In last week’s Open Thread, a back-and-forth developed between two commenters that caught my eye, because it dealt with a point that had been at the back of my mind for a while. Ever since I first saw the smash 2006 romantic comedy 200 Pound Beauty [미녀는 괴로워], in fact.

The comments dealt with 200 Pound Beauty’s plastic-surgery themes, and echoed some of my own reservations with the movie. Don’t get me wrong; I totally enjoyed watching it — it was light, funny, nicely acted — but something just didn’t sit right with me at the end. And the conversation that emerged last week captured that debate very well, I thought.

So, I asked both Sere and Samsooki if they would be okay with furthering the discussion in a sort of point-counterpoint conversation (similar to how Dahee and I discussed a particular drama character previously). They’ve both graciously agreed to go with it, and here’s the result.

Hope you enjoy!

SONG OF THE DAY

200 Pound Beauty OST – “Beautiful Girl” by Kim Ah-joong. [ Download ]

[Read more →]

Filed under: Chungmuro/Film, Pop Culture & Society by javabeans - 127 Comments →

If you’re a regular reader here, you probably won’t have that much trouble placing this particular famous singer in the lead role of 200 Pound Beauty, the musical edition, which held its “press call” and open rehearsal on November 26.

Song Chang-eui of Golden Bride plays the role originally played by Joo Jin-mo in the film, with Kim Ah-joong’s lead role played by two actresses alternating as the overweight singer with the powerful voice who undergoes plastic surgery to become a kpop success.

Who’s the celebrity in disguise?

Filed under: Theater/Musicals by javabeans - 12 Comments →

Song Chang-eui (Boys Don’t Cry) poses with pop singer Bada and musical actress Yoon Gong-joo (really, parents, gong-joo?) as they promote their new musical, the adaptation of sleeper hit 200 Pound Beauty.

The 29-year-old Song plays a PD main character, while Bada and Yoon alternate in the lead female role originated by Kim Ah-joong. The names in the musical are changed from the film, which hints that the musical, while sharing the main idea of the movie, may take certain departures.

Song last stepped onto the musical stage two and half years ago in the production of Hedwig, and the actor feels an affinity for the stage: of all the experiences he’s had, “musicals are still the most fun.”

The musical opens on November 27.

Via Newsis

RELATED POSTS

• News bites: November 3, 2008
• Press day for Boys Don’t Cry
• These boys don’t cry
• Get the fat suit ready for Bada

Filed under: Theater/Musicals by javabeans - 22 Comments →

Rain’s little sister is getting married! It’ll happen sometime next year and Rain is feeling both brotherly and fatherly: “You know how they say fathers feel odd when their daughters get married? That’s how I feel, because she’ll become part of someone else’s family.” [Asia Economy]

Things look to be getting uglier in the custody battle for Choi Jin-shil’s kids. Following Choi’s suicide last month, her brother Choi Jin-young (also an actor, of Okay to Love) has taken care of her two children, but her ex-husband Jo Sung-min, who’s been a deadbeat dad for the past four years and has been known to previously have beaten his wife, has suddenly decided he wants to raise his kids, and Choi’s brother and mother are not having it. Mom says, “He left his wife and kids because he didn’t want them and thinks he has a claim to them — how does that make sense? He’s done nothing as a father. I cannot recognize his parental right.” Jo counters, “It isn’t that I gave up my rights, but that I relinquished them to Choi Jin-shil. I’m the only parent they have now, so the rights automatically come to me.” Yeah, automatic parenting! One step up from deadbeat parenting! [Segye, Sports Seoul]

RELATED POSTS

• Japanese fans crowd to see Go Soo
• November is magazine month for Rain
• Restoring masterpieces in Insadong Scandal
• Choi Jin-shil’s death spurs talks of cyber-slander laws
• More on Choi Jin-shil’s suicide
• Get the fat suit ready for Bada

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 21 Comments →

While news is quiet of the 200 Pound Beauty sequel, plans are under way for a musical version, starring SES lead singer Bada. (The film sequel will be losing the sleeper hit’s original plastic-beauty Hana, star Kim Ah-joong, who opted not to return to the franchise in favor of other projects now that she’s catapulted to stardom.)

This musical version will be the follow-up stage role to Bada’s previous theatrical turn as Esmerelda in Notre Dame de Paris, for which she received favorable reviews. She’ll share the double-cast role of Hana with musical actress Yoon Gong-joo (really, Yoon parents? You named your kid “Princess”?). The male lead role, originated by Joo Jin-mo in the movie, is yet to be cast.

The musical version of 200 Pound Beauty will begin its theatrical run on November 27.

Via My Daily

RELATED POSTS

• A kiss for good luck
• Bada keeps the (Olympic) flame alive
• Fat again?
• News bites: January 29, 2008
• Ten-year reunion for pop stars SES

Filed under: Theater/Musicals by javabeans - 10 Comments →