Now before you jump on me for the stupid question, please hear me out.
As an American, I have been privileged to watch hundreds of great movies that were produced in English-speaking countries. I realize though that some of the best films ever made were not written or acted in English. It is very difficult for me to watch a movie with subtitles unless the film is very simplistic because I have to make an effort to both read and understand the subtleties of the dialogue.
For a film that was acted in another language and then dubbed into English, it is very distracting because I can't stop staring at the actors' lips. It doesn't even matter how good the voice work is. I just keep staring at everyone's lips.
For a film that was acted in English and then translated into another language, I have the same issue. I was watching the Thor trailer before they released the English one thinking "This seems like a fun trailer, but I wish I knew what everyone was saying."
That's beside the point though. Movies weren't made just for me. So it occurs to me that for billions of people around the world, they hear dialogue that does not match the lips of the English-speaking person delivering it.
Is this something that you get used to the more you watch it, or is it always distracting?
As an American, I have been privileged to watch hundreds of great movies that were produced in English-speaking countries. I realize though that some of the best films ever made were not written or acted in English. It is very difficult for me to watch a movie with subtitles unless the film is very simplistic because I have to make an effort to both read and understand the subtleties of the dialogue.
For a film that was acted in another language and then dubbed into English, it is very distracting because I can't stop staring at the actors' lips. It doesn't even matter how good the voice work is. I just keep staring at everyone's lips.
For a film that was acted in English and then translated into another language, I have the same issue. I was watching the Thor trailer before they released the English one thinking "This seems like a fun trailer, but I wish I knew what everyone was saying."
That's beside the point though. Movies weren't made just for me. So it occurs to me that for billions of people around the world, they hear dialogue that does not match the lips of the English-speaking person delivering it.
Is this something that you get used to the more you watch it, or is it always distracting?