The story of this movie is very simple. A very attractive girl must face her beauty like a curse more than a gift. It seems that every man who meets her can't avoid to bother her in some way, until one of them rapes her inside her own apartment. Since then, the girl tries her best to look ugly: first eating a lot for becoming fat and, after failing in her purpose, trying the opposite. When both attempts fail, she begins to make up like a whore and she tries to seduce unknown men. She says that she wants to be alive but she starts a painful process of conscious self-destruction. A young cop tries to protect her but at the same time he falls in love with her and starts to lose his control with tragic consequences for both. That's all. The film is well directed and performed. Kim Ki-duk produces and writes the script but this is not necessarily a guarantee of quality. Let's be honest, he has good movies (like "3-iron") and not so good ones. Although in this case he is not the director, it is one of his "products". And it works the just for deserving 6 or 7 stars, not more (I give it 6). Personally I dislike forced happy ends the same as I dislike forced unhappy ones. Generally, all in "Beautiful" seems a little over the top including the final conclusion. Kim Ki-duk should begin to concentrate more in giving a genuine message and less in trying to shock us. He has an unquestionable talent but he pays too much attention on the reaction of his public. Only when he forgets this handicap he is able to offer works truly authentic and interesting. "Beautiful" has interesting aspects but it could be much better.

I think it is probably one of the most disturbing films I have watched since "Teeth". I was quite emotionally involved throughout the movie. "Teeth" is probably presenting many men's nightmare and "beautiful" is probably an extreme description of "men are pigs". I think the main actress would love to have the ability that the girl in "teeth" has. I try not to give a spoiler but you will understand me when you watch both movies.This is a movie though that I think is better than "Teeth" in terms of acting. The main actress is indeed a pretty girl but her acting skill is great. To me, a lot of actress' break out movie is not because she can act; it is because she "dares" to act. Just to say that she sacrifice a lot to make this movie work. Just like a lot of Asian movie, they try to give you an image that you have not think about whole lot but it is in the real life and then they emphasise the image.There are scenes in the movie that I actually think most guys will do that when fantasising their favourite girls and most guys will not think that is a big deal. I recommend them to watch this movie and think about how your favourite girls are violated by those actions if they find out about them.===Warning: Spoilers below=== I remember one dialogue from the rapist in the movie making me think about beat him to death: Rapist: I did not commit the crime, I did not rape you. I am the victim here. I am the one got raped. Your beauty raped me. You are the real criminal.The policeman's reply to the main actress is also sick as hell: I know he is a sick bastard but it is partly your fault. You pretty girls always go out there with make ups and trying to seduce men by wearing short shirt in the winter time. You are asking for these yourselves.And then he asked her to tell him very details about the rape.===sorry about the translation, I tried my best to jug my memory. It is pretty much the gist, though. ==== In conclusion, it has good acting, good directing and good storyline. Recommend for adults, not only because the adultery scenes, I don't know younger audience will get the idea.

With Kim Ki-Duk films (though he just wrote this one and didn't helm), you're always in for extremes. Consequently I find his work either appalling or strangely fascinating, depending on the consistency of the story, which is always a man-woman relationship out of the ordinary. In this case the context is (once more) extremely constructed: A natural beauty finds herself the target of non-ceasing unwanted male attention and estranged from envious female friends. After having been raped by a stalker, she attempts to destroy her unwanted appearance. A policeman who initially protects her is gradually just as crazed by her natural grace as her stalker. And if you wonder why such an obviously traumatized woman is not hospitalized, you get to see how a doctor also tries to have his way with the poor girl.This never-ending odyssey from one lustful male to the other gives the tragedy an involuntary comical twist, and scenes of startling violence interchange with moments of strange humour. That's where this film departs from the gruesomeness of Kim Ki-Duk's earlier works, perhaps due to the influence of first-time director Jeon Jae-hong. As a result, I've found it much more entertaining, and not quite as paralyzing. Films like Seom (The Isle) or Hwal (The Bow) move sordidly through beautiful images to sudden violent thuds. Areumdapta however keeps a steady pace towards a larger-than-life and somewhat farcical finish, which makes me wonder - not for the first time - if its creator wants to relate to the female victims of a male-dominated society or if he just, well, gets off on his own twisted fantasies.

I have to put a warning sign right at the beginning: This movie is not "entertainment" or entertaining to say the least. It is a raw and complex and somewhat absurd psychological trip into human behavior. This movie will not be on many peoples top list (see the voting here on IMDb).But when I watched it, I knew this was something that would be repelling to/for more people than would be appealing to them, I also knew that it's idea was so out there, that I liked it for the risk it took, in showing something different. While not always easy to watch (far from it) and more likely aims to shock the viewer than anything else, to me it was thought provoking and since I knew it was a Korean movie and while watching it, one name came to my mind -> Kim-Ki Duk.Well the man behind some "classic" (but also very often disturbing movies), does not direct this one, but he has written the story for it. If you have seen some of his films, I guess you will know if this one is something for you or not. But the warning stays, this is a tough drama and you will most likely not ... like it! You were warned!