Film / Television
20111120_seoulbeats_BoA

Cobu 3D: A Movie Ticket I Probably Won’t Buy

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Written by On November 22, 2011

Last year, we all learned that after attempting to break into the American music market, The Pop Princess of Korea, BoA, was going to attempt to break into the American movie market. Her upcoming film, COBU 3D, which is set to release in 2012, tells the story of “a pair of star-crossed dancers in New York [who] find themselves at the center of a bitter rivalry between their brothers’ underground dance clubs.” Directed by Duane Adler and co-starring Derek Hough, Cobu 3D is expected to be a huge hit, with fans across the board anticipating BoA’s American movie debut. And so, to add to the excitement of the upcoming movie, SM Entertainment recently released the trailer that you guys can see below:

After getting a taste of COBU 3D, the following are reasons why I won’t be seeing it.

PLOT

Isn’t this the same plot of Step Up 3D? Like, I know we accuse a lot of things of being the same as something else but seriously, the two movies have the same, EXACT plot. And let me tell you, it took me three tries to get through Step Up 3D. Wait, no never mind, I have yet to finish it. And even if the plot were super original and amazing that it made me cry tears of gold, 99.9% of dance movies bad. With the exception of Dirty Dancing and Step Up, dance movies are unbelievably campy, cheesy, and just plain horrible. Dancing is great but when a narrative makes it seem like dancing is the solution to the world’s social, political, and economic problems, I want to go leap in a fire.

DANCING

BoA is a boss dancer. I may not enjoy her singing, but her dancing is the bomb and arguably the best in the Korean entertainment industry. This is non-existent in the trailer. Her dancing is underwhelming and gimmicky at best. And Derek Hough, don’t even get me started. He is a good, no, a great dancer. But a great hip-hop dancer? The trailer doesn’t show him getting into hip-hop. Ballroom, yes. Hip-hop, no. And if the trailer doesn’t feature the male lead dancing to hip-hop in a hip-hop, dance movie, then why would I pay for this?

CHEMISTRY

I’m sorry but there is just something about Derek Hough and BoA that I am not buying. They have zero chemistry. As an idol, I’m sure BoA hasn’t had the most experience with men but that’s okay because in this trailer, I don’t think she’s too much of a problem. Derek Hough could not have chemistry with any woman, if you know what I mean.

This trailer was disappointing and underwhelming. Trailers are often more exciting than the actual films which they are attempting to advertise and if everything about this trailer that is supposed to be appealing is NOT appealing, then why would I go see this movie? It is especially disappointing because I have never seen BoA act and this could have been an interesting opportunity for BoA to show us what she can do. COBU 3D is not going to give her that opportunity. In fact, COBU 3D might join the ever-growing list of Korea’s failed attempts at breaking into the American market. Because as a fan of BoA, as a fan of Korean Pop, COBU 3D is a movie ticket I will not buy.

Wait, no. Who am I kidding? Dong Bang Shin Ki’s Yunho is in the movie. But that is besides the point. A cameo should never be the selling point of any film.

(Cobu 3D – IMDB)

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  • seri-park

    I would disagree that “99.9% of dance movies are bad”

    “Strictly Ballroom” was fantastic, as well as “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.”

    Then of course, there’s Chicago, Shall We Dance, The Full Monty, Singing in the Rain, West Side Story, Grease, Flashdance, Footloose (the original one), Hairspray, Billy Elliot… etc…

    • lay

      yeah … i agree with you on Strictly Ballroom, it is really good and hilarious too. love also The Full Monty and Billy Elliot.

    • http://twitter.com/miss_subi Subashiny

      Yes, all of these movies are good. But I wouldn’t call them dance movies. They’re musicals. I’m thinking of all those teen, dance movies that crap rockets. 

      • http://www.kfashionista.com Jessie

        I would say Footloose falls into this category, however, I don’t know if I would call it good….

  • http://gabidubu.tumblr.com Gabi

    Damn! I’m having a hard time admitting it, but yeah… pretty much of what you said in this article is true. I really really wanted (still want) this movie to be good, even a little bit. But, when I watched the trailer, the thought of “oh, crap..” came to my mind. Even though I’m getting this feeling that this movie is going to suck and fail hard, I’m still watching it because… well, it’s BoA in an american movie, as the lead actress, I’m damn curious. But at least I kinda know what to expect. 

  • seri-park

    BTW, I agree with you on the film… I don’t think I’m going to like it either.

  • kc

    for one, it’s pretty much a dancey version of Romeo and Juliet, get your facts straight man, lol, it’s just gonna be another west side story with hip hop.
    and I didn’t read where Derek was supposed to be a hip hopper, for all we know it could be another cliche ballroom snobs versus the streets, I mean that’s what I’d gotten out of it. (could be wrong, don’t quote me on that^^)
    IDK, I’m not someone who likes to judge something before it comes out, will I buy a ticket? probably not, but that’s because movie theaters are so expensive. You come off as hoping this movie will flop, please, just take a deep breath and calm down, it’s just a movie, no one’s forcing you to see it… just wait until it comes out and if the reviews are good you can decide…
    but then again, it sounds like you’ve already made up your mind… so yeah… um, go do something you do like doing I guess (seriously, I don’t think I’ve read a positive article from you, I really hope you do enjoy something…)
    anyways… may watch it when it comes out on dvd/blueray, but since it’s a dance movie and theaters are so expensive I won’t be seeing it in the theaters… 

  • Anonymous

    Isn’t this the same trailer like the one at SMTown NYC? I think BoA looks awesome in that trailer. But yeah, I don’t get the lead actor. Is he really able to dance hip hop? And the chemistry.. there’s just something off about it.

    Oh well, if I watched this, it’s solely for BoA and her dance. I hope I can endure the rest of the movie.

  • Anonymous

    lol…what do you know about BoA experience with men?
     

  • lay

    ‘Dong Bang Shin Ki’s Yunho is in the movie.’

    i believe that would not add anything (good) to the movie at all.

  • Anonymous

    ‘Dong Bang Shin Ki’s Yunho is in the movie.’this is why i’m going to watch no matter what and will start weeping later because of his acting.. It happened every time for every of his dramas…

    • maldita

      Well, it’s only a cameo role of him dancing, though. So we can just drool at his face on the big-ass screen and not have to cringe. :)

      • http://twitter.com/miss_subi Subashiny

        SO TRUE! His acting sucks. But I just love him too much to pass on this opportunity. But like I said, seeing Yunho for 3 seconds should not be the selling point for this movie. That is le sad. 

    • Anonymous

      as much as i love him, i dont think its worth it to pay a $11 ticket to sit through for a 2-hr long movie to see 5-min of him dance a choreography he didnt create (i prefer if he did his spin on it, not someone else)
      also, im still waiting on his acting to not be sublime; sorry…

      just save your money and time and look for the youtube clip of him; i think the trailer is already half of what his appearance in the movie will be

    • Anonymous

      I need DivaHo in my life for the lulz tbh

  • Anonymous

    Lol subi, are we twins? I couldn’t get through Step Up 3D either, and I watched the first two movies…a couple times. Not that I like dance movies but more so coz they’re insistently played on abc fam or whatever that channel is.

    Sigh at the trailer..maybe we could just move BoA out of it, and have Yunho play the main character. That should change up the story quite a bit, and fangirls would make the movie a hit.

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  • http://twitter.com/polinchka polinchka

    I love BoA and I’d got just to see her but Yunho! So, yeah, going.

  • Cobu3DTweets

    That was a low blow, the comment about Derek not having chemistry with any woman. You might want to ask the millions who are his fans, both young and old, who think he’s extremely sexy. Oh, and while you’re at it, ask Shannon Elizabeth, India De Beaufort, Cheryl Cole, who are the beautiful women with whom he’s had long term relationships. Plenty of people thought he had incredible chemistry with them. In fact, they’re wishing he’d get back together with them.

    Derek is not known as a hip hopper, for sure, but he does hip hop. He’s performed hip hop on a variety of occasions. 

    From what I understand, this was not the official ‘trailer’, but just a teaser, to generate interest in the movie. 

  • Elmari5281

    It sound like you know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about this movie and its cast
    other from what you read on gossip websites and a short teaser trailer
    (that is not the official trailer for the movie). I have been following
    the development and the filming of this movie since it was announced and
    you are being very unfair and biased. The cast and the director have
    always described this movie as more of a story with dance in it rather
    than a straight up dance movie like the Step Up franchise. Think ‘Save
    the Last Dance’ instead of ‘Step Up’. NappyTabs are the choreographers
    for the movie and they are Emmy award winners for their work on SYTYCD.

    There have already been test screenings of Cobu and from the tweets I
    saw, the people have described it as AMAZING and INSPIRING and these
    weren’t BoA or Derek Hough fans, mind you. I am also disgusted at your
    insinuation about Derek. Do you even know anything about him because
    from what you write, it sounds like you are completely ignorant of who
    he is. First of all, he has been studying and dancing hip hop since he
    was a child along with ballroom/latin. He also has done stage acting
    before and attended London’s most prestigious performing arts school for
    10 years. And, if you have watched any of his seasons on Dancing with
    the Stars, you’d know that he can create chemistry with a broomstick if
    he needed to. That’s his strongest attribute on the show, the chemistry
    he has with his partners. Also… see pictures of Shannon Elizabeth,
    Cheryl Cole, and Lauren Conrad if you want to see the kind of women he
    dates.

    FWIW, the people who have viewed this movie said the chemistry between
    BoA and Derek jumps off the screen at you. So your sham of a review
    basically has no context to support it.

    • Igbygrl

      pfffft…Your biasness is showing here. The truth of the matter is this movie is just a generic run of the mill dance movie. you’re just pressed that the writer to this article, said this movie will bomb which seems like it will. 

      • Anonymous

        Whoa there — everyone has their own opinion. It’s true that the commentor could have taken a less accusatory tone, but it’s also pretty obvious he/she has also had more exposure to the movie and its development than the author — so I think it’s actually useful to note some pretty important corrections such as the false assumption that Derek Hough doesn’t know how to dance hip-hop.

        I have also been following the movie’s development (perhaps not as closely, but I follow BoA on twitter and she used to update about it regularly) and while from the teaser I really can’t tell whether the acting, charisma, or plotline will be definitively good or bad, I do know that they worked with a lot of extremely well-respected hip-hop dancers and choreographers (such as NappyTabs).

        I also know that BoA bonded really closely with a lot of the people she worked with on set (including Derek) and acclimated to American culture better than I’ve seen any other Korean actor before her do. The real-life friendships and connections that she formed from Cobu seem genuine (and she can comfortably speak normal English now, unlike Rain), so I think there is hope for chemistry yet.

        The things that Subi points out are definitely legitimate concerns, but I don’t think we can just assume a movie will bomb without seeing it, without being provided further information. It really is too early to say anything for sure either way, but I wouldn’t just dismiss the movie altogether, until it comes out.

        • Igbygrl

          Taking quotes from tweets made by fans of Derick Hough is not doing proper research (Subi…). Also who can take a movie title like COBU 3D seriously? It sounds like some kind of Grill sold under George Foreman’s kitchen appliance line. “Buy COBU 3D now and we’ll throw in the classic Foreman Grill for only half the price of $59.99!” 

          • Archangel Alguno

            You are an idiot. COBU is a real Japanese taiko drumming-dance group based on NYC. They recently did a fundraiser for the Japanese tsunami.

            http://www.cobu.us/top.html

          • Igbygrl

            What does that got to do with anything? I actually know about the dance movement and subculture of COBU…So thanks for calling me an idiot…But it still will confuse most ’American” movie goers thinking “What’s a COBU?…Sounds like a new Asian Fusion restaurant..”

          • Archangel Alguno

            P.P.S: I cannot wait to see you and your clowns of cronies come in here and post more arrogant remarks.

    • Erinswilliams1999

      Well, you CLEARLY know what you are talking about:)

  • Anonymous

    I couldn’t even get through 30 seconds of the video. Unfortunately, I will not be going to see this movie. It really doesn’t spark my interest. But I wish BoA the best of luck!!!

  • eboy07

    Suck.

  • http://www.kfashionista.com Jessie

    This could be more like a combination of “Romeo & Juliette” & that one figure skating move “The Cutting Edge” where the guy was like the rough, hockey player and the girl had to teach him to be her new figure skating partner, but BoA has to teach Derek how to dance street instead of Ballroom?  Oh wait, isn’t that like “Save the Last Dance” where the ballerina learned hip-hop dancing?  Honestly, not a huge dance movie fan, but I’m ridiculous when it comes to Korean infiltration into the USA, so I’ll be going to see this (let’s just hope that Yunho’s dance cameo does not end up on the cutting room floor!!!!)

  • Guest

    wait, people actually think this movie is going to be a hit? it’s not. there a bunch of dance-based movies released every year that sink at the box office. step up and dirty dancing are the exceptions not the rule and neither of their sequels did very well. 

    it doesn’t matter how big the hallyu wave is, how popular derek hough is, how popular boa is, their fanbases are miniscule parts of the larger movie-going audience.

  • Anonymous

    god, when i heard the rumor, just a little whisper, i was like “NO!”
    i knew it will suck before i heard the plot — just the phrase: ‘star-crossed lovers’ and i saw it being compared to “step up”
    even hearing who will play the male lead convinced me less. yea, i knew boa and him wouldn’t have chemistry. not only do i see derek hough taking a long time to connect with his dance partner in DWTS, i thought there was no way he would be able to work “move magic” with a korean idol from another country; very highly unlikely. (other than that, isn’t he trying to follow his sister’s “footloose”?)

    yunho’s a cameo in “cobu” will be like tohoshinki’s appearance in “subaru”
    let me just search youtube for a (fan)cam-ver of his little cut in the movie

  • pammiej85

    Sorry Yunniebear, I won’t watch this.
    Not even for you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1452789711 Serra ‘Miyu’ Abak

    I mean.. I’M watching it, but only because it’s BoA. Not that I think I’ll enjoy the movie intensely or anything. But it’s BoA, I’m a hardcore Sm Entertainment Fan and Yunho is in it…. there is no reason for me not to watch it!

  • http://twitter.com/zamuz gonzalo muñoz ferrer

    Please. You’ll watch it at least twice, purely out of curiousity.

  • saylor

    I think Derek has sex appeal.  Boa…not so much.  anyways this is a redbox or dollar theater movie!  i could care less about it being in 3d.  what a dumb movement that is. 

  • Veryuevernow

    I want to be a rational person, and not give in to my fan girl hormones, but Dong Bang Shin Ki’s Yunho in giant screen size over rode the logical side of my brain. Possible waste of money here I come.

  • Anonymous

    I think it’s a little unfair to peg this movie as horrible just ’cause the trailer wasn’t to your liking. Yes, I’m not a huge fan of romance-dance-movies either… I’m not a fan at all, actually, but I think it’s rather impressive that BOA was able to get a role like this. And, face it, a dance movie is probably the only kind of movie where BOA would shine. She may not be able to act, but the girl can dance. And I seriously hope this movie will show that. I mean, it’s a dance movie. It would be a travesty if it didn’t.

    Would I watch this movie if BOA wasn’t in it? Probably not. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with supporting her efforts in breaking into any kind of American market. See the movie first and then tear it apart if it’s really that bad. I don’t understand how you can write a whole article about how the movie is horrible when it hasn’t even been released yet? Too eager to just tear BOA apart and label this endeavor another failure? That’s the problem with a lot of international fans. Anytime a Hallyu star tries to do anything in the American market, people are so against it and peg whatever they do as low-grade and a failure-to-be. OF COURSE she isn’t going to get a lead role in an amazing movie, but she got this far. Mine as well keep an open mind and see what she has to bring.

    • Shawol52911

      People r probably tired of seeing the cliche concept that ends horribly..in some cases (SU3D, Footloose remake)

    • Anonymous

      Truthfully though the movie is Co-produced by  SM and CJ entertainment so of course the person is going to be from SM. This another attempt by SM and is another vehicle to try to push Boa’s mainstream popularity in America.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t plan on watching it because it seems very straight to DVD honestly and way too much like Step Up which I have already seen (both 1 and 2) and sorry but I much prefer Channing Tatum over Derek any day of the week.  Also unlike Derek, Channing Tatum already knew how to break dance prior to the movie.  Also when you place two relatively newbie actors with little to no acting experience , one of which that has a ridiculously strong accent (BoA) it screams dvd/tv.  I have liked boa since her debut but considering this lacking any real actual actors, I rather wait till its on cable.  

  • http://twitter.com/MonicaDBSK Monica

    “dance movies are unbelievably campy, cheesy, and just plain horrible.”

    This is the impression I got after watching step up 3d. The plot was so cheesy and there was such horrible acting, I especially cringed at the whole rivalry thing. I mean why the hell do you have to be rivals for, it’s effing dancing for goodness sakes. However I’ll give them props for the dance scenes, those are the only good parts about dance movies.

  • Oneonlyblondie

    “Wait, no. Who am I kidding? Dong Bang Shin Ki’s Yunho is in the movie. But that is besides the point. A cameo should never be the selling point of any film.”
     hihi i feel the same way, i really dont kno if ill go watch it in the end, i might just rent it

  • Guest

    So….has it been confirmed that this will be released in the theaters in the US?  Or will it go straight to dvd and maybe show in theaters in some Asian countries ala Blood+?

  • Anonymous

    i don’t know about this movie, with dance movies like this i make it a point not to even care about the story. I really just watch it for the dancing and the choreo. Still i’m extremely pessimistic about this movie. 

    I know the acting is bad in these types of movies but i think this one will be extremely awkward,  first of all you have a first time actor in boa who still has a heavy accent and first time actor in derek hough who’s smug face really annoys me if  i see for more then 1 minute increments.

  • Archangel Alguno

    You guys do know that the film got good reviews from average everyday Canadians and Americans from pre-screenings in Toronto International Film Festival.

  • Archangel Alguno

    Pre-screenings also were done in Los Angeles and it received good reviews. The movie has been delayed to late 2012 for further editing. Yes its going to be released in movie theatres nationwide in the USA under Lionsgate International. There are already set release dates in European countries under Lionsgate. SM are in charge of South Korea and Japan releases only, Lionsgate is doing all the international work.

  • Aya

    definitely not. step up is the last dance movie that i find it good. forget about the 2nd and the 3rd. horrible. and maybe it going to be in the box office but what not. as much as i want to see taiko performance…i rather go to the japan art center in here.

  • Bervalvic

    i actually am not a big fan of dance not only because of the same repetitive plots but because of repetitive dancing. by far dirty dancing was the best i’ve ever seen. and stomp the yard may not be a dance flick but it was the second best for me. i’d rent this but spending 10 bucks to go watch something i’ve seen before aint happening. 

  • adtuescapade-vipsong

    I have to say that I don’t completely agree with you. A lot of dance movies may not have good story lines, but as a dancer myself, I watch them to see them DANCE. The acting bothers me sometimes, but like I said, it’s the dance that pulls it off. I honestly think Step Up 3 was a great movie not because of the acting and not because of the story (because if you only look that that, it would be horrible) but because of the dances.
    The trailer that was released might not be the actual trailer because it was only created by SM to feature to SM Town fans and followers, which is why it was centered on BoA. Either way, I thought her dancing was great. Did you see how she danced within the first cuts? Hard to pull that off. And COBU 3D might be a little unconventional because, as you might not yet know, “Cobu” is actually a type of all-girl traditional drum dance group in Japan, and that’s part of what is featured in this movie. And I think it’s nice that something traditional like that gets mixed in with modern hip hop.Although I might agree with some of the comments down there that I might not watch it if it wasn’t BoA. Depends, though, on how it’s marketed.

  • unknown

    ok lbgygrl, before you start judging this movie and derek how about well first of all you spell his name right. It’s D-E-R-E-K, i mean not rocket science here. Anyway just because it is like a few other movies doens’t mean it is unoriginal. Sleeping beauty and cinderella have the same plot, but a lot of people still like the movies. Also just because BoA, who is doing her first american role, and derek, who has never had a major movie role before doesn’t mean at all that it will be a bad movie. Next, that isn’t the real trailer it is just a quick look at the movie so you know what the movie will be like. Stop judging the movie before a lot of TRUE and useful information is posted.

    • igbygrl

      Thank you for that useless rant their. Also does it really matter how to spell a person’s name I really don’t give two shits about?

      Also an inside source is telling me this movie will never see the light of day. It’s being considered to be shelved for now.

  • Anon

    Dirty Dancing and Step Up triology were terrible movies. Just whores shakin their asses honestly.

    Just shut up and dowload the goddamn movie for free like a torrent.
    Nobody is expecting you to pay for a ticket if it’s worth it or for the Yunho cameo.
    So quit acting like some primadonna who’s opinion is godly and worthy of gold.

    The world isn’t gonna end if you buy it or not, hun.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZZODO6PD6DUCVJEGLGOTDUYKUE RavenSphere

    wow and you call yourself a fan lol. You can’t judge a movie by it’s trailer alone. Not to mention this likely isn’t the main trailer. It’s just a teaser as you don’t usually release that until you actually have a release date. There isn’t a US release date yet so I will reserve that opinion until then. I will agree though I wasn’t all that thrilled when I heard Tabitha and Napoleon would be doing the choreography for them. If anyone should have gotten that role it should have been Rino Nakasone. Rino is the best around as they don’t get much better then her. Not to mention that Rino has worked with Boa quite a bit. She is also pretty much the force behind SM anyways. So that choice would have made since but we will have to wait and see i guess. Regardless I am seeing this and supporting Boa & Derek no matter what. It is a big risk for both of them as well as SM. Just to add to this Duane Adler & Robet Cort are both in on this. So it’s not like we don’t have good talent behind the scenes. In closing along with 2NE1 this is going to be the year I have a feeling. So with that said have a little faith and let’s support our K-pop Queen. 

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  • http://twitter.com/AshleePham0212 ★ Ashlee Pham ★

    Are you crazy? The film hasn’t been out yet and all you care about is Yunho? If you dont want to buy the ticket, FINE! do whatever you like but dont affect anyone else. Have you seen the movie???? I’m not sure abt the plot but is it NOT OK to have the same plot? plot is plot but the detail is way more important. And not abt the plot or detail, the actor/ actress acting skill is also one of the best part. You may not know but BoA acted once before (in 2000 or 2001) and she do very great job! I’m a fan of TVXQ , too. Sorrily if I said this but Yunho may not appear if BoA not the MAIN CAST of the movie

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tanesha-Coleman/100000981917628 Tanesha Coleman

    I agree 100% with you on where this movie undermines BoA’s skill and the plot looked too cliche’. But I did happen to like Step Up 3D, in my opinion it was the best one whereas Step Up 4 looks like they are just trying too hard. I think as fans we are putting alot of hype into a movie that will be average and to many disappointing.

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