German dubbing still sucks
Dec. 29th, 2010 04:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tj_teejayTwo entries in one day. That's gotta be a record. And don't worry, I won't be mentioning Matt Bomer in this one. Oops, too late.
I meant to post about this last night, but time got away from me,and before I knew it, it was 2 AM and high time for bed. I did something last night that I mentally fought with for about an hour. And I don't expect a lot of people to actually get it, so maybe it's just me. I went to see a movie dubbed into German last night. Which is something I never do. You know, unless I really really need to see it and it's not being shown in English in a 100 km radius. Which didn't actually hold true for this one, so what happened?
Well, I'm talking about The Chronicles of Narnia part 3, which I definitely wanted to see in the theater. However, since it's another one of those movies that was shot in 2D and then converted to 3D in post-production, I'm pretty sure the 3D versionis going to suck isn't going to be worth it. Not to mention the ticket will cost about twice as much.
Right now, the only theater in the vicinity showing it in OV (original version) is the one in Cologne. In 3D only. People who know me will know how much I hate that dingy little arthouse theater in Cologne because I will rant about it at regular intervals. It's old, the seats give me a backache every time and the floor is so stained with remnants of spilled popcorn and coke that it sticks to the soles of your shoes. They barely have stadium seating and since they don't give out tickets with numbered seats, it's first come, first served. The foyer is tiny and always crowded with people queueing up. I once saw a mouse running atop one of the screen curtain rails too. (Which didn't bother me too much, because, hey, I don't have to live there, right?) I have a real love/hate relationship with that theater because as much as I dislike it, it still beats seeing movies dubbed in German. So secretly, I'm thankful that it exists.
And it seems that some time in the past few weeks, they have acquired themselves a digital projector that can do 3D. Guys, I really would have needed you when AVATAR was still showing. Where was your 3D projector then? Why did I have to drive to Bonn for the 3D, and damage my almost new car in the process? (Okay, that last part was acutally my own stupidity, but still...)
So there was my choice: Watch Narnia in English and 3D or in German and 2D. I'm not sure what the lesser of evils would be. I finally went for the 2D in German because it also meant I could go with good friends. And even though I tried really hard not to get annoyed at the dubbing, I didn't succeed. Thankfully, there weren't any actors in this one where I knew the original voices all that well, so at least I didn't have the Darn-That-Voice-Isn't-Anything-Like-The-Real-One effect. Still, I felt all the kids sounded at least three years too young. Especially Eustace (who is called Eustachius in the German version) sounded really really really annoying. I mean, he was an annoying kid at first, but the German dubbing voice made it worse.
And you know what? I think the German dubbing ruined the movie a little for me. I can't even really explain it. I mean, the plot and the images don't change, right? But it just felt so damn fake! I constantly had the impression that the German dialogues felt so trite, and that they would have sounded so much more eloquent in English. In German, it just doesn't sound right.
I mean, don't get me wrong. Usually the Germans are quite good at dubbing. And I understand why they do it. The majority of people are not like me, and they don't mind the dubbing at all. Most of my fellow countrymen don't know better. Some people may prefer subtitles, but both dubbing and subtitles have pros and cons.
So, anyway... Last night's experience has once more proven to me that I should avoid watching dubbed movies like the plague. And I'm trying. Now I'm just looking forward to The Voyage of the Dawntreader to come to Blu-ray so I can watch it in English. End of rant.
On a more positive note, I had some major squeeage going on when I went to the DM (drugstore chain) with my friend before the movie. They had Ovomaltine chocolate!!! You usually only get this stuff in Switzerland! So of course I bought a stash. Yummy!!! \o/
I meant to post about this last night, but time got away from me,and before I knew it, it was 2 AM and high time for bed. I did something last night that I mentally fought with for about an hour. And I don't expect a lot of people to actually get it, so maybe it's just me. I went to see a movie dubbed into German last night. Which is something I never do. You know, unless I really really need to see it and it's not being shown in English in a 100 km radius. Which didn't actually hold true for this one, so what happened?
Well, I'm talking about The Chronicles of Narnia part 3, which I definitely wanted to see in the theater. However, since it's another one of those movies that was shot in 2D and then converted to 3D in post-production, I'm pretty sure the 3D version
Right now, the only theater in the vicinity showing it in OV (original version) is the one in Cologne. In 3D only. People who know me will know how much I hate that dingy little arthouse theater in Cologne because I will rant about it at regular intervals. It's old, the seats give me a backache every time and the floor is so stained with remnants of spilled popcorn and coke that it sticks to the soles of your shoes. They barely have stadium seating and since they don't give out tickets with numbered seats, it's first come, first served. The foyer is tiny and always crowded with people queueing up. I once saw a mouse running atop one of the screen curtain rails too. (Which didn't bother me too much, because, hey, I don't have to live there, right?) I have a real love/hate relationship with that theater because as much as I dislike it, it still beats seeing movies dubbed in German. So secretly, I'm thankful that it exists.
And it seems that some time in the past few weeks, they have acquired themselves a digital projector that can do 3D. Guys, I really would have needed you when AVATAR was still showing. Where was your 3D projector then? Why did I have to drive to Bonn for the 3D, and damage my almost new car in the process? (Okay, that last part was acutally my own stupidity, but still...)
So there was my choice: Watch Narnia in English and 3D or in German and 2D. I'm not sure what the lesser of evils would be. I finally went for the 2D in German because it also meant I could go with good friends. And even though I tried really hard not to get annoyed at the dubbing, I didn't succeed. Thankfully, there weren't any actors in this one where I knew the original voices all that well, so at least I didn't have the Darn-That-Voice-Isn't-Anything-Like-The-Real-One effect. Still, I felt all the kids sounded at least three years too young. Especially Eustace (who is called Eustachius in the German version) sounded really really really annoying. I mean, he was an annoying kid at first, but the German dubbing voice made it worse.
And you know what? I think the German dubbing ruined the movie a little for me. I can't even really explain it. I mean, the plot and the images don't change, right? But it just felt so damn fake! I constantly had the impression that the German dialogues felt so trite, and that they would have sounded so much more eloquent in English. In German, it just doesn't sound right.
I mean, don't get me wrong. Usually the Germans are quite good at dubbing. And I understand why they do it. The majority of people are not like me, and they don't mind the dubbing at all. Most of my fellow countrymen don't know better. Some people may prefer subtitles, but both dubbing and subtitles have pros and cons.
So, anyway... Last night's experience has once more proven to me that I should avoid watching dubbed movies like the plague. And I'm trying. Now I'm just looking forward to The Voyage of the Dawntreader to come to Blu-ray so I can watch it in English. End of rant.
On a more positive note, I had some major squeeage going on when I went to the DM (drugstore chain) with my friend before the movie. They had Ovomaltine chocolate!!! You usually only get this stuff in Switzerland! So of course I bought a stash. Yummy!!! \o/
