how did this all come about?
well someone over in Asia has got their hands on a chinese copy of Star Wars: Episode III. but then it gets interesting… the english subtitles were translated directly from the chinese script (which was already an interpretation of the original english script). and the result? well… just have a look below.
(these were taken from here and copied almost word for word, just changed up a little. but credit has to go to jeremy for taking these screencaps originally.)
(note: it may take a short time for all the pictures to load)
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well i’d be sticking to reading the original blue text rather that the subtitles. i think George has done a pretty good job getting those right.
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Star war (just one)
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the english translation or the chinese title
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anakin: “this is where the fun begins”
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obi wan: “let them pass between us”
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fighter pilot: “they’re all over me”
(he was doomed from the start - look at him - he doesn’t even have a name…)
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obi wan, space battle strategist.
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the chancellor warns anakin and obi wan that count dooku is… big.
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obi wan assures the chancellor that big is their speciality.
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count dooku talks tough.
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that’s chancellor palpatine speaking, talking about obi wan.
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general grevious gets some bad news.
(and he’s probably mad - thinking that they didn’t like the fair or something…)
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the general considers punishing his troops with the national chinese food.
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anakin taunts general grevious.
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the general fires off a snappy comeback
(general - is a must to disengage smell sensors!)
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ummm… ????
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we gonna rock down to… lemon avenue.
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padme the homemaker
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anakin tells padme about his dream.
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on the hoof - idiom, ‘not yet butchered; alive. used especially of cattle’
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hallelujah!
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yoda: “premonitions? premonitions?”
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sounds like something yoda might actually say… maybe.
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anakin is haunted by dreamses.
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troopseses!
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the chancellor tells anakin the story of darth plagueis the wise, aka the dintmeister.
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plagueis learned how to become… strong and big.
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but he lost his power and died…
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…then was killed by his land, so he could sleep. a tragic story indeed.
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this seemed completely random until i figured out that ‘jedi council’ was being translated into chinese then back to english as ‘the presbyterian church’.
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anakin: “obi wan, may the force be with you”
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tion medon: “on the tenth level, thousands of battledroids”
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obi wan: “hello there”
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the general tells his troops to back off, he’ll take care of obi wan.
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…but is it big?
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the chancellor delivers anakin some bad news.
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mace windu reads the chancellor his rights.
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anakin bargains for the life of his cuckoldry. cuckoldry?
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anakin gets a new name.
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the emperor: “rise!”
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the emporer tells anakin… umm… something.
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anakin: “i agree.”
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the emperor: “do what must be done, lord vader.”
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yoda: “goodbye chewbacca.”
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c3po tells the amorous couple to get a room.
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padme: “no thank you, c3po.”
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obi wan can’t face what he must do.
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yoda insists…
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…and explains that the person he once knew noed longer is.
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how about a snickers?
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anakin tells padme about his new virtues, now being both strong and big.
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padme doesn’t want strong and big- she also doesn’t want to walk on a road meant for running about.
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lier!!!
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obi wan has heard enough.
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meanwhile, the emperor reveals his true ambitions.
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anakin taunts, but…
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…obi wan stands on higher ground…
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…and proclaims his love.
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this translation is classic. darth vader is actually shouting, “nooooooooooooo…”
captions there be, mangled they are.
you can also get a full text copy of the subtitles here. or visit here for a comparison of the english character names and dialogue with the ‘engrish’ version.
you can check out some more screenshots from the same DVD over here.