Subtitles!
On Films!
Years ago, especially that of war films ('Where Eagles Dare'), everyone, including German and Japanese soldiers, spoke in English, including actors of those two nationalities. Since the turn of the century; however, more and more films include unnecessary subtitles, which spoil the film for a large percentage of viewers, and in two distinct ways.
First and foremost. Letterbox films are okay, since, in the main, the white subtitles appear on the black section below the actual film. Not so; however, when it comes to Widescreen films, as noted by this snapshot from ‘Kill Bill 1’:
In some cases, the white subtitle, which appears over the bottom of the film, can be subsequently part or fully lost, as in SKY Premier’s Widescreen crop of the Letterbox version of the remake of ‘Bedazzled’, in particular, Brendan Fraser’s dialogue during the scene when he’s granted the second of 12 wishes by Elizabeth Hurley’s character. Thankfully, and although Channel 4 broadcast the full Letterbox version, someone (possibly @ Channel 4) had the foresight to apply a black outline to the white subtitles.
Having compared the subtitles on each frame from the films, you can’t help but agree that the second one is crystal clear.
That brings me onto the second point. One you may have overlooked when you compared the two examples above. In order to read the subtitles, I invariably find myself having to pause the film, while I dare say others, millions, in fact, have the same problem. One that becomes worse when you are watching the film as broadcast and not a recording.
I have two Asian films purchased from Charity shops. ‘Crouching tiger hidden dragon’ and ‘New Police story’ starring none other than Jackie Chan. Both films offer a choice of language, including English, which is most helpful, while it is also an indication that what film viewers want are films in full English dialogue, otherwise…!
Contrary to the belief of filmmakers, we are not idiots with regard to the varied nationalities. The only exception, and a valid one at that, was when two criminals communicated in their own language while assuming the Police officer who arrested them didn’t understand what they were saying, only for him to then say something in their spoken language, and, again, I have the entire ‘Nash Bridges’ box set on DVD.
On a similar note, sign language added to a programme.
First and foremost, just as businesses that only accept mobile phone numbers from people is prejudicial to those who only have a land-line contact number, TV programmes that use sign language are prejudicial to every person with impaired hearing that doesn’t know sign language and even more so when you consider the irrefutable fact that ‘Subtitles’ can be read by the very people signed programmes are made for.
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