Subtitles are hard to follow. - Shin Gojira (2016) Discussion

[–] agentdc7 8 years ago

I agree the subtitles were overwhelming at times. The film had to label every single new location we saw, every new character we see, and people spoke really really fast. I did appreciate the attention to detail with how the government processes worked, but it was a bit much. It is nice though to see a Godzilla movie that really tries to be very detailed oriented for realism's sake instead of the usual monster action flick. Not sure if I want the excessive political process in the future movies though.

I'm always on the fence with dubbing. Yes, it would reduce the reading clutter, but dubbing always ruins the acting and immersion for me personally.

reply

[–] HelloGordon 8 years ago

Actually that was my only complaint, there were actually subtitles on top of subtitles at some points. And I don't need to know what floor they are on in an office building. Otherwise the audience and myself applauded the film at the end, even the little kids dug it.

reply

[–] Hyperboievr 8 years ago

It was a bit snappy at first and took a while to get used to, but I adjusted fine to the subtitles. I still would have preferred that over a dub, so I'm glad they released it in Japanese. It's the first time I've ever gotten to see aa Toho G film in its native language on the big screen. Dubs rarely are done with care and good voice acting, so they usually ruin the experience for me.

reply

[–] Marx_Bros_Fan86 8 years ago

YES. That is my biggest complaint. I eventually gave up on trying to read the subtitles on the top and just read the dialog.

reply

[–] nomisueil 8 years ago

I basically gave up reading the bits every time one of the characters gets an upgrade in their job status.

reply

[–] amdew717 8 years ago

The screen I saw it on was so BIG that it would have been easier to read the subtitles if I was sitting further back, since the dialogue lines were so low at the bottom of the screen. Plus the Yellow English was pasted over the White Japanese, so that added to the challenge. After a bit, I paid no attention to the location titles at the top. Still and all, I much prefer seeing a film in its original language with titles rather than dubbed, which can easily turn a serious Japanese film into a comedy.

reply

[–] Peasprout 8 years ago

It's subtitled? It's a Godzilla movie for *beep*'s sake, not Truffaut. Half the fun of watching these things is the dubbing. I'm starting to question my plan to go see this thing tonight.

reply

[–] bobcunk 8 years ago

There probably wasn't time for dubbing, they didn't translate the credits either, this wasn't originally going to be released in north america. im sure there will be a dubbed version for the dvd release.

reply

[–] Peasprout 8 years ago

Yeah, I skipped out on seeing it tonight. I hear it's not even very good. All talking and a goofy-looking Godzilla to boot? Like I want to sit and read two hours of conversation just to get to the part where Godzilla goes screeeeeeonnnnk and breathes fire on something? nthx

If I want campy fun I've got Godzilla vs. Megalon on DVD. If I want an actually good Godzilla movie I've got the 2014 film on Blu-Ray. All I need to do now is pop some popcorn and find a box of Milk Duds.

reply

[–] fleshrequiem 8 years ago

>good Godzilla movie
>2014

pick one.

reply

[–] Peasprout 8 years ago

The 2014 Godzilla film is bad-ass. You dislike it??

reply

[–] fleshrequiem 8 years ago

It was one of the most deceptively marketed films in recent memory with a movie that was actually embarrassed to show Godzilla and made him a tertiary element.

Awful movie salvaged slightly by music/cinematography. My opinion of it lessens every day.

reply

[–] Peasprout 8 years ago

I loved it. I grew up a big fan of the cheesy Japanese films, and it was great to see a great science fiction film and believable looking monsters fighting. The pacing and build-up were superb, and the human element gave it an entirely other dimension. Plus there were some great chills-inducing moments. I still remember the palpable sense of anticipation in the theater when Godzilla started powering up his breath weapon. I went back twice more just to see that fabulous final reel. To each his own, but man-- for a Godzilla fan that movie was a lifelong dream come true.

reply

[–] fleshrequiem 8 years ago

To each his own, but man-- for a Godzilla fan that movie was a lifelong dream come true.

Embarrassing pro-longed cut-aways, bland mcwhite hero, a movie more interested in Cloverfield look-alike creatures than Godzilla, endless bait and switch. Yeah, no. It was better than '98, but that shouldn't have been its only selling point.

reply

[–] Agent_Smoulder 8 years ago

So what Godzilla films do you like ?

Trust no one.

reply

[–] fleshrequiem 8 years ago

54, Mothra vs Godzilla, '84, GMK and Shin. Why?

reply

[–] evolution_500_2 8 years ago

"It was one of the most deceptively marketed films in recent memory with a movie that was actually embarrassed to show Godzilla and made him a tertiary element."

In defense of Gareth Edwards and the 2014 movie, it's not really clear if what was released was the version he intended or if there's an entirely different version under lock and key, kind of like what happened with "Superman 2".

reply

[–] KthulhuX 8 years ago

If I want an actually good Godzilla movie I've got the 1954 original on Blu-Ray.

fixed that for you

reply

[–] mgr1900 8 years ago

OMFG! YES! IT's SUBTITLED! Welcome to the world.

reply

[–] mgr1900 8 years ago

OMFG! YES! IT's SUBTITLED! Welcome to the world.

reply

[–] QoBalance 8 years ago

After the first few minutes I realized I wouldn't be able to enjoy the movie with all the subtitles which seemed to overlap at times. So I decided to just stick with the dialogue subtitles and ignore all the subtitles for people, places, departments etc. I would recommend this to anyone unlesd they are extremely fast at reading while paying attention to the movie itself.

reply

[–] bababear 8 years ago

The young lady sitting next to us provided some valuable advice. Her daughter had seen the film last night. She advised that we primarily read the subtitles on the bottom of the screen as those at the top were mostly telling that this was the roof of such and such building or the office of this or that character. Good advice.

reply

[–] Destructo_Dude_Reborn 8 years ago

I liked that it culminated in a joke.

reply

[–] persecuted 8 years ago

Subtitles are hard to follow.

OMG, it's so embarrassing to be American, as we are sooooo stupid, retarded, illiterates complaining about subtitles when compared to China, 100% of their films, TV shows, in addition to foreign movies are ALL subtitled, because they are literate, smart, and intelligent.

I am soooooo angry at dumb americans complaining about subtitles. Little kids reading for the first time of course will be slow readers, but they progress when given time.

Yet americans refuse to watch movies with subtitles because "we" are stupid slow learners,.....hey, give it time, watch a few more movies with subtitles and you will see, it's sooooo easy to read fast....

reply

[–] Eligius1 8 years ago

I found this one of the easiest subtitled films to follow. The subtitles were large and easy to read, and they stayed on screen long enough to read. I tend to miss a few subtitles in most foreign language films, but in 'Shin Gojira' I read just about all of them.

reply

[–] Matuatay 8 years ago

Considering I was in the very front row with the screen about 5 feet from my face, the subtitles were about all I got to see of the movie. So I've gotten to read the movie at least, now I'm looking forward to actually getting to watch the action when the home video is finally released.

reply

[–] putrescent_stench 8 years ago

OMG, it's so embarrassing to be American, as we are sooooo stupid, retarded, illiterates complaining about subtitles when compared to China, 100% of their films, TV shows, in addition to foreign movies are ALL subtitled, because they are literate, smart, and intelligent.

For Godzilla's sake people, please stop trying to prove your superior literary acumen and godzillasaur-tooth-sharp intelligence by decrying people who don't like or can't read subtitles. I've already said this in several threads, but I'll say it again: there's nothing wrong with not liking subtitles. Liking foreign movies that have subtitles doesn't make you better than any other American or other film watcher. It just makes you snobbier if you brag about it.

I'm legally blind and it makes subtitles difficult if not impossible to follow. (Oh and as someone who believes in disability rights, I find your use of "retard" and "illiterate" as insults to be offensive and intellectually lazy.) I've been a Godzilla-lover since I was a kid, so I saw the movie twice despite the first time only being able to follow 15-20% of the dialogue the first time. The second time, I could follow it better since I sat further back and used my monocular (and of course was already familiar with what was going on). Still, I will be much happier when it comes out on DVD in a dubbed version so I can actually look at more than the first few inches of the screen.

And no, I don't consider myself an exception. If you shouldn't berate a blind person for not being able to or not wanting to struggle to read subtitles, you shouldn't berate anyone for it. Especially if someone's "stupid" or "illiterate" which isn't their fault either.

"every time godzilla loses to mothra I die a little bit more"--Godzillaswrath

reply

[–] reuxxx 7 years ago

English is my second language and I can easily follow subtitles. So what's up with native speakers ?

reply

[–] poumas 7 years ago

I'm Mexican, i watch all the content subtitled, and this was hard to follow. Stop being a douche. The subs were very fast.

reply