Subs and Dubs... Foreign Film Watching

SUBTITLES VS. DUBBING: THE GREAT AMERICAN DEBATE

Watching foreign films can always be a tricky thing. Not only getting them here to the U.S., but also the viewing experience itself. Despite some of our best efforts, few of us will ever be fluent in multiple languages. Leaving those of us who still want to watch these works of cinematic art with only a couple of viable options.

First, there's the subtitle. The upside of these are quite obvious. You get the film in its original language, the way the filmmakers intended it to be presented. You might not always realize it, but the way an actor utilizes their voice really develops the character they intend to portray. It'd be hard to imagine a scene, such as the Daniel Plainview church scene in There Will be Blood, through the vocal aspects of someone trying to mimic that emotion.

Let's be honest though, subtitles are not without their downsides. First, and I hate to say this is a downside, but too many, the notion of reading and watching a film just doesn't mix. While I would argue a talent for it comes with repetition, subtitles can at times be distracting. As well you may miss various actor subtleties during high dialogue moments. Not to mention not all synchronization people share the same notion of timing. I've seen some films where multiple lines of subtitles whisk by in a second, while others linger for seemingly ever.

For those who find these variations annoying, there's always voice dubbing. On the plus side you get the vocal English so desperately wanted. It requires no reading, and it allows you to fully concentrate on the events occurring in each scene.

At the same time, I find it's downsides are more noticeable. First, not all voice actors are created equal. If you get one with a flat tone, or lacking range, it can greatly diminish your opinion of a movie. As well there is a more blatant synchronizing problem. Try as they may, there's just no way to make english words line up with every foreign language. With certain languages this can be incredibly obvious (Japanese is without a doubt the most prevalent example). Much like distracting subtitles, badly placed dubs during key scenes can add a comical, or annoyance, factor to a scene that needs very little of it.

Then, of course, there's the fact that no matter which option you go with, there is no such thing as a perfect translation. Translators must take many things into account, and some words carry multiple meanings in other languages (not to mention the words that don't translate at all). It's a tricky thing, and most of the time you're getting a "in the spirit of" translation.

Out of all foreign films, animated probably provide the most even debate. Especially in recent years with seasoned actors lending their talents behind the mic to bring these films to life. They're far from perfect, but still reasonable, and with ever increasing production put in. They're likely to continue getting better.

Ultimately, no matter how you weight these two, it's really a personal choice. In some way, it's basically a risk assessment. Given the downside of each, which do you believe will offer you the greatest opportunity to enjoy a movie. Because that's the single most important factor, regardless of where you stand.

As for me, well I'm sure it'll come as no surprise that I usually, not always, lean towards the use of subtitles.

So, where do you fall on this debate? Do you sub? Or do you dub?