Subtitled
cinema is fabulous because without it I would have missed Johnny Depp
and Orlando Bloom! I have often shunned the wonderfully social past-time
of cinemagoing in recent years because of my hearing loss. But I subscribed
to the brilliant mailing list [at yourlocalcinema.com] and then saw
Pirates of the Caribbean.
It
was wonderful to be able to relax and follow the film without straining
to hear what the characters are saying. It would’ve been such
a shame to miss all Captain Jack Sparrow’s funny jokes! I am a
hearing therapist and now tell my patients about subtitled cinema and
the website when I teach a lip-reading class. Keep up the good work!
Lynnette,
Birmingham
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I
love subtitled cinema! Without it I haven't a hope of enjoying the 'big
screen' experience. I am profoundly deafened and use a cochlear implant.
Have you ever tried lip-reading animated characters? Or listening to
speech in a thunderstorm? Chances are, there will be comments you'll
miss.
For
someone like me, however, without subtitles, I might just as well not
bother. All the witticisms? Forget it. Didn't 'catch' them. Let alone
the dialogue that carries the narrative along...
I
will never forget my first subtitled screenings: Shrek and Harry Potter.
Wow! At last, I was able to watch the latest movies at the same time
as everyone else, not ages down the line when they'd all moved on to
something else! So, please, please, please keep the subtitled films
coming. Deaf people enjoy the same films as everyone else – if
they have the opportunity.
Beverley
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Being
blind, I always hated going to the cinema. All my friends enjoyed the
film and most of the time I had no idea what was going on. They would
tell me what was happening on screen but I still couldn't follow the
film. I would have to wait until it came on DVD, or on TV, and hope
it had audio description there.
I
only heard about audio description at the cinema a while ago and on
my tenth birthday me and my friends went to see 'Ice Age 2', with audio
description, just for me, through headphones.
We
did the usual, getting popcorn and drinks, and sat down in the cinema.
For the first time watching a movie on the big screen I was able to
understand it all. I could see creatures against the white landscapes
as a blur, and the description really brought them to life! Sid made
me happy, Manny made me sad, and Scrat made me laugh out loud. The person
doing the audio description spoke all the words loud and clear, even
over the sounds of the movie. It was just great! It really helped me
to see what every character, mountain and ice slope looked like.
I've
since seen 'Monster House', 'Over the Hedge' and 'Happy Feet' with audio
description, but I think 'Ice Age 2' will always be one of my favourites,
because it was the film that made me want to go to the cinema again
and again.
Hayley
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I
turned 15 recently and was really looking forward to seeing a subtitled
'15' movie for the first time in the cinema, but things always got in
the way. Subtitled shows are sometimes not shown at the best of times.
I missed 'Children of Men', which I heard was really good.
So
imagine my excitement when I was finally able to see my first '15' movie
- 'Borat'. I had heard so much about it from my hearing friends and
I just couldn't wait to see it.
The
movie was hilarious. A lot of the dialogue was in a foreign language
and subtitled anyway, which was handy, but when Borat spoke in his broken
English accent, it was impossible for me to understand. And his ridiculous
moustache didn't help my lipreading!
The
subtitles throughout the film were fantastic, none of them missing,
and all as clear as on TV or DVD. It adds to the funniness of the film
when you see his trademark words subtitled, such as 'Jagshemash!'.
It's
great that so many films are coming to cinemas now with subtitles. Foreign
language ones such as 'Pan's Labyrinth; are great, but I like to see
a different 'regular' film every month or so with my friends. I'd like
to thank everyone who has made it possible for me and other hearing
(and visually) impaired people in the UK to enjoy the cinema.
David
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Audio
described cinema is great because it allows me as a blind person to
gain access to films. I don't have to rely on having my wife or friends
describe for me anymore, which I am sure improves their watching experience.
I
remember when I was a young lad watching a movie with my mum. I noticed
on a number of occasions my mum went quiet. I later learned that this
was because the actors were getting up to naughties! Now of course all
scenes of this nature are described (whoopee!).
On
a more serious note having experienced audio description I now realise
on how much I have missed out on watching films. The ability to choose
what I watch is liberating.
John
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I
rely on lipreading so subtitles are essential to me. This website has
been great as cinema sites are not easy to find subtitled showings
Annika
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We
are both hard of hearing and look at the subtitles pages you send all
the time to select a cinima that will show them. We have enjoyed the
films no end so please please don't let this service end
Dave
and Sue
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