Last Movie You Watched

[71 dB]

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The Premonition (Robert Allen Schnitzer, 1976)

Parapsychological horror movie from mid 70's and I must say I had expectations which were not entirely met. Somehow I felt the thematic material of this movie to be disjointed as if the makers of this movie didn't know how to put all the ideas together in a coherent way. The movie expects the viewer to understand the motivations, but gives very little background about the characters: Who are Andrea and Jude exactly? Okay they met in mental hospital, but what else? What's the backstory? Why did Andrea loose her mind five years ago? How does the Parapsychological visions fit to everything? Why does Sheri have her visions? The movie avoids giving answers and when the movie ended I felt confused. What was this about? Was this about guilt of abandoning your child? Was this about the fear of losing your adopted child? Was this about science not giving all the answers? This movie had all these themes, but it all was incoherent. Schnitzer was very young when he directed this and it shows. Music by Henry Mollicone is very good. Not a bad movie, but not a good one either. I expected more.

[Madiel]

Finnish title is "Rita Hayworth - Avain pakoon" which translates something like "Rita Hayworth - The Key to Escape". Not far from the Greek title semantically.

The box office takings in Greece and Finland must have been terrible.

[Florestan]

A Rita Hayworth poster is the first of many. The original short story is actually called "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption".

Frankly, all I remember of this movie otomh is that it features Tom Hanks Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in a sort of treasure hunting which starts in a prison and Mr. Freeman eventually going to Mexico with the treasure. And Tom Hanks broadcasting classical music over the prison's stereo system. Plus Morgan Freeman keeping the old habits of a life convict even when released on parole for good. I remember liking it (saw it twice or thrice, I think --- each time on TV).

[71 dB]

The box office takings in Greece and Finland must have been terrible.

As a matter of fact the box office takings were lacklustre everywhere outside the US and not very good even in the US. The movie earned it's cult status slowly later. It made about $29 million worldwide and had a budget of $25 million. The Rita Hayworth poster covering the tunnel is hardly the "plot point" of the movie. It is a movie about prison life and the will to be free. The details of escape are secondary and having Rita Hayworth in the title hardly spoils the movie for anyone.

For people living in English speaking countries it may seem odd to have English titles translated so that the result is far from the original title, but for us living in non-English countries it's very common. For example Laurel & Hardy:

Finnish: Ohukainen ja Paksukainen (Pancake and Blimp) ---> ohut = thin, paksu = thick
Swedish/Norwegian: Helan och/og Halvan (Whole and Half)
Danish: Gøg og Gokke (Cuckoo and ?)
German: Dick und Dorf (Lardy and Dumb)
Polish: Flip i Flap (Flip and Flap ?)

I have to say the Swedish name "Helan och Halvan" is my favorite.

How about these Finnish translations for English titles:

The Sugarland Express --> Kovat ratsastajat (Rough Riders)
American Graffiti --> Svengijengi '62 (Swing Gang '62)
Out Of Sight --> Mieletön juttu (A Frantic thing)
The Rock --> Paluu helvettiin (Return to the hell)
Bringing Down the House --> Elämä on laiffii (Life is life) spoken Finnish (slang) based on English
Jingle All the Way --> Isäni on turbomies (My dad is a turbo man)
Thrill seekers --> Paholaisen kuriirit (Couriers of the devil)
Once Upon a Time in America --> Suuri Gangsterisota (The great gangster war)
Once upon time in the west --> Huuliharppukostaja (Harmonica Avenger)
Braveheart --> Taipumaton (unyensible)
Clear And Present Danger --> Isku Kolumbiaan (Military Strike against Columbia)
Citizen Kane --> Himo (Craving)

One of the craziest ever is this:

Captain Ron --> Takkuaivot takilassa (almost impossible to translate, but something like "tangled brains in the rigging") 

[Florestan]

For example Laurel & Hardy:

Finnish: Ohukainen ja Paksukainen (Pancake and Blimp) ---> ohut = thin, paksu = thick
Swedish/Norwegian: Helan och/og Halvan (Whole and Half)
Danish: Gøg og Gokke (Cuckoo and ?)
German: Dick und Dorf (Lardy and Dumb)
Polish: Flip i Flap (Flip and Flap ?)

Romanian: Stan și Bran (Stan and Bran --- just funny, meaningless names).

At least we got one right: Stan.

[Wanderer]

For example Laurel & Hardy:

Finnish: Ohukainen ja Paksukainen (Pancake and Blimp) ---> ohut = thin, paksu = thick

Greek: Χοντρός και Λιγνός (The fat one and the thin one)

And one that might be considered playful is the title for the Return of the Living Dead film series: Τα Ζόμπι Δεν Είναι Χορτοφάγα (Zombies Are Not Vegetarian). 

[aligreto]

The Guilty





In Danish with English subtitles, the film is focused around one policeman [with a history] in a dispatch room. This is one of the most intense films that I have watched.

[Madiel]

There's zero reason to translate Laurel and Hardy! They're just names.

Also, it's not having "Rita Hayworth" in the title that's the issue. It's having something like "Rita Hayworth - The Key to Escape"!!

You might personally claim that the escape is not the point of the movie, but when we get actually highlighting the escape in the title, the marketing is saying otherwise.

[Madiel]

The Guilty





In Danish with English subtitles, the film is focused around one policeman [with a history] in a dispatch room. This is one of the most intense films that I have watched.

As I noted when I watched this a few months ago, I didn't find it that gripping. Ah well. My loss.

[71 dB]

There's zero reason to translate Laurel and Hardy! They're just names.

Yeah, just names, but English names. Surely you understand some people are simpletons and are put off by names in foreign language and many people can't even pronounce the names correctly! Would you get excited by a movie named "Uuno Turhapuro" ? If that 1973 Finnish movie was shown in Australia, do you think it would have been marketed by it's original name? Uuno Turhapuro is the name of the main character of the film so by your own logic there's zero reason to "translate" it to for example "Onslow Wasteland" ? (turhapuro means "useless arroyo" and is a fictional comic surname for a comic character. Wasteland would be a proper translation in the spirit of the original name).

In the past Laurel and Hardy movies where considered kid's movies so it's not a wonder they thought "Pancake and Blimp" type of Finnish name is more attractive to kids than foreign names. Again, how attractive is "Ketonen ja Myllyrinne" to you?

Also, it's not having "Rita Hayworth" in the title that's the issue. It's having something like "Rita Hayworth - The Key to Escape"!!

You might personally claim that the escape is not the point of the movie, but when we get actually highlighting the escape in the title, the marketing is saying otherwise.

I'm not claiming anything. I am just trying to make you understand why the movie got the name it got in Finnish market. I'm trying to expand your understanding and to realize how non-English countries need to come up with suitable names for anglo-American products of culture. Something a native English speaker living in an English speaking country may not be aware of. The translated names may not be great always, but that's something we need to do in our non-English market.

Maybe they thought the movie would do better if it was marketed as a prison escape movie even when it's actually about other things.

[71 dB]

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Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (Guy Hamilton, 1985)

Bond veteran Guy Hamilton directs well this silly, but quite entertaining, warmhearted and even "bullet dodging" action-adventure from the 80's. I liked the slow pace of this movie and how it develops gradually.

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Before We Vanish - Sanpo Suru Shinryakusha (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2017)

"Pulse" -director studies the worth of humanity in his take on the theme of aliens taking over human bodies to invade the Earth. Darkly comedic sci-fi is combined with edgy action. This is great filmmaking. Mostly very slow paced with occational well executed action scenes spiced with ideas. Good music. Very good camerawork. The best movie I have seen since Gaspar Noé's awesome "Climax" in May.

[Madiel]

Yeah, just names, but English names. Surely you understand some people are simpletons and are put off by names in foreign language and many people can't even pronounce the names correctly! Would you get excited by a movie named "Uuno Turhapuro" ? If that 1973 Finnish movie was shown in Australia, do you think it would have been marketed by it's original name? Uuno Turhapuro is the name of the main character of the film so by your own logic there's zero reason to "translate" it to for example "Onslow Wasteland" ? (turhapuro means "useless arroyo" and is a fictional comic surname for a comic character. Wasteland would be a proper translation in the spirit of the original name).

In the past Laurel and Hardy movies where considered kid's movies so it's not a wonder they thought "Pancake and Blimp" type of Finnish name is more attractive to kids than foreign names. Again, how attractive is "Ketonen ja Myllyrinne" to you?

I'm not claiming anything. I am just trying to make you understand why the movie got the name it got in Finnish market. I'm trying to expand your understanding and to realize how non-English countries need to come up with suitable names for anglo-American products of culture. Something a native English speaker living in an English speaking country may not be aware of. The translated names may not be great always, but that's something we need to do in our non-English market.

Maybe they thought the movie would do better if it was marketed as a prison escape movie even when it's actually about other things.

You've clearly lost sight of the fact that this started with me complaining about how a title was translated INTO English. Seriously, you're trying to paint me as some kind of cultural imperialist when the whole point was that English marketers should have just directly translated a perfectly workable Danish title. I watch lots of material that isn't in English, okay? Stop talking at me as if I've never had to consider the issue from the other side.

Nor, it seems, are you capable of distinguishing between fictional names intended to mean something and names that are just people's names. Or would you agree that John Brook is one of the greatest composers ever?

I suspect further conversation is pointless unless you get that one.

PS Also you've completely ignored Rita Hayworth... just a name, but an English name. You're busily arguing that Mr Laurel and Mr Hardy required translation but Ms Hayworth did not. They are all the names of real-life people, not fictional comic characters. They don't need translation for the same reason that we don't talk about John Brook.

[SimonNZ]

Third watch.

I recall we were discussing the early promise of Rian Johnson somewhere up thread.

[71 dB]

You've clearly lost sight of the fact that this started with me complaining about how a title was translated INTO English. Seriously, you're trying to paint me as some kind of cultural imperialist when the whole point was that English marketers should have just directly translated a perfectly workable Danish title. I watch lots of material that isn't in English, okay? Stop talking at me as if I've never had to consider the issue from the other side.

Nor, it seems, are you capable of distinguishing between fictional names intended to mean something and names that are just people's names. Or would you agree that John Brook is one of the greatest composers ever?

I suspect further conversation is pointless unless you get that one.

PS Also you've completely ignored Rita Hayworth... just a name, but an English name. You're busily arguing that Mr Laurel and Mr Hardy required translation but Ms Hayworth did not. They are all the names of real-life people, not fictional comic characters. They don't need translation for the same reason that we don't talk about John Brook.

For me this started when I wrote here what the Finnish title of The Shawshank Redemption is and you replied to it wondering about the box office in Finland (and Greece). I know nothing about any Danish title translated to English. My apologies if I have missinterpreted your position based on your replies to MY posts (I have not read your other posts). You certainly seemed to care a lot about how these titles are translated in Finland as if it affects your life in Australia. I have not given those names so please don't blame me. You think the names suck? Ok, maybe I feel the same way. It is what it is. What can you do?  Laurel and Hardy was marketed to kids. The Shawshank Redemption was marketed to older audience who are perhaps expected to know who Rita Hayworth is. I think the film did badly simply because people thought it is boring as fuck. That happened everywhere in the world regardless of how good name was given to it.

I mean comedic character, not comic. Sorry. I don't know who is this John Brook you are talking about.

[71 dB]

In a Better World



Danish winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Pretty good, though I'm not sure it's that good. Though one particular scene did make me cry a bit.

It really, really annoys me when people create English language titles that are not even close to being a translation of the original. The movie is actually called "The Revenge". What would have been wrong with that as a title? Especially when it makes far more sense for the content and themes of the film.

So this is where it started for you.

[aligreto]

The Final Cut





In the future some people [those who can afford it] have an implant which records their life. At death this record is edited and that version is then how you will be remembered. The editor is called a cutter. Williams plays one such person who has a particular past incident which dominates his life. Through circumstances he is forced to face this issue. As ever, William's performance is great.

[Florestan]

I don't know who is this John Brook you are talking about.

I guess he means Johann (Sebastian) Bach but the analogy is rather far fetched.

I'm with you on Laurel & Hardy. Basically all non-English-speaking countries translated their names, usually in a rhymed manner and certainly much funnier sounding in the respective languages than Laurel & Hardy --- and that was the right thing to do in order to market the movies and make them popular, especially with kids (even simply pronouncing Stan & Bran, without seeing the actual movies, is already funny for a Romanian kid and they can memorize those names much easier than Laurel & Hardy which is absolutely dull and unhumorous.). Heck, Romanians even translated Abbott & Costello as Costică & Mitică (diminutives for the frequently used names Constantin and Dumitru) and they were hugely popular back then. Frankly, I don't understand the fuss about it.

[Madiel]

I guess he means Johann (Sebastian) Bach but the analogy is rather far fetched.

You think an analogy with translating a real person's name is far-fetched?

Laurel and Hardy are not names of characters. They are names of real live people. There's nothing far-fetched about asking why you would translate some people's names but leave others untouched. I suspect that if an English speaker insisted on translating your name instead of using the from you've had your whole life, you'd be a bit insulted.

Anyway I'm done with this.

[Florestan]

You think an analogy with translating a real person's name is far-fetched?

Laurel and Hardy are not names of characters. They are names of real live people. There's nothing far-fetched about asking why you would translate some people's names but leave others untouched.

Actually, the notion that their names were *translated* is false. Their movies (which had titles, btw, but I don't think anyone bothered to translate them, much less know the movies by their name) were based on two specific characters whose English names were immaterial to the actual action. The non-English names were not a *translation* of Laurel & Hardy (in Romanian that would be Laur & Duru) , but names assigned to the characters in the movies, either according to the local standards for fun names or relating to their physical features. Nobody, not even Laurel & Hardy themselves, ever objected to that widespread practice back then. Why it bothers you that miuch today is really beyond me.

I suspect that if an English speaker insisted on translating your name instead of using the from you've had your whole life, you'd be a bit insulted.

Go ahead, translate Andrei Mihăilă in English. I'm very curious what you'll come up with. The closest I can think of is Andrew Michaels. And if you want to call me Andrew, no problem at all, be my guest. Actually, ever since I went to school my friends have always called me Andy. You too can call me Andy if you wish.

[71 dB]

I guess he means Johann (Sebastian) Bach but the analogy is rather far fetched.

Oh. I didn't know "bach" means something in German language and I have to admit I didn't know even the English word "brook". I get it now, thanks 

I'm with you on Laurel & Hardy. Basically all non-English-speaking countries translated their names, usually in a rhymed manner and certainly much funnier sounding in the respective languages than Laurel & Hardy --- and that was the right thing to do in order to market the movies and make them popular, especially with kids (even simply pronouncing Stan & Bran, without seeing the actual movies, is already funny for a Romanian kid and they can memorize those names much easier than Laurel & Hardy which is absolutely dull and unhumorous.). Heck, Romanians even translated Abbott & Costello as Costică & Mitică (diminutives for the frequently used names Constantin and Dumitru) and they were hugely popular back then. Frankly, I don't understand the fuss about it.

Yeah and also it's not about "translating" the names as much as it's replacing the real names with funny descriptors of the characters. The movie "Dumb And Dumber" is not titled "Carrey & Daniels". Every Laurel & Hardy movie has it's own name*: Our Relations, Pardon Us, Way Out West etc. while "Laurel & Hardy" is the brand name just like "James Bond" or "Indiana Jones". "Laurel & Hardy" has been simply re-branded for non-English markets for the reason that "Laurel & Hardy" might be an uninteresting brand name for kids. "Ohukainen ja Paksukainen" is certainly much more interesting for Finnish kids.

Abbott and Costello is Abbott ja Costello in Finland: "Abbott ja Costello kohtaavat Tri Jekyllin ja Mr. Hyden" for example. My dad was a Abbott and Costello fan as far as I understand, but I'm not sure I have ever seen their movies...


* The non-English "translations" of those movie titles is a can of worms by itself! Here's some examples:

Berth Marks (1929) ---> Makuuvaunussa (in the sleeper trolley)
Below Zero (1930) ---> Iloiset Musikantit (happy mucisians)
Music Box (1932) ---> Muuttomiehet Pulassa (moving men in trouble)
Our Relations (1936)  ---> Merimiehiä ja Maakrapuja (sailors and landlubbers)
Way Out West (1937)  ---> Kaksi Kulkuria (two wanderers)
Flying Deuces (1939) ---> Muukalaislegioonan Monnit (rookies of/in the foreign legion)
A Chump at Oxford (1940) ---> Lorvista Lordiksi (from an idler to a Lord)
Great Guns (1941) ---> Rautahermoisia Ruutiukkoja (iron-nerved gunpowder geezers) see attached picture

You think an analogy with translating a real person's name is far-fetched?

Laurel and Hardy are not names of characters. They are names of real live people. There's nothing far-fetched about asking why you would translate some people's names but leave others untouched. I suspect that if an English speaker insisted on translating your name instead of using the from you've had your whole life, you'd be a bit insulted.

Anyway I'm done with this.

It's not so much about translating real names as it's using descriptive names instead the real names, Dumb & Dumber instead of Carrey & Daniels for example. We have "Ketonen ja Myllyrinne" -show in Finland, but in Australia it would certainly not be marketed as "Ketonen & Myllyrinne". The name of the show would be something like "Nordic Dudes Fumbling Around." and it would be totally fine! The Australian tv show "Doctor Doctor" is called "The Heart Guy" in the US and UK and "Sydänlääkärin syöksykierre" (cardiologist's downward spiral) in Finland.