish guy's acting ability he wouldn't of been out of place in a bad 70s Swedish porn flick. These bits ruined this film a little for me. The story of the South Korean and North Korean soldiers and their friendship was outstanding and beautifully done, and deserved better performances from the actors in the investigation scenes. Lee Young-Ae was wonderful in 'Sympathy for Lady Vengeance' so I think we can forgive her "ordinary" acting in English here, as for the European actors they had no excuse for their poor acting and use of English.

reply

The two white officers and the asian girl are all terrible actors. They butchered any scenes they were in and ruined the overall movie. It's sad but true.


I have to return some video tapes

reply

The "asian girl" is a great actress, but she didn't exactly shine in this one. See Sympathy for Lady Vengeance to see what she's capable of (she plays the lead).

reply