Comments on: Forget the French: Canadian Bilingual DVD Artwork Atrocities http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/ Blog And Podcast Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:39:48 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Simon says http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-660592 Simon says Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:08:31 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-660592 This list wouldn't be quite as petty and silly (not to mention anal), if the author would stick to design issues. But to complain about the titles themselves? All of these are taken from the French release titles, who often have their own history and reasoning. "Max the Menace" is lame? Well, maybe, but that's what the original series was called in the 1960s, so of course the remake is called the same. Why not call "Ghostbusters" "S.O.S. Fantomes"?, "Ghostbusters" doesn't mean anything to a French person. And how funny that he makes fun of the word "ananas" which is used in many languages as opposed to the one in which "pineapple" is used. Maybe the English language title is the problem then? This list seems to exist to show off the author's smug attitude rather than visual crimes. P.S. I am neither French nor French-Canadian, I'm just amused that someone with little understanding of French or French movie culture wants to spill his wit and wisdom about it... This list wouldn’t be quite as petty and silly (not to mention anal), if the author would stick to design issues. But to complain about the titles themselves? All of these are taken from the French release titles, who often have their own history and reasoning. “Max the Menace” is lame? Well, maybe, but that’s what the original series was called in the 1960s, so of course the remake is called the same. Why not call “Ghostbusters” “S.O.S. Fantomes”?, “Ghostbusters” doesn’t mean anything to a French person. And how funny that he makes fun of the word “ananas” which is used in many languages as opposed to the one in which “pineapple” is used. Maybe the English language title is the problem then?

This list seems to exist to show off the author’s smug attitude rather than visual crimes.

P.S. I am neither French nor French-Canadian, I’m just amused that someone with little understanding of French or French movie culture wants to spill his wit and wisdom about it…

]]> By: Casey http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-656399 Casey Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:22:48 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-656399 Having French on the packaging quite frankly ruins the collection. I'll usually buy the damn french covered version here and print off a new cover with original art from the internet. (I'll do this anyway if its a classic film and for some reason they put on new crappier artwork) but if it comes in a box (Simpsons season sets etc.) I have to order it from the States, and that can be a pain in the ass. And to those who make fun of us for hating to have tarnished collections, just remember that the movie companies want to eventually eliminate the physical medium of DVD and BluRay so they cam sell digital downloads. Its the collectors that will be the only ones left wanting to buy discs, and why would they want their collections tainted with butchered art work? Having French on the packaging quite frankly ruins the collection. I’ll usually buy the damn french covered version here and print off a new cover with original art from the internet. (I’ll do this anyway if its a classic film and for some reason they put on new crappier artwork) but if it comes in a box (Simpsons season sets etc.) I have to order it from the States, and that can be a pain in the ass.

And to those who make fun of us for hating to have tarnished collections, just remember that the movie companies want to eventually eliminate the physical medium of DVD and BluRay so they cam sell digital downloads. Its the collectors that will be the only ones left wanting to buy discs, and why would they want their collections tainted with butchered art work?

]]> By: David Walsh http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-653749 David Walsh Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:36:47 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-653749 As an Australian who lived in Canada for 5 years(2 years in Quebec) and wanted to learn the French language, I found the premise of English and French on most advertising a great help. I know it is different for Canadians who are sick of the governmental push for equality. I found it fascinating, educational and fun to see the strange ways they had translated a lot commercial products. Tabarnac!! c'est drole. As an Australian who lived in Canada for 5 years(2 years in Quebec) and wanted to learn the French language, I found the premise of English and French on most advertising a great help. I know it is different for Canadians who are sick of the governmental push for equality.

I found it fascinating, educational and fun to see the strange ways they had translated a lot commercial products.

Tabarnac!! c’est drole.

]]> By: Xhubb http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-635918 Xhubb Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:02:16 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-635918 That being said, I disagree that the only people who complain about issues such as this one are motivated by an appreciation for art. So I hope you understand that statements such as the "Forget the French" in the title are a little misleading. It's worth pointing out that there are plenty of communities outside Quebec where French is spoken, although they don't have the same visibility through numbers. For example, Winnipeg has a university that offers all its courses and services in French, New Brunswick is entirely bilingual, and then there are the Acadians who against all odds are present and still speak French in a few scattered communities. French-speaking pockets in provinces like Manitoba were previously much stronger than they are now, but it wouldn't be very surprising if within a couple generations French was all but gone from these communities. You and I agree that this is not due to whether the French title of Ghost Busters is present on the DVD case, but I hope you understand where I'm coming from anyway. That being said, I disagree that the only people who complain about issues such as this one are motivated by an appreciation for art. So I hope you understand that statements such as the “Forget the French” in the title are a little misleading.

It’s worth pointing out that there are plenty of communities outside Quebec where French is spoken, although they don’t have the same visibility through numbers. For example, Winnipeg has a university that offers all its courses and services in French, New Brunswick is entirely bilingual, and then there are the Acadians who against all odds are present and still speak French in a few scattered communities.

French-speaking pockets in provinces like Manitoba were previously much stronger than they are now, but it wouldn’t be very surprising if within a couple generations French was all but gone from these communities. You and I agree that this is not due to whether the French title of Ghost Busters is present on the DVD case, but I hope you understand where I’m coming from anyway.

]]> By: Xhubb http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-635861 Xhubb Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:55:13 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-635861 So I apologize if I was rude or mischaracterized you guys. The dubbing can indeed at times also be a disaster. And why are there DVDs where it is actually not possible to turn subtitles off? So I apologize if I was rude or mischaracterized you guys. The dubbing can indeed at times also be a disaster. And why are there DVDs where it is actually not possible to turn subtitles off?

]]> By: Xhubb http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-635844 Xhubb Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:20:14 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-635844 It's true that several of our language laws in Canada are a little over the top. I also see how having to strain to be able to read your language of choice would be a nuisance. I don't understand how having two languages in itself destroys the aesthetics of a DVD cover. In most cases, I find the critics' blurbs and the "Special offer inside!" or "Unrated edition!" advertisements to be as much of an eyesore as anything. But I agree that there was no need to put the French title of Gattaca on the cover of Gattaca. I've of course seen these examples, not just on DVD covers, where the same word's put twice, as if a French-speaking person would somehow be totally baffled by an English word that's identical to the French word. Or sometimes the French is actually just bad French because the company knew they needed to put something on their label that passed as French, but didn't have the money or didn't see the need to hire someone specifically for the purpose. So you guys are the collectors and I'm not. Personally, as an English speaker, I enjoy having exposure to French, and would be upset if that were taken away. But it's not really French on DVD covers that I get anything out of. Way more it's things like listening Radio Canada. If funding were moved from monitoring DVD covers to giving French instruction in school that actually teaches French, or any other language for that matter, to English-speaking people (it actually is possible despite the general perception), then I would not have even the slightest regret. I see how a restriction on the freedom to get the copies that you're interested in could be a nuisance, so maybe I missed your point, in which case my comments were misplaced. It seems to me that Goon's double-sided insert suggestion is a good solution if this is a problem. It’s true that several of our language laws in Canada are a little over the top. I also see how having to strain to be able to read your language of choice would be a nuisance.

I don’t understand how having two languages in itself destroys the aesthetics of a DVD cover. In most cases, I find the critics’ blurbs and the “Special offer inside!” or “Unrated edition!” advertisements to be as much of an eyesore as anything. But I agree that there was no need to put the French title of Gattaca on the cover of Gattaca. I’ve of course seen these examples, not just on DVD covers, where the same word’s put twice, as if a French-speaking person would somehow be totally baffled by an English word that’s identical to the French word. Or sometimes the French is actually just bad French because the company knew they needed to put something on their label that passed as French, but didn’t have the money or didn’t see the need to hire someone specifically for the purpose.

So you guys are the collectors and I’m not. Personally, as an English speaker, I enjoy having exposure to French, and would be upset if that were taken away. But it’s not really French on DVD covers that I get anything out of. Way more it’s things like listening Radio Canada. If funding were moved from monitoring DVD covers to giving French instruction in school that actually teaches French, or any other language for that matter, to English-speaking people (it actually is possible despite the general perception), then I would not have even the slightest regret.

I see how a restriction on the freedom to get the copies that you’re interested in could be a nuisance, so maybe I missed your point, in which case my comments were misplaced. It seems to me that Goon’s double-sided insert suggestion is a good solution if this is a problem.

]]> By: Josh http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-635602 Josh Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:33:58 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-635602 I really think you're missing the point on this one. The only people who are "hypersensitive" about the issue, as you say, are people who enjoy collecting DVD/Blu-ray and are proud to show them off by displaying them on their shelves. If you're showing off a piece of art, obviously you want it to be seen as it was meant to be seen. Graphically altering the art to conform with language laws hurts the original artistic intent. The fact that some of us display our collection is the reason why some people are a bit sensitive about it. Another problem that has been brought up is the fact that the plot synopsis and special features listed on the back are also translated into French, reducing the already small text to about half its size to fit everything in both languages. Not all of us have perfect vision, including myself. Even with glasses, I have to squint to read the cases sometimes. Ultimately, we want it to be seen as it should. If the film is in English, put English titles. If the film is in French, put French. If the film itself is bilingual, get creative and make the covers bilingual. I'm not doubting the blessing of a second language (I'm bilingual myself), but perhaps such avenues would be better explored elsewhere. I really think you’re missing the point on this one. The only people who are “hypersensitive” about the issue, as you say, are people who enjoy collecting DVD/Blu-ray and are proud to show them off by displaying them on their shelves. If you’re showing off a piece of art, obviously you want it to be seen as it was meant to be seen. Graphically altering the art to conform with language laws hurts the original artistic intent. The fact that some of us display our collection is the reason why some people are a bit sensitive about it. Another problem that has been brought up is the fact that the plot synopsis and special features listed on the back are also translated into French, reducing the already small text to about half its size to fit everything in both languages. Not all of us have perfect vision, including myself. Even with glasses, I have to squint to read the cases sometimes. Ultimately, we want it to be seen as it should. If the film is in English, put English titles. If the film is in French, put French. If the film itself is bilingual, get creative and make the covers bilingual. I’m not doubting the blessing of a second language (I’m bilingual myself), but perhaps such avenues would be better explored elsewhere.

]]> By: Xhubb http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-635504 Xhubb Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:44:30 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-635504 I think you guys might be better off finding a more constructive way to spend your time. Countries all over the world are multilingual. For example, the tiny Central American country of Guatemala has something like 21 different Mayan languages in active use, in addition to Spanish. South Africa has eleven official languages. It's not really that big of a deal. The very limited amounts of French that we have access to in English-speaking Canada is actually a blessing. Being exposed to a second language is an opportunity. So it's on DVD covers. Are you guys really so hypersensitive that you can't handle having another language written on your DVD covers? It spoils the aesthetics? I really don't understand how. Try taking the opportunity to do something interesting like learning another language. See the world. Meet a hot girl that speaks French or Spanish or something. Something interesting at least. I just don't understand the issue of how the existence of two languages on the cover infringes upon the aesthetics and why, of all things, you would be worried about that. I think you guys might be better off finding a more constructive way to spend your time. Countries all over the world are multilingual. For example, the tiny Central American country of Guatemala has something like 21 different Mayan languages in active use, in addition to Spanish. South Africa has eleven official languages. It’s not really that big of a deal. The very limited amounts of French that we have access to in English-speaking Canada is actually a blessing. Being exposed to a second language is an opportunity. So it’s on DVD covers. Are you guys really so hypersensitive that you can’t handle having another language written on your DVD covers? It spoils the aesthetics? I really don’t understand how. Try taking the opportunity to do something interesting like learning another language. See the world. Meet a hot girl that speaks French or Spanish or something. Something interesting at least. I just don’t understand the issue of how the existence of two languages on the cover infringes upon the aesthetics and why, of all things, you would be worried about that.

]]> By: Goon http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-631676 Goon Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:19:03 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-631676 "Do we have to change all boxes In French speaking only for the 8 millions living in Quebec for defend able artistic values?" No, the argument is as simple as this. The paper is already printed on both sides. Both sides are bilingual, but on each side one comes first, one comes second. We propose one side all French, one side all English, so you can preserve better design AND get the language you prefer. “Do we have to change all boxes In French speaking only for the 8 millions living in Quebec for defend able artistic values?”

No, the argument is as simple as this. The paper is already printed on both sides. Both sides are bilingual, but on each side one comes first, one comes second. We propose one side all French, one side all English, so you can preserve better design AND get the language you prefer.

]]> By: Goon http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-631672 Goon Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:14:07 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-631672 I think Shut-Up-Ed needs to look up "New France" on wikipedia and understand how much French blood is among his ancestors. For all the France bashing in the US they really don't seem to realize how much of it is part of their heritage. I think Shut-Up-Ed needs to look up “New France” on wikipedia and understand how much French blood is among his ancestors. For all the France bashing in the US they really don’t seem to realize how much of it is part of their heritage.

]]> By: Walsh http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-631614 Walsh Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:14:00 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-631614 Mr Shut-up Ed , there are a pretty bunch of "french a -holes in your country ", even one of your relative might be one of them.... there are proud Canadians as well ( AND NOT AS SEPARATIST AS YOU MAY THINK...)and believe me there are here to stay and to continue fighting for their languages until they die... Those comments just show why there are always been tension in this nation. We are always "walking on eggs" when we are talking about those languages issues... Yes i do believe French must be shown and taught even more in our country. The point is...is it truly ruining art collection???? The answer is subjective , for Josh I do see your points but honestly... for all the boxes shown in this site...I see maybe two or three movies out there that needs maybe a refreshment. If the french language version is in the box, why it is not making sense to sell the bilingual boxes all across Canada??? Do we have to change all boxes In French speaking only for the 8 millions living in Quebec for defend able artistic values? I just say and repeat again The french language is a symbol of survival in Canada not only a way to communicate.. there is no way we can do anything about it ....because there were existing inequities between the two cultures for more than 300 years ... It's only since the 60"s that it has changed for the better... the scars are still open out there for many generations to come ...Hope to clarify.... and ...peace... no hateful comments please .. you may agree or disagree but please respect .... Mr Shut-up Ed , there are a pretty bunch of “french a -holes in your country “, even one of your relative might be one of them…. there are proud Canadians as well ( AND NOT AS SEPARATIST AS YOU MAY THINK…)and believe me there are here to stay and to continue fighting for their languages until they die… Those comments just show why there are always been tension in this nation. We are always “walking on eggs” when we are talking about those languages issues… Yes i do believe French must be shown and taught even more in our country.

The point is…is it truly ruining art collection???? The answer is subjective , for Josh I do see your points but honestly… for all the boxes shown in this site…I see maybe two or three movies out there that needs maybe a refreshment. If the french language version is in the box, why it is not making sense to sell the bilingual boxes all across Canada??? Do we have to change all boxes In French speaking only for the 8 millions living in Quebec for defend able artistic values? I just say and repeat again The french language is a symbol of survival in Canada not only a way to communicate.. there is no way we can do anything about it ….because there were existing inequities between the two cultures for more than 300 years … It’s only since the 60″s that it has changed for the better… the scars are still open out there for many generations to come …Hope to clarify…. and …peace… no hateful comments please .. you may agree or disagree but please respect ….

]]> By: Shut-Up Ed http://www.filmjunk.com/2009/06/18/forget-the-french-canadian-bilingual-dvd-artwork-atrocities/comment-page-1/#comment-630322 Shut-Up Ed Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:49:50 +0000 http://www.filmjunk.com/?p=22178#comment-630322 Just goes to show you, the French are a-holes... even if you mix in some Canadian. Just goes to show you, the French are a-holes… even if you mix in some Canadian.

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