It is the time again when big movie productions are released, and trips have been made to the cinemas more often than usual. Despite the fact that movies have become an increasingly luxurious leisure past-time, I have always been a movie lover. Be it balancing a bucket of popcorns and an upsized lemon tea in one hand while trying not to step over pairs of oblivious legs, or placing folded tissue paper on the face so that the 3D glasses stays in place, movies always have me looking forward to.
Perhaps it is not common among others but I find it interesting to watch the subtitles. It isn't just because I am studying translation now but seeing official English terms in Chinese can be quite entertaining, and at times, funny.
Some of the interesting translations that I have came across:
A) Transformers (变形金刚）
Autobots =博派
~ 感觉就是较正义的一群
Decepticons = 狂派
~ 既狂妄又疯狂，双狂当然就是狂派
Optimus Prime = 柯博文 / 擎天柱
~ 柯博文：就是博学多才的领袖，感觉比较斯文
~ 擎天柱：引擎中的一大支柱，感觉较震撼
Megatron = 威震天
~ 威力能震撼天，可见其破坏性
Bumblebee = 大黄蜂
~ 配合黄色外表，大黄蜂真的很贴切
Starscream = 星星叫 / 红蜘蛛
~ 星星叫： This is one name that had us laughing out. It is obviously a direct translation. But doesn't it sound too cute? I imagine fat, round stars with faces on them making silly sound.
~ 红蜘蛛: In this case, I would think 红蜘蛛 sounds more suitable? At least red spider sounds more vicious.
B) X-men (X战警）
Wolverine = 金刚狼
~ 这只狼一听就知道是一只铁狼，绝对的硬汉。
Magneto = 万磁王
~ 感觉非常贴切！与Magneto 又有点相似，是万片磁铁中的王。
Mystique = 魔形女
~ 变幻莫测的魔形女
Cyclops = 独眼龙
~ 不是很了解为什么是独眼龙， Cyclops 是独眼吗？
C) Harry Potter (哈利。波特）
Voldemort = 佛地魔
~ 使用到‘佛’一字的魔，可见威力非凡
Draco Malfoy = 拽哥。马份
~ 超喜欢的一个翻译。拽哥不但听起来与Draco很相似，与角色性格更是符合。确实是一位很拽的角色。
Stupefy = 昏昏倒地
~ 听过许多spells却只记得这个，原本以为是'StupidFly'。
Obliviate = 一忘皆空
~ 最后一集中，很清楚地听到Hermione念出这个spell。
Saluting to these translators, you have made movies even more fascinating. :)
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