Originally posted by: Kaal-Jhyy

Originally posted by: Invader Jenny
And why the hell would they change around R2 and C-3P0's names? They are just numbers and letters. What? France doesn't have the number three in their language?

For C-3PO, I think they played on the similarities in the pronouciation, "6" in french is near of "3" in english than "3" in french, if you see what I mean.

C-3PO is called "threepio" in english, and it's the pronouciation of the 3 letters 3 P O. The translators had to come with a french name with a roughly equivalent pronouciation that could be written with letters too. So we have Z-6PO, and he is called "sispéo" (I have no explanations for the Z though). In french "sispéo" is easier on the ears than "troipéo" (3PO in french)! The same explanation applies to "artoo" ("dédeux" -> D2).

I'll add that "Star Wars" had be known as "La guerre des étoiles" since 1977, but that has changed for the prequels. And everybody in France talks now of "Star Wars"...

(for the french speaking people on this forum: do you agree that the french version of ANH (more than the others) is a lot of fun? Han saying to Luke as the Falcon is about to make the jump to lightspeed: "Prends ta pelle et ton seau, p'tit gars, et va jouer." ("Take your shovel and bucket, kid, and go play" (in the sandbox)))