Brave Citizen

Honestly I was hesitant to watch this movie because I thought it was going to such, a lot of the negative reviews say the execution is bad and the comedy and action is bad and blah blah blah. But I finally watched it and it's not even bad at all. I loved this movie, the actors are amazing! The comedy is such a slight element it barley exists and it doesn't take over the entire movie, this movie is sad and really represent a sense of justice, the comedy really doesn't get in the way, it's the perfect amount. The action is great, all of the fighting scenes were enjoyable, the villain was just pure evil which was executed so well! I was genuinely scared and impressed all at the same time by the actor who plays the villain (Lee Jun-Young). The female main character was acted so well and she was such a unique and powerful character, I love her! I really recommend this movie it was a boredom reliever and I really recommend it to anyone who likes justice type movies and anyone who has NOTHING to watch !

When it comes to Korean cinema, I am definitely an amateur viewer. But I don't think much was lost on me with this film as far as cultural context. Shin Hye-sun is a very versatile and expressive actress who carried the protagonist role with equal parts grace and humor.

For me, the film hearkened back to the classic Bruce Lee movies like The Big Boss in that we have a reluctant hero(ine) who spends the majority of their time trying to avoid conflict, only to take a stand when cruelty and injustice become intolerable.

This is an excellent watch by any measure, and I highly recommend it. You will hate the villains, love the heroes, and laugh at the antics of both. The climax delivers, and the ending is more than satisfying. I would love to see a sequel!

Side Note: I am curious if Shin Hye-sun did her own stunts and fight choreography, if so, she deserves a place amongst other queens of martial arts cinema like Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock. The fights were fast paced, fierce, and brutal.

The Korean entertainment industry produces some of the best rom-coms in the world. They did not invent the genre, but they darn well perfected it. They also produce some of the best horror in the world. But when it comes to these sorts of "social justice tales," things get complicated. The concept is brilliant. But, almost from the first scene, the story gets bogged down in Korean social structures. The bully is not merely a bully, he also has powerful parents. Seriously? The female teacher is not merely a teacher, she really really really needs the job. Complicating a simple story never works out. If you want to see this story done right, check out THE SUBSTITUTE 1996. If you want see a Korean "justice" story done right, check out THE MAN FROM NOWHERE, on my list of all-time best films. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

The production did not maximize the action scenes. Angles were so dissatisfying. The storyline provoked a vengeful emotions but the resolution did not provide satisfaction to the emotional remorse. The director has missed a lot. There should be a focus on the strong hero. But the movie made a weak lead role. It has a lot of repeated back stories which are not that very relevant. If the problem focused on school bullying, it should resolve it. It focused on a failed father-daughter relationship which also created a confusion on what we should focus our attention to. This movie is just a waste..

All I can say is, I appreciate all the characters and the story. I know this is a huge topic and story, but they managed to end it well. I really love it when someone genuinely cares to help, especially when everyone else is blind to the injustice and unfairness. In reality, it's rare to find someone who will help despite the risks, which is why others hesitate to lend a hand. I am both amused and proud of someone who is brave enough to stand up, even when nobody else will help. At least she is not blind and indifferent.

I admire a girl who knows how to defend herself, has knowledge of martial arts, and uses it in a positive manner to protect others.

That's why I love this movie and she nail it!