MovieChat Forums > Akira (1988) Discussion > Something I hate about IMDb ratings...

Something I hate about IMDb ratings...

posted 12 years ago by jackstarr777
17 replies | jump to latest

If it wasn't for that awful English dubbed version, this film would have at least about 8.3 rather than 7.9, but unfortunately nobody can be bothered to read subtitles and instead were all put off by Tetsuo's threat of "if you scratch that, I'm gonna kill your ass!" and various other lines of ridiculous dialog that would never have occurred in Otomo's original script.

Both English versions are appalling, as we can all agree, and the original Japanese version, how IT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN, is the only way to watch this film properly. If people did this, they would realise that it is one of the best films ever made.

Thoughts, gentlemen?

[–] sbaldwin999 12 years ago

I have only seen the Pioneer dub so I can't say... but I do love the movie and gave it a 10/10. I would be very interested to see the Japanese version w/ english subs though, so I can experience the way it was written, like you say.

I have read the manga released by Dark Horse though, and even though it's also translated I will say that the Pioneer dub did capture some the ways that the characters talk and interact in the Manga nicely. For example, Kaisuke in the movie was exactly how I interpreted him in the book and even had a voice almost exactly how I heard it my head when I read it.

I am waiting for some ultimate edition Blu-ray to come out, hopefully that will be soon. Then I will be able to experience the movie the way it was originally written but for now, I am perfectly happy with my Pioneer dub... definitely one of my all time favorites :)

[–] jessemon11 12 years ago

Best films ever made? Mmmmmk.

[–] theknucklejoe 12 years ago

Personally love some of the cheesy dialogue in the first dub. "THAT... PEA-BRAIN?!" "Shut up! *slap* Shut up! *slap* Shut up! *slap* GOT IT?!" "Yer bike's still burnin' man!" "I'd be better off with my old man!"

Of course, the new dub also has the line about Tetsuo being a crackhead, haha.

I dunno. I guess I just appreciate ridiculous or stupid things more than most. Definitely love this movie though. One of my favorites.

Stay classy psychotic nerds. -Thradar

[–] jephiachantharath 12 years ago

you are right! I hate it when there are films that are very close to the top 250 (which isn't important to saying what films are actually good) the only other film I can think of is Halloween (1978) it also has a 7.9 like Akira.

But to your point of the dubbing, yeah whenever english dubbing comes into play with anime, it usually doesn't come out so well. I wish Akira got the treatment Spirited away got, where the people didn't change the words at all. of course it's at least a 10 year difference between the two films, and the dubbing company (hah) had more sympathy for Miyuzaki's films.

The bottom line, you shouldn't think so much about what a website thinks of a movie, what matters most is your own opinion.

[–] jackstarr777 12 years ago

Yeah, I really agree there... There's so many films that deserve a spot on the top 250 that can't get up there because of stupid little things like that.

"I am a mushroom-cloud laying motherf-cker, motherf-cker!"

[–] jackstarr777 12 years ago

It's finally up to an 8.0... I feel so much better.

"I am a mushroom-cloud laying motherf-cker, motherf-cker!"

[–] LaLlama 12 years ago

I watch films to watch.

I'll only read subtitles if its a live action foreign film, but other than that, if I want to read, I get a book.

Damn weeaboos.

[–] jackstarr777 12 years ago

How does it make a difference whether they're live action or animated?

"I am a mushroom-cloud laying motherf-cker, motherf-cker!"

[–] LaLlama 12 years ago

Because it is odd seeing a foriegner speaking english out of sync.

Cartoons are not real people, therefore, the linguistics don't seem as out of place.

[–] jackstarr777 12 years ago

They feel amazingly out of place to me, but, everyone's different, I guess...

"I am a mushroom-cloud laying motherf-cker, motherf-cker!"

[–] Etherdave 11 years ago

Comments against the English dub are justified; the track is of its time, but actually compares favourably against other english tracks of foreign, animated films of the period. Nevertheless it is a Japanese film, and was not originally intended to be heard in any language other than Japanese. The deficiencies of the English dub, however, do not detract from my enjoyment of the film.

[–] Kawada_Kira (7269) 3 years ago

This is such a dumb comment. One doesn't have to be a "weeaboo" to prefer the original acting over dubs. And reading subtitles takes no effort whatsoever.

[–] Strazdamonas 11 years ago

You should not blame IMDB rating system but instead blame those lazy people that never bothered to learn to read.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

[–] b_havag 11 years ago

How about ladies...?

The rating averages and number of votes on IMDb is a result of popularity and not quality. Of course, quality has quite a lot to say for popularity, but they are far from synonymous. That is why a quite good blockbuster will often rank ahead of a great foreign movie when popularity is the deciding factor. Example: The Avengers is #153 while Akira is #328 as of today (I am a Pro-subscriber)

I really doubt that a bad english subtitling has made that kind of a difference. The best Ghibli-movies also has some questionable english subs, but have higher ratings because they are much better known, just as good and appeals to a wider audience. Apparently bad subs didn`t harm them much.