Stephen Colbert and Rain finally had their dance off. According to yesterday’s Korea Times:
Top Korean singer Rain met his match during his visit to Los Angeles for the promotion of his movie, “Speed Racer.” The 25-year-old singer appeared on top comedian Stephen Colbert’s show “The Colbert Report.”
Video here. Dialogue obviously kept to a minimum to avoid any “Engrish” moments.
No word yet on whether or not the singer turned actor had a chance to visit any of the local restaurants to chow down on some LA Galbi, given that some of his fellow celebrities would “rather gulp poison.”
74 Comments
hilarious!
I wonder how his Korean fans will react to this.
Lol loved it. I hoped for an actual interview, but I guess Rain’s English wasn’t just up to par. Another classic Colbert moment.
I think Colbert kinda touched on the FTA issue when he claimed Rain wasn’t going to be on his show and said “Let me know when Korea lifts the embargo on balls.”
I loved the clip, too — and it’s obvious Colbert did his homework, by the number and type of references to Korean culture and history he made while trash-talking Rain.
All in all, a victory for both the kimcheerleaders and the Colbertizens!
Rain’s now had (or will have) some exposure (Colbert/Speed Racer) in the States beyond the Asian-American teen crowd.
Now let’s see if he’s got enough talent to draw on to win over some new fans.
‘Now let’s see if he’s got enough talent to draw on to win over some new fans.’
is that all that’s needed for an asian guy in hollywood?
No. He also needs to know how to say “HAI-YA!” do a few kicks and punches and be happy acting out underdeveloped characters and maintaining only on-screen platonic relationships with white women.
@5 It would also help if he was good at karate or something similar. Maybe that’s his best/only real chance to make it big.
The last time I saw an Asian man put a smile on a white woman’s face on screen was while watching the movie The Lover. The last time an Asian man put a smile on my face was, well, nevermind
.
“is that all that’s needed for an asian guy in hollywood?”
To win over some new fans? Yeah.
To become stratospherically famous? Probably not.
# 8,
Oh yeah, that was back in 1992, 16 years ago. Progress progress…
“Let me know when Korea lifts it’s embargo on ball” could be a reference to the FTA…but I like to think he is suggesting there are no ‘balls’ in Korea.
Which is very true when I was last there. Young men seem more feminine than women, especially true in the entertaniment business. Young Korean men seem to lack masochism. The military service used to straighten out all the cry babies and mummies boys used to sleeping with their mum until early teens.
I don’t think it is fulfilling it’s true role in society anymore if all these girls pass through with growing any ‘balls’.
withOUT growing any…
#4, Colbertizens? It’s the “Colbert Nation”, my friend.
one of the things chungmuro doesn’t seem to grasp about making a movie into an american hit, is the fact they don’t seem to comprehend a few concepts of what non asian americans want to see when they decide to see an asian movie. americans don’t want to see asians in love and they don’t want to see asian movies set in modorn times because most westerners see that as just simple copy of their own lives.
americans want to see asia as it was, not as it is. they want to be taken away to another world. a korean movie set in the past with lots of action and lots of colorful costumes would have the best chance of success in the states.
and that’s really why asian actors here have such limited roles.
btw, just a note, recetnly, there was a number one movie in which a bunch of college students somehow devised a way to beat the odds in vegas. they were all math geniuses. the movie was a true story. the main actor in the movie was white guy while the main player in real life was an asian guy.
“for the promotion of his movie, “Speed Racer.” ”
“His” movie??? If he was Speed Racer, ok…just a secondary role, this Korean news are so obvious…
Now, “embargo on balls” was damn funny: the guys here just stare each other, but when it comes to the real deal, even the police backs-off. Lame.
Good on him for following this up and getting some positive exposure.
The last time I saw an Asian man put a smile on a white woman’s face on screen was while watching the movie The Lover. The last time an Asian man put a smile on my face was, well, nevermind
.
What a crying shame.
Well, I’m no Tony Leung but I would offer to remedy that situation except I find myself tied down in a relationship at the moment.
# 15,
My god. A logically coherent argument from pawi…
Hell hath frozen over.
@15 maybe you’re onto something here… the last asian movie that I remember being successful in the US was Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, hardly set in modern times.
And I can understand the Asian man’s gripe about lack of Hollywood exposure/image on the tele. When I was home last Xmas, I noticed that the only time that I saw Asians on TV was during an Intel commercial… their Asian eyes were shown above their mask as they were portrayed as concentrating in the fab. Obviously playing to the stereotype of smart Asian people.
#7, as opposed to English-teaching, all-singing, all-dancing white monkey on the screens of Koreans? Fair shake, mate.
I do believe this was the first-ever mention (with photo!) of “Emperess Myeongseong” on a popular American TV show… What a milestone for Korean History nerds!!!
“At the moment” is the key phrase. We all know your sordid sexual history. When you’re finished with your flavor of the month, come on over to the Commonwealth and BYOC, you hoe.
Well, Rain is currently making a Hollywood film, this time starring. Called Ninja Assassin, so I guess you should get all the “Hai-ya” you want.
No word on love interests.
Eww. Yuch. Spit! Blech. Gag! Eroticizing Asian men???
Please! I beg for mercy!
one more thing, when i say a movie with lots of costumes, i don’t mean ala ‘bichonmu’ or ‘muyonggom’. they made those costumes look like chinese ones so as to appeal to a wider asian audience. to attract an american audience and also to provide distinction, the constumes must be korean and there should be no restrcitons on color, imigination, and who gets to wears them.
just my thoughts.
OK, sorry for that little episode. I just clicked over to Asian-sirens to clear my head. I’ll be Ok now. You Asian dudes just go ahead and get it any way you can.
Lol… Did no one here watch Harold and Kumar 2? But then again, that’s a very, very rare exception.
Hmm… I can see Rain have some moderate success in U.S. - maybe he can fill that gap leftover from the disturbing and creepy musical era of Nsync and Backstreet Boys. Certainly fits the category
I need to start my own company so that I can click on asian-sirens anytime I want, free from the prying eyes of The Man.
North American mainstream audiences aren’t very interested in Korean or Chinese actors, Jackie Chan-ish exceptions notwithstanding.
They’re also not interested in Bollywood and Arab actors, no matter how gorgeous and talented they are.
When the average mall-dwelling 14 year old girl in Topeka thinks about India, China or Korea, she does not think “glamour”. She thinks third world.
That’s funny, because when I think of “Topeka” I think third world.
though, there is a niche market in North America (and elsewhere, actually) for some Asian females. porn.
But isn’t our ideal of good looks close to the Asian man? Western women want a man to have high cheekbones, dark hair, a hairless chest, and a certain slant to the eyes (can I say that?) is no big disadvantage either. The height problem is dissolving thanks to all the BGH Asians are now ingesting. And now we are hearing that male models have to be skinny again and not buff. Maybe there just has to be a transition-type star - perhaps someone like Daniel Henny - to ease Western females into really Asian looking men like Rain.
though, there is a niche market in North America (and elsewhere, actually) for some
Asianfemales. porn.There…fixed.
Damn, Rain has some impressive moves. Almost looked like camera tricks.
is that right?
I meant Masculinity
That’s it???
With all the hype you would expect something more than Rain and Colbert doing a DDR routine.
It’ll be interesting to see if Kim Min Sun does actually eat US beef or “gulp poison”, when her future Kyopo dentist husband takes her out to a steak dinner in the States.
Interesting. A Kyopo generalizing an Asian actor.
Now where’s bumfromkorea with his generalization card?
wasn’t really generalizing as much as he was describing the demonstrated state of affairs.
Awww come on Baek du Boy, if you’ve ever set a foot in Japan you should know pretty boys are hardly just a Korean preference. Gackt is probably THE guy that set the “prettier than actual girls” standard. Anyway, Asia as a whole has quite the taste for non-macho guys and god knows I’m not complaining
I prefer the lean, sensitive look myself. Though I admit I prefer to be able to tell if he’s a girl or not (it can get confusing when cutie pies Hyde & Co. are doing the visual k look).
Whether Rain “makes it” in America, I think he’s done a lot bringing a lot of exposure to Korea for better or for worse. At the very least, I’m looking forward to Ninja Asassin. God willing, he will not just be swishing a katana (with his face half covered in a convenient ninja mask) whilst dancing lightly over the roof tops with a full moon in the sky - he will be doing half NAKED :D!
Rain is a real person with real feelings, how dare you objectify him like that
@sisyphus
Me? I was giving him a compliment and a sincere one at that! Honestly, the fact that I am stoked about his movies and actually planning on buying a ticket (not bootlegging it online) and think he is physically appealing…why, I think he’d be thrilled to hear those things. To be a celebrity is to be objectified - hopefully into a ‘nice-looking’ object. If anything, I feel like his feelings would’ve reacted favorably to my little post.
They also seem to lack beer bellies and back hair.
Asian guys may lack machismo. However at least they are’nt as pussy whipped as white guys. Being pussy whipped is bad enough, but being pussy whipped by a big butt fat white woman is disgraceful. Gotta respect the Asian dudes for this they KNOW who is the boss.
#42,
Oh, please. ‘Rain’ is not even his real name…
“americans want to see asia as it was, not as it is. they want to be taken away to another world. a korean movie set in the past with lots of action and lots of colorful costumes would have the best chance of success in the states.”
Right, Americans are racist because of that…Whatever, Mr. Korean Soap Opera Fanatic.
“Interesting. A Kyopo generalizing an Asian actor.
Now where’s bumfromkorea with his generalization card?”
Lol… Passive aggressive much?
Besides, the comment you’re referring to is denouncing Hollywood’s view that Asian Americans in non-martial arts role are not marketable. Not quite talking about Asian actors themselves.
@44: lacking body hair means lacking testosterone.
@Rain: “Speed Racer” is being heavily marketed in the U.S. However, “Rain” is nowhere to be seen in the previews, teasers, or print ads, alas. In the credits, his name comes right after some unknown Japanese dude (cue the protests), but right _before_ Richard Roundtree! Shaft got shafted.
And just as we can always count on Brendon to make a reference to his purchasing power, so can Nutizen Kim be counted on to remind us that he has the potential to reproduce sexually someday.
Just curious, how do guys personally feel about back hair? I feel like back hair isn’t seen as a “good” thing even by American standards. I mean, yeah, Hollywood likes a tuft of hair on the chest but the wolverine thing is hardly stumped as a sexy (with the exception of a few…and there are always exceptions). Anyway, my gosh, if utter hairiness was considered a sign of pure masculinity, white Americans have nothing on East Indians
***
And it’s all just very well because I doubt he will have a truly significant role beyond throwing a few ninja-style punches and kicks (admidst a rain of cherry blossoms no less). He made a nice little blip on the Colbert Show so I am sure as a whole, the Clouds are at peace with the world 
Rain has a nice 4-6 seconds in the trailer
Ahh…youth. 3:30 in the morning, my wife and child sleep peacefully in the next room while I work on some bank’s annual report, and here I have a sweet young thing with 3 smilies asking for my personal opinion on back hair. The glories of the internet.
Two pieces of advice, you little dear: while you’re young, go ahead and try it all, hairy or not. If it’s a problem, he’ll let you shave him, trust me. And second, don’t trust any advice you get over the internet. Now go have fun.
Anyway, my gosh, if utter hairiness was considered a sign of pure masculinity, white Americans have nothing on East Indians
I only know that because Russell Peters said so…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
“@Rain: “Speed Racer” is being heavily marketed in the U.S. However, “Rain” is nowhere to be seen in the previews, teasers, or print ads, alas.”
Time for that annual vision check, Dawg.
He appears a couple times in this one:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/.....edium.html
He appears briefly in these (he’s the guy doing the kicking):
http://www.apple.com/trailers/.....edium.html
http://www.apple.com/trailers/.....edium.html
I didn’t see him in the fourth trailer and I don’t think he’s in the TV spots available at the Warner Brothers site.
Frankly speaking, this movie looks too cartoonish for me.
Apparently some of you believe that Hollywood studios exist to promote racial equality. They don’t. They’re in the business of making money, and they will make movies about anyone or anything that puts asses in seats.
If (insert whining minority group here) don’t put asses in seats, they will not be headlining $100 million projects. And if said minority group is so inclined, they can always test the market themselves and put their own assets into making a grand blockbuster starring exclusively Asian men wooing white girls, saving the world, beating up white guys, battling the evil Imoogi, or whatever the fuck else your revenge fantasy is.
Shim Hyung-rae has already proven that if you sweeten the pot for theater owners, they’ll put any pile of shit on American screens. So what’s stopping pawi, Netizen Bluejives, and the rest of the Kyopo Krew from making millions with their Mr. Kim Takes Down Whitey and Bags His Bitch screenplay? Hell, maybe Reverend Moon will back the project if you promise a subplot with some Moonies.
Capitalism isn’t complicated ladies, and it’s not interested in affirmative action.
Pure brilliance!
iheartblueballs:blog commenting::pearls:swine
@54, Capitalism is driven by demand. If the general population wants equality and fairness then thats what firms will lean towards. In a capitalistic economy, firms that dont obey demand lose money.
Go find a movie with a white guy calling a black guy a “nigger” and see what happens.
But really you should stop whining about the racism you felt in Korea. If you are a nerd you are a nerd, go complain to your momma about the cards she dealt to you.
@57: I saw that movie; it was called “Pulp Fiction”.
No shit, halfwit. And it’s quite clear the general population doesn’t want equality and fairness, they want to be entertained. Which is why Will Smith makes $20 million per film, and Rain makes $20 plus a can of hairspray.
Now go peddle your boring, simpleton bullshit to someone who cares.
How are foreign men (women) portrayed in Asian films?
We all know how they, or at least Americans, are portrayed in Korean films anyway.
I do think Asians need to be in more Hollywood films though.
Have you seen the Host?
Mainland Chinese movies set in the modern era usually feature an all-Chinese cast, realistic since the population is 91% Han and almost 100% ethnic Asian.
It isn’t only ethnicity, but also gender that sells or doesn’t sell. Look at the Harry Potter series. Harry and most of the main characters were male; single mother JK Rowling was smart enough to know that men and boys don’t want to read about or watch on screen female characters who aren’t f*ckable.
Rather than whine about gender inequality in entertainment, I prefer to kick back, relax, and make plans to enjoy my six additional years of life expectancy. Keep working hard, men! We need your social security and pension contributions.
Here is what will ensure more Asian (men) in American film. China and globalization.
As Chinese get more disposable income they will spend more of that on entertainment. A billion plus wallets have a lot of clout if they want to see more asian faces on the silver screen.
Asian American bitching at Hollywood? Oh please.
“f*ckable”
Stop using these 별표! I don’t know what word you mean!
“We all know how they, or at least Americans, are portrayed in Korean films anyway.”
In The Host there is an American who risks his life to save others while most of the Koreans run away.
That’s true, but I think they were talking about how ALL the other Americans were portrayed in the movie.
…the Americans being responsible for both the creation of the 괴물 and the chemical drop at the end of the movie. And the medical treatment and probing of the Korean protagonist.
That being said, the selfless soldier’s girlfriend’s passionate cries 콩글리쉬로 for him to come back were kinda hot.
‘Here is what will ensure more Asian (men) in American film. China and globalization.’
you think of me as an idiot but it’s surprising how similar our thoughts can be.
What was “21″ about? MIT math whizzes, Asian-American in real life, but white in the movie, who take on Las Vegas and break the bank. In the imagination of Hollywood, engineering geeks are attractive white kids from surburbia who look like they walked off the set of “Beverly Hills 90201″. Instead of exploring themselves in the liberal arts and smoking pot like any normal white trust-fund babies they act like the children of first generation immigrants by indulging themselves in hard practical shit like the sciences, mathematics, and other un-basket-weaving-like subjects.
#54 Since BlueBalls was kind enough to make a reference to me in his tirade I feel that it deserves a response.
Take his statement here
a grand blockbuster starring exclusively Asian men wooing white girls, saving the world, beating up white guys, battling the evil Imoogi, or whatever the fuck else your revenge fantasy is.
This proto-script needs to be fleshed out some more.
Will this blockbuster be anything like “The Last Samurai (2003)”, where Tom Cruise was the Last Samurai? This is the movie that proved cinematical suspension of disbelief extends to incredibly far-fetched historical absurdity when it comes to East-West relations. What’s the Western equivalent of the Samurai? A Knight, perhaps? We could call this movie “The Last Anglo-Saxon Knight”, starring Ken Watanabe as the Last Anglo-Saxon Knight. Somehow a Japanese warrior mysteriously finds himself involved in a Catholic versus Protestant skirmish or some other Holy War in Medieval Europe. Details can be filled in later but we MUST have a scene where Ken Watanabe kills a noble Knight in battle and the wife of the deceased Knight is shown putting the armor of her late husband upon Ken Watanabe in a moment of intimacy because that’s what Noblewomen are supposed to do according to the code of Chivalry.
Take the words “white” and “asian” in BlueBall’s sentence above, exchange them, and you more or less have the plot for 1986 “Karate Kid Part II”. Or the 1976 World War II movie “Midway”. Or practically any movie involving a Vietnam-like country. There’s another lesser known one involving Richard Gere and Red China whose title escapes me. And on and on.
Including the latest blockbuster of this year, the long awaited “Forbidden Kingdom” starring Jet Li and Jackie Chan together for the first time in the same film. Who’s the protagonist here? Some generic white boy from suburbia who has Kung Fu posters all over his bedroom wall in lieu of a personality. He looks about as relevant to this flick as a glop of mayonnaise on a plate of Dragon and Phoenix with spicy Chinese vegetables. I didn’t see this movie. I saw the trailer. My first impression was that it seemed like some bastard child of “The Karate Kid” and “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” with hints of “Enter the Dragon” and “Rocky”. You do have to worry when the voiceover begins by saying “In a Land where Heaven touches Earth…” or some other sufficiently Orientalist mumble-jumble exotic-speak.
This is truly tired stuff. I’m reversing the formula. In my script, Rain is magically transported to an exotic, Tolkienesque fantasy world. Paris Hilton is a svelte elf-woman who is both his love-interest and partner in fighting off legions of evil beer-bellied, hairy Fat Bastard-looking creatures who threaten the peace and harmony of the land. Rev Moon, who is financing this project, will have a role as a Wizard. For whatever reasons, Russell Crowe, Bruce Willis, Viggo Mortensen, that guy who played King Leonidas in “300″, and Vin Diesel are also in this movie, but the main storyline will be centered on Rain. This movie becomes an instant cult hit. Pawi watches it while jerking off. BlueBalls whines about how it is unfair to hairy, beer-bellied Fat Bastard look-alikes. The End.
I’m guessing that wasn’t cut and pasted.
‘Pawi watches it while jerking off. BlueBalls whines about…’
yeah, i think we know who really got off here, guy.
folks, it’s intereting the imagination of others. while net kim takes back the glory, i’m thinking other things about how chungmuro can make a good chunk of change in the american market.
how about a korean re-telling of marie antoinette set in a dreamed up chosun court? a pretty korean gal reads about the french gal and that night dreams the story. just like ‘wizard of oz’! that way, we can have a masquerade party and show the kind of decadence unknown in front of the closed door of the rotting confucian order. the first half can show the lavish lifestyle of the young queen. that’s where you bring in all the fancy costumes. somewhere in this segment, her majesty Pak Twa-neht-too will declare:
‘let them eat rice cake!’
the second half will be about action with people flying everywhere and lighting bolts coming out of people’s asses! the queen makes a valiant attempt to escape but we all know her sad fate. thank god it was just a dream!
i think my movie would much more interesting than net kim’s ’symapthy for mr vengence’ tirade.
what d’you guys think?
@66
Why the hell would you choose the festering snatch of said woman?!?
Good lord man…get a nice (in a relative sense of course) young ‘un like Alba, Fox, or Johansson.
I am sure Rain would thank you too.
“‘let them eat rice cake!’”
Good one!
I laughed and got the look again from the office.
@66 nice post, and good call on what pawi would be doing while watching.
#68: Actually some Western stories do get translated into Korean as well… The Korean movie 초선 남녀 상열지사 (The Scandal 2003) was based on the French lit.novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses… set in the Chosun court.
“Let them eat rice cake.” That’s great!
I mean, point being that capitalism does rule all when it comes to entertainment. You think directors care how great a storyline is or how talented the actor? As long as the seats are full, eh?
@15
“americans don’t want to see asians in love…”
Not true in my case. Though I may be the acception.
I am all in favor of seeing asians in love as long as both of the chicks are hot.
hey baek du Boy,
you said, “young korea men seem to lack masochism.” masochism? what the heck are you talking about?!
do you even know what ‘masochism’ means?
masochism: sexual disorder in which sexual arousal is derived from subjection to physical and emotional degradation.
can you please clarify what you’re trying to say here?
and btw, are you japanese? i’ve been to japan a few times, and it seems to be that japanese men are way more feminine than korean guys. i’m sure most people will agree with my statement.