You're Beautiful and all its incarnations
So, as you know, I've fallen madly in love with foreign dramas, starting about a year ago. The first was a Korean Drama (KDrama) called You're Beautiful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You're_Beautiful_(TV_series)
Long story short, a nun-in-training agrees to temporarily masquerade as her twin brother so that he can join this popular band, as this is not only his dream (to make it big) but also keeping his promise to her to help find their mother who left them after they were born (their father died when they were young and they grew up in the convent). Shenanigans ensue, because this chick is so unbelievably sheltered that she seems like kind of an idiot, and all the guys in the group like her. The Big Secret about her family, in connection with Lead Guy, comes out, there is angsty-ness, and singing, and a happily ever after. Star motif is prevalent.
Since then, KDramas have taken over my life, though I have branched out into other countries, like Japan, Taiwan, etc.
Recently, I have discovered that there have been remakes of You're Beautiful in other countries, so duh, I watched them. You're Beautiful, while not the most amazing KDrama I have seen, is still my first, and is therefore special in my heart; uses one of my favorite plot devices, girl-disguised-as-guy; and it makes me happy.
The first remake was the Japanese version:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikemen_desu_ne
I liked the changes they had made, though not the shorter run (11 episodes to the 16 from the KDrama). Lead Guy, who was a massive jerk in the KDrama, was still a massive jerk, but not as much as he was when Jang Geun Suk played him. Nothing against JGS, but his character was bordering on the unforgivable. Seriously, huge ass. Anyway, Lead Guy did a decent job in this, and the other characters were still interesting as well. I liked that the plot with the mothers was elaborated more; and that there were more mementos for Lead Girl to receive.
I also liked the inclusion of the orphanage subplot.
I also did like that JGS had a cameo on this version; it made me giggle.
I don't remember if there was anything else. I might have to do a re-watch in the near future. I'm not sure about what I thought about Lead Girl. I might have liked her less.
The most recent is the Taiwanese version, Fabulous Boys:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabulous_Boys
I think this is probably my favorite adaptation. And that's not just because of my crush on Jiro Wang (I still have a harder time watching shows in Chinese, but for Jiro Wang, it is TOTALLY WORTH IT. GOOGLE HIM NOW. And I totes wish that Second Lead guy was older because HOT DAMN, Hwang In Deok! Do more shows!). Park Shin Hye has a very small cameo in the beginning of the show. It amuses me, but I wish it was more prevalent; she is definitely one of my favorite Korean actresses.
This was still shorter than the Korean version (13 episodes in total) and the end did feel a little more rushed, but that's better than dragging it out. Jiro Wang played Lead Guy, and he made him far more human. Jang Geun Suk may be the Prince of Asia, but Jiro Wang has my vote for this one. I did not like how the show cut out Lead Girl's "good-bye" scenes with the other members, and that they didn't still allow Lead Girl to go on her trip to Africa after getting back together with Lead Guy (it showed independence! That's healthy and strong! If you want to solidify the relationship, time apart is a good way to do it! Look at John and Abigail Adams!) I also didn't like her "I'm Fine" message in this - singing The Song meant so much more to me in the other adaptions. I also feel like they didn't give enough time to the Jeremy subplot (and they completely cut out the shoes from Second Lead) but I like that Second Lead Guy had more backbone in this.
I wish Lead Girl's hair looked a little better during the 'down time' of the show. When she had it styled for shoots and shows, it looked cool, but then it was just an asymmetrical annoyance when she wasn't doing those things. Also, in the Korean and the Japanese versions, the other guys in the band also had builds that ran towards the slight side and faces that could be accurately used with the term Flower Boys. But in the Taiwanese, the others were far more obviously masculine, that it made Lead Girl look a little silly. That isn't to say that I'd change the casting (though maybe yell at the hairdresser some; Evan Yo looked silly with his hair brushed forward). Actually, Jiro Wang looked better without his hair styled up too. Seriously, hate the hair stylist. However, the faux fur wrap of silliness did not make an appearance in the finale, and for that I am grateful.
Something else I liked was that there was interaction between the twins! Neither of the other two versions ever had them together, which is so insanely stupid that it makes me want to throw things. I wanted to see their relationship! Since it is because of that relationship that his whole story occurred! I would have liked more time, but it was cool that we got any at all (and Boy Twin had more than brief cameos - he had dialogue!). And it was interesting that they were putting Second Lead in more prominently with Lead Girl than in the Korean version; having them travel together and doing the music video.
So, all-in-all, the TDrama version is probably the best of all three. That's not to say that the others are bad, and that I won't rewatch the last eps of the KDrama version ever again (it's a problem I have, leave me alone), but for all the minor annoyances and changes that I didn't like, Lead Guy being less of a douche totally makes up for it. I recommend the series to anyone interested, though I do suggest starting with either the JDrama or TDrama.
I don't think this entry is what I hoped it would be, but I had to get my feels out.
Also, I want a Pig-Rabbit doll. Or Jiro Wang.
SERIOUSLY, GOOGLE HIM.
EDIT: I've tried to fix the first link for the show, but it won't let me. Just c/p the whole thing into the address bar or something.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You're_Beautiful_(TV_series)
Long story short, a nun-in-training agrees to temporarily masquerade as her twin brother so that he can join this popular band, as this is not only his dream (to make it big) but also keeping his promise to her to help find their mother who left them after they were born (their father died when they were young and they grew up in the convent). Shenanigans ensue, because this chick is so unbelievably sheltered that she seems like kind of an idiot, and all the guys in the group like her. The Big Secret about her family, in connection with Lead Guy, comes out, there is angsty-ness, and singing, and a happily ever after. Star motif is prevalent.
Since then, KDramas have taken over my life, though I have branched out into other countries, like Japan, Taiwan, etc.
Recently, I have discovered that there have been remakes of You're Beautiful in other countries, so duh, I watched them. You're Beautiful, while not the most amazing KDrama I have seen, is still my first, and is therefore special in my heart; uses one of my favorite plot devices, girl-disguised-as-guy; and it makes me happy.
The first remake was the Japanese version:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikemen_desu_ne
I liked the changes they had made, though not the shorter run (11 episodes to the 16 from the KDrama). Lead Guy, who was a massive jerk in the KDrama, was still a massive jerk, but not as much as he was when Jang Geun Suk played him. Nothing against JGS, but his character was bordering on the unforgivable. Seriously, huge ass. Anyway, Lead Guy did a decent job in this, and the other characters were still interesting as well. I liked that the plot with the mothers was elaborated more; and that there were more mementos for Lead Girl to receive.
I also liked the inclusion of the orphanage subplot.
I also did like that JGS had a cameo on this version; it made me giggle.
I don't remember if there was anything else. I might have to do a re-watch in the near future. I'm not sure about what I thought about Lead Girl. I might have liked her less.
The most recent is the Taiwanese version, Fabulous Boys:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabulous_Boys
I think this is probably my favorite adaptation. And that's not just because of my crush on Jiro Wang (I still have a harder time watching shows in Chinese, but for Jiro Wang, it is TOTALLY WORTH IT. GOOGLE HIM NOW. And I totes wish that Second Lead guy was older because HOT DAMN, Hwang In Deok! Do more shows!). Park Shin Hye has a very small cameo in the beginning of the show. It amuses me, but I wish it was more prevalent; she is definitely one of my favorite Korean actresses.
This was still shorter than the Korean version (13 episodes in total) and the end did feel a little more rushed, but that's better than dragging it out. Jiro Wang played Lead Guy, and he made him far more human. Jang Geun Suk may be the Prince of Asia, but Jiro Wang has my vote for this one. I did not like how the show cut out Lead Girl's "good-bye" scenes with the other members, and that they didn't still allow Lead Girl to go on her trip to Africa after getting back together with Lead Guy (it showed independence! That's healthy and strong! If you want to solidify the relationship, time apart is a good way to do it! Look at John and Abigail Adams!) I also didn't like her "I'm Fine" message in this - singing The Song meant so much more to me in the other adaptions. I also feel like they didn't give enough time to the Jeremy subplot (and they completely cut out the shoes from Second Lead) but I like that Second Lead Guy had more backbone in this.
I wish Lead Girl's hair looked a little better during the 'down time' of the show. When she had it styled for shoots and shows, it looked cool, but then it was just an asymmetrical annoyance when she wasn't doing those things. Also, in the Korean and the Japanese versions, the other guys in the band also had builds that ran towards the slight side and faces that could be accurately used with the term Flower Boys. But in the Taiwanese, the others were far more obviously masculine, that it made Lead Girl look a little silly. That isn't to say that I'd change the casting (though maybe yell at the hairdresser some; Evan Yo looked silly with his hair brushed forward). Actually, Jiro Wang looked better without his hair styled up too. Seriously, hate the hair stylist. However, the faux fur wrap of silliness did not make an appearance in the finale, and for that I am grateful.
Something else I liked was that there was interaction between the twins! Neither of the other two versions ever had them together, which is so insanely stupid that it makes me want to throw things. I wanted to see their relationship! Since it is because of that relationship that his whole story occurred! I would have liked more time, but it was cool that we got any at all (and Boy Twin had more than brief cameos - he had dialogue!). And it was interesting that they were putting Second Lead in more prominently with Lead Girl than in the Korean version; having them travel together and doing the music video.
So, all-in-all, the TDrama version is probably the best of all three. That's not to say that the others are bad, and that I won't rewatch the last eps of the KDrama version ever again (it's a problem I have, leave me alone), but for all the minor annoyances and changes that I didn't like, Lead Guy being less of a douche totally makes up for it. I recommend the series to anyone interested, though I do suggest starting with either the JDrama or TDrama.
I don't think this entry is what I hoped it would be, but I had to get my feels out.
Also, I want a Pig-Rabbit doll. Or Jiro Wang.
SERIOUSLY, GOOGLE HIM.
EDIT: I've tried to fix the first link for the show, but it won't let me. Just c/p the whole thing into the address bar or something.