Ordinary People

Note: This review is purely for Don Lee fans, I cannot think as a non-fan after loving so many of his movies.

The Villagers are certainly a quirky bunch. A whole town not caring about a Seoul girl? Found this hard to believe from the first scene. From the first scene, if you want to leave your critical mind out, you will love this movie which tackles so many issues in today's world such as abuse of girls.

There are many scenes which make you want to leave, particularly towards the end. Still, the setting up of the villains as predatory makes us appreciate at least the effort of the moviemakers. The main issue is that you are able to predict what will happen next easily, especially in a small village like this.

The Don Lee's nature of muscling away thugs in the action scenes are repetitive for normal people, yet a treat for his fans and those who buy into the plot of this average movie. Still, the blind eye shown to such issues by the villagers will make you feel strongly for the cause this character crusades for. The solving of the crime is not thrilling like a Sherlock Holmes film.

Even with all these defects, the alluring nature of the village and the way the movie reveals the accounts of different people in a confusing puzzle at least helps one feel something big is about to happen. In the end, this does happen and the biggest criminals are brought down by the seemingly normal people, who are often abused by those in power. This is all a normal person watching a movie asks for and is gifted in this delightful treat.

For the life of me I can't figure out how the title of the film has any thing to do with the story at all. The Villager is a run-of-the-mill action film that is painfully simplistic and offers no surprise or intrigue throughout. The film also fails to bring anything to the table and the plot twists are shallow and predictable. Adding fuel to the fire, the film is littered with plot holes and at times simply lacks common sense. The only semi-interesting main protagonists seems to have a pretty interesting backstory but it doesn't get explored at all, instead it focuses on the girl who seems to be in a million other mundane Asian films.

An easy flowing crime mystery thriller.

Not sure why some reviews here are so harsh, during the whole movie I wasn't bored a single second, also there are a few very funny witty humorous scenes.

8/10 , totally recommend.

Despite the thrilling and mysterious start, the movie seem to lose traction and direction midway through. The Villager becomes fairly dull and predictable as it rolls forward--relying heavily on the theme of 'power of the rich and connected' in its main plot. The majority of the mystery relied on the passing of baton between who the culprit is--even though it doesn't really matter as the culprits are related. It also doesn't help that all the characters are very flat and thus not a lot of depth are added to the movie.

Overall, fairly forgettable movie but possibly enjoyable for those looking for some entertainment in a semi-mysterious action flick.

I get it: 80% of the times, Korean movies always have some kind of comedy-relief in the middle of their plot. Even if it's tagged as an action, mystery and/or crime. And I have nothing against it.

However, omitting any to those humorous moments or characters in the genre, trailer, storyline and/or poster it is seriously misleading., and it's starting to get on my nerves.

Can we (and the industry) start adding «comedy» or a similar tag to this kind of movies and dramas? Because, if you don't, and then see «The Man from Nowhere» as a recommendation, then I am expecting a serious, action filled kind of movie, and this was not it - even though Ma Dong Seok always kicks ass.