MovieChat Forums > Dunkirk (2017) Discussion > inaudiable dialog...

inaudiable dialog...

posted 7 years ago by [deleted]
22 replies | jump to latest

This movie suffers from low dialog volume sometimes, like many of his do. I don't mean like some graphic moment where a bomb goes off and we see someone shouting but can't hear it, I mean primary dialog scenes. I went to the IMAX 70mm showing with awesome sound system, sat in the middle, but STILL some dialog was like, "What did he just say??" This should never happen in a movie. Of all the movies I watch, 99% of the time, dialog is just fine. Why are Nolan movies different?

I'm going to Digital XD version tonight, again sitting in the sweetspot, and will report back if that mix is any better.
My background is sound engineering in recording studios, my private studio, and indie film production.

[–] lucy512 (68) 7 years ago

completely agree....so many scenes where i could of done with subtitles. What even was Tom Hardy saying? And it wasn't to do with accents because I'm English.

[–] Midwood101 (17) 7 years ago

Thankfully that wasn't just me. Saw it today in 70mm IMAX. Music and everything was insanely loud and intense and made the chairs vibrate. But I could only understand part of the dialogue. Still awesome experience seeing this huge image. Will probably re-watch it with subtitles sometime else.

Some movie theaters have glasses with subtitles. 70mm showings probably not but for digital it's worth asking at the box office for a pair.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

This should not require subtitles, though. Dialog was just as bad in normal theater - not with the big 70mm stereo system. They just need to mix dialog better on his films.

[–] Midwood101 (17) 7 years ago

Yea. Honestly I don't know why studios don't just dub the dialogue. Get the actors in front of a mic and re-do parts that aren't as clear. Shouldn't be that difficult. Or maybe they do. But I doubt it listening to the result.

I generally prefer watching movies with subtitles. You get used to them after a while and they keep you focused on the story and prevent you from fading away. But you're right. A movie of this size should be tested for clear dialogue.