My Father - Ma-i Pa-deo - 마이 파더

This is funny:

Premiere Magazine’s 3rd Rising Star Awards recognized the talent of actor Daniel Henney (“My Father”) at a Busan hotel Saturday, at the 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF). The private ceremony was very intimate, with close friends presenting prizes to awardees. Premiere Magazine chooses among works from the past two years, taking into account its artistic merit, popularity, influence, and brand power, as well as input from online polls.
“This is a very special award. It’s for acting, it’s an acting award,” said Daniel Henney, who gave a moving performance as a Korean adoptee in “My Father,” a breakthrough role that showed he’s more than just a pretty face.

So, I guess that finally answers my question about whether or not Ajushi Henney knows that he can't act.

I just watched My Father, and guess what people? Oppa Henney CAN act now! Well, to put it into better context, his acting has IMPROVED with this film.

My Father is based on a true story about a Korean adoptee from the States who joins the Army in order to be stationed in Korea, so that he can search for his birth parents.

I know, I didn't get that part, either ... but it must be possible to request where you are stationed when you join up now?

Anyway, they used more unknown American actors that can't act, so that might be why Oppa Henney shone so brightly in this flick, now that I think about it!

His character (James) goes to Korea, and he befriends a Korean that speaks relatively good English (Konglish actually, as do a majority of the people that interact with James throughout this flick), who also helps him to search for his biological parents. James ends up on a local television show that actually specializes in helping people to find lost loved ones(?)

It's interesting to note here the following about Oppa Henney: Daniel Henney Digs Into Own Life for New Movie. “I will try hard to use my personal experience of living in the U.S. to play James, who has lived his life feeling estranged as an adopted child,” Henney said.

(an aside: Although Henney is a certified heartthrob in Korea and amongst worldwide Korean pop culture fans, he is still a relative newcomer to the entertainment industry, starting only three years ago in 2005. A 6'2" American from Michigan (father is British American, mother is Korean American)

So, what is the need to try and be as American as he can, if that's what he is already?

Back to the movie

A prisoner on death row claims to be his father, and he even has a picture of James as an infant. They get to know one another, but we never, actually find out much about his real mother.

I'm curious to know why Koreans refer to tuberculosis as asthma?

My Father is a good movie, and it's not at ALL like anything I've ever seen from that country, either ... which was a welcome and refreshing change from the sappy, sweet norm. I don't know why, or even how, but Asians have a knack for telling a story unlike anything that Hollywood could ever dream of charging us $20 a head to see. From the very start of a movie or drama, the writers manage to suck you in and keep you riveted for the duration, and I adore this!

I adore aboh Henney, too.

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Seducing Mr. Perfect / Mr. Ro-bin Ggo-si-gi

Mr. 로빈 꼬시기

Well, there were several reasons why I decided to watch this flick, and one being that I was curious as to whether or not our dashing Mr. Henney's acting had improved.

Um ... I don't know about the rest of the female population, but for me, I think I'd rather just see him in magazine spreads from now on.

It's painfully embarrassing to watch such a gorgeous creature like him make such an absolute FOOL of himself, and on such a wide screen, too! How can he be so good on camera, and absolutely credible in commercials, but stink so, SO bad on film???

It's my broad speculation that since he IS such an immensely beautiful guy, that Korea refuses to give up on him. I certainly can't blame them if this is true, either! Who wouldn't want to see something this amazing on television or at the theatre?



Maybe it's just as hard for the guy to master the art of acting as it seems to be for him to learn his mother's native tongue? Who knows. Has anyone dared to ask him yet? Does he know that he's not good, because I'd hate to be the one to break such bad news to someone so handsome.

He He He

As regards Mr. Perfect, it was a great story-line, but ... WTF? That was IT? The fastest film on record, I think. She bumps him while applying lipstick at a traffic light, he threatens to sue her, and she pretends not to understand English. Turns out he's her new boss, and a cold-hearted womanizer to boot. She's the exact opposite, and her current boyfriend dumps her because she's such a push-over. Mr. Perfect trains her in the subtle but cruel art of seduction, and she ends up winning the game. THE END!

Actually, for me, it was the last, five minutes of this film that I enjoyed the most. But, I still don't get it! Did the studio run out of tape or something? It just ENDED, and I had to look at my watch to try and figure out just, how long was this film anyway? Ten minutes? A half-hour? What? Zip, zip, zip, and it's over. Did they even kiss? I can't recall because I spent the entire 45 minutes (I think) in anticipation of things to come, and then it was over, and I think maybe I could have fallen asleep or something, because ... it ENDED, and I had no idea why.

Dear Korean Movie Studio Executives: I know your cash cow is being threatened with foreclosure due to lack of audience participation, and that you're terrified of losing the good thing that you had at the turn of the century. If you'd like to get back that captive audience and continue to make money, why not think about the people that you pander to, (or is it vice versa?)? That was EIGHT years ago, and people change with the times, in case you didn't know. Your audience is growing older, so wouldn't it make sense to MATURE your dramas as well? What worked so well back then may not be the golden ticket item in 2009. A gorgeous face, awesome hair, and a hunk-a-licious bod will remain prerequisite until Kingdom come, but the situations that you place these incredible creatures in has GOT to change! Older, wiser, and more sophisticated characters may help you to win back a loyal but aging fan-base, so THINK ABOUT IT before you decide to call it a day, huh?


Daniel Henney

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내 이름은 김삼순 / My Lovely Sam-soon

My Name is Kim Sam-soon (Nae Il-eum-eun Kim Sam-soon)



This was one of the dramas that I recorded every night, and then rushed home from work the next day to watch. I had already begun to collect images of Hyun Bin before I saw Sam-soon, and I had NO IDEA that it was the same guy, honest.

I was in love with THIS dude ...




THIS is rock/porn star material, and I really, REALLY liked what I was seeing! As I sat through each episode of Sam-soon though, my opinion of Mr. Hyun began to change. The more of his images that I began to collect, the more that opinion changed again, until finally I came to the sad conclusion that he is not my ideal guy anymore.


THIS is hot ...


THIS is not



I loved My Lovely Sam-soon! I thought that it was well written and superbly executed. It even actually ended the way that I expected it to, and not with a wimper or a HUH?

For a welcome change, it was HE that annoyed me a majority of the time, and not SHE. Sam-soon was cool, realistic, and charming in a mopey sort of way. The anorexic girl has a pretty face, but that was it for me. I'm sure she's just as anorexic in real-life, and that is just gross.


Daniel Henney surprised me in the looks department, but as an actor, he leaves much to be desired. I need to see something else that he's starred in to form a different opinion. If I'm not mistaken, that was his first role, yes? Maybe he's taken acting classes since then. It'd be great if he stuck to modeling, because that way I could collect more of his images!


It's also good to know that he and Hyun are friends off-screen. They make a dynamic duo, and I hope that they will appear together in more dramas. Their cell phone commercials were hilarious, btw.


The stuffed, pink pig was totally cool.

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Hallyu is Hell Yeah!

excerpts from Wikipedia...

"...The Korean wave refers to the recent surge of popularity (in) South Korean popular culture in other countries, especially Asian countries."

The term "Hallyu" (한류, 韓流, 韩流) was coined in mid 1999 by Beijing journalists startled by the growing popularity of South Koreans and South Korean goods in China.

(from Wikipedia...)

"...Success of Korean dramas, a market dominated by the youth, can be attributed to good looking actors and actresses who embody a number of traits that are very familiar to regular drama viewers and popular fantasies among women. Portrayed sensitivity and depth among male characters in Korean dramas attracts much of the female drama viewers."

Hee Hee.

(from Wikipedia...)

"...Korean male celebrities are now among the highest-paid actors outside Hollywood. According to the South Korean media, Winter Sonata star Bae Yong Joon is now charging $5 million a film, the highest in Asia, not counting Jacky Chan and Jet Li, who received US$14 million for the Chinese film 'Warlords' and more for Hollywood films. At least nine other Korean male stars earn more than $10 million a year."

Y'know ... with so many of them out there now, doesn't it seem a bit foolish to make such a demand, considering Mr. Bae isn't the ONLY hot-ass Korean in the biz?

Now, THIS is funny ...

(from Wikipedia...)

"...In 2005, there were signs of a nascent backlash against the "Korean wave", initiated by Asian men who resented the "beautifying" of Korea by the media. The growing "Hallyu" wave mainly attracted female viewers, who become increasingly attracted to Korean male actors."

Jealousy ... I LOVE IT!! And, isn't it ironic, how the human mind works? I mean, up until this point, did those, same men EVER care about what a woman felt?

Can you hear the fellas in Asia, whining about something this ridiculous to their better half?

"C'mon baby! Life is boring, I suck, and this is as good as it gets 'til we die. What's so wrong with that? Why you wonna go & CHANGE things?"

Strange, too, that the tension between those, three nations (China, Korea, and Japan) has not changed much since before World War II, and yet the world keeps spinning.

As a woman, I'm naturally curious. What do you suppose Wikipedia would have to say about Hallyu if the situation were reversed, and it was the female of the actor species that happened to be the ones to burst onto the scene, to drive an entire race of starry-eyed men stark, raving mad? Should I believe that some Southeast Asian government officials would have still felt the need to threaten such evasive action as to BAN Korean broadcasts? Or, would there ever have been the need for the creation of a Japanese Manga that exploits the hateful propagation of all things Korean?

I doubt it.

You go, Song Il Gook! Pull back hard and sling those mighty, Jumong arrows at the silly critics while I bask in the glorious sunshine at a hotel on Fiji, sipping Coffee Prince specials.

Hyun Bin honey, come rub me down with some lotion. And DO keep bitching about how much weight I've gained.

That's right, force me to summon the REAL prince, Kim Nam Jin, to kick your spoiled, sexy ass from one end of this beach to the other.

And, while y'all are duking it out, Mr. bad-ass, cool name, Oh Ji Ho, will you please do something about Mr. Henney? That dazzling smile is about as blinding as the noon day sun. Thank you, incredible.

You two, exquisite sculptures just stand there and flex those muscles for me, while I gaze upon cutie-pie Lee Min Ki, who has graciously volunteered to keep that feather fan in motion.

Why has it suddenly become so hot around here, anyway?

"Hey! Kwon Hae Hyo! Get me another Mai-Tai, babe!"

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