Brave Citizen - A battle between bests (Movie Review)

Have I ever told you guys that I cannot skip a Shin Hye-sun movie? I doubt that. Well, here I am now. Saying it. I've watched her in so many dramas, I am now willing to bet on the fact that she will always deliver, based on the dramas I've watched. Those who have seen her act in Mr. Queen, See You in my 19th life, Legend of the blue sea, and the likes should have a clue as to why I'm saying this. She eats her roles up all the time, you'll think she was born to be that character.

I came across the movie Brave Citizen on my device, earlier this week and since I was actually looking for a movie to watch at that moment, I watched it and it left me with nothing but praise for Shin hye-sun, the main character.

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Brave Citizen follows Ms. So, a temporary teacher who works at a high school. Ms. So has a very cheerful personality which endears her to both teachers and students. While at school, one day, she overhears some teachers talk about a former teacher who committed suicide after being bullied by students in that school. These teachers, soon enough, find their way to her table, giving her reasons why she should turn a blind eye to the bullying, the students she should avoid, why she shouldn't intervene in whatever those students are involved in, as a substitute teacher.

Han sugang (Lee Joo Young), on the other hand, is a student the teachers dare not cross. Having honed his skills at martial arts, he sees himself as unbeatable and therefore bullies others. Ms. So, sees him in action one day, and being so skilled in martial arts herself, she intervenes. Making herself a target. But So si-min is no stranger to bullies, having excelled in martial arts herself. So, let the best man or in this case, martial artist win.

I have so much to say about this movie. Good things. I'm very exhausted at the moment but we shall do this, shan't we?

So, the first thing that struck me, and made me know that I wasn't going to be disappointed by this movie was a statement made by the narrator. She said something along the lines of people who bully others, do not enjoy it. They instead deceive themselves into thinking that doing it is fun. Honestly, this has been my stance, whenever I come across a drama involving bullying. You can't tell me these people enjoy bullying. They are only forcing themselves to think they do but it is never portrayed so. The characters will be so irritable, while commiting the act and they'll still be saying it's fun. I liked that the narrator here, made it clear from the beginning.

The whole plot of this movie was worth the while. It isn't like your regular bully/revenge korean movie. This one is a blend of bullying, humour and justice. A three in one package. I like that Shin hye-sun's femininity was portrayed to the fullest, and they blended it with that of martial artist. The two personalities, had I seen their posters somewhere else, other than the movie, I'd have thought that was her acting out two different roles. It pleased me to a fault seeing this.

Watching the other actors play out their roles wasn't a problem for me as they all did well to me. But for our lead actress, I have a question. What is the possibility that Shin hye-sun was born with an antsy personality and so, portrays her true self through these movies? Having seen her act in different dramas, and be so restless, I think she embodies the role of antsy person more than any other. And honestly, I love her seeing her be that. The eyes, the lips pressed into a thin line, the little walk-around or leg taps when she's thinking, I love seeing her do it. It's usually so nice.

Anyways, there wasn't anything I hated about this movie and I'll rate it a 9/10. All Shin hye-sun lovers, assemble and watch this creative masterpiece. If you're an action movie lover, be it Korean or whatever tribe, do watch this film. I absolutely recommend.

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