I loved hearing it, first time I've ever heard him speak anything other than english. Is it his first time in a film doing that? I don't remember him speaking it in Hercules. And do you think he'll ever play a nazi?
"the day I tried to live, I learned that I was alive"
Why would arnold play a nazi? I bet he wouldent play a nazi even if he was 10-15years younger. The fact that hes "Austrian" and spoke it dosent mean he should play a nazi. I bet this is why no1 has been answering you. The last questionwas rather dumb.
But...yes it was great to hear him speak in his native language.
Btw im not 100 percent when it comes to german and austrian. Do they speak the same language? Anyway, great movie.
@ ebayman123456:
Yes, Austrians speak German as well, albeit a slightly different version (accent, some alternative terms, etc.)
Personally, I thought Schwarzenegger would speak with a "thicker" accent. In the film it sounded like accent-free High German. It was great to hear that language spoken correctly in a US film, though. Most times German lines sound like taken from an online translator. German is difficult to learn, but it isn't an exotic language by any means. Five minutes on the internet (consulting real people, not the infamous translator) and a screenwriter would get a correct translation.
Arnold's German was far from accent free, but he really dialed his natural accent down. I was quite impressed.
shareArnold's German was far from accent free, but he really dialed his natural accent down.
Just curious: Arnold used the familiar "du" when calling the warden the devil. Was this just to insult him?
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Why wouldn't he play a nazi? Many terrific actors fluent in the language have had great roles in films playing nazi's. Austrian and German are pretty close languages, an average english speaker would never even notice the difference on film. His father was a decorated army soldier in nazi germany so I think it's a fair question to ask.
"the day I tried to live, I learned that I was alive"
Why no one has been answering him? LoL there are a few hours between his post and your response.
To the topic, I also thought it was awesome to hear Arnold finally able to use his native language in a movie Surprised it took this long.
"Most people on the boards are casting experts. It's why they all work in Hollywood right?"
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I've ever heard him speak anything other than english
yeah all the action stars were playing big bad russians in the 80's, the cold war gave us great villains, although arnold must have been the only guy playing a russian that wasn't a villain
"the day I tried to live, I learned that I was alive"
yea hit was pretty cool to hear it
shareIt's (most probably) the first time he spoke that much in German.
But I remember him speaking a couple of words already (schneller, schneller!) in "The Villain/Cactus Jack" from 1979 and few sentences in "Kindergarten Cop" from 1990.
interesting, thanks
"the day I tried to live, I learned that I was alive"
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I thought so too -- he was very good.
shareOh yeah, I agree. It's only natural for that to happen, probably flows out easier. The same happened with Jean Claude Van Damme in JCVD. I really think he should do an entire film in his native tongue before he has to retire from acting. It just feels a lot more honest when he's not speaking english.
"the day I tried to live, I learned that I was alive"
I was surpised to actually hear him speak German for a change, as well. He did have a slight American accent (which was especially noticeable in some very English-sounding "r"s), though, which felt kinda weird considering he's a native speaker. Oh well, even your native language skills can atrophy.
By the way, there is no such language as "Austrian". A variety of dialects of German are spoken in Austria, most of them very similar to Bavarian (though some of them resemble Swiss German), but it's still all German.
I'm German, by the way - I'm from Munich - so I'm not just talking out of my ass ;).
How was his acting in German, does it sound more real/naturalistic than his acting in English?
shareIt was a fantastic bit and added to his supposed character. Later you simply couldn't strive the feeling that he is "way" to intelligent to be the sidekick only.
Him "loosing it" in German just might be the funniest and best scene he ever did as an actor.
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I agree. My German-speaking friends maybe forgot the movie all together, but always come to this scene where Schwarzenegger recites an old German text in a jail cell. IN GERMAN. IN A MOVIE WITH SLY.
:D
im suprised too that he hasnt spoken german before, defently adds more realism to his acting.
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