-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Subtitles in movies: yes or no?
- Thread starter DryvBy
- Start date
DeafTourette
Perpetually Offended
Good thing you aren't deaf and DEPEND on them...
Days like these...
Have a Blessed Day
It never fails I see y'all
NeoIkaruGAF
Gold Member
I don't see why not.
I've tried multiple times watching movies in English without subs, but the audio mixing of post-2000 movies often means you'll miss stuff even if it's your first language. And if I miss a name or a sentence then it's hard to follow the rest of the show.
It's a bit easier with older movies, but yeah, I tend to put subs on every time.
Of course I'll use subs if the movie is in a language I'm not fluent in. But this is a rare occurrence, because in Italy everything is dubbed. I do enjoy some anime in Japanese, though, so there's that.
I don't need subs in Italian because the audio is rarely as overproduced as in big American releases, and Italian shows tend to emphasize the human voice first and foremost.
I've tried multiple times watching movies in English without subs, but the audio mixing of post-2000 movies often means you'll miss stuff even if it's your first language. And if I miss a name or a sentence then it's hard to follow the rest of the show.
It's a bit easier with older movies, but yeah, I tend to put subs on every time.
Of course I'll use subs if the movie is in a language I'm not fluent in. But this is a rare occurrence, because in Italy everything is dubbed. I do enjoy some anime in Japanese, though, so there's that.
I don't need subs in Italian because the audio is rarely as overproduced as in big American releases, and Italian shows tend to emphasize the human voice first and foremost.
Happosai
Hold onto your panties
During the VHS area, I dealt with all sorts of audio issues which made it unclear what was being said in many movies. I started using the option on occasion during the DVD-era of movies/TV shows for clarity. However, it's no secret that many subtitled DVDs have subtitles (especially in non-English languages) which are also incorrect. It's gotten better but it's still not great. When I moved abroad to a Spanish speaking countries; it's fairly common to start watching English movies with Spanish subs. I was watching Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (which has one of the word Spanish translated titles of all time) and caught this one. Culkin runs into the pigeon lady the first time and says, "sick" and runs away. The Spanish subs had this written as "enferma" which is either lazy subbing or lack of proper understanding of English syntax. The correct word for sick (as disgusting) in Spanish would be "que asco (like saying, 'gross')."
Someone also mentioned the enunciation of words or those who simply 'don't speak clearly.' Yes, I put subs on because certain dialects are not easily understood.
Someone also mentioned the enunciation of words or those who simply 'don't speak clearly.' Yes, I put subs on because certain dialects are not easily understood.
Actually one point about this. I've seen shows where in the subtitles they reveal the name of a character who's speaking before they mentioning in the actual dialog who the character is and that was supposed to be a surprise. Can't remember an example off the top of my head but if you saw something like this in star wars
(luke's dad speaking) - All too easy
Yeah it would have spoiled the end of Empire Strikes back.
Sushi_Combo
Member
If there's a show or movie with no subtitles I don't watch it.
If Going to the movies, I always try to make sure it's a theatre with Dolby Atmos or imax.
If Going to the movies, I always try to make sure it's a theatre with Dolby Atmos or imax.
PuppetMaster
Member
I do not like subtitles.
I hate the way they brighten the bottom of the screen.
I don't like the way they remove surprise from spoken dialog if you can read them in advance. Even if it just a few seconds ahead.
But unfortunately, practical reasons, ever since my son was born, I can't have the TV at full volume. Or wear headphones all the time. So I do often have them on. Even for video games.
I hate the way they brighten the bottom of the screen.
I don't like the way they remove surprise from spoken dialog if you can read them in advance. Even if it just a few seconds ahead.
But unfortunately, practical reasons, ever since my son was born, I can't have the TV at full volume. Or wear headphones all the time. So I do often have them on. Even for video games.
KrakenIPA
Member
I was watching the latest Big Brother show here in the US and even though they have a contestant that is hearing impaired they have terrible subtitles for syndication episodes and no subtitles for live feeds.
I like subtitles when they are congruent with the coverage, and sometimes you can change subtitle settings to fit your view, but a lot of times you can not.
Awesome thread, great question.
Edit: I just saw the 'In Movies' part of the title ima moron lol
I like subtitles when they are congruent with the coverage, and sometimes you can change subtitle settings to fit your view, but a lot of times you can not.
Awesome thread, great question.
Edit: I just saw the 'In Movies' part of the title ima moron lol
Last edited:
Men_in_Boxes
Snake Oil Salesman
Movies and TV are visual mediums. Subtitles are not the optimal experience.
I'm gonna hack that BT connection, you are about to hear a VERY erotic version of "The Marvels" or whatever movie first gets it
I used to only use them for stuff like Deadwood, due to the convoluted language.
But since having kids we can't have the volume up anyway and I stopped caring about the SQ of my theater system so its subtitles all the time. Biggest downside is I can read much faster than the actor can spit out their line, so it accentuates my boredom for a lot of films. Plus I'm missing out on a lot of the music. I need to go to headphones for movies I care about, but then the wife would get annoyed that I couldn't hear her asking me to repeat what was just said because she was busy scrolling on her phone
But since having kids we can't have the volume up anyway and I stopped caring about the SQ of my theater system so its subtitles all the time. Biggest downside is I can read much faster than the actor can spit out their line, so it accentuates my boredom for a lot of films. Plus I'm missing out on a lot of the music. I need to go to headphones for movies I care about, but then the wife would get annoyed that I couldn't hear her asking me to repeat what was just said because she was busy scrolling on her phone
Insane Metal
Member
This thread makes me extremely happy LMAO. I use English as a second language so I often have to rely on subtitles to understand dialogues... seeing as even natives resort to that most of the times makes me think my English skills maybe don't suck as much as I thought 
Last edited:
Big Baller
Al Pachinko, Konami President
Only when its not English or my own language. I usually am distracted so only hear what I see lol.
CrankyJay™
Member
I started using subtitles years ago when I had young children, and it sort of just stuck. Plus with today's sound mixing and hard to understand accents it's been a godsend for me. I'm definitely starting to lose my hearing.
Laptop1991
Member
Not for movies or TV shows as i end up watching the writing instead of whats happening on the screen, but i do in games now.
Susurrus
Member
Movies or TV shows not usually, unless it is foreign language.
Games? Almost always. My wife loves to start up conversations during cutscenes, so it is easier to be like "yuh uh huh ok" while still following along what is being said in the game. Be playing for an hour in action sequence which is needs no dialogue understanding, and she won't say a thing, 2 minute cutscene? Well now there's something important she wants to talk to me about. Sometimes I can pause, sometimes I can't, and sometimes I don't know if the start button will pause the cutscene or skip it.
Games? Almost always. My wife loves to start up conversations during cutscenes, so it is easier to be like "yuh uh huh ok" while still following along what is being said in the game. Be playing for an hour in action sequence which is needs no dialogue understanding, and she won't say a thing, 2 minute cutscene? Well now there's something important she wants to talk to me about. Sometimes I can pause, sometimes I can't, and sometimes I don't know if the start button will pause the cutscene or skip it.
Sleepwalker
Member
Absolutely yes.
That's more or less how I learned english as a boy. But sometimes you really can't hear what people are saying in movies due to terrible mixing. I even turn on subs in my original language content.
Wish there was an option to have them at the theathre.
That's more or less how I learned english as a boy. But sometimes you really can't hear what people are saying in movies due to terrible mixing. I even turn on subs in my original language content.
Wish there was an option to have them at the theathre.
Susurrus
Member
At least most theaters do have closed caption devices, just need to ask. (At least in the US)
Last edited:
Sidney Prescott
Member
Subtitles are an absolute must for me. It always makes me personally more immersed in a movie. Which sounds weird because you think text would be distracting but I pay way more attention to what's being said on screen.
Also it's nice to just not miss any dialogue at all, which can happen if actors are speaking quieter in a scene.
Also it's nice to just not miss any dialogue at all, which can happen if actors are speaking quieter in a scene.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
I'm in the same boat as you.
Unfortunately I find that sometimes due to rights issues, movies will have Spanish subs but no English subs and it makes it unwatchable for me, the dissonance between hearing english and reading what is said in Spanish overcomes me.