While it’s important to let cult and genre film distributors know that there is market support for esoteric works like this (yes, I said esoteric; the North American sales numbers aren’t exactly screaming “international sensation”), they must also be made to understand that we are a captious coterie and will not stand for such vulgar re-“vamps” of our sacred properties.
Unfortunately, companies like Magnolia really can’t afford “do-overs” in this economy. By hyping the disc’s deficiencies, we’re all just kind of shooting our own feet. Are we really this anal? “Oh no, she’s supposed to say she lives in the fucking jungle gym! They’ve raped my theatrical experience! Death to the blasphemers!”
We’re getting a beautiful hi-def transfer with a rich, nuanced audio track as widely distributed as you will ever likely find for a Swedish horror movie (I got mine at WAL-MART, for fuck’s sake!) and all you can say is “the subtitles are a bit off”?
Unbelievable!
These are dangerous waters, and I’m just not sure that we can swim with the sharks. Years from now, when studios are flipping through sales figures to see whether or not they should pick up the rights for the next cult gem, all they’re going to see is the bottom line; not some subtitle glitch.
“Pass,” they’ll say. “People just don’t buy this shit. What’s that project McG is pitching?”
I’m really not saying that I condone Magnolia’s actions; I’m a big fan of subtext. I’m just saying, we need to pick our battles.
Two threads and counting! (http://www.theauteurs.com/topics/1853/comments)
As Jenny said, translation really is an art, and you’re never going to please everyone. Here’s an example:
In Miyazaki’s, “MONONOKE HIME,” a character, wishing to insult the “chef” claims that her soup tastes like water, literally translated from Japanese. That’s not much of an insult to Western ears, but is considerably more rude in the East. Akin, perhaps, to saying, “this soup tastes like donkey piss!”
Well, now you have to decide if you’re going to just play it safe, ignoring cultural differences, and just lay out the literal translation, or deviate from the original text in an effort to more accurately recreate the intended impression.
Tricky stuff.
Personally, I’ve seen both versions of Let the Right One In, and while it is inarguably a bit dumbed down with the new subtitles, there were no detectable changes in my reaction to the film.
The power of this masterwork cannot be diminished by a few mistranslated words.
Curiously, the movie that actually sparked my love for cinema was “Sleepless in Seattle.” For reasons that I don’t fully comprehend, I felt something magic at the time and immediately sought out “An Affair to Remember” in an attempt to recreate the experience. Well, that (and Cary Grant) led me to “His Girl Friday” and “To Catch a Thief,” after which I became an incurable cinephile.
I definitely wouldn’t recommend “Sleepless” as a launching pad, but the gods of cinema certainly do work in mysterious ways.
I’d probably go with one of Godard’s more breezy efforts; “Bande à part” or “Pierrot le fou,” I guess.
Tried that one, Joshua. At around the two hour mark, she starts in with “how much longer is this movie?” and by the finale, “all that for a depressing ending?”
I had to have my jaw surgically re-attached following my astonished reaction.
Having travelled there myself, I speak with authority, here.
The only three films from this century that I was (will be) able to access on my CerebelluVision were (will be) Casablanca, Star Wars, and curiously, the Natalie Portman vehicle, Where the Heart Is.
A switch inside of me has been flipped with the announcement that they WILL be offering new discs WITHOUT AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM. I feel like I’m being punished for giving them my business.
I have completely reversed my stance and have resolved to avoid any future releases from Magnet; including this discs re-issue.
I’m sorry I ever questioned your reaction, Web. It turns out, we’re not going to have to agree to disagree; I agree with you 100% and vow to never contest you again.
It’s a little too early to call, but that new “Where the Wild Things Are” spot is pretty fantastic. I read an interview with Spike Jonze where he spoke briefly about the struggles of making the film. He commented on Warner Bros. problems with his vision, saying:
“In the end [Warner Bros.] realized the movie is what it is, and there’s no real way to… it’s sort of like they were expecting a boy and I gave birth to a girl. So they just needed their time to sort that out and figure out how they were going to learn to love their new daughter.”
Seemed like a pretty clever way of summing up a 4-year feud.
Just went through Chennai. Absolutely beautiful city and wonderful people. I picked up a Rajnikanth T-shirt at one of the shops, not knowing who he was, and was treated like a celebrity every time I wore it out! Good times!
JP, I agree with your comment about the definition of “cult.” Taking that into consideration, though, I’d say it’s a surprisingly astute compilation with a bounty of inspired choices. Quite a few of the films I positively loathed, but none of them seem incongruous with the tone of the list.
Sure beats the shit outta most of the mainstream outlet’s “cult” lists.
Where’s all the hate coming from? Monsoon Wedding is a magnificent film and an inspired addition to the Criterion library. Mira Nair would represent a much welcomed deviation from The Collection’s criminal shortage of women directors and its embarrassing lack of Indian filmmakers.
And it may even open some eyes to the rich customs of real Indians, as opposed to the diluted (though admittedly, enthralling) views of a few Frenchmen.
Wrong Subtitles about 4 years ago
Well Web, we’ve got quite a conundrum, here.
While it’s important to let cult and genre film distributors know that there is market support for esoteric works like this (yes, I said esoteric; the North American sales numbers aren’t exactly screaming “international sensation”), they must also be made to understand that we are a captious coterie and will not stand for such vulgar re-“vamps” of our sacred properties.
Unfortunately, companies like Magnolia really can’t afford “do-overs” in this economy. By hyping the disc’s deficiencies, we’re all just kind of shooting our own feet. Are we really this anal? “Oh no, she’s supposed to say she lives in the fucking jungle gym! They’ve raped my theatrical experience! Death to the blasphemers!”
We’re getting a beautiful hi-def transfer with a rich, nuanced audio track as widely distributed as you will ever likely find for a Swedish horror movie (I got mine at WAL-MART, for fuck’s sake!) and all you can say is “the subtitles are a bit off”?
Unbelievable!
These are dangerous waters, and I’m just not sure that we can swim with the sharks. Years from now, when studios are flipping through sales figures to see whether or not they should pick up the rights for the next cult gem, all they’re going to see is the bottom line; not some subtitle glitch.
“Pass,” they’ll say. “People just don’t buy this shit. What’s that project McG is pitching?”
I’m really not saying that I condone Magnolia’s actions; I’m a big fan of subtext. I’m just saying, we need to pick our battles.
Go to Comment
Dumbing down subtitles. about 4 years ago
Two threads and counting! (http://www.theauteurs.com/topics/1853/comments)
As Jenny said, translation really is an art, and you’re never going to please everyone. Here’s an example:
In Miyazaki’s, “MONONOKE HIME,” a character, wishing to insult the “chef” claims that her soup tastes like water, literally translated from Japanese. That’s not much of an insult to Western ears, but is considerably more rude in the East. Akin, perhaps, to saying, “this soup tastes like donkey piss!”
Well, now you have to decide if you’re going to just play it safe, ignoring cultural differences, and just lay out the literal translation, or deviate from the original text in an effort to more accurately recreate the intended impression.
Tricky stuff.
Personally, I’ve seen both versions of Let the Right One In, and while it is inarguably a bit dumbed down with the new subtitles, there were no detectable changes in my reaction to the film.
The power of this masterwork cannot be diminished by a few mistranslated words.
Go to Comment
Movies to get somemone into films. about 4 years ago
Curiously, the movie that actually sparked my love for cinema was “Sleepless in Seattle.” For reasons that I don’t fully comprehend, I felt something magic at the time and immediately sought out “An Affair to Remember” in an attempt to recreate the experience. Well, that (and Cary Grant) led me to “His Girl Friday” and “To Catch a Thief,” after which I became an incurable cinephile.
I definitely wouldn’t recommend “Sleepless” as a launching pad, but the gods of cinema certainly do work in mysterious ways.
I’d probably go with one of Godard’s more breezy efforts; “Bande à part” or “Pierrot le fou,” I guess.
Go to Comment
Movies to get somemone into films. about 4 years ago
Tried that one, Joshua. At around the two hour mark, she starts in with “how much longer is this movie?” and by the finale, “all that for a depressing ending?”
I had to have my jaw surgically re-attached following my astonished reaction.
Hopeless.
Go to Comment
Great Directors and their most underated films about 4 years ago
Altman’s “The Last Goodbye”
Lucas’ “THX-1138”
Van Sant’s “Gerry”
Malick’s “The New World”
Go to Comment
It's Year 3009 - What 3 Films Survived Through A Millenium of History? about 4 years ago
Having travelled there myself, I speak with authority, here.
The only three films from this century that I was (will be) able to access on my CerebelluVision were (will be) Casablanca, Star Wars, and curiously, the Natalie Portman vehicle, Where the Heart Is.
Go to Comment
Great Directors and their most underated films about 4 years ago
My favorite Van Sant picture, as well, Anubhav. And one that exorcised whatever homophobic demons remained in my midwestern-bred soul.
Powerful stuff.
Go to Comment
It's Year 3009 - What 3 Films Survived Through A Millenium of History? about 4 years ago
You’re probably right, Kenji. Admittedly, I didn’t get the greatest reception from my corral.
Go to Comment
Your Favorite Giallo's about 4 years ago
Don’t Torture a Duckling was my introduction to the genre and remains it’s peak, in my mind.
Go to Comment
Endings at the sea about 4 years ago
Plague Dogs. As the dogs swim out to sea :
“There! Can’t you see it? Our island… "
Heartbreaking.
Go to Comment
ESSENTIAL JACK NICHOLSON about 4 years ago
I really dug the Hellman westerns, Ride in the Whirlwind and The Shooting. The Mulholland Man even picked up a writing credit for Whirlwind.
Go to Comment
Wrong Subtitles about 4 years ago
Well, this changes everything.
A switch inside of me has been flipped with the announcement that they WILL be offering new discs WITHOUT AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM. I feel like I’m being punished for giving them my business.
I have completely reversed my stance and have resolved to avoid any future releases from Magnet; including this discs re-issue.
That is just cold as fuck.
Go to Comment
Wrong Subtitles about 4 years ago
I’m sorry I ever questioned your reaction, Web. It turns out, we’re not going to have to agree to disagree; I agree with you 100% and vow to never contest you again.
Those bloody bastards.
Go to Comment
Wrong Subtitles about 4 years ago
That’s hilarious, mate!
And thanks for not treating me like the arrogant prick I am.
Go to Comment
IS "BENJAMIN BUTTON" WORTHY OF BEING IN THE COLLECTION? about 4 years ago
We’re over here, mate!
http://www.theauteurs.com/topics/1798/comments
Go to Comment
Favorite Movie References In The Simpsons about 4 years ago
Homer spoiling the “twist” in Empire, Bart’s Clockwork Orange costume, and Nelson’s 400 Blows homage, just to get started.
Go to Comment
Blu-Ran! about 4 years ago
Devastating.
Go to Comment
Films that are better than the books that they are are based on about 4 years ago
It’s a little too early to call, but that new “Where the Wild Things Are” spot is pretty fantastic. I read an interview with Spike Jonze where he spoke briefly about the struggles of making the film. He commented on Warner Bros. problems with his vision, saying:
“In the end [Warner Bros.] realized the movie is what it is, and there’s no real way to… it’s sort of like they were expecting a boy and I gave birth to a girl. So they just needed their time to sort that out and figure out how they were going to learn to love their new daughter.”
Seemed like a pretty clever way of summing up a 4-year feud.
Go to Comment
Films that are better than the books that they are are based on about 4 years ago
@Steven
I’ve got nothin’ but love for Stanley, but respectfully disagree on all accounts.
Go to Comment
DVD Beaver shifts focus, Produces Blu-Rays about 4 years ago
Damn it! Good catch, B.
And I just sent Gary an epic love letter, congratulating him on the “news”.
Hook, line, and sinker…
Go to Comment
DVD Beaver shifts focus, Produces Blu-Rays about 4 years ago
I think ya missed a few posts, there, Crap Monster.
Go to Comment
Where are you from? about 4 years ago
@ Rav:
Just went through Chennai. Absolutely beautiful city and wonderful people. I picked up a Rajnikanth T-shirt at one of the shops, not knowing who he was, and was treated like a celebrity every time I wore it out! Good times!
Go to Comment
Where are you from? about 4 years ago
Yeah, they don’t make ’em like they used to. Baasha kicked ass, man!
Go to Comment
Del Toro coming to CRITERION this fall about 4 years ago
Meh. I guess I let this one get too hyped up before I finally checked it out.
Of course, if Criterion gives it the HD treatment, I’ll definitely be giving it another shot.
Go to Comment
If you owned only 1 film - regardless of the format - what would you pick? Why? about 4 years ago
Good call, JP.
Go to Comment
Criterion Collection Essential: The Harry Potter Series about 4 years ago
I don’t care if you did miss it by a day, StorieJ. That’s a bloody priceless assessment. Hilarious!
Go to Comment
The Onion's "New Cult Canon" about 4 years ago
JP, I agree with your comment about the definition of “cult.” Taking that into consideration, though, I’d say it’s a surprisingly astute compilation with a bounty of inspired choices. Quite a few of the films I positively loathed, but none of them seem incongruous with the tone of the list.
Sure beats the shit outta most of the mainstream outlet’s “cult” lists.
Go to Comment
Criterion Coming Soon and Discussion about 4 years ago
Where’s all the hate coming from? Monsoon Wedding is a magnificent film and an inspired addition to the Criterion library. Mira Nair would represent a much welcomed deviation from The Collection’s criminal shortage of women directors and its embarrassing lack of Indian filmmakers.
And it may even open some eyes to the rich customs of real Indians, as opposed to the diluted (though admittedly, enthralling) views of a few Frenchmen.
Go to Comment
Nazi Zombies! about 4 years ago
… and don’t forget this Nazi Zombie gem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKMlo4qni7o
Go to Comment
Criterion Coming Soon and Discussion about 4 years ago
2 or 3 Things it is.
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