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A stunning movie that captured all sorts of emotions from the start to finish. I was impressed by the amount of gore included with this film, which is definitely not for the faint hearted. The film captured the best moments of humanity, as well as the worst. The film spent its beginning building up to the ending in a masterful way. The action scenes were a joy to watch. Won Bin and Kim Sae Ron had a great father-daughter dynamic, and both were splendid actors in their own rights. I nearly teared up at the bittersweet ending, something I rarely do for these type of movies. Was this review helpful to you?
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Some relationships are just greater than the average romance and those of blood
Wow, I just watched the movie and it was a ride!First of all, the story-line is just exquisite. I kept wondering, is this it; however, they truly showed depths of the crime world. Secondly, the action was one of the best ones' that I have seen and it makes sense when he gets hurt, and it makes sense when he does not. It will not be a favourite for those who cannot tolerate gore, crimes and blood, however, I am a huge fan so it was a really nice movie for me. The filmography and acting are indeed the best. Saeron, even though she was very young, did a great job. On the other hand, I now understand that Wonbin has more than just the good looks to be an actor, I will now watch all of his dramas and movies. This movie is a prime example of a golden movie!
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One of the best, simply the best!
This is one of my go-to movies, whenever I feel stress, bored or just simply want to re-watch it, simply because I've been missing Won Bin. I really enjoyed watching action, suspense-thriller and just a good story movies, it's just a bonus if I really love the actor playing the role on a movie.This movie is purely intense, gore, full of action, never a dull moment and will keep you on edge. Everything is fast phase and makes sense. No wasted screen time, good dialogues and just simply a perfection for me.
If you cannot bear watching movies with a lot of blood or violence, stay away from this movie, if it's good with you, go and enjoy this masterpiece. Watch Won Bin, to be fascinated with his take on his character as well as reminisce young Kim Sae Ron.
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A Violent Story of Connection
The Man from Nowhere does not shy away from violence. The film is extremely graphic and bloody, using gore not just for shock value but to emphasize the brutality of the criminal world it portrays. If you can tolerate or appreciate this level of violence, the movie offers a gripping and emotionally grounded experience.Cha Tae Sik becomes isolated and a shut in after the death of his pregnant wife. He lives a lonely life running a small pawnshop, and the only real human connection he has is with Jung So Mi, a young girl in his neighborhood whom he quietly helps and looks after. Their bond grows out of mutual loneliness rather than explicit familial ties, and So Mi gives his life a sense of quiet meaning.
Due to Jung So Mi’s mother becoming involved with criminals, both she and Jung So Mi are kidnapped by a group involved in drug and organ trafficking. Cha Tae Sik makes it his mission to save Jung So Mi at any cost, a desperate effort fueled by his guilt and inability to save his own family.
Won Bin as Cha Tae Sik is perfectly cast. He brings physical stillness and emotional depth to the role, and his limited dialogue is compensated for through expressive body language and intense screen presence. His performance makes the character’s fatherly, protective instincts feel completely convincing, even without overt emotional speeches.
Kim Sae Ron as Jung So Mi delivers a strong performance, especially considering how young she was at the time of filming. She brings vulnerability and resilience to the role, making Jung So Mi more than just a plot device.
Beneath the bloodshed lies a story about loss, guilt, and the quiet power of human connection. The chemistry between the two leads works exceptionally well, and the emotional bond that develops between them feels genuine even though it is never explicitly framed as familial. Their relationship becomes the emotional heart of the film. While this is not a movie I would likely rewatch due to its extreme violence, it is absolutely worth watching at least once. The action scenes are also beautifully executed.
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A work of art
After finishing this I sat in silence for a long time processing. That was as incredible as everyone said! The actor for Tae Shik, Won Bin, had an absolutely jaw dropping performance. The subtleties he was able to bring to the role was incredible. My heart hurt for him, from his back story to the pain he went through to find the girl. The stunt choreography was some of the best I have seen. The fight scenes were extremely well designed. That child actress did such a great job. Her emotions were on point. While the plot was a bit convoluted at times with all the different groups of villains. It was impactful and at its core it was simple. It was heartbreaking. This was a visually stunning piece of art. The cinematography, the lighting and the play with shadows. This was simply a top notch work of art.Was this review helpful to you?
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Won Bin is Fantastic - Excellent Fight Scenes
OMG this was so good. The best Korean action flick I've watched this year. Excellent story and phenomenal cast. This is the first thing I watched with Won Bin and I am super impressed now I have to watch everthing else.I was surprised to see Kim Sung Oh as that nasty, label loving, hot head. I have never seen him as the villain and he was really good. Kradum Thanayong Wongtrakul was excellent as the enforcer for the bad guys. He has an intensity in his face that was menacing yet somehow kind. He was a presence on screen. Kim Sae Ron was great as the young lead.
I give this a 10 overall and you can rewatch multiple times. My only gripe is that I wished the main villian's last scene had been more brutal.
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Losing your loved ones for once is enough this is not a situation you can face twice... And that's what this movie shows... Humanity takes you to the boundaries but love takes you beyond the boundaries...
If you are watching this movie you shouldn't miss a single glimpse or a dialogue if you want to watch it once otherwise you will need to rewind the things to connect the scenes...
Acting is superb... Won bin is amazingly handsome we all know this but in this movie he conceal his handsomely face under his hair and shave... He act with his eyes... You will never feel even for a moment that he is out of his character and he truly makes you feel heartbroken and happy at the same time...
A must watch till end... All the actors done amazing job and story is unique in a different pattern...
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Such a good movie. Action was top notch. I liked how they didn’t show you in the beginning how kickass he was, really drew out the anticipation of seeing him fight. This movie was so dark! Don’t watch if you don’t want to be reminded of what a crappy world we live in and how it’s filled with so many crappy people. But I can appreciate it’s realism. I can appreciate the gore. In both those aspects, the movie really wants to captivate you.
The MC can act! Apparently he’s an all star actor but since I’m newer to kdrama, I hadn’t seen him in anything yet. I’m definitely going to search for his other work. They touched on his past and his character just enough to help you understand where he’s coming from and why this girl matters ????
The pacing was well done, no lulls. I don’t like slow paced stuff, I frequently get up and take breaks. Didn’t pause this movie once though ????
Oh! And the closing theme song was so beautiful!
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OVERALL I give this movie a 7/10. Ngl I think this film is slightly overhyped, mainly because Won Bin is in this. I didn’t find this film amazing but it was pretty solid.
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Maybe ten yrs ago it was a sensation...
But right now i'd say its not much to see, except for a bunch of handsome guys throwing punches. I'd rather have watched em doing something else... Totally overrated. Only recommended for teen boys who are into action movies and not very fussy about plot. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Was this review helpful to you?
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A must-watch
This film has great action - well-choreographed, visceral, intense fight scenes that are as memorable as they are nasty - that's wrapped around an emotional core. The simplicity of the plot (dangerous man hunts down men who kidnapped a little girl) works so beautifully as a vehicle for the action scenes, but it also allows for the intense performances to shine through and take centre stage.Won Bin steals the show as a broken man who seems to have shut in on himself in every way. When his little next door neighbour is kidnapped he goes on a rampage to bring her back. I believe him in every moment, as he reveals different facets of the character. I believed him as the taciturn, closed off pawn shop owner, as the lethal killer seeking revenge and justice, as the devastated husband losing his pregnant wife, and as the man we see at the end of the film: a man who has found some measure of peace and can now rest. His eyes are so expressive that he could carry a three minute close-up of just his face, and he makes the fight sequences so believable. A favourite scene is the one early on, when the two gangsters come to his apartment thinking he's just some chump next-door. He is so menacing that he barely has to move and you can feel the tension spike in the room. He has great physical presence.
The rest of the cast is very good, and the plot trucks along nicely. There is very little fat that gets in the way of the tale they are trying to tell. The fight scenes (for all the praise they get) are somewhat sparse, but in my opinion this only increases the tension in the film. For the first little while we actually rarely see our leading man actually fight. We see the very beginning and the aftermath, but never him in action. In my opinion, this makes his later fight scenes (in the club bathroom, the knife fight) even more memorable because they stand so on their own.
I want to make one final note about the cinematography of the film. In general I really enjoyed it, but I want to make special mention of the ending, particularly the scene where he realizes that the little girl isn't actually dead. The way it is shot and framed, and the lighting, is so dramatic and wonderful. The way the light catches his face and the way he looks up towards the sky -- it's like he's a man who is reckoning with God.
I think what sets this film apart from a lot of the other revenge action thrillers out there is the emotional intensity at the heart of the film. I BELIEVE in this man's singular love for this child, and I BELIEVE him when he says that he as nothing left to live for and nothing left to lose if she dies. He doesn't even care about going to jail afterward. It's about goodness existing in the world, and innocence, and him being able to protect the ones he cares about the way he couldn't before. Despite everything, there's something beautiful about the film. It feels as though we're witnessing someone's spiritual journey.
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