I wish I new about this before I had gone out and purchased the DVD for the beautiful horror film Let The Right One In (Andrew’s Review) but since I didn’t I can at least warn everyone else. Icons of Fright just posted a series of screen shots that show how terrible the subtitles for the North American release really is.
Here is an example from Sweden:
and here is the same shot from North America
Digital Bits has contacted the distributor and Magnet has said they will no longer be releasing the current version of the DVD but all DVDs printed now will have the proper subtitles. Unfortunately there is no plan for refunds or exchanges.
“There are no exchanges. We are going to make an alternate version available however. For those that wish to purchase a version with the theatrical subtitles, it will be called out in the tech specs box at the back/bottom of the package where it will list SUBTITLES: ENGLISH (Theatrical), SPANISH.”
This sucks for me and anyone else who has already purchased the DVDs but if you haven’t just keep a watch on the packaging and make sure you get the correct version.
If you would like to complain here is their email address dvd@magpictures.com e-mail address. I would only suggest doing so if you purchased the DVD already and feel that they should provide an exchange.
This discussion currently has 15 responses.
you are all so well-adjusted and interested in everything...
March 26, 2009
Yeah I’m pretty livid about this. I already contacted Magnet but they’ve yet to reply. The no-exchange thing is utter bullshit – for $40, I want a hell of a lot more from my supplier.
Some of the translation gaps are so bad that it was only my passable ability to follow Swedish that got my girlfriend and I through our first screening of the blu-ray.
March 26, 2009
I was about to say you got ripped off at the $40 thing but then I realized you bought the blu-ray.
I’ve heard a lot of people basically say they are just going to pirate the new version because they bought the first copy. I can’t really say I disagree with them.
March 26, 2009
Email Mark Cuban. Seriously.
mark.cuban@dallasmavs.com
March 26, 2009
I also have to say that for a title that was so highly anticipated they crapped out on the extras. A pointless “making of” and poster artwork. Come on!
It’s frustrating considering that the Swedish release is a full on special edition.
Hopefully the UK release will be better or they are just gearing up for a double dip.
March 26, 2009
this is sickening.
i want an explanation though. what possibly was going through their mind???
March 26, 2009
The swedish DVD has english subtitles aswell. I have no idea if they’re any good though.
If you have a region-free DVD player you might want to look into buying the film directly from sweden.
March 26, 2009
Where is a good place to buy Swedish dvds online?
March 26, 2009
I don’t really buy alot of DVD’s online. But
http://www.cdon.se
is one of the bigger sites i think.
Then there’s
http://www.megastore.se
which might be the easiest as I just noticed you can change the language to english there. And choose what currency to display.
Here’s the english version:
http://english.megastore.se/
Search for “Låt den rätte komma in” for let the right one in.
March 26, 2009
But as I said, I haven’t viewed the english subtitles on the swedish DVD so it might be the same as the US version.
Oh, and on a related note and just because I felt like it here’s a short list of the very few actually good “recent” swedish movies: (in no particular order)
Fyra nyanser av brunt (2004)
(by the same director as “let the right one in”)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0342636/
Tic Tac (1997)
(huh, just found out it’s by the brother of the director of “let the right one in”)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120329/
Smala Sussie (2003)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323998/
Farväl Falkenberg (2006)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0855805/
Sånger från andra våningen (2000)
(and check the directors other movies)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120263/
Psalmer från köket (2003)
(Ok, this might be more norwegian, but I think it’s a bit swedish too, it’s great anyway!)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323872/
Lilja 4-ever (2002)
(check out his movies before this one too)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300140/
Den Osynlige (2002)
(not great but pretty good, hollywood did a remake called “the invisible” or something)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298491/
Vägen ut (1999)
(haven’t seen this comedy for ages but I do remember really liking it)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177347/
Stockholm Boogie (2005) (
might not be the deepest movie but I was really entertained by it, some really nice stockholm summer scenery too)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0488853/
Hamilton (1998)
(one of the few okay swedish action films.. and there’s really really few of those, Mark Hamill plays the villain (!))
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119249/
Masjävlar (2004)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439695/
Vuxna människor (1999)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183992/
Hmm.. I spent way too much time on this.
March 27, 2009
I remember Hamilton was shown here in Iceland in the cinemas and then as a TV series. It wasn’t that good.
But I would love to see the Bert series that the director of Let the right one in, did again. I loved those as a kid.
March 27, 2009
Yeah, I probably got a bit carried away with getting more different kinds of movies in there. I hardly remember Vuxna Människor at all so it probably shouldn’t be there either. I just vaguely remember liking it.
I really recommend the rest though.
March 28, 2009
is the Canadian release different from the US one, since Canada is put out by Mongrel and the US is from magnolia?
March 28, 2009
Ugh. Unfortunately I have to confirm the Canadian Mongrel media release was also ruined.
May 30, 2010
struggling to get ENGLISH subtitles for Tic Tac (1997) – anybody out there got any helpful suggestions/sources/etc?
May 30, 2010
Kloofy.net is good for asian related stuff but they have lots more besides. Otherwise, google searching may yield something. Maybe not though.