Movie Distributor Doesn't Care For Blogosphere, Says To Ignore It
Magnolia Pictures, the company behind the botched US release of the DVD of Let The Right One In, isn't backing down from its claim that the new simplified subtitles are just fine. In fact, this internal communication from a Magnolia rep to a Canadian distributor shows just how little they care about how their core fans feel.
Yes the bloggers are having a field day on this one. Normally they like to pick on the English Dub tracks, but in this case it's the subtitles. Obviously online tend to get rowdy and bandwagon mentality without knowing all the details. The current subtitle track is not altering the context of the film at all, in fact it's a more literal translation than any prior version of subtitles. It's not a defective or faulty subtitle file. Just more literal and larger in size for the small screen. Both English and Spanish subtitle files were produced for this dvd release. Frankly it's not all that uncommon to have the subs vary from prior releases, typically go unnoticed as subs are purely a translation of film dialogue. This wouldn't have been a blip had it not been for one particular horror blog doing a side by side and claiming that they are wrong. They are not. We are not doing a recall or anything of that nature, again, these are not defective. Title came out two weeks ago and general public don't notice and don't care – bloggers are well known for jumping on something, making an issue of it and moving on. We have decided that based on the feedback that we will be making a running change, so that going forward (once inventories deplete), we will be making that subtitle version available. Options in set up will be; English Subtitles / English (theatrical) Subtitles / Spanish Subtitles"
So, that's Magnolia's attitude more or less. We'll agree, stories in the blogosphere tend to spark like flashes of lightning, spreading dramatically very quickly and then instantly dissipating. That doesn't mean they're invalid stories, though; there are times when bloggers, Twitterers and commenters actually get worked up over valid issues.
The rep's argument that this is a more literal translation is hard to believe. For example, in one key scene near the end, a character cries out "Eli!" (the name of another character). In the mangled translation—the one the rep says is more literal—the subtitle translates that to "I'm trapped!"
It may be true, as Magnolia's rep asserts, that the general public "don't notice and don't care" about this issue. You'd think a small time movie distributor would have more respect for the passion of those core fans who are guaranteed to not only buy, but also promote (or in this case trash) your DVD.
Other fan comments in the same post suggest you can buy a region-free Blu-ray version from a Swedish site and bypass Magnolia altogether, but we couldn't confirm that the Swedish version is truly region-free at the time we posted this.
"UPDATED: Let The Wrong Subtitles In To LET THE RIGHT ONE IN?!" [Icons of Fright]
RELATED
"US Distributor Of 'Let The Right One In' Says They'll Fix Subtitles, But No Exchanges"
"Dumbed Down Subtitles Ruin US Release Of 'Let The Right One In'"
(Photo: Digidave)
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Comments:
So basically it's a fuck you to bloggers?
How does it feel, Consumerist?
No truer words were ever said.
"bloggers are well known for jumping on something, making an issue of it and moving on"
I really hate when they change the subtitles or dub a movie in a way that changes the meaning from the original. Especially if they "dumb it down" for American audiences. Have no fear...there is no reason to "dumb down" a movie for the people that are willing to watch a foreign movie. These are the people that don't need it simplified. The ones that need it take one look at the movie and go "awwww damn yo, I gotta READ the movie? Screw dat...gimme Big Mama's House VII".
So wait... (I did not see this movie, I knew nothing about this movie before Consumerists other posts) my question is, based on reading a synopsis and watching the trailer, why is it that the original writer hasn't sued the pants off the Twilight lady? Sounds (a million times better, but) the same to me!
@Bearded Rapper: And since they won't do a trade-in recall or anything, all those core fans are simply going to download the proper version instead of paying for a second copy.
I was kinda miffed when I saw how they altered the subtitles. But at the same time I realize that it's not an altogether uncommon occurrence. Many subtitled films go through something of an "abridgment" when released on DVD. This is because for many televisions, especially Standard-def sets, text below a certain size just doesn't display well. And because there's protocol for how long a given phrase can stay on screen, the distributors end up in a no-win situation. I saw the side-by-side comparison and I agree that differences are egregious. But I'm simply not sure if there (literally) was room enough for the subtleties that were in the original.
Still, the distributor's attitude is antagonistic and shows that he doesn't understand how much this upset the actual fans of the movie. Seeing as how the film got a lot of great critical response during the theatrical run, you'd think he'd want to keep things relatively untouched.
@johnfrombrooklyn: Or, let me place this in a different context:
"MOVIE PROMOTERS are well known for HYPING something, making an issue of it and moving on..." to the next money making effort.
The side by side comparison shows pretty blatantly how bad the new subtitles are. They totally destroy the movie.
I was all set to buy the movie from Amazon, when I was given the link to the side by side comparisons.
I have seen the movie in the theater, and I absolutely loved it. But I will not buy it until the issue is resolved.
It is one of the best movies I have seen in a while, but this translation is unacceptable, and will totally ruin the movie for anyone who has not seen it.
It is funny how they are admitting no wrongdoing, yet releasing the correct version of the subs when supplies are deleted. Well if enough word gets out from "the blogosphere" your supplies will never be deleted because no one will buy the crappy version of the film.
I wonder if their tune would change if all "bloggers" went on a boycott of Magnolia Pictures.
The film industry hates its own fans? Who knew!!! (re: MPAA).
I jsut got done reading through a bunch of the scenes.. and the difference is astounding.. horrible.. absolutely horrible.. shame on them.. cheap schmucks
@nakedscience: Fat chance of that happening. The Internet tends to get worked up about certain things, and while there tends to be a lot of written outrage, it very rarely translates into action.
So while some people may avoid this release altogether and either download a screener or buy the Swedish version, others will buy it just so they have something to bitch about.
@suburbancowboy: Eh, I didn't see it in the theater and it didn't ruin the movie for me. I'll probably rent it again once the new version of the subtitles comes out, but I thought the movie was great even with the apparently wrong/terrible subtitles.
Other fan comments in the same post suggest you can buy a region-free Blu-ray version from a Swedish site and bypass Magnolia altogether, but we couldn't confirm that the Swedish version is truly region-free at the time we posted this.
A little known fact is you can "hack" many DVD players purchased in the USA to be region free. This isn't really hacking as they are designed so if you enter in a unadvertised cheat-code it clears the current region setting.
I have doe this myself so I could play some UK dvd films I brought from Amazon.UK which weren't available in the US.
Just google for DVD Hacks and you can see which players have known cheat codes.
I commented on this story earlier but decided to watch it again more closely. Magnolia isn't completely full of BS. I did find the same (minor) flaws as when watching the first time, but I found two examples of what Magnolia is talking about with "more literal" translation.
1) Icons of Fright claimed the older gentleman said, "Forgive me" and the US version translators dumbed this down with "Sorry". I'm pretty sure the Swedish translator spruced up the subtitle, as simply saying "förlåt" (pronounced "four-loat") is simply saying, "Sorry". "Förlåta mig" is more akin to "Forgive me". The douche at Icons of Fright claimed this robbed the movie of an intimate scene, but the gentleman wasn't begging "Forgive me"; he was solemnly saying, "Sorry".
2) Another scene with a direct translation which was still lost in translation was the morse code scene. Icons of Fright states for some reason, the original subtitle showed Oskar's first word to Eli via morse code to be "SWEET". This is not the case. During the morse code scene, the subtitles in the US translation read, "S...O....V....G..." (cut scene). It's pretty obvious Oskar is tapping out "SOV GOT" which means "sleep well". The original translators took some creative license and wanted to change it to "SWEET" maybe as a short for "sweet dreams". Icons of Fright completely misunderstood this scene. Oskar isn't saying, "Sweet, morse code works"; he was telling Eli good night! I seriously doubt the hacks there will be as critical of the original translators.
Icons of Fright completely misunderstand how translations, and maybe even languages, function. It truly isn't as horrible as these chumps make it out to be. It's a good film, worth watching.
Just a note from someone who works in the translation industry:
Literal transation ≠better translation
In fact, nine times out of 10 a literal translation is awful. I do however agree about the larger subtitles needed for smaller screen size, but why didn't they just increase the font size of the originals?
@Damocles57: Whenever somebody hacks on bloggers, it's inevitably because they either don't want to fix their mistakes or the media ignored their actions. Such people want a return to the day when they could get away with anything and nobody had the ability point out corruption or mistakes.
It's not the general public that is buying this dvd Magnolia. Get your head on straight.
Wait, bloggers aren't part of the "general public"? I always thought that they were consumers of the same product all us lowly, non-bloggers were.
Or does the general public consist only of those that aren't vocal and/or informed?
We're all the general public. It seems the issue this guy really has is that consumers of his product shouldn't talk to each other so they can put one over on anyone that doesn't notice.
I said it for the first article and I will say it again:
"Good job Magnolia, you have ensured that I will avoid your products in the future. Thanks for the warning. Tell your marketing department "Hello" before you hand them a pink slip. Mmmmmkay?"
@kduhtoe: Regardless of whether or not their hand-waving has any merit, I think their attitude really, badly, misses the mark given that they aren't a mainstream distributor (who might be more justified in taking the who cares about some loud bloggers whining about subtitles).
No matter how right or wrong they were in their decision with the subtitles, their responses makes me glad that I didn't shell out the money for a Blu-Ray copy of the movie the way I might have otherwise.
That memo is a textbook example of how not to respond to this sort of kerfuffle.
In the overall big picture: who gives a shit?
Stop spending so much time watching effing movies and
do something besides growing moss on your fat asses. The American public loves their movies. It helps to ignore the always present problem of dealing with REALITY.
@Henry Casey: I actually pictured a white dude when I read that quote. I think YOU might be kind of a racist for assuming that "dumb american" impression was specifically of a certain race.
@Chris Walters: I vote that we throw the vampire cat pictured*, above, at the throat of the Magnolia exec.
* Can I say how inspired a picture choice this is? Can I? Can I, huh, can I?
@Gene Gemperline: Yup. Especially because this isn't a slack-jawed Bruckheimer film. And those of us that like quirky, original, foreign films are also most likely to have honking-huge widescreen TVs plugged into home theater systems. And be, y'know, familiar with the process of reading Teh Letterz.
@chucklebuck: The thing is, Let The Right One In isn't a horrorshow shock bloodfest. It's a neat little study of quirky outsiders, clothed in modern gothic horror.
And much of what gives it charm is the idiosyncratic dialog.
Which is largely castrated by the piss-poor subbing.
I'm also amused that the clueless Magnolia exec compares it to dubbing, as though that would be a viable alternative for a film like this.
"bloggers are well known for jumping on something, making an issue of it and moving on"
how is that different from any other source of news?
just goes to show how little companies care about the people that pay them.
they might as well have said fuck you and take it!
Actually you are correct, I was channeling Jamie Kennedy when I thought up that example.
@frari489: I was going to recommend this. I hacked a cheap $40 DVD player to play all regions after a sheisty Amazon seller shipped me a UK-release of an OOP dvd.
When I was trying to figure out how to watch that one, I also learned that consumers can buy Australian DVD players, which are Region 0. Australia's gov't actually enforces whatever law they have against monopolies, and decided that their citizens deserve access to dvds from all regions.
@frari489: DVD and Blu-Ray are 2 different things. The player override codes you mentioned don't work for Blu-Ray players. Blu-Ray uses a 3 region system whereas DVDs use 6 regions.
A little over half of all Blu-Ray releases are region free, this title happens to be one of them.
More literal? MORE LITERAL?
The Swedish title: "Låt den rätte komma in"
The title on the "more literal" subtitles: "Open Up"
I didn't take Swedish in high school, but somehow I feel okay about going out on a limb here.
I import movies on a frequent basis. Subs are a dealbreaker for me as many of the imports I pick up are in a different language. It's too bad Magnolia chose this stance as I first heard about this movie in November and wanted to pick it up as soon as it was released stateside. Once I heard about the subtitle screw up I decided against it. Now I'm just going to have to import it and ignore this distributor alltogether.
Hopefully, they don't deal with a large amount of foreign films as I would hate to have this happen again.
@Oranges w/ Cheese:
He has no grounds to sue. These are completely different. The big difference is, unlike "Twilight", "Let the Right One In" is really good!
Since when do vampires twinkle in the sunlight, anyway?
@gamabunta: I agree completely. If companies other than Magnolia keep up this kind of poor subtitle translation its going to force all of us foreign film fans to go back to hunting "fansubs" from bittorrent sites all over again.
Brilliant! An internal email claiming that their sub is superior, and making the claim with piss-poor grammar.
Someone should write a book about this. "Let the Right One In: the book about the scandal about the translation of the movie." Chapter 1: Fools is Fools.
As a professional translator, I am appalled that they were even able to get a translator to do this? Translation is the effective communication of ideas between two written texts. If you aren't translating what the script says, verbatim, what are you doing? It is an insult to all of us, as translators, and an insult to the viewer. If you can keep up with the theatrical subs, why can't you keep up with them on the DVD release, not this simplified BS.
kduhtoe-
I am well aware that Oskar intention is to tap "sweet dreams" to Eli.
I honestly did NOT expect the article to gather as much attention as it had, nor such scrutiny from readers such as yourself.
The point is... myself and dozens of other reviewers/journalists saw and fell in love with this movie last year. Despite having an advance screener, I saw it 3 times theatrically. It was on countless TOP lists of 2008.
It's unfair that the movie that myself & other are praising and recommending is NOT the version on that DVD that was put out. I saw first hand, several friends that I screened it for asking me a dozen questions having known that plenty was missing & that the plot points were not clear. (Tons of stuff from the book is hinted at in the original translations. ALL of it is lost in this one.)
Literal or not, I know for a FACT that the director himself would prefer you view the version with the subtitles HE approved, the one that was shown in theaters, the one that was distributed to reviewers to see. The entire article wasn't intended to "bitch" about it, but to pay respect to the film and the filmmaker.
Before I wrote it, I checked with someone at Magnolia and they were well aware of it & admitted it was a mistake on Home Video's part. That was before this whole thing blew up.
Refer to me as a "chump" if you like, but you're truly missing the point if you don't think this is a big deal. At least Ebert agrees with us...
Wait, so they're saying there's no problem with it, yet they're making changes to future versions? Hmm, seems like they know the current version isn't right, but they don't care enough to actually fix it until the current version sells out.