Web site that lets you search by DVD subtitle language?

November 6, 2005 10:54 PM

I'm learning Dutch, and I'd like to know if there's a reliable website that will tell me what language options are on a US (region 1) DVD. In this case, I want the actors to be speaking English, but the subtitles to be in Dutch, mimicking the experience of watching TV in the Netherlands.

I've looked around on metafilter, and I've seen a lot of postings (like 15435) that recommend foreign movies, but that's not not what I'm asking for. I want to be able to see a list of movies that have Dutch subtitles, but will play in my crappy old DVD player. Basically, I could order DVDs off of somewhere like nl.BOL.com and know that they had Dutch subtitles, but that will get very expensive very fast, and I'll have to get a shiny new Euro-friendly DVD player.

What I need to know is if there are easy-to-rent US DVDs that have a Dutch-language option.

IMDB seems to list all the language options, but, for example for Ronin, it's telling me that only the region 2 (Germany) DVD lists Dutch--not the English version (which kinda makes sense, but is a bummer). IMDB's info overall seems to be pretty spotty when you try to drill down. For example, it lists Anna Karenina on its Dutch subtitles page, but when you click through, Dutch isn't an option, and it's region 2 anyway.

Does anyone have a reliable source for checking language options on region 1 DVDs, or even a Web site that lets you search by language to generate a list of DVDs?

posted by jbucks to computers & internet (7 comments total)

It might be an idea to join a forum with people actively watching foreign films on dvd who will either know or be able to physically check for NL subtitles. The UK based DVD forums requires registration but there's a board specifically for world cinema that you you might find helpful and I assume that there will be a similar US based forum that willl be better able to help on products sold in the States.

Veel geluk!
posted by ceri richard at 1:17 AM on November 7, 2005

If the film on the US and EU version of a DVD are the same length you could check subtitle sites for dutch subtitles and use these (together with the ripped version of your DVD).

You'd have to create a new DVD with these subtitle on them to play on your crappy old DVD player. A cheap standalone divx player could probably save a lot of time.
posted by Akeem at 2:14 AM on November 7, 2005

I have never seen a region 1 DVD w/ Dutch subtitles. I have only seen French and Spanish.
posted by smackfu at 6:34 AM on November 7, 2005

I've seen Dutch subtitles listed on the packaging but not available on the dvd (e.g. Amélie, I think).
posted by ceri richard at 7:33 AM on November 7, 2005

Perhaps legally ambiguous (ok, nevermind, it's illegal, ok? So do not do this.) but you'll find tons of DVD rips/copies that have fansub/N. European subtitles on usenet. Look for titles with Nordic or NL (and check the nfo for a list of subtitles attached to that particular title).
posted by PurplePorpoise at 11:01 AM on November 7, 2005

You can try to mimic dutch television, but you could also go for the real thing. The portal of the dutch broadcast organization has many, many programs online. [Try looking for 'uitzending gemist' (missed shows) in the right hand top corner.] Due to copyrights not many translated shows, but if you want to brush up your Dutch, this is the way to go.
The digital theme channels about for documentaries and history can be found here, they often contain English shows that are subtitled.
As for subtitled movies: beware, most Dutch movies are a total waste of time, with one exception: kiddie movies. Suggested titles: 'Ja zuster, nee zuster', 'Minoes', 'Lang leve de koningin' and a recent gem: 'Het paard van Sinterklaas'
If you can't avoid buying movies in Holland try these search engines for the lowest price: elcheapo or vergelijk.nl
posted by ouke at 11:58 AM on November 7, 2005

Thanks for everything you guys have posted--it's just what I was hoping for. That TV site is a trip--it even has the same subtitle font as when I would watch from my hotel room. (Well, duh, but still, it's cool that it's exactly the same.) Sure, I can barely follow it, but I enjoy it all the same.

Dank u vriedlijk, everyone.
posted by jbucks at 8:45 PM on November 7, 2005