Fun with subtitles

[tangofiction]

On a whim, I decided to watch my DVD of "The Phantom of the Opera" with (English) subtitles. It should be noted that this is a copy bought somewhere in Asia, long before the release date, and hence the subtitles are ... shall we say, creative.



I haven't laughed this hard since I heard the Russian dubbing of "Xena".



Examples:



New managers to old manager: "Why exactly are you retiring?" - "My health." Subtitles: "Where are you entirely?" - "In Wales."



Managers about Raoul entering Christine's dressing-room: "It would appear they've met before..."

Subtitles: "Did he look like that before?"



Raoul, inviting Chrsitine out to supper: "I shan't keep you up late." Subtitles: "I shouldn't keep your plate."



Raoul, reminiscing: "... your father, playing the violin..." Subtitles: "You wanna play the violin?"



Madame Giry to Buquet: "Keep your hands at the level of your eyes!" Subtitles: "Keep your hand the hell off the lass!"



But the absolute classic has to be Madame Giry's story about how she found Erik as a child at a gypsy fair:



Original: "It was years ago. I was very young, studying to be a ballerina, one of many. Living in the dormitories of the Opera house...I hid him [the Phantom] from the world and its cruelties."

Subtitles: "Twenty years ago, I was very young. One young man(!), living in the dormitories. I'd hidden from the world and its cruelties."





A pity they didn't "translate" the songs...

Comments

[Juxian]

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Стэн]

Next time I'll make sure I have licensed DVD when I'll be trying to learn English by watching films with original sound track and subtitles. :)

[tangofiction]

Juxian

I don't think there is a single correct sentence in the whole movie! It's great.



Стэн

Good idea.