Talk:The Mermaid (2016 film)

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Languages

Audience in Hong Kong and Malaysia are watching the Cantonese version. I propose to include the Cantonese as the spoken language of this film. Thljcl (talk) 07:51, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

Mandarin is the language used in the film, and the Cantonese version was a dubbed version, and not the original language for the film, thus it should not be added to the infobox. Screen International (http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/mermaid-review/5100027.article?blocktitle=Latest-Reviews&contentID=592) stated that The Mermaid was "filmed in Mandarin as (opposed to the writer-director’s native Cantonese)", meaning that the film was "made" in Mandarin. Thljcl's rationale for adding the Cantonese was that the Hong Kong/Cantonese version is shown in Hong Kong and Malaysia. However, according to the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post (http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/film-tv/article/1911884/film-review-mermaid-stephen-chows-environmental-morality-tale), the article plainly stated "The film’s Hong Kong version features badly dubbed Cantonese that can be distracting for local viewers". Again, it means that the Cantonese version was "dubbed", and it is not the original language.--Getareu8 (talk) 08:13, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

Publications, such as The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/20/movies/review-the-mermaid-features-stephen-chow-behind-the-camera.html stated that it is in Mandarin. Sources such as Hong Kong Movie Database [1] and Hong Kong Cinemagic [2] both showed the film's language as Mandarin. The British Odeon Cinemas http://www.odeon.co.uk/films/the_mermaid_sfl_subtitled_foreign_language/16561/, the American Cinemark Theatres http://www.cinemark.com/mei-ren-yu-(the-mermaid).aspx, and the Canadian Cineplex cinemas http://www.cineplex.com/Movie/mei-ren-yu-the-mermaid-mandarin-wchinese-english-st, all shows the film's language as Mandarin (the film was released in the U.S., Canada and UK this weekend). --Getareu8 (talk) 08:01, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

It's understandable why the media in these countries listed mandarin as the spoken language. Because the audience will not be able to watch the Cantonese version available in Hong Kong or Malaysia. That's why the media from those countries cannot be counted as credible source. Thljcl (talk) 08:10, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

There are also movie reviews from Malayasia, where the critic mentioned even though they saw the Cantonese version, the original version of the film is in Mandarin, http://www.caseymoviemania.com/2016/02/review-mermaid-2016.html stated "Although the movie shown in Malaysia isn't the original Mandarin version...".--Getareu8 (talk) 08:15, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

Well, I have actually watched the Cantonese version myself. What I can said is that it was typical for non-Cantonese actors. It's the fact that most actors and actresses in the film cannot speak Cantonese or even understand Cantonese very well. However, the creation team, led by Stephen Chow himself, is originated from Hong Kong. On the other hand, Stephen Chow was not a good mandarin speaker either even though he could formally converse with them in Mandarin. Understandably, the script was written in Chinese (Cantonese). Some lines have to be modified to create mandarin version of the joke. It's pretty much like watching any non-Cantonese actors in any Cantonese films. It cannot be counted as evidence.

1. http://www.metroplex.com.hk/zh_tw/movie/nowshowing/1759

2.http://gsc.com.my/html/movie_page.aspx?M_MovieID=1654

Thljcl (talk) 16:29, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

In terms of formal written document, there is no difference between mandarin and Cantonese, despite the differences in pronunciation. However, the day-to-day casual conversations do differ greatly between the dialects being spoken. Thljcl (talk) 16:36, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

Usually, when we talk about dubbing, it is because the film, which was originally created in one language, is localized in another language. The localized does not necessarily have the same dialogues as the original versions, even though the general plot does not differ much. But in this case, it is actually being created by Cantonese-speakers (Stephen Chow himself as well as his team) and aimed at the Cantonese speakers at its initial release. Granted that mandarin speakers are also the audience; hence, the mandarin version needs to be created simultaneously. Logically speaking, it's being translated from Cantonese to Mandarin. But since both dialects are simultaneously used at the initial release, both can be counted as original language. It's rather complex. The creators wrote the movie using Cantonese; most actors and actresses spoke mandarin; it's being dubbed in both Cantonese and Mandarin. Also, localized version does not necessarily reflect exactly what the creators wanted. But in this case, the creators got exactly what they wanted; simply because they spoke Cantonese and it was not localized by other local firms.Thljcl (talk) 16:46, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

The difference arises due to the script was written for casual conversations; not the formal legal or scientific documents. One joke is only meaningful in one dialect; but not the other. Thljcl (talk) 16:52, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

My point here is that the "original language" is not the language spoken by the actors; but the language the creators actually use, which is both mandarin and Cantonese. The dubbed version, as a matter of fact, can be seen as re-creation by another firm in the process of localization due to the change of dialogue or some details that are not originated from the creators. This derivative work does share the same general plot line. Thljcl (talk) 17:03, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

It is my understanding that the "language" field in the infobox is for the language spoken in the film, not including dubs. I think the same aplies even when, as Thljcl is saying for this film, the film was originally written in another language. Maybe add a note after "Mandarin" saying the film was originally written in Cantonese (referenced by a reliable source). I think it could be useful to ask for more opinions on Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Film and Template talk:Infobox film.--Cattus ^talk 20:10, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

I think Thljcl pretty much answered his/her own question when he/she stated above "It's the fact that most actors and actresses in the film cannot speak Cantonese or even understand Cantonese very well" and then Thljcl even said "most actors and actresses spoke mandarin". Thljcl also said this above: "My point here is that the "original language" is not the language spoken by the actors". Thljcl, you might want to go to WikiProject Film, and argue for the point of ""original language" is not the language spoken by the actors" over there.--Getareu8 (talk) 06:50, 21 February 2016 (UTC)

+1, Original language spoken is Mandarin and the main cast is primarily from China aimed towards the Chinese audience with the Hong Kong audience secondary. If the film was mainly for Hong Kong audience (From Vegas to Macau III), there would be multiple languages (combination of Cantonese and Mandarin) spoken that won't be dubbed. Stormedelf (talk) 07:41, 21 February 2016 (UTC)

The only question is that what the actor actually spoke did not really matter to the eventual language of the film. The actual language of the film would rely on the creators' choice of language as all sound of the film are added in the post-filming process from the voice actors. The voice actors are not necessarily the same actors as actors we saw on the film. Or, you can say the original language is the language of the first batch of voice actors, rather than the actors. Thljcl (talk) 00:40, 21 February 2016 (UTC)

For those who want to know who involved in the creation of "The Mermaid", well according to http://baike.baidu.com/subview/9514/15201085.htm, they are:

1. Stephen Chow/周星馳 (Hong Kong) (Director, Producer, Screenwriter) (The head of this team)

2. 李思臻/Kelvin Lee Si Zhen (Hong Kong) (Screenwriter)

3. 江玉仪(Hong Kong) (Producer/Screenwriter)

4. 何妙祺 (Hong Kong) (Screenwriter) (See also http://www.hkswg.com/zh-hant/member/%E4%BD%95%E5%A6%99%E7%A5%BA)

5. 曾謹昌 (Hong Kong) (Screenwriter)

6. 卢正雨 (Mainland China) (screenwriter/Assistant Director)

7. 陈庆嘉 (Hong Kong) (Screenwriter)

Needless to say, it is Stephen Chow who has the final say over every aspect of the film. Cantonese is the native language to be used by people of Hong Kong. Unlike most other directors/actors, Stephen Chow was known to regularly change the script while filming; rather than relying on a pre-written script. This is true even when he was not credited as director/screenwriter.http://tieba.baidu.com/p/3726520038. It was widely reported in news media back in the 1990s. Flirting Scholar was directed by Stephen; but the initial version did not have his name on the credit.

Thljcl (talk) 01:01, 21 February 2016 (UTC)

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid

A user added this article to the category "Films based on The Little Mermaid", but I don't think that's accurate? The only thing that this film has in common with the Andersen story is it's a love story between a mermaid and a human man. The mermaid doesn't become human at any point, for example. Thoughts? AD (talk) 00:26, 24 February 2016 (UTC)

I added the The Little Mermaid category (and the template) because the article says that the film was "inspired" by the fairy tale and that Chow "wanted to make it a modern interpretation". I think that's enough to consider it based (even if loosely) on the fairy tale.--Cattus ^talk 07:50, 24 February 2016 (UTC)

In that case I think it'd be worthwhile to add it to The Little Mermaid#Adaptations with the ref. AD (talk) 08:44, 24 February 2016 (UTC)

I just checked the source (the China Daily article) and it says nothing about The Little Mermaid, so I'm going to remove that from the article.--Cattus ^talk 22:58, 24 February 2016 (UTC)

Edit warring

IP editor: I've opened an edit warring report on the noticeboard regarding your constant edit reversion and warring. Please discuss your proposed changes here before making them. Marianna251TALK 11:54, 22 March 2016 (UTC)

I love this movie but it is not available in any websites eg.FZMOVIES.NET Where should I download it from? Taylor Larnx (talk) 13:34, 30 October 2020 (UTC)

I love this movie so much

Its so lovely Sexyseki (talk) 10:01, 23 January 2017 (UTC)

That's nice to hear! :) But for future reference, the talk page is for discussing how to improve the article, not for reviews. Surrealducks (talk) 00:25, 24 June 2017 (UTC)