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Lost in Translation: German Titles
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3310
8.5
8.8
Zwei glorreiche Halunken (Two glorious scoundrels)
Two? At least they put only two of them on the posters for that movie so it will suit the absurd title.
Two? At least they put only two of them on the posters for that movie so it will suit the absurd title.
karmacomatic's rating:
3019
7.5
7.8
Hot Fuzz (2007)
Hot Fuzz - Zwei abgewichste Profis (impossible to translate)
abgewichst is a word which actually no one uses. It sort of means cool or something but to be honest it's related to the verb wichsen which means to jerk off. Hot Fuzz - two cool guys jerking off. Thank you very much.
abgewichst is a word which actually no one uses. It sort of means cool or something but to be honest it's related to the verb wichsen which means to jerk off. Hot Fuzz - two cool guys jerking off. Thank you very much.
karmacomatic's rating:
1645
7.8
7.8
Zombies im Kaufhaus (Zombies in the Mall)
Summarizing the story in three words...
Summarizing the story in three words...
karmacomatic's rating:
17
5.8
5.1
The Pope Must Die (1991)
Ein Papst zum küssen (A Pope to Kiss)
Popes don't die around here, you know?
Popes don't die around here, you know?
273
6.8
6.9
Nine to Five (1980)
Warum eigentlich... bringen wir den Chef nicht um? (Why don't we rather kill the boss?)
Yes, why?
Yes, why?
769
6.7
7.2
We Were Soldiers (2002)
Wir waren Helden (We were Heroes)
Not exactly the same thing, is it?
Not exactly the same thing, is it?
2076
7.2
7.7
Airplane! (1980)
Die unglaubliche Reise in einem verrückten Flugzeug (The amazing journey in a crazy airplane)
Right, Airplane was hard to remember...
Right, Airplane was hard to remember...
351
7.8
8
Wenn Brüder aufeinander schießen müssen (When brothers have to shoot each other)
That just sounds stupid.
That just sounds stupid.
62
4.6
5.5
Mo' Money (1992)
Meh' Geld
While it's common to shorten up more into mo in some sort of slang it isn't in German. Really it isn't. No one would do it ever. They did though. Epic fail
While it's common to shorten up more into mo in some sort of slang it isn't in German. Really it isn't. No one would do it ever. They did though. Epic fail
288
6.3
6.6
The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)
Agent Null Null Nix zu wenig). That would've been to easy I guess.
1030
6.8
7.1
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Ich glaub ich steh im Wald (I think I am in the woods)
To be fair this is a German idiom which means "Well, I'll be damned" or something like that so the whole woods thing is only absurd if you don't know the idiom. But still it is a stupid title which says nothing about that movie and makes it look like some ridiculous c movie.
To be fair this is a German idiom which means "Well, I'll be damned" or something like that so the whole woods thing is only absurd if you don't know the idiom. But still it is a stupid title which says nothing about that movie and makes it look like some ridiculous c movie.
2915
6.6
6.8
Cruel Intentions (1999)
Eiskalte Engel (Ice cold Angels)
This is not as bad as any of those posted before but it is still not really good either.
This is not as bad as any of those posted before but it is still not really good either.
karmacomatic's rating:
3566
7.5
7.8
Wie ein einziger Tag (Like a single day)
This sounds like it came out of a randomizer for cliche titles for romantic comedies. At least pretend to make an effort.
This sounds like it came out of a randomizer for cliche titles for romantic comedies. At least pretend to make an effort.
224
6.7
6.9
Ruthless People (1986)
Die unglaubliche Entführung der verrückten Mrs. Stone (The incredible kidnapping of the crazy Mrs. Stone)
Basically, they took the (already bad) idea from Airplane (see #11) and made it worse.
Basically, they took the (already bad) idea from Airplane (see #11) and made it worse.
953
5.9
6.4
Accepted (2006)
S.H.I.T. – Die High School GmbH (S.H.I.T. - The High School Company)
What people should that title attract to watch this film? Brainless wankers is the only answer I can think of. Typical example for a comedy who doesn't have a chance in Germany because of its horrendous title.
What people should that title attract to watch this film? Brainless wankers is the only answer I can think of. Typical example for a comedy who doesn't have a chance in Germany because of its horrendous title.
7
10
5.8
Mr. Ricco (1975)
Was nützt dem toten Hund ein Beefsteak? (What's the use of a beef steak to a dead dog?)
Can anyone explain that one?
Can anyone explain that one?
331
5.6
6
3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)
Crime is King
Another fake English title where a translation of the original title would have been fine.
Another fake English title where a translation of the original title would have been fine.
930
5.9
6.5
Cellular (2004)
Final Call – Wenn er auflegt muss sie sterben (Final Call - When he hangs up she has to die)
Another fine example for everything that's wrong with German titles sometimes. Fake English title? Check. Unnecessary subtitle which explains the fake English title? Check.
Another fine example for everything that's wrong with German titles sometimes. Fake English title? Check. Unnecessary subtitle which explains the fake English title? Check.
642
7
7
Das Jahr 2022. Die überleben wollen. (The year 2022. Those who want to survive.)
The plot is all about Soylent Green, this is what the movie is about. Why on earth would you change the title?
The plot is all about Soylent Green, this is what the movie is about. Why on earth would you change the title?
This list is a compilation of German titles for movies made in a foreign language. It was inspired by the great Lost in Translation: Portuguese Titles list.
Germans tend to do three different major mistakes when trying to transform a foreign title into German.
I Give an English title an alternative English title.
Right, so you assume people can't understand basic English but you still use an English title which has mostly nothing in common with the actual story.
II Give the original title a subtitle.
Best example would be Scream. Everyone who went to that movie knows what the word scream means. There's even a girl screaming on the poster! The German subtitle is of course Schrei which means scream. Instead of just taking the English title or the translation they used both. Clever, really clever.
III Make the title something ridiculous so that everyone thinks it is some sort of dumb comedy made by even dumber people.
While I know it's not the easiest job to translate titles and make them fit into the language it is rather astonishing to see how some movies never had the chance to become famous here 'cause the title would be either stupid or misleading.
I hope I can explain the major absurd things people did when translating titles. Those used are the titles given in Germany, they can differ in Austria and Switzerland so they may be better there.
Feel free to recommend more titles.
(to be continued)
Germans tend to do three different major mistakes when trying to transform a foreign title into German.
I Give an English title an alternative English title.
Right, so you assume people can't understand basic English but you still use an English title which has mostly nothing in common with the actual story.
II Give the original title a subtitle.
Best example would be Scream. Everyone who went to that movie knows what the word scream means. There's even a girl screaming on the poster! The German subtitle is of course Schrei which means scream. Instead of just taking the English title or the translation they used both. Clever, really clever.
III Make the title something ridiculous so that everyone thinks it is some sort of dumb comedy made by even dumber people.
While I know it's not the easiest job to translate titles and make them fit into the language it is rather astonishing to see how some movies never had the chance to become famous here 'cause the title would be either stupid or misleading.
I hope I can explain the major absurd things people did when translating titles. Those used are the titles given in Germany, they can differ in Austria and Switzerland so they may be better there.
Feel free to recommend more titles.
(to be continued)
