The Man from Nowhere (Blu-ray) (Special Edition) (Japan Version) Blu-ray Region A

The plot of The Man From Nowhere offers nothing new. Tae-Sik is a skilled expert at various methods of maiming and killing, but personal tragedy has made him a wounded introvert. But against all odds, he finds his humanity reawakened by a connection to a precocious innocent. Think Leon meets The Road Warrior with a generous helping of Jason Bourne thrown in, and you should get the picture. That last comparison is particularly apt, as Tae-Sik's way with guns, knives and fists is fast and efficient, and director Lee Jeong-Beom uses plenty of shaky-cam to make the action more immediate and kinetic. Thankfully, the herky-jerky camera also hides some of the more extreme violence; The Man From Nowhere is quite violent, with blood, limbs and all sorts of viscera flying about, and the punishment may upset those who prefer their action heroes to remain PG-13. Genre fans who like their floors slick with blood will be satisfied, however.

Between action and chase sequences, The Man From Nowhere occasionally falters. The bad guys belong to a library of clichés, from over-the-top hateful to quietly honorable, while Tae-Sik and So-Mi's burgeoning connection is more routine than inspired. The biggest deal here is Won Bin, who downplays his prettiness and taps his dramatic skills to play a kickass action hero who possesses hair that ranges from "loose shuffle" to "efficient buzz." Those present to check out Won Bin's chiseled form will enjoy the many shots of his shirtless torso and gorgeous looks, while red meat eaters get their violence fix. In many ways, The Man From Nowhere is Won's Bittersweet Life, in that it portrays the actor as gorgeous and ubercool without making any apologies. There's always a danger of an actor looking more silly than suave with these sorts of vanity actioners, but Won Bin pulls off the part with gritty, coiled grace. With Man From Nowhere, Won Bin looks to have expanded the film genres available to him. He'd be perfect for Ninja Assassin 2, but hopefully he's smarter than that.

by Kozo - LoveHKFilm.com

The actor takes on the titular role as Tae Sik, a mysterious man who moves into a rundown neighbourhood and opens up a pawn shop, pointedly keeping himself to himself and ignoring everyone, apart from a maltreated young girl called So Mi (Kim Sae Ron). His efforts to lead a quiet life are soon thwarted when So Mi's addict mother leaves a camera bag in his shop that just happens to be full of drugs. Organ trafficking gangsters show up looking for their property, tearing his place apart and kidnapping the poor girl and her mother, holding them to ransom. Tae Sik is forced to return to the violent ways of his murky past, cutting a swathe through his enemies in a single minded quest to rescue his young friend before time runs out.

Although its plot is pretty straightforward, The Man from Nowhere is a rich and surprisingly human piece of action cinema. Lee Jeong Beom's script is full of small but telling details that bring his characters to life, mixing dark humour and pathos to engaging and frequently poignant effect. In this regard the film recalls Kim Jee Woon's classic A Bittersweet Life, slowly working its way under the viewer's skin in subtle fashion before landing a series of powerful emotional punches. Won Bin is on impeccable form in a career best role, adding real humanity to his flawed though basically likeable protagonist, showing a commanding screen presence and real star charisma. Whilst his decision to try and rescue So Mi does basically follow the usual redemptive character arc, Lee still manages to turn it into a wholly compelling and sympathetic journey, which makes the film all the more gripping as he notches up the intensity. What really helps the film to stand out from the crowd is the fact that despite its subject matter and various grim twists, it's an essentially good hearted affair, and despite flirting with fashionable nihilism, it comes with an oddly warm and upbeat glow.

Lee's direction is tight and perfectly judged, with an approach that is stylised and explosive, yet at the same time intimate and character driven, with the film's quiet moments being every bit as effective as its wild ones, if not more so. Though flashier than the more measured Cruel Winter Blues and vaguely similar in feel to the works of Park Chan Wook, he still manages to carve out his own style, mixing grit and gloss in a way that keeps the film grounded, tense and believable. This combines wonderfully with some superbly choreographed and well timed CGI free action scenes that keep the film rattling along at a near breathless pace for the last hour or so, and if anything the running time feels somewhat short. These include old school gun battles, fights and chase scenes, though the real highlight is a last act knife fight, which stands as one of the most ferocious in recent memory. The action is all the better for never being gratuitous, and though the film is frequently bloody and shocking, this never undermines its central drama.

The Man from Nowhere is one of those rare occasions when the biggest grossing film of the year is also one of the very best of the year. Thrilling, brutal and unexpectedly moving, it confirms exactly why Won Bin is one of the most popular actors in Korean cinema, and will hopefully propel director Lee Jeong Beom to the very top of the profession.

by James Mudge - BeyondHollywood.com