Television Squid Game (Netflix)

Hectic

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The VIP's felt like they were being dubbed by people who had never spoken English before.
 

VeevaVee

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For non-English speakers who grew up watching American movies with subtitles, it's really puzzling to see so many English speakers preferring dubbing. I knew they did it in Germany but Germans have their quirks. I don't get how a grown-up person can watch a dubbed film or series and take it the least bit serious.
I think that's the point though..it's a very daft show, and the physical acting is pretty OTT at times too, so it's really just heightening the silliness.
 

Winrar

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The battle royale/hunger games type of stories are quite overdone so I wasn't too hyped at first, but the characterization, settings, and atmosphere are top notch. Also an interesting look into the human psyche and how far some are willing to go and sacrifice given extreme circumstances. This did suffer a bit from what I call the "Korean show syndrome" where first couple episodes are top notch and the quality of story gradually declines, but not nearly enough to ruin my enjoyment of the show.

I actually thought the dub was alright given the nature of this show, and I say this as someone who knows the language. Obviously the dub's going to lose some of the nuance and emotion from original language but given that handicap it was a fair performance. Like a lot of people say, the foreign actor VIPs were not that great, but the quality of acting of English speakers in Korean media are generally poor.

I wonder if Hollywood has any intentions of collaborating with Korean actors on a potential collaboration, but I'm not overly crazy about it. (in fact I would understand if more are actually against the idea than for)
 

United Hobbit

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I'm watching Alice in Borderland after seeing it was similar, I'm actually preferring it though did really enjoy squid game. Just think this is more threatening and darker.

However a bit disappointed with the below in episode 2

that they kept interrupting the game with the sex scene. I was enjoying the game and found the horse mask and guy with the gun really creepy, and felt the sex scene took away from it, wanted more game, less sex. Even if they could have done it before or after, then more footage of the game
 

OleBoiii

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Just finished it.

I liked it a lot, although the start was better than the end. The soundtrack is amazing and I loved the set-design. The acting was generally good apart from those fecking VIPs.

I like that the contestants actually got to leave once and then almost everyone came back. I thought that was a clever touch.

I find it a little far-fetched that almost 500 people in multiple countries can go missing annually around the same time with none of them returning for decades without the cops picking up on it. I get that the very rich control the world, but they go through so much hassle to hide everything so it's clear that they must keep it a secret.

Luckily, I have the ability to suspend my disbelief. Beyond the point above, there weren't any major plotholes that I can think of.
 

CassiusClaymore

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I am finished watching it.

So much blood but its very well done, the fecker who dreamt this up needs help, that high platform tug of war game is mental
I know they chop it with a guillotine but not quick enough to stop the entire other team getting dragged off as well. I'm not having it.

Agree with everyone about the VIP's. Just awful.
 

klayton88

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Going to start this tonight... Better with original audio and subtitles or the English dub?
 

Maluco

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I really enjoyed this. Episode 6 is as good an hour of Netflix as you are going to get. I thought it was so well done, and brilliantly acted.

I love the styling of these Korean shows and the cinematography. It just looks so glossy and really helps the world come alive.
 

McGrathsipan

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Going to start this tonight... Better with original audio and subtitles or the English dub?
the dub is fine after a while you dont even notice it - there is one manic woman in it and her dub sounds like a bad episode of the Power Rangers.
But overall its fine
 

Champ

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Going to start this tonight... Better with original audio and subtitles or the English dub?
Subtitles.
Dubbing never has the same emotions as the original soundtrack, this series is definitely one better off with subtitles
 

Sandikan

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Excellent show. You always know something is when you smash through all the episodes quick smart, with full attention.

I watched Alice in Borderland after, but with a few exceptions found it was more background fare, and nowhere near as compelling.
 

Mr Pigeon

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Mini rant but articles like this kind of tick me off.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58787264

Squid Game's "botched" subtitles have changed the show's meaning for English-speaking viewers, some Korean-speaking fans say.
Yeah, the subtitles being wrong is a shit thing. But what's even shitter is the BBC contacting Netflix for a comment about it, as if it's actually a massive deal compared to other services that have the accessibility of a wheelchair ramp made out of loose Lego bricks. Netflix provide subtitles for all of their content, whereas Amazon Prime have a large portion of their movies and shows that have zero subtitle options. Even their recent releases sometimes don't have any subtitles, and it's not even being discussed anywhere.
 

hmchan

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This series is so awful and overrated. Alice in Borderland is a much better survival drama.
 

choccy77

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So I was reading today that apparently the English translation doesn't give an accurate translation of a number of scenes.

Someone who speaks Korean has done a video on this and providing accurate translations.
 

Bosws87

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So I was reading today that apparently the English translation doesn't give an accurate translation of a number of scenes.

Someone who speaks Korean has done a video on this and providing accurate translations.
If you read the article they are referring to the closed captions which are generated in real time, the actual hard coded subtitles aren't perfect but they are pretty decent.

Youngmi's initial comments were about the closed-caption subtitles rather than the English language subtitles.
Closed captions are for people who are hard of hearing and include audio descriptions and sound effects, as well as speech. They're often automatically generated.

Youngmi has since clarified that the English language subtitles are "substantially better" than the closed-caption ones.
 

United Hobbit

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I've just watched episode 6 of Alice in Borderland oh my that ending and bombshell!

For me it comes close to Line of Duty and "urgent exit required"

Really want to watch the next episode but have work tomorrow so will have to wait until tomorrow.

I enjoyed Squid Game but in my opinion this is on another level. I'm not usually into other world stuff, but so far I'm seeing it as a dystopia.

It just feels so much more threatening, the games are lethal and the dark lighting etc makes it more intense, whereas SG was more brightly lit and the games while deadly, just had less perceived threat for me

I also care about the characters more in AiB, and the music really works well with the tension.

Interestingly my bf is the opposite and preferred SG and cared more about the characters in it

Any recommendations for similar greatly appreciated, usually I struggle to find a series I really get into, both have done this for me.
 

Utd heap

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I've just watched episode 6 of Alice in Borderland oh my that ending and bombshell!

For me it comes close to Line of Duty and "urgent exit required"

Really want to watch the next episode but have work tomorrow so will have to wait until tomorrow.

I enjoyed Squid Game but in my opinion this is on another level. I'm not usually into other world stuff, but so far I'm seeing it as a dystopia.

It just feels so much more threatening, the games are lethal and the dark lighting etc makes it more intense, whereas SG was more brightly lit and the games while deadly, just had less perceived threat for me

I also care about the characters more in AiB, and the music really works well with the tension.

Interestingly my bf is the opposite and preferred SG and cared more about the characters in it

Any recommendations for similar greatly appreciated, usually I struggle to find a series I really get into, both have done this for me.
Obvious shout if not already seen is the film Battle Royale. Proper classic. Not a series admittedly.
 

United Hobbit

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Obvious shout if not already seen is the film Battle Royale. Proper classic. Not a series admittedly.
Thanks, I think I've already seen it, however think I saw on Google there is a remake and a 2nd one, so may have to try them!
 

Big Andy

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the dub is fine after a while you dont even notice it - there is one manic woman in it and her dub sounds like a bad episode of the Power Rangers.
But overall its fine
I wanted her to die along with Korean Biff Tannen from the first time I saw them.
 

villain

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After watching this & Alice in Borderland I’m convinced those who prefer AiB are trying too hard to be edgy and have an opinion that goes against the grain and support the "underdog". Squid Games beats it quite convincingly imo.
 

UnRational

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My Mrs has just text me to say she's ordered me one of the soldiers outfits complete with the triangle mask from Amazon :lol:

Kinky bitch.
 

OleBoiii

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My Mrs has just text me to say she's ordered me one of the soldiers outfits complete with the triangle mask from Amazon :lol:

Kinky bitch.
My only question is this: did she order the square or circle for herself? :smirk:
 

Fortitude

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My Mrs has just text me to say she's ordered me one of the soldiers outfits complete with the triangle mask from Amazon :lol:

Kinky bitch.
Think the 'shapes' will be a boon this halloween. Dunno what your mrs. has in mind, however. :wenger:
 

The Corinthian

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I finished this last night - twas a great show, really enjoyed it.

They should keep it as a 1 season show, even if there are a few loose ends, but that's the nature of television these days. They'll milk it.

Not sure why he dyed his hair red. Does anyone know?

The Ali and old guy deaths were really hard to watch. Episode 6 was excellent in that regard. Fantastic storytelling.
 

Moby

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Couldn't get past the second episode. Did they find those actors from their friend circle or something? Amateur youtube videos have better actors.
 

The Corinthian

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Couldn't get past the second episode. Did they find those actors from their friend circle or something? Amateur youtube videos have better actors.
Yea it’s a shame they couldn’t get Daniel Day-Lewis to play Gi-Huns mum.
 

Moby

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Yea it’s a shame they couldn’t get Daniel Day-Lewis to play Gi-Huns mum.
Or anyone half decent for that matter. It pretty much felt like watching a shonen jump anime which is intended for kids and characters are designed to overreact at everything. That point in the first episode where they ask the game to be stopped - I mean seriously, cmon! :lol:
 

Dirty Schwein

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I preferred the first half of Alice in Borderland because of the tone and more importantly, the challenges.

The challenges in Alice required skill, tactics and brain power, whereas a lot of the games in Squid are simply based on luck and there's one where the interference made it just stupid.

However, Alice as a narrative falls apart about halfway through. Whereas Squid Game is far more consistent (up until the final 30 minutes or so).

Both shows are worth watching though neither are a patch on Battle Royale. What a movie that is!
 

Solius

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Or anyone half decent for that matter. It pretty much felt like watching a shonen jump anime which is intended for kids and characters are designed to overreact at everything. That point in the first episode where they ask the game to be stopped - I mean seriously, cmon! :lol:
A lot of Korean style acting is like that, I find. You get used to it.