ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Well heck, now I wish I'd just made a copy of the DVD-R of Gorath my old friend Jim Peavy gave me years ago, instead of sending the original to the late Tim Edwards (Bulldogtrekker).

However, I gave the DVD-R to Tim because I don't really care for foreign movies with subtitles, because having to read the dialog on the screeen while trying to guess what the actors' voice inflections are supposed to mean simply detracts from the film!

Is it sincerity, sarcasm, sadness, happiness, desparation . . . I can't tell when the actors are abbling in a foreign language.

I mean, come on, folks! If we read a husband's line to his wife in a subtitle which says, "Gee, I really love your new hairdo, Honey!" it can mean several things.

~ He's just casually complimenting his wife.

~ He's not crazy about her hairdo . . . but he wants to have sex.

~ He likes her hairdo, but he's trying to change the subject.

~ He hates the hairdo and want to delivers the line with sarcasm to insult his wife!

~ He hates her hairdo . . but he's desperately trying to change the subject because she thinks he's been cheating on her!

Actors us subtle voice inflections to make the purpose of the line clear to the audience. But if we don't speak the language, we don't have a clue as to what the actor is really saying!

In short, subtitles suck.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)