FirstLoveMovies

Night457 wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 6:53 pm
I still insist that some of my most enjoyable movie viewing has been of movies in languages I do not know, WITHOUT the benefit of subtitles that I do know. I am forced to engage intently in what I see and not rely on language to understand. This is not a tiresome intellectual effort but something more emotional and intuitive.

Fascinating! Makes me think of any content I’ve watched without subs&Dubbs.

Also, I might add that Germany has a very prolific dubbing industry. Often it’s been oldschool Theatre actors that did. the Voice acting. The dubbing for many films can be reaaaally outstanding sometimes. (Of course others it can ruin a show as well)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70OSwr-qu5Q

I have noticed German and also Italian movie industry dubbers have a long history of fine work. I never knew where they came from but I often hear them actually ACTING with their voices and not just bored reading a script. In the U.S. where live action dubbing is not so favored, probably the best work for voice artists is in animation!

But there are also so many movies with a very bad German dubbing, that almost sound ridiculous. I guess that is the case if they want save money and hire a cheap synchronization studio for it. I prefer the original dubbing with subtitles very often.

ghost wrote: Sat Jan 10, 2026 7:44 pm I prefer the original dubbing with subtitles very often.

Me too

It's very rare that i watch something that's not in the original language (Almost all the time I watch in the original language with English Subtitles)

There's just so many dubbings out there that's just plain awful (Not gonna lie, there are some really good dubbings out there but it's very rare)

I won't pretend that I make a habit of searching out German (or Italian) dubs so I certainly have not explored the whole realm. It would not do me any good anyway because I would still need the English subtitles. I just know that when I have been "stuck with" such a dub when I would rather have the original, it is still at least decent rather than painfully awful. I am thinking of the German dubs of Astrid Lindgren films, which are very good. I have heard German dubs of English-language movies so I know how they 'OUGHT' to sound -- and I still say, hmm, not bad. (Such as the American actors in "Die unendliche Geschichte".) Similarly, I was also able to appreciate the French dub of Mathilda (Natalie Portman) in "Leon".

ghost wrote: Sat Jan 10, 2026 7:44 pm But there are also so many movies with a very bad German dubbing, that almost sound ridiculous. I guess that is the case if they want save money and hire a cheap synchronization studio for it. I prefer the original dubbing with subtitles very often.

Yes. It can especially be weird with exaggerated comedies. (Adam Sandler movies from the early 2000s etc.), they sound „cheap“ in the German dubbed versions.

Then you got some serious drama series that really nail the tone of the show/actors.

There’s a reason why voice dubbing DIRECTOR/producer is a serious job

Whereas early Adam Sandler movies in ENGLISH are models of sophistication? Wouldn't that be missing his appeal?

Yes. It can especially be weird with exaggerated comedies.

Not only comedies. The latest example was 'She Rides Shotgun'. The movie in German sounded like a cheap, bad action movie to me.