The Spur of the Moment Land Deal that Created an Empire

[Forward Observer]

It's aways funny to me when Hollywood portrays Napoleon in historical parodies or comedic movies speaking English with a French accent. Of course he was bilingual and spoke both French and Italian, but most likely since his frist language was probably the latter, that would have probably been his accent.

I read that Napoleon also really did learn English, although I don't know how conversant he was.

[SpiritFox]

I want a sammich

[Graphic]

It's aways funny to me when Hollywood portrays Napoleon in historical parodies or comedic movies speaking English with a French accent. Of course he was bilingual and spoke both French and Italian, but most likely since his frist language was probably the latter, that would have probably been his accent.

I read that Napoleon also really did learn English, although I don't know how conversant he was.

I'm probably in the minority on this, but whenever Napoleon (or any character speaking a non-English language) is in a movie with English dialogue, they should have no accent whatsoever. Either that or actually speak French (or whatever language the character uses). I never understood the mocking of movies like Valkyrie for not using German accents (though from what I hear that movie deserves to be mocked for other reasons, like making the conspirators out to be noble peaceniks). A German guy put it perfectly, he basically said (I'm paraphrasing): "I've never seen a German movie set in America where the actors use fake American accents in German. If it's in English, let it be English." It's pretty ridiculous when you think about it, honestly. I don't need to hear the actors pronounce W's like V's to remind me that they're supposed to be Germans. It's in English, speak English normally then. Best example I can think of right now is The Pianist.



[/unrelated rant]

[Khorak]

I(though from what I hear that movie deserves to be mocked for other reasons, like making the conspirators out to be noble peaceniks)

Unfairly so. As far as historical revisionism goes it's not exactly an insulting change like "screw history, Americans save the day", and beyond that it is exceptionally well acted, well written, and somehow tense despite already knowing how it all turns out.

I hate Tom Cruise and I still couldn't bring myself to dislike the film.

[Graphic]

Unfairly so. As far as historical revisionism goes it's not exactly an insulting change like "screw history, Americans save the day", and beyond that it is exceptionally well acted, well written, and somehow tense despite already knowing how it all turns out.

I hate Tom Cruise and I still couldn't bring myself to dislike the film.

Well that's relieving. I still haven't seen it, and I want to like it, but I've heard "things."

And there are all kinds of American accents. Midwest, New York, Boston, Philidelphia, Southern, Texas, Bayou, etc. Just not as many as, say, England, and they're not all crammed into an area the size of Florida. The variety of British accents still amazes me

Though anywhere west of Texas features the most neutral sounding English language accent I can think of. I live in northern Nevada and people just don't have accents of any kind, it's weird Everyone sounds like Stephen Colbert.

[A Very Super Market]

No, no, no, you always have an accent. Talking in neutral American English is an accent called "American English". A bit like how "RP" is considered a separate accent in Britain.

[Graphic]

Of course, that goes without saying. From my perspective, it's the most neutral.

[A Very Super Market]

Bah, humbug. Vancouverites have the most neutral accents anyways. Unless you're an immigrant, which is half of the whole city

[Negative]

A German guy put it perfectly, he basically said (I'm paraphrasing): "I've never seen a German movie set in America where the actors use fake American accents in German.
[/unrelated rant]

Wait! Americans don't have accents. It's everyone else who has an accent.

[Beskar]

Wait! Americans don't have accents. It's everyone else who has an accent.

There is the siren-monotone American accent, then there is the typical Wild West one, and a whole bunch of others.

[Servius]

I can visualize the Wild West one. It's kinda like what Bush sounds like. There's a southern one (like southeast US). There's a northern (Northeast/New England) one. There's a Great Lakes one that Sarah Palin sounds like (even though she's from Alaska). I think Louisianna has one all it's own. Those are just some regional ones. Then there are cultural ones, like surfer-speak and gangsta-speak.

Who uses a siren-monotone accent. I can't imagine what that one sounds like.

[anweRU]

Don't forget the Bronx - New Yohkah accent that is usually confused for a northern-New Jersey accent - those people who can't say their r's.

[HKDDJulker]

I'm probably in the minority on this, but whenever Napoleon (or any character speaking a non-English language) is in a movie with English dialogue, they should have no accent whatsoever. Either that or actually speak French (or whatever language the character uses). I never understood the mocking of movies like Valkyrie for not using German accents (though from what I hear that movie deserves to be mocked for other reasons, like making the conspirators out to be noble peaceniks). A German guy put it perfectly, he basically said (I'm paraphrasing): "I've never seen a German movie set in America where the actors use fake American accents in German. If it's in English, let it be English." It's pretty ridiculous when you think about it, honestly. I don't need to hear the actors pronounce W's like V's to remind me that they're supposed to be Germans. It's in English, speak English normally then. Best example I can think of right now is The Pianist.



[/unrelated rant]

You wanna talk about bad accents in movies, how about Enemy at the Gates. The Russian characters really truly do have English Accents. Its one of the most ridiculous things i've seen in recent history.

[A Very Super Market]

If you had read his post more clearly, you would see that we would praise the lack of theeck Russian eccents in Enemy at the Gates. What do you suggest as an alternative to this? Have them speak Russian?

[Graphic]

If you had read his post more clearly, you would see that we would praise the lack of theeck Russian eccents in Enemy at the Gates. What do you suggest as an alternative to this? Have them speak Russian?

Yeah, Enemy at the Gates is actually the way to do it if you're not going fully Russian. They tried Russian accients in K-19 The Widowmaker and it was really weak and fake sounding, it added nothing to the movie. And at it's worst the actors sounded like bad Yakoff Smirnoff impersonators.

[Tillan]

I would just like to point out, that as a Brit, I have no accent. Not that any yank friends I have think that =p

Also, I dont see the problem with full russian/german/whatever language is used. Subs are not that hard to read while keeping up with the film.

[Graphic]

Yeah the actual language is always best. Apocalypto would have been such a different (and inferior) movie if it didn't have Mayan dialogues.

[Belgolas]

Well we are all on the subject of accents and languages. India has a new language like every dozen kilometers. It makes it hard sometimes. Well at least for my brother when he was down there.

Anyways everyone has an accent. The reason why north america has so many accents is because it has very large countries.

[Megas Methuselah]

The reason why north america has so many accents is because it has very large countries.

What? Then explain the much more varied number of British accents. Quite a small country.

[SpiritFox]

What? Then explain the much more varied number of British accents. Quite a small country.

Imperialism. When you begin picking up peeps from all over the world, you start to talk funny.

[A Very Super Market]

I was under the impression that British imperialism would not extend to white, British countryside farmers.