Writer's Block: Subtitles please

[spooky_miss]

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The Lives of Others (german) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/

Amelie (french) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/

The Edukators (german) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408777/

My Neighbour Totoro (japanese) - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096283/

They're the ones that immediately spring to mind, probably quite obvious choices, but they are really brilliant films. I don't think any of them should be remade (although I'm disgusted to see a IMDB page for The Lives of Others with a 2013 date on it which I hope isn't a remake...). The Lives of Others is about something which is specifically german and related to Germany, the secret police and their activities, it just wouldn't be as good in English. Amelie I think works really well with subtitles, as a lot of what is said is in her mind anyway, so it is like you're reading her thoughts, which is great. The Edukators shouldn't be remade as they will probably dumb it down for an american audience and that would just be rubbish. For Totoro, I've watched it dubbed and the english children's voices were incredibly annoying...so it shouldn't be made again in English! It would just lose its charm if it became americanised.

I don't understand why people are so eager to remake films which are in a language other than their own. People should broaden their minds and take the chance of watching something outside of their comfort zone.

Comments

[primitivepeople.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes - The Lives of Others is an amazing film. So tense and so atmospheric - just brilliant. The director's debut as well! What an act to follow.

I like Goodbye Lenin! too, although it's much less serious. More of an Ostalgie thing, but still very good.

[benicek.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean, though in the theatre we would think nothing of a play being translated into different languages and cast with different actors.