In the original BSG series, they found Earth and it was 1980. They looked down on LA traffic from above and marvelled at how disciplined the Earth people were, for staying in such straight lines. Then they freaked out because they realized Earth was more pimitive than they were, and could not help them against the Cylons. They had led the Cylons to Earth, thus seemingly dooming everyone. I don’t remember how it actually eneded.

And, of course, they all spoke modern English without explanation.

I think Nils is referring to Gibson’s liberal use of subtitles in his last few movies.

In German ‘bat’ is fliedermaus (sp?) – flying mouse. And in Germany movies are always dubbed (often several people have the same voice), never subtitled. Try watching the adventures of the heroic yet creepy Flying Mouse Man. Ha! It loses something in translation.

Completely.

I think you nailed it on the head: I don’t necessarily want all of the various characters, whether it’s in BSG or in a movie about WW2, to speak their respective languages. I just want the makers of the piece to at least consider the issue, and perhaps drop SOME hint towards the truth. For example, in Schindler’s List, Spielberg did a few things:

1. He had all of the Germans mostly speak in English with German accents. He said his reasoning for this is that he wanted to make it clear that they were Germans, and to give the German feel to the whole movie, but he also wanted watchers to be paying attention to the story being shown, not staring at subtitles for 3+ hours.

2. At a few spots in the movie, he actually had Germans, usually German soldiers, speak German, with subtitles. He explained that as just wanting to sprinkle some of the “real” language in the movie, to dip viewers into the culture. While I’m going to refuse at this point to get into a debate as to whether or not German is a “harsh” language, I will concede that a German shouting at people in English with a German accent, and a German shouting at people in German, are two very different things.

I’m not familiar with the Mel Gibson Approach. Are you talking about his latest movie? I’ve not seen it. How did he handle the language issue?

A Bridge Too Far just sounds bizarre. English and French fellows dubbed in French, but Germans speaking German… but with French subtitles. Okay then!

Anyway, as far as the language thing is concerned, it irks me too when the creators of a show or film just ignore the aspect. If they use English only, for practical reasons, that’s okay by me, but I want them to apply (or even just consider) some kind of drama ‘method’ or ‘effect’ so that at least one gets the feeling we’re dealing with different cultures, different tongues.

Oh, I could write entire posts about this (what’s your take for instance on the Mel Gibson Approach?) and living in Europe, where a number of countries still dub foreign shows and films, I’ve had my fair share of annoyances. Recently, I watched a large bit of A Bridge Too Far, on French TV, with the Brits and Americans dubbed in French, but the Germans in their original language, but subtitled. Weird. I suppose it still beats the French dubbed version of ‘Allo ‘Allo

Well, this has almost become a post Glad you’re at least publishing them more frequently than I am Take care mate.

(Oh, another great example: Kelly’s Heroes, perhaps not incidentally a war movie as well, has Yugoslav extras doing German whereas the Americans use nothing but anachronisms – notably the 1960′s hippie-speak of Donald Sutherland. But now I have indeed talked too much. Cheerio!)

I even had trouble ignoring the fact that the Russians and Germans in Enemy at the Gates spoke English (many with a British accent, ironically). At least in Schindler’s List, the Germans spoke English with thick German accents.

Thanks for commenting. I’d visited Wildmind a few times in the past when looking up things about Buddhist mantras; I’m subscribed to your blog now.

When I start looking for the logical flaws in SciFi programs I get driven crazy!

If they do get to Earth it’ll be interesting to see what era of Earth’s history it is. If human beings brought the classic gods with them then the ancient Greeks were the descendants of the 13th tribe. The Fleet thus might arrive at the siege of Troy, in in modern times, or in our future!

I’m sure they’ll all continue to speak English, however, just so that the story can unfold smoothly.

If they did have some language aspect in the show, it would have to be a large story point, otherwise it’s just an annoying quirk that gets in the way and doesn’t help the story along . . .