200-Pound Beauty

 

 

Cast:

Kim Ah Jung – Hanna Kang

 

Joo Jin Mo - Sangjun

 

Summary:

Lighthearted, witty, and bitingly funny, surprise box office hit 200 Pounds Beauty has become one of the top ten grossing films of all time and the highest grossing romantic comedy ever. Based on a Japanese comic by Suzuki Yumiko, the film revolves on a topic all too familiar in Korea: plastic surgery. Kim Ki Duk previously covered plastic surgery in Time, but director Kim Yong Hwa takes a decidedly different spin with the scalpel in the crowd-pleasing 200 Pounds Beauty. Poking fun at society's obsession with appearances and, ironically, disdain for plastic beauty, the film made an overnight star out of lead Kim Ah Jung (When Romance Meets Destiny), whose sassy, yet vulnerable performance opposite Ju Jin Mo (Musa) endeared her to both male and female moviegoers alike. Even the film's soundtrack has become a big hit, particularly Kim Ah Jung's rendition of Maria. Is beauty more than skin deep? Find out in Korea's newest comedy sensation 200 Pounds Beauty!
As the ghost singer for pop idol Ami and a popular phone sex partner, the bright and lovable Hannah Kang (Kim Ah Jung) attracts everyone with her beautiful voice. But in real life, she is overlooked and made fun of because of her obesity. She secretly likes manager Sang Jun (Ju Jin Mo), but does not have the courage to tell him. When a malicious joke leaves her humiliated and heartbroken, Hannah makes a drastic decision: full-body plastic surgery. Months later, a slim and drop-dead gorgeous Hannah saunters into auditions, and easily wins over Sang Jun with her beautiful looks and voice. With her newfound beauty, Hannah gets everything she's ever wanted, including fame and love. But what will everyone think when they discover her true identity, and the secret behind her transformation?

Director Kim Yong Hwa has a keen sense for bringing comedy out of a seemingly tragic premise, and delivering it all with resounding commercial appeal. His previous comedy Oh! Brothers was about the bonding between two estranged brothers, one of whom has a rare physical disability. This time Kim addresses a different kind of physical imperfection. In portraying a society in which looks determine status, but plastic surgery invites criticism, Kim twists a painful reality into a comical situation, letting the social commentary underlie, but never overtake the film. 200 Pounds Beauty is first and foremost a comedy, but one with a deceptively intelligent core.

Synopsis credits: yesasia.com

 

 

What I Think:

The fact that Sangjun already seems to like Hannah Kang even when she was still fat was already a good sign. Indeed beauty is just skin deep but it does help if you are skinny and pretty and witty and happy. ^_^

 

Kim Ah Jung is such a beautiful girl! Wow at first I look at her and she has this awesomely big mouth but she grows on you, she is pretty indeed. There were scenes, with her tall and lean body and nice hair, she can pass of as Jeon Ji Yeon's twin! She is a great singer too; she sang the songs in the movie. She is quite good in the drama department and can pass off in the comic ones too.

 

Joo Jin Moo, holy clouds, he is hella hot here! Every time I watch him act, he just steadily rises in my drool-worthy-o-meter! If he was manly and debonair in Fashion 70s, he was even more so in 200-Pound Beauty. I just love his face, it is so distinguished and so handsome. One scene where he mouthed "We will see" to Hanna Kang, holy crap I almost fell off my chair, he was so hot!

 

My fave scenes were when Sangjun kissed Hanna with his hands held up so he cant touch Jenny's fake butt and silicon breasts, and Hanna's "Beautiful Girl" moment. This movie has an awesome soundtrack too get hold of the songs! My fave is Beautiful Girl of course. My friends like "Maria" which is a Blondie original. I think I have such tremendous reaction to this movie is because this is the first k-movie I have seen that did not blast plastic surgery but embraced it, it has a different storyline.

 

Some nice scenes:

@ Joo Jin Moo mouthing "We will see.." to Kim Ah Jung as she sings Stand By me—holy crap was just darn too sexy!

@ The Ammy and Hanna going to Sungjun's birthday party wearing the same red dress..with Ammy looking fab and poor Hannah looking fat.

@ The whole surgery/transformation of Hanna

@ Hanna's jawbone almost breaking! That was hilarious!

@ The line: You broke my heart, tissue won't fix it.

@ Sangjun kissing Hanna on the lounge chair so romantic….with his hands held up, not touching her boobs or her butt was just funny!

 

*EDITED 21 AUGUST 2007 AS REQUESTED

Just LEFT CLICK on the links...

Download Maria MP3:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/z6i574

 

Download Beautiful Girl wma file:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/wbqtg9

 

 

Rating:

8 out of 10 Korean kimchis

 

 

Lyrics of Maria:

Maria

Kim Ah Joong (200 Pound Beauty OST)

Cha chigum shija-khae
chogum-sshwil ttokob-ke
uhh… turyowo-hajima

pyolchyojin nunape
cho tae-yangi ki-reul bichwo
uhh… chol-tae-momchujima

Maria ave Maria
cho hwim-kurum kkeut-kaji nara
Maria ave Maria
gochin-paddowin sang-gwa-nobshi

cha chigum shija-khae
chogum-sshwil ttokob-ke
uhh… chol-tae-momchujima

Maria ave Maria
cho hwim-kurum kkeut-kaji nara
maria ave maria
gochin-paddowin sang-gwa-nobshi

Maria

mamchwo-borin shim-jang chon-chega
koncha-bulsu-ob-shi ttwi-yo-wa

(Repeat 2x) Maria ave Maria
cho hwim-kurum kkeut-kaji nara
Maria ave Maria
chojin-paddowin sang-gwa-nobshi

Also credit: http://kreah-craze.com/list-of-korean-romanized-lyrics/

 

 

 

 

Credits; hancinema, yahoo, yesasia

44^th Daejoong Awards

Daejoong is not as big or as famous as Baeksang but it still creates buzz..Jo In Sung, I love him and all, but he looks constipated here..Kim Tae Hee looks stuning, Lee Tae Ran looks phenomenal.

 

 

The Best Project : Family Ties

The Best Director:Bong Joon Ho, The Host

The Best Actor: Ahn Sung Gi, Radio Star

The Best Actress : Kim Ah Joong, S Line

The Best Supporting Actor: Kim Yoon Suk, Tazza

The Best Supporting actress: Shim Hye Jin  South of the Border

The Best New Director: Kwon Hyung Jin  For Horowitz

The Best New Actor : Ryu Duk Hwan   Like a Virgin

The Best New Actress: Jo Yi Jin  South of the Border

The Best Planning : Lee Jung Hak Lump Sugar

The Best Scenario :Sung Gi Young, Kim Tae Yong  Family Ties

The Best Cinematography: Park Hyun Chul  S Line

The Best Lighting : Lee Joo Saeng  Paradise

The Best Editing : Kim Sun Min The Host

The Best Mixed Media Technique : Shin Jae Ho, Jung Do Ahn

The Best Sound Effect : Jung Gwang Ho, Choi Tae Young

The Best Music Score : Lee Jae Hak S Line

The Best Art Design : Kim Gi Chul  Midair

The Best Costumes: Jo Sang Kyung Tazza

Special Award : Jun Do Yun

Merit Award : Shin Young Gyoon

The Most Popular Actor (Domestic): Lee Bum Soo
The Most Popular Actress (Domestic): Kim Ah Joong
The Most Popular Actor (Overseas): Jung Ji Hoon/Bi
The Most Popular Actress (Overseas): Kim Tae Hee

Photos:

 Bong Joon Ho

Shim Hye Jin Hey she is Yul¡¯s pretty momma from Princess Hours!

 

Kim Yoon Suk

 

Jo Yi Jin

 

Ryu Duk Hwan

 

Jun Do Yun

 

Jo In Sung

 

 

Lee Bum Soo, Kim Ah Joong

 

Chae Min Suh, Lee Tae Ran, Wang Bit Na

 

Jung Ji Hoon, Moon Geun Young

 

Kim Tae Hee, Sul Kyung Goo

 

Song Kang Ho

 

Shin Young Gyoon

credist: soompi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tokio Hotel

 

 

 

 

I just came across their video, Durch Den Monsun (Through the Monsoon) one day while surfing the net and I thought they were awesome…they are a German band. I thought they were j-rock so there anyway I just have to post them up. I have not listened to all their songs yet but I just have to say I think I like Tom, the one in dreadlocks. J

 

 

 

 

Band History:

Identical twins Bill and Tom Kaulitz (September 1, 1989) have been making music since childhood. They were musically promoted by their step-father, who is also a musician, although less active. In early 2001, in their hometown of Magdeburg, they met Gustav Schäfer (September 8, 1988) and Georg Listing (March 31, 1987), with whom they formed the band Devilish. From 2001 onwards, they played in talent shows and small-time concerts. After Bill Kaulitz' participation in a children's Star Search in 2003 (which he lost in the quater-finals), he was discovered by music executive Peter Hoffmann. In the end, Devilish changed their name to Tokio Hotel, ("Tokio", because of the large and lively city Tokyo in Japan which they love, and "Hotel", due to their constant touring and sleeping in hotels), and Universal Music took them under contract. Hoffmann hired David Jost and Pat Benzner into the team of creators and authors, and had them give the children instruction on songwriting and instrument playing. Shortly before publication of the first album, Sony terminated their contract. In 2005, Universal Music Group took Tokio Hotel under contract and developed an extensive marketing plan.

Credits: wikipedia, yahoo

 

 

 

Watch their Durch Den Monsun mv here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=vtr2c42C-_A

Watch their Monsoon (enlish version) here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kfMnM5Y2rw8

Devil Beside You

 

 

 

Cast:

Ranie Yang – as Qi Yue: Qi Yue is a sweet and innocent sophomore in college who lives with her widowed mother. She is very shy and sometimes clueless, but she has a loyal and kind heart that shines even through the toughest of times. She harbors a crush on the captain of the basketball team, Yuan Yi, but her life was turned upside-down by Ahmon. Eventually, she falls out of love with Yuan Yi and starts developing feelings for Ahmon. Qi Yue is also one of the managers of the basketball team.

 

 

Mike He – as Jiang Meng: Nicknamed Ah Meng and Ahmon by his fellow peers, he is the son of the president of the school. He is a freshman at the college, yet he has power of his teachers due to his father's position. Ahmon is also frightening to a lot of people and is known to bully girls, yet he is also known as the "prince of seduction." Despite his cool composure and "bad" attitude, Ahmon has a gentle side and often sticks up for what is right. Li Xiang has a crush on him, which he does not reciprocate, but Ahmon has feelings for Qi Yue. Although she is his future stepsister, he does love her and enjoys teasing her. Ahmon also joins the basketball team and has faster reflexes that rival Yuan Yi's. Ah Meng also has a little brother.

 

 

Kingone Wang – as Shang Yuan Yi: Yuan Yi is a boy in Qi Yue's class (teasingly nicknamed "Ah Yi (Auntie in Chinese)", and is the captain of the basketball team. Qi Yue is initially in love with Yuan Yi for his gentle personality. Yuan Yi reciprocates her feelings and they become a couple. When Qi Yue falls in love with Ahmon, she breaks up with Yuan Yi, wishing not to lead him on. Yuan Yi is angry and hostile towards Ahmon at first, but gets over it and realizes his feelings for Qing Zi after she kisses him.

 

Tsai Pei Lin – as Qing Zi: Qing Zi is Qi Yue's outspoken best friend. She and Xiao Cai are the ones who encourages Qi Yue to confess her love to Yuan Yi, even though Qing Zi herself had a crush on him. Qing Zi cares for Qi Yue a lot and spends a lot of effort in helping her. After Qi Yue and Yuan Yi break up, Qing Zi starts dating Yuan Yi. Qing Zi and Yuan Yi's relationship is tested when Qing Zi feels that Yuan Yi is spending more time playing basketball than being with her. Feeling dejected, she meets with a stranger she chatted with online. She later gets into a tussle with him and Yuan Yi comes to her rescue.

 

 

Figaro Cheng – as Yuan Chuan Rang: He is nicknamed Ah Rang and the little brother of Ah Meng. Their father tried desperately to forget about him, and naming Ah Meng as the successor of the company. Ah Rang follows and stalks Qi Yue everywhere, trying to force her and blackmail her to like him, who in turn, does everything she can to stop him. He tries to ruin Ah Meng's name, and puts Ah Meng and Qi Yue in lots of danger. He is later softened by Qi Yue, who later feels sorry for him and reaches out to him, and becomes more open. Ah Rang actually really looks up to Ah Meng and sees him as a hero, and actually cares deeply about him, but his mother chose him instead of Ah Meng. This causes Ah Meng to envy his younger brother. Ah Meng would often ignore him and never look at him, and act coldly toward him. Ah Rang is also being helped by the school president's assistant who is in love with Ah Rang's mother, who does not reciprocate that love. Plus, Ah Meng had accidentally shoved Ah Rang into a vase that had severely injured and cut his neck, which was the reason for his hate. Because of this injury, he usually is weak and can collapse due to breath failure. [He has asthma] After a "fake" attack, he and Ah Meng rekindle their relationship and become brothers once more.

 

 

SPOILER WARNING…PLOT AND STORYLINES FOLLOW HERE

 

Synopsis:

Qi Yue (Rainie Yang) is a college student in her second year. Having a crush on the captain of the school's basketball team, Shang Yuan Yi (Wang Chuan Yi), she writes a love letter to him and prepares to pass it to him. Qi Yue, being clumsy, accidentally hands the love letter to Jiang Meng (Mike He). Jiang Meng, called Ahmon or Ah Meng by his friends is a freshman and the school's bully, smiles devilishly at Qi Yue as she gapes in shock, dropping the love letter carelessly and running away. Qi Yue soon hears from her best friends that Ahmon is the school president's son. Being rich and powerful, Ahmon and his gang go around bullying other people to amuse themselves. While walking around school, Yue runs into Ahmon. He shows her the letter and reads the front of the envelope out to her. Qi Yue then realizes that Ahmon picked up the letter that she dropped. Ahmon blackmails Qi Yue and threatens to print 1000 copies of the love letter and scatter it around the whole school if she doesn't become his slave. Unwillingly, Qi Yue is forced to cater to Ahmon's every desire.

 

Qi Yue hates Ahmon at first but as she gets to know him, Qi Yue realizes that he is simply "hard on the outside, soft on the inside" and is actually a nice person and just does things differently. In turn, Ahmon finds that Qi Yue is a unreasonably cute and innocent girl who is compassionate towards everyone and melts his heart. Very soon, Qi Yue finds herself flirting with her favorite devil and vice versa. As they start to fall for each other, Qi Yue is shocked to know that her widowed mother is about to marry Ahmon's father, which links them (Ahmon & Qi Yue) into a stepbrother-stepsister relationship. Things get really complicated. Ahmon and Qi Yue face many obstacles like Qi Yue's ex-crush and Ahmon's arranged date appearing at the same time, the disapproval of Ahmon's grandmother, the consequences of their love — the downfall of their parents' upcoming marriage, Ahmon's younger brother [more in biography] — Ahrang blackmailing them out of hate for his brother who wouldn't even notice him and so on.

 

Love conquers all for this these lovers as they face these obstacles together. Qi Yue and Ahmon gain the acceptance of their parents and Ahmon's grandmother, get through the pain of being separated for a year because Ahmon was in Italy getting to know his long lost mother, come to terms with Ahmon's younger asthmatic brother, reject the advances of Ahmon's date, and realize that reliving past crushes isn't the way to go and that people change.

 

 

 

What I Think:

Here goes my unorganized thoughts on this one.

The 3 leads actors.

Rainie Yang – as usual I love her to pieces. Her hairstyle is good, clothes are okay and she has great chemistry with Mike He and Kingone! I just love the way she pouts her mouth, and her range of acting has gone really big considering that she has done a bed scene with Mike He on this one. J

 

Mike He - I hate Mike He’s hairstyle; it reminds me of Dao Ming Zi’s pineapple-all-over-the-place hair! Waaaah! I think Kingone is cuter! Haha! This is the first time I have seen Mike act and he does fairly okay. He just seems to over –exaggerate a lot of things here…the way he smirks, smiles or whatever it is. He seems to like Rainie for real, coz you can feel their chemistry as if they are not acting. Is it true they are really dating for real?

 

Kingone Wang – Holy crap! He is like the Jiro Wang of ISWAK… Omg in the first episode, the bomb was already dropped on me!! Holy smokes, I think Yuan Yi (Kingone) is absolutely handsome!! Holy crap, I might as well day dream with Ranie on this boy! He looks a lot like Kwon Sang Woo, coz of the angular face, the smile. Holy Buddha I am really loving him, why the heck have I only seen this series now when this was aired in 2005? By episode 3, I already like Jiang Meng and Yuan Yi both…but Jiang Meng is going up my cuteness scale. Yuan Yi looks absolutely cute still in every jacket he wears, he makes it look good.

 

The downfall of this series: too many side stories happening around the main plot. Almost the whole ep 4 is devoted to YuanYi and Qi Yue’s best friend—imagine that!

All the complicated relationships: Jiang Meng & Qi Yue, Yuan Yi & Qi Yue, Yuan Yi & Qi Yue’s best friend, Jiang Meng’s dad & Qi Yue’s mom… so many complications arise that the focus was veered away from the main love triangle.

 

 

Must watch scenes:

@ The first scene where Ranie was holding her love letter for Kingone, omg that is the same scene as in ISWAK! At least Ariel Lin’s letter went to her beloved, hers made a detour! Haha!

@ Jiang Meng kissed Qi yue and Yuan Yi saw it.

@ Qi Yue sleeping in Jiang Meng’s bed the first time. Just because…

@Ahmon and Qi Yue in a bicycle, so cute together, and she held onto him tightly too. Them kissing in the middle of the road, stopping traffic.

@ Yuan Yi and Qiang Zi ran in the rain.. “The Classic” movie scene!

 

 

Rating:

8 Taiwanese Taicha out of 10

 

One of my fave scenes:

 

 

Credits: wikipedia, asianfanatics