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Thanks for posting, this subject has been really interesting to me. I have some friends and family members who just can't do subtitles. To the degree that they

Thanks for posting, this subject has been really interesting to me. I have some friends and family members who just can't do subtitles. To the degree that they take one look at the screen, see subtitles, and seem to deflate or let their attention drift away, move into a different room for a conversation, etc. So I try not to put those movies on when they're around. But I've noticed that these individuals don't really do complex films, either. In company, they generally prefer light conversations that flit from topic to topic. I have wondered if this natural capability for a refreshingly vibrant, wide-coverage attention-shifting mode (I am actually envious of it in some ways) brings a corresponding complication to the act of watching a movie. These people will often ask things like, "OK, so what's happening? I'm so lost." If you throw subtitles AND a complex plot into the mix, it's just so far out of their wheelhouse that they may straight up fall asleep, etc. I want to emphasize though that I don't think this reflects upon their intellect, rather that it's just a difference in how they operate. By the way I thought the film itself was great, not sure how one of the medical miracles in particular was even remotely possible while another one or two seemingly lesser medical issues were terminal, (hope that's not a spoiler) but it was just such an attractive film from the start in so many different ways. I do admit I would have preferred a more Ocean's 13-type departure from the social commentary approach if possible, but I think I've also shifted into a mindset of seeking out more gentle entertainment after overcoming depression.

reverse4k 7y ago
One data point - someone I know has dyslexia, which very rarely comes up in their day to day life (they're an avid reader of books and work in tech) but which apparently makes movies with subtitles completely unwatchable. Only 5-10% of people have dyslexia, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn there are other differences in language and cognition between different individuals that make a subtitled movie a challenge for more.
jjeaff 7y ago
Some may be fine with subtitles, but the fact of the matter is that most films are supposed to be visually immersive. You simply cannot focus on important subtleties in a film if your eyes have to be focused on a line of text across the bottom. The human eye actually has a very narrow range of in-focus vision. Not to mention the idea that cinematographers take great pains to frame every shot like a painting, telling a story visually. Movies with subtitles is like going to a museum where they have printed the name of the artist and the background information in big white block text on top of the painting itself.
- pavelrub 7y ago
  This is true only if you really aren’t used to watching films with subtitles. In many countries, foreign films with subtitles are the norm, and its what most people watch all the time. Once you are used to it - it doesn’t hurt immersions whatsoever, and reading subtitles is done almost subconsciously and require no discernible effort.
- theamk 7y ago
  One can absolutely feel immersed even with subtitles. After a while reading the text happens subconsciously in a fraction of a second. Given hiw slowly people usually speak, there is plenty if time to read subtitles and look for subtleties of the shots. Yes, there's a bit of a learning curve, but it is pretty easy afterwards.

reverse4k 7y ago

One data point - someone I know has dyslexia, which very rarely comes up in their day to day life (they're an avid reader of books and work in tech) but which apparently makes movies with subtitles completely unwatchable. Only 5-10% of people have dyslexia, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn there are other differences in language and cognition between different individuals that make a subtitled movie a challenge for more.

jjeaff 7y ago

Some may be fine with subtitles, but the fact of the matter is that most films are supposed to be visually immersive. You simply cannot focus on important subtleties in a film if your eyes have to be focused on a line of text across the bottom. The human eye actually has a very narrow range of in-focus vision. Not to mention the idea that cinematographers take great pains to frame every shot like a painting, telling a story visually. Movies with subtitles is like going to a museum where they have printed the name of the artist and the background information in big white block text on top of the painting itself.

pavelrub 7y ago
This is true only if you really aren’t used to watching films with subtitles. In many countries, foreign films with subtitles are the norm, and its what most people watch all the time. Once you are used to it - it doesn’t hurt immersions whatsoever, and reading subtitles is done almost subconsciously and require no discernible effort.
theamk 7y ago
One can absolutely feel immersed even with subtitles. After a while reading the text happens subconsciously in a fraction of a second. Given hiw slowly people usually speak, there is plenty if time to read subtitles and look for subtleties of the shots. Yes, there's a bit of a learning curve, but it is pretty easy afterwards.