I usually prefer subtitled films, especially for those that are spoken in foreign languages that I understand -- it's good to hear the natural voices of the actors. But, with an especially visually stunning film, it can be a little distracting to have to read the subtitles, so I can understand why some would choose dubbed versions.
Which do you prefer?

NEVER... EVER watch a dubbed film!!!

Dubbed movies destroy the performances and they never even do a good translation...

Please, please, please just read the subtitles.

IceNine said:

you should raid video stores and put your own caution lables on the video boxes
And, yes, the bad translations are another problem -- even with subtitles. I don't know how many times I've watched a French or Italian film and listened to the dialoge while reading the subtitles and said, "That's not what he (or she) said!"

IceNine said:

co-sign! especially when it comes 2 anime...the dubbed voices are terrible at times...

subtitles!

Always subtitled! Never dubbed! Dubbed movies are terrible.

I've watched Japanese movies dubbed very badly in English, and I've watched English movies dubbed very badly in Japanese. Dubbling is just a bad idea in general

I also dislike dubbed movies although subtitles are a struggle for me

Much love Pochacco

SUBTITLED!!! You miss the "acting" even if you don't understand, it is still necessary to hear the actor's voices.

Blasphemous! Sub-titles ALWAYS!

IceNine said:

Ian said:

nLA said:

Ditto

nLA said:

I agree!! You miss so much if you don't get the characterization of the actors on the screen!

But it's true, even subtitles aren't always translated all that well. I once watched a Hungarian movie that was subtitled and it was AWFUL! The actors would be talking constantly for 3 minutes and 4 words would flash across the screen. Perhaps they were on a tight subtitling budget...

I hate dubbed films. First of all, I still use a combination of lip reading and sound to understand anything, so when I find myself watching an american movie dubbed into French, I see English words and hear French sounds. They don't match, and since I absolutely need both lip reading and sound to understand, it's a total waste. So I use closed-captioning or subtitles.

Secondly, the words that have to be chosen for dubbing cannot be a straight translation. They have to somewhat match the lip movements in duration and approximate number of syllables. It's impossible to find words that match the both the original meaning exactly and the movement of the lips. This translation problem is built-in the dubbing process, so don't be too harsh on the translator. Subtitles are more conductive to a faithful translation, BUT the translator must also be mindful of what is idiomatic, i.e. what words feel true in another language. For instance, the words "liar, liar! Pants on fire!" should not be translated as is, because that's not what you would say in that situation in the other language.

IceNine said:

I agree 100%.

Dubbed films suck!!

I am really not fond of either... but, subtitled over dubbed any day.

I love Godzilla movies.And some you can only watch subbed.
Dubbed is a given.

IceNine said:

Dubbed is like...like cheating..people who watch dubbed films really are not the type to appreciate film imho.

rdhull said:

You are SO right, my friend!

Watching a dubbed movie is like raping the director.

Aerogram said:

Reminds me of an almost mother in laws' saying "its funnier when I explain it in Spanish"..or when Joe Pescis' mom says "its funnier in Italian" in Goodfellas.