It drives me nuts when they get the subtitles wrong like that, such a basic issue, and I've started other threads for other films on just this subject.
But I've got to say, I didn't think this film was actually all that bad, at least in comparison to some of the others that I've seen. With these subs there was a trace of a black outline around the letters that meant that against a completely white background, it was quite legible.
The problem comes when it is against a background that is predominantly white with some darker detail in it, as that completely disrupts the eye's ability to pick out the letters. Fortunately, in this case, that wasn't a problem that occurred very often, and I managed to follow almost all of the subtitles. But I think that was by chance, rather than intent.
Really, it's such a basic thing to think about - if you make a film and want it to be seen in an overseas market, why skimp on the subtitling and impair the enjoyment of the audience that doesn't speak your language. In the end, it can only harm your own film.
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blufftoni
10 years ago
This is the deal, when I saw the film at the theatre in Ottawa, there was no black line around the subtitles - making it very difficult.
On the DVD however, thin black line = problem solved.
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svenrufus
10 years ago
I don't understand how the subtitles come to be - I would always have assumed that it was the film makers (producers/director?) that took responsibility for the subtitles, but someone said something along the lines of it being the distributor that deals with it. Seems bizarre to just completely hand over the responsibility for such a crucial issue without having some sign off.
I watched the film last night from a TV broadcast. It had thin black lines, like I said, which mostly solved the problem, but not completely. I wonder if that was the actually a different version of thin black line that was on the DVD, as you say that was clear.
Glad you got to see it in a more legible way anyway.
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