Way back in 2015 we published an article exploring some of the bizarre renaming that goes on when US and British TV shows and movies are exported to non-English speaking countries - often their titles, quite simply, get lost in translation. For instance, in Hungary Die Hard was called "Give Your Life Expensive", and in Finland The Big Bang Theory was called "Spectacles Fogged Up". But by far my favourite translated title we unearthed back then was the Japanese one given to Jersey Shore - "The New Jersey life of the Macaroni Assholes" which manages to be racist, offensive and allows you to completely infer exactly what the show is about (after complaints it was eventually changed to "Macaroni Rascals", so clearly the racism wasn't an issue for them).
The internet is a wormhole, you don't need me to tell you that, and after rediscovering said article I thought I'd venture down that wormhole and see what other Japanese translation titles I could find. This is what I discovered. A load of literal translations, so many funny ones and many other translations that just don't make any sense whatsoever...
Army Of Darkness was titled "Captain Supermarket"
Definitely in the 'no sense' pile, the 1992 American comedy horror film directed and co-written by Sam Raimi was retitled to "Captain Supermarket". I do not even know why but I can speculate that perhaps it's something to do with the big old can of Bruce Campbell soup on the poster and some Japanese executive noting the clever positioning of the actor's name and thinking "where do you get canned goods from? - a supermarket!" and running with that. Perhaps??? I mean, S-Mart appears in Army Of Darkness but only briefly. Anyone got any ideas?
"Being John Malkovich" transformed into "The Hole of Malkovich"
Dirty boy! With a title that conjures images which are both intriguing and inappropriate, one can only hope that Japanese audiences weren't expecting a different genre of film altogether. I wonder how many asked for their money back?
"Napoleon Dynamite" became "Bus Man"
Although the original English language title appeared on the cover, the translation above said something quite different! Despite the film having little to do with buses, the Japanese title suggests a public transport-themed superhero. Perhaps the translators were as quirky as Napoleon himself? Or maybe someone just had a school-bus image to use up?
"The Horse Whisperer" was retitled "Held by Wind in Montana"
This poetic yet vague title could easily be mistaken for a travel documentary about breezy days in Big Sky Country. Or possibly an enforced day off work after an undercooked curry the night before has left you with a very rumbly tummy! Either way, the equestrian element seems to have been lost in translation, much like a tumbleweed in the prairie (and that also works as a euphemism!).
"Jersey Girl" was titled "I Love My Dad The Best In The World"
No mention of macaroni this time round, but this saccharine title suggests a wholesome family film, which might have led to some awkward family movie nights given the film's actual content.
Ferris Beuller's Day Off was titled "Ferris, Suddenly One Morning"
It's like the start of a sentence that just trails off to nothing. And doesn't really work for the film at all.
"Almost Famous" was titled "Back In Those Days With Penny Lane"
This title sounds more like a nostalgic memoir than a rock 'n' roll coming-of-age story. While Penny Lane is a significant character, the focus shift is as subtle as a Led Zeppelin guitar solo.
"Me Before You" became "To The Person I Hate Most In The World"
This dramatic reimagining of the title adds an unexpected layer of animosity to a romantic narrative. It's as if the translators decided to inject some soap opera-level tension into the mix.
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was titled "Austin Powers Deluxe"
Which really makes Austin Powers sound like a upgraded fast food item. I'll take one Austin Powers Deluxe with cheese please.
"Grease" became "Vaseline"
In Japan, the classic musical "Grease" was retitled "Vaseline," which might leave audiences slipping in confusion. I guess it does sorta work, at least you can understand the logic in the translation, but think of the song? Poor old Frankie Valli belting out "Vaseline is the word!"
"Boogie Nights" was titled "Wild Speed"
This energetic title sounds more like a racing video game than a film about the adult entertainment industry. Perhaps the translators were aiming for a more family-friendly appeal, albeit misleadingly.
You Only Live Twice was titled "007 Dies Twice"
Spoiler alert - he doesn't! Of course, in the film the rather awkward title (of which James Bond has a long history off) makes sense thanks to a fake out death scene and Blofeld saying those four words to James Bond. Bond may be in his "second life" but dying twice, as this title infers, is completely different to living twice.
Unless, of course, the title refers to the general aura of boredom that Sean Connery exudes throughout the film and a Japanese executive noting that he was dying inside whilst filming it - then it makes perfect sense!
These Japanese retitles showcase the challenges and occasional hilarity that arise when Western films are introduced to new audiences. Whether through cultural differences, marketing strategies, or sheer mistranslation, these titles offer a glimpse into the unpredictable world of international film adaptation.
No comments:
Post a Comment