Worst Movie Title Translations

[monkeyboy]

A common niggle I have when watching asian films, and mostly those from Hong Kong, is the bizarre titles that they are given in English. "Beast Stalker", for instance, is obviously trying go capture the "Beast Cops" audience, but there is not a lot of Beast Stalking going on, and in fact almost made me miss one of the finest movies of the last couple of years. I think the properly translated title is "Witness".

I am sure we can all think of worse - although maybe it is only something that winds me up....

[Ryuk]

The Twins Effect. Makes no sense! They should have kept the original title 'Vampire Effect'.

Also, what's the deal with Dragon Dynasty releasing Sha Po Lang as Kill Zone? For American audiences to be able to pronounce the name of the movie? If so why not transliterate to Kill the Broken Wolf? Ugh.

Twin Warriors, the Jet Li movie released by Momentum in all its dubbed and cut glory, seems to be a silly name, later rectified as Tai-Chi Master.

Another Donnie Yen film to suffer the movie title translation is The Legend of the Wolf - released as The New Big Boss. Huh. Maybe we can draw in some Bruce Lee fans! Sigh.

[ASaroch]

Of course there's the infamous 'Nutty Kickbox Cops' (Skinny Tiger Fatty Dragon)

[Ryuk]

Which version is that?? I have the HKL version entitled Skinny Tiger Fatty Dragon - that in itself must be a nod to the success of the title of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

[Phil]

Other gems include 'Don't Give A Damn' retitled as 'Burger Cop' and 'Look Out, Officer' changed to 'Shaolin Idiot'.

[Charlie Parker]

Don't Give A Damn's literal translation is 'No Face To Give' , my fav literal is Ghost Punting which is 'Five Lucky Stars Bump Ghosts'.