A question for the folks who live in the States

I prefer movies that I can watch, not where I have to read subtitles. If I want to read, I'll get a book.

If more foreign movies were dubbed into English, I'd probably watch them.

I've spent a big portion of my life backpacking around the world and I used to be very impatient with my hometown Midwesterners who never even entertained the notion of getting a passport, or sometimes even getting on an airplane.

But I've relaxed my judgmental attitude a bit recently. The US is a giant land mass country and people who live in small countries with an entirely different culture right next door have a good headstart on "thinking internationally" and being exposed to a less homogenous mix of people.

The rail/bus systems and the inexpensive hostels are other advantages that encourage young people in other countries to get out and explore. I've traveled in the US and *yikes* even with my own car, I'd frequently get stuck paying $60-90 for a hotel room. Meeting locals or other travelers was difficult.

So this is all a long-winded prelude to the subtitle issue. I've seen a LOT of movies in other countries and it's common to see subtitles. Sometimes I'd wind up in a movie with the audio in one language I didn't know and the subtitles in a different language I didn't know, but which was the most common language to a major portion of the population.

I don't think Americans are necessarily lazier or more stubborn or more stupid than other moviegoers. It's just that Hollywood is such a cinematic juggernaut that it's easy to grow up seeing 100% of your movies without any writing running along the bottom of the screen.

[Parents, stretch your children's minds! Watch some foreign movies, invest in a passport to start them considering the possibilities, at least shop the foreign foods aisle at Walmart.]

Personally, I like watching foreign films, especially if there is an American remake so I can compare. They are kind of hard to find. Unless it shows up on Netflix, I usually don't get a chance to see it.

Most times the American remake is not as good (usually because they are watered down to get a PG-13 rating), but not always. I actually preferred the American version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Don't get me wrong. The Swedish version is excellent as well. But the American version is a much better adaptation of the book, in my opinion.

I really liked the American version of this film, so I'll look out for the original. Hopefully, it pops up on Netflix and I can watch it....

Please stop.

Major cities and college towns have theaters we call "art houses". They mostly show independent and foreign films. Only rarely do foreign language films make it to the multiplex theaters. I remember years ago seeing the Chinese film Hero in one and they had to put a sign in front informing people that it had subtitles and they would not be offering refunds. Between American and British films plus English language films from Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, Americans have plenty to choose from without watching films in other languages. I agree that's a shame, but it's just how it is. So yes, when a foreign film is remade into an American version, most Americans hadn't seen the original. And I have to admit that even though I see a lot of foreign films, I had not even hear of El Secreto de tus Ojos and wouldn't have if I hadn't come across the remake. But I'll say what I say about other remakes: they didn't ruin anything. The original is still available if people want to watch that. Rather than trash the American version, why not just suggest that people also check out the original! That might get more people to see a movie that you clearly think a lot of.