MovieChat Forums > Boys Before Friends (2013) Discussion > Really Now...

Really Now...

posted 10 years ago by torisweettooth
11 replies | jump to latest

I am a HUGE fan of BBF manga and love all of the Asian versions (most especially South Korean version) but the first episode of the very FIRST US version is making my stomach hurt. Really its like a college project, no not even that. It's like a Highschool project.

The flow is all wrong. One minute we are in present then 6 months later then wait flash to 2 month before then back to 6 months...all in the first 10 mins!!!

I mean seriously US gets crap for some stuff but coming out with the worst BBF is by far to much...I didn't think it was possible. This is makeing me sooooo sad. The acting is not coming off natural either. I know some actors have to start somewhere but did it have to be BBF.

(sighs) I'm so embarrassed. I just hope someone makes a better US version so we can be redeemed.

"Siggy must b fewer than 100 char?! You gotta be f@%•ing joking! Oh but they'll take this."

[–] carzy_6 10 years ago

I think the critics need to be more forgiving of this. I loved the South Korean version too but there are a few things that people need to bear in mind while watching the U.S. version:

Really its like a college project, no not even that. It's like a Highschool project.

It's low-budget. It was never going to be made in the U.S. with a large budget (which I know plenty of people would argue would be a good thing) but you're getting to watch it for free!

The flow is all wrong. One minute we are in present then 6 months later then wait flash to 2 month before then back to 6 months...all in the first 10 mins!!!

Personally, I think that's a reference to other Asian shows. I've only seen the Korean version of BOF but I wouldn't be surprised if others had similar time-jumps. My brother has a lot of Japanese films and some of them, like Noriko's Dinner Table, feature similar jumps. Others, like Confessions, have long stretches that are told entirely in flashback.

So in this case, I think it's a reference to Asian filmmaking. Nothing to do with the American version, even if that entire first segment with the two guys was unneeded (and it improved a lot after that).

The only things that I think need to be fixed are:
1) Fix the audio.
2) Drop the opening with the two guys.
3) Lose the ponytail! The ponytail disappeared when Liam Montgomery was in the shower and it looked so much better. I'd actually get rid of the silly MMA stance and lousy basketball playing too. They just make him look silly.

Other than that, I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. I actually felt like the episode got good towards the end and some of the changes they made worked really well.

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"Kick her in the balls!"

[–] torisweettooth 10 years ago

I have no problem saying I was wrong or I went overboard on something. Soooooo I went back over the show (like 3 times) and it wasn't assssssssssss bad as it was the first time I watched it.

I think if anyone has high hopes for it...DON'T because that is what ultimately had me bashing it. I was expecting greatness on the scale of the Korean version (not so much the Jap cause that was ok but a little off on certain aspects to me) for acting and flow but got well what we got and felt betrayed.

I stand by my opinion that the flow is all wrong. Of all the things to pay tribute or reference from other Asian shows...I doubt they would pick bad scene placements and bloopers. I really think what the issue is that these are all first timers or at least newbies in the TV/movie world.

It only became more interesting to me on the second half when she finally started standing up for herself which originally drew me to the manga and shows in the first place.

The only things that I think need to be fixed are:
1) Fix the audio.
2) Drop the opening with the two guys.
3) Lose the ponytail! The ponytail disappeared when Liam Montgomery was in the shower and it looked so much better. I'd actually get rid of the silly MMA stance and lousy basketball playing too. They just make him look silly.

This made me laugh. There's more that can be fixed but what was funny was the list count in general. Totally AGREE with e last remark on ponytail and basketball. Seriously we are suppose to believe he's a the star player and turned down a NBA contract. If so at least fake it...

Also was it just me or did they change the main character, Zoey? Claude looks way too tough in my opinion to be the lead BUT the fiestiness was refreshing especially when she looked like she could kick Liam's ass in the trailer. The one in the trailer for episode 2 seemed to girly and not as pretty.

"Siggy must b fewer than 100 char?! You gotta be f@%•ing joking! Oh but they'll take this."

[–] carzy_6 10 years ago

Also was it just me or did they change the main character, Zoey? Claude looks way too tough in my opinion to be the lead BUT the fiestiness was refreshing especially when she looked like she could kick Liam's ass in the trailer. The one in the trailer for episode 2 seemed to girly and not as pretty.

Yep, they did. Claude Racine is given a makeover and turns into a completely different actress, Dawn Morrow. That irritates me because she was my favourite thing about the first episode. I liked her alternative look, thought she was the best actor in the show and loved her dorky facial expressions (which is why I loved Jan Di in the Korean version too).

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"Kick her in the balls!"

[–] gamemasterkts 10 years ago

It did kind of come off as low budget, unprofessional,meh-ly acted and unintentionally hilarious, but I think it could possibly improve.

i also think it could be a good American show in the right hands. whether or not these are the right hands remains to be seen.

[–] casia232 10 years ago

Despite the flaws I didn't think it was that bad. This is clearly low-budget because there's no big Hollywood production company backing it but I think there's room for improvement and I hope they do just that.

[–] carzy_6 10 years ago

My thoughts exactly.

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"Kick her in the balls!"

[–] honeywolf3 10 years ago

You know what after I watched this. I went back to the BOF thread. I know I wrote an idea about making a U.S version in the BOF thread, taking place in College with a more mature theme and have Ji-Hoo be white. I posted this in 2011. Watching this show I just thought it was odd but in my mind he did not look like he was some kin to Macaulay Culkin. I wonder is he a cousin?

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If I wanted to kill my husband,I'd do it and I wouldn't get caught.I'd scare him to death.

[–] carzy_6 10 years ago

You know what after I watched this. I went back to the BOF thread. I know I wrote an idea about making a U.S version in the BOF thread, taking place in College with a more mature theme and have Ji-Hoo be white. I posted this in 2011. Watching this show I just thought it was odd but in my mind he did not look like he was some kin to Macaulay Culkin. I wonder is he a cousin?

I thought the same thing! His surname is Culkin but all I could find out from Wikipedia is that he isn't a brother of Macaulay or Kieran. I suppose he could be a cousin.

And it's funny you should mention Ji Hoo being white because I was thinking about that just recently. I'm embarrassed to say it but I've only just figured out which member of the US F4 is which; from the opening episode, I figured the Asian guy was Ji Hoo because he was described as "the sensitive one of the group" and we were told that he plays musical instruments. It was only when I was watching the trailer for episode 2 that I found out it was the Culkin guy (who I thought was Yi Jung).

That disappoints me because it means we won't have an interracial relationship in the show; if it was the way I thought it'd be and everything went the same way as the Korean version, it means we would have the tease of Asian Guy/White Girl and the Culkin guy would get together with Parker, Zoey's friend, so we'd have White Guy/Asian Girl too. But nope. It's just W/W and A/A.

Edit: Uhh ... now I'm confused again. I've heard that the Asian guy is actually Woo Bin. But that can't be true, can it? They mentioned the other white guy having ties to the mafia.

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"Kick her in the balls!"

[–] honeywolf3 10 years ago

And it's funny you should mention Ji Hoo being white because I was thinking about that just recently. I'm embarrassed to say it but I've only just figured out which member of the US F4 is which; from the opening episode, I figured the Asian guy was Ji Hoo because he was described as "the sensitive one of the group" and we were told that he plays musical instruments. It was only when I was watching the trailer for episode 2 that I found out it was the Culkin guy (who I thought was Yi Jung). Uhh ... now I'm confused again. I've heard that the Asian guy is actually Woo Bin. But that can't be true, can it? They mentioned the other white guy having ties to the mafia.

Whomever cast this probably didn't really dig into the characters. What set BOF apart from the other drama adaptations was that each character got to shine. You got to know them. Joseph is sort of close to GJP. Oliver/Ji-hoo should have been a pretty boy. Think Zac effon or someone similar since he is suppose to be beautiful. I remember gasping the first time I seen Kim Hyun Joong's face. I thought he was stunning. Chase/YI Jung comes off cheesy and is a try hard. the actor they should have cast for this needed to have sexual charisma. Kim Bum & Shôta Matsuda were suave & debonair. Lastly Noah/woo bin, I'm not sure about him but he should have been of Italian descent. If he is suppose to have ties to the crime underworld then have it be the mob or maybe Cuban for Latin Kings or Brazilian for Colombians.

That disappoints me because it means we won't have an interracial relationship in the show; if it was the way I thought it'd be and everything went the same way as the Korean version, it means we would have the tease of Asian Guy/White Girl and the Culkin guy would get together with Parker, Zoey's friend, so we'd have White Guy/Asian Girl too. But nope. It's just W/W and A/A.

It could still end up with a Interracial romance since we don't know exactly all the changes she made to the storyline. Since the lead friends were brought in early, will chase & one of her friends hook up. I don't even know which one is suppose to be Ga Eul.

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If I wanted to kill my husband,I'd do it and I wouldn't get caught.I'd scare him to death.

[–] carzy_6 10 years ago

Whomever cast this probably didn't really dig into the characters. What set BOF apart from the other drama adaptations was that each character got to shine. You got to know them. Joseph is sort of close to GJP. Oliver/Ji-hoo should have been a pretty boy. Think Zac effon or someone similar since he is suppose to be beautiful. I remember gasping the first time I seen Kim Hyun Joong's face. I thought he was stunning. Chase/YI Jung comes off cheesy and is a try hard. the actor they should have cast for this needed to have sexual charisma. Kim Bum & Shôta Matsuda were suave & debonair. Lastly Noah/woo bin, I'm not sure about him but he should have been of Italian descent. If he is suppose to have ties to the crime underworld then have it be the mob or maybe Cuban for Latin Kings or Brazilian for Colombians.

Having seen the second episode, I'm liking the F4 a lot more. I think they have good chemistry with each other.

I'm still convinced that Chase is Woo Bin and Noah is Yi Jung though. There's a moment where Zoey attacks Liam but after she leaves, Chase and Noah have a short conversation. Just from that, Noah seemed like the more sensitive character, which I tend to associate more with Yi Jung than Woo Bin.

Alternatively, maybe they're not meant to be direct parallels of either. The Korean BOF is the only one I've seen so maybe they have more in common with their counterparts from other adaptions (or none of them). Those two are my favourite of the bunch though, with Oliver a close third and Liam a distant last. Not too impressed with him.

It could still end up with a Interracial romance since we don't know exactly all the changes she made to the storyline. Since the lead friends were brought in early, will chase & one of her friends hook up. I don't even know which one is suppose to be Ga Eul.

I figured Piper was supposed to be Ga Eul but I'm guessing they're not going with that storyline anyway.

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"Kick her in the balls!"

[–] fun-niji 10 years ago

The budge-constraints or problems is a lame excuse I feel. I saw a few of the episodes of this US remake and... I don't know if I wanted to hurl, or face-palm myself incessantly, or what. I just loathed it.
There have been low budget, original films, which were done really well - plenty of examples if you look for it.

Unfortunately, as good were the initial intentions were for this remake by the creators, they just do not have the talent or skills to pull it off. That's the honest truth. Then for them to air their "dirty laundry" as a way of an excuse is really unprofessional of them. That was the first time I have seen, whilst in the middle of shooting, of such confessions.

Btw, I'm a fan of the Japanese version.