Quoting RHo:

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You don't have to buy those DVDs.

That is very true.  Over the years I have because a little more DVD smart (this place helps).
but I did get burned on more than three purchases before I started reading the cases.

I remember the day I bought "Class of 1984" like 8 years ago, I was so happy to get this movie. Got home, Germany only ! and back then I could not understand German....... 

That night is when I first used eBay to buy a UK release of "Soldier" because that was also only German in Germany.

Then, since the UK eBay prices started killing me, I learned the wonders of region free player 

FunkyLA:
I totally agree, especially on:

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... but just sounds flat and there is no real "atmosphere" in the audio.

That's exactly what I'm thinking too! It's like the voices don't really come out of the persons, they seem to come out directly from the speakers. Like that kind of voice that talks in commercials.

However, I can accept the fact that all cartoons get dubbed. Children from other countries don't understand english (or whatever the language), and having them read subtitles just wouldn't work.
There are dozens of cartoons that are classic for me, like Ducktales, Gummi Bears, Talespin, Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck and a lot of other cartoons as well, and all of them were dubbed into swedish.
It would be interesting to see the original versions though, as I assume they are much better made.
I'll just write that on my to-do list.

And by the way, Asterix speaks swedish.

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1) I wondered why they let Hiro talk in japanese but Mohinder talked in english while he was in India.

Because many in India do speak English (being a former British colony).  It is the country's official co-language.  Many people might not realize it, but India is the world's largest English-speaking population.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_English

I only watch the original language track, of course
I also prefer to watch the original version in the cinema. But this is not always possible. This mainly depends on with whom I'm going to the cinema.

But let's be honest:
Most Germans listen to the German dub, because they are used to it (and spoiled by it  )
But take America for example. As most movies Americans watch are in Englisch, they have no problem. But how will most Americans react, if they have to go watch a movie in foreign language which requires them to read subtitles? I think a lot of them will pass
And what do Hollywood studios do, when they want to bring a story of a foreign movie to screen? They remake the movie 

Quoting TomGaines:

Quote:
As most movies Americans watch are in Englisch, they have no problem. But how will most Americans react, if they have to go watch a movie in foreign language which requires them to read subtitles? I think a lot of them will pass
And what do Hollywood studios do, when they want to bring a story of a foreign movie to screen? They remake the movie 

Haha, very true! I never thought about it like that.
But in general, it's just a matter of getting used to it. It doesn't take years of practice to read subtitles AND concentrate on the movie.
Although cartoons should remain dubbed, but that's the only exception.

And another thing, I've always wondered how the dubbings studios handle the jokes that are made towards their country.

For example, the South Park movie: (Someone from Germany should have it, I hope.)
In the scene where the boys are at the computer, about to post a message about "La Resistance" on a message board, they find a rather nasty website with a video featuring Cartmans mom.
How is this scene translated in the german dub?

And one more thing, The Simpsons get dubbed in France, right? Do they actually translate all the jokes about the french?
For example, in some Halloween episode, mayor Quimby makes a rude joke to the french (somehow saying that they all look like frogs), and when he refuses to apologize, they send a nuclear missile that happens to be hidden under the eiffel tower.
What was is it like in the french version? They couldn't really have changed the country, since we DID see the eiffel tower.

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As most movies Americans watch are in Englisch, they have no problem. But how will most Americans react, if they have to go watch a movie in foreign language which requires them to read subtitles? I think a lot of them will pass

it's the same thing for every country ... most people enjoy a dubbed version ... sad but true ...
with DVD there's no problem ... original audio or dubbed version, everybody is happy ...

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And one more thing, The Simpsons get dubbed in France, right? Do they actually translate all the jokes about the french?

i don't really watch the simpson so i can't tell you but it depends on who is producing the dubbing (it's a huge industry and some are better than others ...) ... some are translated and adapted to french audiance ... some are only translated and are identical to the original ... it depends ... 

It doesn't take any attention to read subtitles, it goes naturally.
And dubbing sound and LOOKS totally horrible as spoken words do not match mouth movements.
I have never been able to understand how anyone is able to watch dubbed material. It causes instant nausea for me.