Quiz: American Movie Titles in Japan

Try to guess each movie's original American title from the Japanese title below.

If you would like a hint, scroll down to the version that includes a lead actor's name for each film.

Japanese film distributors make American titles understandable and appealing by using English or "English" (written in phonetic katakana characters) or Japanese titles.

Examples:

Chaariizu Enjeru (チャーリーズ・エンジェル, "Charlie's Angel," Charlie's Angels), 2000—Japan's too crowded for more than one angel?
Karaa Obu Haato (カラー・オブ・ハート, "Color of Heart," Pleasantville), 1998—I'm guessing, reddish?
Shougun no Musume (将軍の娘, "Shogun's/General's Daughter," The General's Daughter), 1999—making John Travolta a samurai?

Regular Version

Besuto Kiddo (ベスト・キッド, "Best Kid"), 1984
Eddi Maafi no Howaitohausu Kyousoukyoku (エッディ・マーフィのホワイトハウス協奏曲, "Eddie Murphy's White House Rhapsody"), 1992
Koori no Bishou (氷の微笑, "Icy Smile"), 1992
Puriti Riigu (プリティ・リーグ, "Pretty League"), 1992
Tsumetai Tsuki o Daku Onna (冷たい月を抱く女, "The Woman Who Hugs the Cold Moon"), 1993
Paafekuto Kappuru (パーフェクト・カップル, "Perfect Couple"), 1998

Answers below

Hints immediately below here.

Hint Version with a lead actors' names

Besuto Kiddo (ベスト・キッド, "Best Kid," Ralph Macchio), 1984
Eddi Maafi no Howaitohausu Kyousoukyoku (エッディ・マーフィのホワイトハウス協奏曲, "Eddie Murphy's White House Rhapsody," Eddie Murphy), 1992
Koori no Bishou (氷の微笑, "Icy Smile," Sharon Stone), 1992
Puriti Riigu (プリティ・リーグ, "Pretty League," Geena Davis), 1992
Tsumetai Tsuki o Daku Onna (冷たい月を抱く女, "The Woman Who Hugs the Cold Moon," Nicole Kidman), 1993
Paafekuto Kappuru (パーフェクト・カップル, "Perfect Couple," John Travolta), 1998

Answers below

Scoring

5-6: You really know your American movies.
3-4: Not bad.
0-2: Have you heard of the original titles?

A couple Japanese titles that are more appropriate than the original:

Ima o Ikiru (今を生きる, "Living for Now," or "Seize the Day") for Robin Williams's Dead Poet's Society, 1989
Negoshieetaa (ネゴシエーター, "Negotiator") for Eddie Murphy's Metro, 1997. Samuel L. Jackson's The Negotiator, 1998, is Koushounin (公証人, "[The] Negotiator").

See more Japanese titles of English-language movies at:

Movie Titles in Japanese (1) and Movie Titles in Japanese (2) by About.com's Namiko Abe

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Answers

1. The Karate Kid: Besuto Kiddo (ベスト・キッド, "Best Kid," Ralph Macchio), 1984; Is it called "Best Kid" because a Japanese audience wouldn’t understand the word karate?
2. The Distinguished Gentleman: Eddi Maafi no Howaitohausu Kyousoukyoku (エッディ・マーフィのホワイトハウス協奏曲, "Eddie Murphy's White House Rhapsody," Eddie Murphy), 1992; Eddie Murphy becomes a U.S. Congressman, hinting at a run for the White House (presidency) in the LAST MINUTE of the movie. Did they confuse this with a never-planned sequel?
3. Basic Instinct: Koori no Bishou (氷の微笑, "Icy Smile," Sharon Stone), 1992; This ties in well with the ice pick.
4. A League of Their Own: Puriti Riigu (プリティ・リーグ, "Pretty League," Geena Davis), 1992; This movie is about trying to get respect for a women's baseball league. Doesn't "Pretty League" work against this?
5. Malice: Tsumetai Tsuki o Daku Onna (冷たい月を抱く女, "The Woman Who Hugs the Cold Moon," Nicole Kidman), 1993; Alec Baldwin was cold, and Nicole Kidman did hug him. But did anyone see him mooning? And "The WOMAN Who Hugs the Cold Moon" ruins the surprise that she's a villain.
6. Primary Colors: Paafekuto Kappuru (パーフェクト・カップル, "Perfect Couple," John Travolta), 1998; A Clintonesque presidential candidate has sexual indiscretions and lies to his wife, who plays the supportive wife on camera. Is THIS Japan's idea of a "perfect couple"?

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