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I - AM - IRON MAN!!
2 May 2010 05:08 pmSaw the sequel a few days back, and I gotta say it rocked. Of course, it's hard to top the almighty kick the ending of the first gave us (Black Sabbath song and all) but it was a cool film, practically ran on Crowning Moments of Awesome and Rule of Cool (mostly thanks to Robert Downey Jr., but that might be my own opinion :P) and a really, really good time. Won't go into spoiler mode here, because a good part of the world (including the US of A) have not seen it yet. (Hey, I said no spoilers mode - didn't say anything about gloating mode :D)
One thing, though. Part of the film happens in Monaco, a French-speaking really small (but really, really rich) country (the capital is also called Monaco) on the South-East coast of France. Means the natives are supposed to be native French speakers. Means there are some things another native French speaker will spot, no matter how well (the Powers That Be think they're) hidden.
First off, it's highly unusual for a prison warden to address a prisoner as "Prisonnier!" and he certainly would not say "Que fais-tu?" The entire (and full) cinema roared with laughter at this one, including me. Let me explain. In this situation, the warden should have asked, "Qu'est-ce que tu fais?" or some other question as to why the guy he called to was there. The difference between "Que fais-tu?" and "Qu'est-ce que tu fais?" is about the same as between "What do you do?" and "What are you doing?"; "Que..." is fine on paper, it's more formal; "Qu'est-ce..." is more natural. And the actor's accent was fine, but any native French can spot he is not. It's textbook, but it doesn't sound right. On the other hand, the cop who says "I'm not leaving you here with him, he's crazy" is native and it shows. "Je (ne) te laisse pas avec lui, il est ouf" - "ouf" being backwards slang for "fou", crazy - yeah, that guy is French. The way he talks flows and sings and it's just genuine. And really, Misters Powers That Be, did that cost more than employing a non-French actor whose line made every single person in the cinema crack up? I'd like to know :o/
Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine - it's my country, my language, my countrymen, and I don't like it when all three are not represented accurately on film. (Especially the language, because in this instance it was Monaco :D) The most egregious example that naturally springs to (my) mind is a early episode of Alias that took place in Paris, where my mind boggled at seeing cops on bicycles wearing capes that in real life French cops haven't worn since the 1920s. Or any film/series where the French only seem to have Citroen DCs for cars. I admit that car is cool (albeit painful to ride in, believe me) and funny and quaint and everything, but dude, we do have some modern cars!! I mean, contrary to what some executive folks seem to think, the viewers aren't morons - just stick a caption saying the action's in France, and please please please stop showing the Eiffel Tower at every street corner - especially if the story's actually happening somewhere else than bloody Paris :P
Otherwise, great film, kicked some mighty arse. Can't wait to see it again :o]
One thing, though. Part of the film happens in Monaco, a French-speaking really small (but really, really rich) country (the capital is also called Monaco) on the South-East coast of France. Means the natives are supposed to be native French speakers. Means there are some things another native French speaker will spot, no matter how well (the Powers That Be think they're) hidden.
First off, it's highly unusual for a prison warden to address a prisoner as "Prisonnier!" and he certainly would not say "Que fais-tu?" The entire (and full) cinema roared with laughter at this one, including me. Let me explain. In this situation, the warden should have asked, "Qu'est-ce que tu fais?" or some other question as to why the guy he called to was there. The difference between "Que fais-tu?" and "Qu'est-ce que tu fais?" is about the same as between "What do you do?" and "What are you doing?"; "Que..." is fine on paper, it's more formal; "Qu'est-ce..." is more natural. And the actor's accent was fine, but any native French can spot he is not. It's textbook, but it doesn't sound right. On the other hand, the cop who says "I'm not leaving you here with him, he's crazy" is native and it shows. "Je (ne) te laisse pas avec lui, il est ouf" - "ouf" being backwards slang for "fou", crazy - yeah, that guy is French. The way he talks flows and sings and it's just genuine. And really, Misters Powers That Be, did that cost more than employing a non-French actor whose line made every single person in the cinema crack up? I'd like to know :o/
Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine - it's my country, my language, my countrymen, and I don't like it when all three are not represented accurately on film. (Especially the language, because in this instance it was Monaco :D) The most egregious example that naturally springs to (my) mind is a early episode of Alias that took place in Paris, where my mind boggled at seeing cops on bicycles wearing capes that in real life French cops haven't worn since the 1920s. Or any film/series where the French only seem to have Citroen DCs for cars. I admit that car is cool (albeit painful to ride in, believe me) and funny and quaint and everything, but dude, we do have some modern cars!! I mean, contrary to what some executive folks seem to think, the viewers aren't morons - just stick a caption saying the action's in France, and please please please stop showing the Eiffel Tower at every street corner - especially if the story's actually happening somewhere else than bloody Paris :P
Otherwise, great film, kicked some mighty arse. Can't wait to see it again :o]
