#4386411 - 10/23/1704:40 PMWhat a difference the correct language makes
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,346PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,346
Miami, FL USA
I'm sure we are all used to the Hollywood convention of using English speakers for sword & sandal film epics like "Gladiator" and "Troy" but check this out. Not only was this done on a minimal budget but it even uses the most accurate portrayal of Classical Latin possible. It's really amazing.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)
#4386494 - 10/24/1707:16 AMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
Honestly it doesn't make much difference to me. Maybe it is because I am not a native speaker of English and I am used to watching movies in a foreign language with subtitles. If the actors spoke Italian or a dialect thereof the effect would be the same for most viewers (except Italian speakers) I guess.
There are occasions when the use of a language in a movie puts me off, like German soldiers speaking Dutch in (I think) Aces High, or Richard Burton butchering the German language without raising suspicion in Raid on Rommel (which was an awful movie anyway). But other than that I do not care
Last edited by Johan217; 10/24/1707:31 AM.
Undercarriage lever a bit sticky was it, Sir?
#4386505 - 10/24/1710:37 AMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: Johan217]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,346PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,346
Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted by Johan217
There are occasions when the use of a language in a movie puts me off, like German soldiers speaking Dutch in (I think) Aces High, or Richard Burton butchering the German language without raising suspicion in Raid on Rommel (which was an awful movie anyway). But other than that I do not care
The example that comes immediately to my mind is Clint Eastwood in "Firefox". There's no way that Russian of his would have passed muster when he was disguised as a GRU officer and he had to get past the guard checkpoint in order to get into the aircraft facility. LOL
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4386518 - 10/24/1701:09 PMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
Thanks for the video, PM. I look forward to showing it to Joanna. She'll be proud of it.
And yes, I can hear the Polish accent in it, haha. In particular the rolling Rs, heh. Otherwise, it is nice to hear Latin again--I studied it for 2 years. Not long, but enough. You can get a pretty good command of the language since it is so old and doesn't have such a huge vocabulary like languages of today. Plus, knowing Latin helps me understand the mechanics of Polish with its declinations etc.
v6, boNes
"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot
#4386530 - 10/24/1702:27 PMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
WARNING: This post contains opinions produced in a facility which also occasionally processes fact products.
#4386533 - 10/24/1702:51 PMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: adlabs6]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,346PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,346
Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted by adlabs6
Very interesting. And a nicely done film.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it! I'm amazed how much was done with what was essentially a film school student budget.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4386537 - 10/24/1703:19 PMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
Modern makeup. Yuck. Should have used only the makeup women used then. That means no lipstick for the ladies.
"College graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters and wondering when they can move out and get going with life" - Paul Ryan
#4386542 - 10/24/1703:56 PMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
I was more puzzled by what Marcus Otto was doing in 'German' border provinces - his province was in Spain...
Also, how Poppea was visiting him when she had died in Rome as a result of (variously) a miscarriage or at the hand of Nero.
Other than that it was well done, but I am annoyed by the butchering of what history was passed down to fit in with a story which could as easily be modified to suit the real framework.
#4386546 - 10/24/1704:22 PMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
Pretty cool. I ikela hista oviema eryva uchma. If anything it adds a great deal to a period movie as opposed to the often used German Nazis speaking with Brittish accent route. I understand what I'm watching so I can suspend belief pretty easily and use my imagination if I allow myself especially if its a story or time I'm interested in. Sometimes I just don't want to read subtitles so I still enjoy movies like Valkyrie because the story and acting and production value are of higher levels and compensates. If they did voice it in German though it would enhance it all the more but again, I appreciate not having to read subtitles all the time.
This in part is what made Passion of the Christ such a great film using Aramaic, Hebrew and Latin. It often has a transporting effect and creates that feel that you've actually stepped back in time and takes your mind beyond the fourth wall.
John 10:1-30 Romans 10:1-13
#4386559 - 10/24/1706:14 PMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: Coot]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,346PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,346
Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted by Coot
This in part is what made Passion of the Christ such a great film using Aramaic, Hebrew and Latin. It often has a transporting effect and creates that feel that you've actually stepped back in time and takes your mind beyond the fourth wall.
Using the correct historical languages was a huge plus for me when I watched "The Passion". It was definitely the right creative decision.
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 10/24/1706:15 PM.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4386603 - 10/24/1709:56 PMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 17,301Nixer
Scaliwag and Survivor
It gave me a lot of chances to practice my Aramaic...oh wait...who would know??? Was it really closet greek??...and why were they in the closet anyway????
To me Aramaic sounds like... like Romulan...or possibly an obscure Romanian mountain dialect.
I did like the "authentic" Aztec howling in Apocalypto. Kinda reminded me of ISIS...the muslim cult, not the false Egyptian god.
Just wondering how many live experts we have on what ancient languages sounded like.......
Last edited by Nixer; 10/24/1709:57 PM. Reason: Dates, figs, camels and Gilchrist
Censored
Look for me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Tic Toc...or anywhere you may frequent, besides SimHq, on the Global Scam Net. Aka, the internet. I am not there, never have been or ever will be, but the fruitless search may be more gratifying then the "content" you might otherwise be exposed to.
"There's a sucker born every minute." Phineas Taylor Barnum
#4386647 - 10/25/1710:30 AMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: Nixer]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,346PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,346
Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted by Nixer
Just wondering how many live experts we have on what ancient languages sounded like.......
I can't speak for Aramaic or other languages but there do exist several ancient Latin texts that outline the basic rules of pronounciation for classical Latin. Do current day linguists have a 100% accurate idea of what classical Latin sounded like? No but they have a very well founded, close idea.
Check this video out,
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 10/25/1710:31 AM.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4387078 - 10/28/1702:03 PMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 22,405letterboy1
(Heterosexual)Tchaikovsky Ballet Fan
letterboy1
(Heterosexual)Tchaikovsky Ballet Fan
Lifer
This in part is what made Passion of the Christ such a great film using Aramaic, Hebrew and Latin. It often has a transporting effect and creates that feel that you've actually stepped back in time and takes your mind beyond the fourth wall.
Using the correct historical languages was a huge plus for me when I watched "The Passion". It was definitely the right creative decision.
I just want to say "spot on." Even if we can't really validate the accuracy of past language use one hundred percent or even one percent, the point is that these are creative decisions which enhance the cinematic experience. Effort put into historical accuracy is a plus, but in my opinion not necessarily central.
The issue is not p*ssy. The issue is monkey.
#4387230 - 10/29/1706:28 PMRe: What a difference the correct language makes
[Re: PanzerMeyer]