I just saw this at a gay and lesbian film festival in Fresno, CA. I really liked it, and I thought the surfing footage was outstanding. My only complaint is that half the time I had no idea what the heck they cast was saying. Their Australian accents were quite thick.
shareYeah. I feel the same way about all these Hollywood films. Why do Americans have to speak with such thick accents too! ;-)
jan-altus,
Where are you posting from, if I may ask?
I often get told my (New York) accent is really thick, by Foreigners. I think Americans forget others' perspective and how hard it is for other people to understand what Americans say, isn't it?
I also find that films where people speak English in ANY Scottish dialect or with an accent from that country, I can barely understand, without really straining to hear, which of course makes enjoying the film doubly hard ....
=]. I live in an area where kids speak exactly like this (my brother actually goes to Newcastle Uni)... It comes with being laidback i think (and lazy). After a few Australian movies you will get use to it =]. We can understand almost any american accent because we have been exposed to American culture incessantly. The dvd i had didnt have subtitles.. maybe the american version will?
shareI know there were many times I wondered what they were saying. At the end of the movie when Andy says something to fergus at the hospital and then when jesse was walking out the door.
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I see your point. I also had to strain to understand the dialect, from time to time but not all Aussies speak with such thick accents, either. Like the US, it depends on what part of the coutry you come from, and how articulate your folks or schools taught you to be.
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The DVD that was just released in the USA does not have subtitles, but the dialog is available as close captioning from the DVD setup menu. Unfortunately this is not as convenient as subtitles, as I couldn't toggle it on and off with a single button press.
I agree that the dialog can be very hard to follow. It's not just the accent sometimes, but also the slang used. Seeing it in text often gives me enough to figure out what is the probably meaning of a slang phrase.
As to other replies, sometimes American accents can be difficult... even for Americans. The regional differences have diminished greatly in recent decades though. TV, radio and movies do tend to blur the differences over time.
The subtitles are hidden under BONUS and then SET UP. I'm watching it all over again.
As to the accents, the director is from California, so listen to him in the "Making of" part. I think my speech is accentless, as I am a native Californian, and sound much like many Northeast speakers.
U.S. accents go from Maine, Boston, New York & NJ, to Southern drawls and Texas twangs. And the strange Minnesota thing. All are identifiable and unique. I pick up a twang when I am in Texas around twangers. I was immune to the Scottish accent when I travelled through the Highlands and cities. I didn't even try.
To me I pronounce a word as it is in the dictionary. It's very flat and I think uninteresting. Boring.
Aime-moi moins, mais aime-moi longtemps
Half the dialogue was inaudible, I know Newcastle but these particular characaters are mumbling ineloquent and unintelligent teenagers.
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