 "One of my favorite movies ever." | 2008-09-06 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1ZBGFVVMDPOPD |
| It is just a great movie. Love it, Love it, Love it. It has an ending that Hollywood would NEVER, NEVER, EVER touch. It is just so unique. Sorry I'm being so vague, I just don't want to spoil it. |
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 "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone." | 2008-06-24 |
| - Reviewed By michelle17 |
The thing about Oldboy is that it leaves you thinking long after the credits. The next night after seeing it, I ended up dreaming I was trapped in a hotel room, with my hair growing out of control, with the exception being that there was no TV. It certainly makes you think how you would cope in that situation - the only situation similar to that would be prison. But at least in prison you get some luxuries.
The story is based around Oh Dae-Su, who is taken from the streets after a drunken night out, and held prisoner in a hotel-style room, with no way out and nothing but the TV for company. He keeps up with the events of the world through this, and also learns of his wife's death and his young daughter's subsequent adoption. When his hair needs cut, or his room needs cleaned, he's gassed. After 15 years he's released, to a whole new world, and a wallet full of a cash, and a mobile phone.
What happens after that is an absolute whirlwind of emotions and imagery. I won't spoil any of the film for you, but be prepared to concentrate. Unfortunately, the film does lose its momentum part way through, and then it all comes together at the end.
When you think you know exactly what is happening in this film, it takes a sudden twist, and you're left thinking again, and puzzling over it, trying to work out what's happening, and where it's going before it gets there. The film comes to an absolute through-provoking climax, where I was still left wondering what on earth was going on, and it will take a few minutes to work it out. But I did go home babbling about it to my dad (who'd already seen the film) which is normally a good sign.
I didn't really like Sympathy For Mr Vengence, but Oldboy has more than made up for that. It's a thought provoking and intriguing movie and yes, gives you a reason to watch it again. |
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| "Genius With A Vengeance" | 2008-06-18 |
| - Reviewed By User: A28RYY1BBV0ZA |
Written By: Lisa Fore
© Dystopia Magazine | Asian Edition | June 2007
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone."
After getting busted for being drunk and extremely disorderly, rumpled businessman Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) gets angrier and angrier as he sits at a station waiting for the police to release him because he has to go home--it's his little girl's birthday. Getting nowhere with the standard inebriated outbursts and tantrums, he tries to flip on the charm and show the police he's a nice guy (in a fantastic set of hysterical cut shots): a proud papa--shoving pictures of his daughter at the cops; an entertainer -- dancing and singing while wearing a small set of angel wings he bought as a birthday present for his little angel; and finally as a regular Joe--by flirting with a younger girl (who also happens to be sitting right next to her boyfriend). It's still a no-go with the cops however, until Dae-su's best friend, Joo-Hwan, comes to bail him out. While his friend apologizes profusely to the police, Oh Dae-su waits (quietly--to everyone's surprise I'm sure), until he does the regional equivalent of giving the cops the middle finger and scrambles from the station.
We find him in a phone booth calling his daughter to apologize for being late, and he suddenly puts his friend on the phone (looking to avoid a screaming wife who's bound to jump on any second--well maybe in Asia it's considered `concerned nagging') and steps out of the phone booth.
It becomes the biggest mistake of Dae-su's life.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Oldboy is a true rarity. While it's the second film that ever made me restart the DVD immediately after the final credits (Usual Suspects being the first), it's the first to make me do it four times in a row.(When it's that good, I tend to get "a tad" obsessive-compulsive.)
This three act thriller is a total descent into the power of human will, that while full of raging action is even more horrific than any giant deity flailing a chainsaw through ridiculous sequels or CGI boogeyman (or woman or child) because this is the ultimate psychological game, and for all of it's intricate details, Oldboy is actually plausible...with the right kind of connections and patience.
The screenplay is brilliant, with dialogue that's actually practical and informative---no weak red herrings or filler chat-chat here; the direction and cinematography are phenomenal, smooth and (here's another rare part) ultimately and intimately involving---Park brings the audience Dae-su's ordeal with moments of claustrophobia and even the relief of space (I actually caught myself inhaling deeply once he was released) that can't help but bring us right into his head, and naturally sympathize completely with his plans of revenge.
The extent of his captor's cruelty and the purity of Dae-su's determination for absolution are truly astounding. I also definitely recommend watching it in it's native language (Korean) with subtitles, even though it has the option of English audio; Choi's tone and passion put the final stamp of perfection on the entire film. If you aren't emotionally exhausted by Choi's magnificent performance, then check your pulse, cuz the man has got serious game.
Sir Anthony Hopkins. Robert De Niro. Al Pacino. Choi Min-sik.
Oh yeah people, he's easily sits among the greatest in the world.
Oldboy is an absolute masterpiece: psychologically brutal, darkly hilarious, beautifully presented and completely disturbing---results only possible by those who understand true human frailty and drive.
I became a fan of Choi Min-sik and Park Chan-wook after the first run--they totally broke my mind and I absolutely love them for it. |
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| "Watch THIS Movie!" | 2008-05-12 |
| - Reviewed By User: ASXXQDZXY3FIN |
| Excellent film. The 1st time I watched this movie it was dubbed and with subtitles (which was a little distracting). You do NOT want to be distracted when watching this movie. Every detail is important to the plot. I think that you will enjoy this movie. |
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| "One of the most gripping movies I have ever seen." | 2008-05-10 |
| - Reviewed By smockey_421 |
Wow, what can I say about Oldboy. It's definetely one of the best films I've ever seen, it takes the formula of a revenge plot driven storyline and turns it around and makes it different than anything you've ever seen before. I've also noticed that some reviewers have compared it to some of Tarantino's work which is about half right, even though some parts were similar to Tarantino's and Takashi Miike's stuff it was still a highly original and entertaining crime thriller with some gruesome scenes of violence. The screenplay was brilliant and the characters were developed very well and it was extremely complex not to mention the plot which was ingenious and has the most amazing plot twist I've seen so far with a great payoff and the acting from all of the cast was superb, I actually thought it was quite disturbing while watching it the first time last year but I must admit that it didn't have the same impact the second time around oh well. The story focuses on Dae-Su (Min-Sik Choi) who is drunk and disorderly in a police station on his young daughter's birthday gets posted bail by his best friend and then gets kidnapped and thrown in what looks like a cheap motel room only to be held captive there for fifteen years with only his rage, anger and confusion to keep him company. He has a small t.v. and he obviously has no idea who kidnapped him, as he passes time lifting weights and trying to break out by digging a hole on the wall. His imprisonment is both horrifying and absurd and anyone in that situation would obviously feel the same as Dae-Su would, things actually go from bad to worse as it is found out that he is the chief suspect in his own wife's murder and just as he's about finished digging a tunnel out through the wall Dae su is released under mysterious circumstances and filled with rage he vows revenge on his captors...he also has a cool and crazy haircut. He then meets a female companion in a sushi bar and they develop a quick relationship but this female companion has a dark secret which is about to be revealed later on and Dae-Su seems to be losing his sanity trying to find the identity of his tormentors.
While the majority of the film follows the lead character's attempt to find his tormentors and exact revenge the true conflict transpires behind the scenes, the plot was very intricate and clever and it seems like Dae-Su was the type of person who was indeed guilty of causing much suffering to himself and to others. If you like Korean or Asian cinema then your going to love this, Choonwok Park has done a great job with this stylishly made and slick looking drama or Crime/Thriller which is such a fantastic film , the best scene had to be the one in the hallway where Dae su proceeds to beat the crap out of a bunch of thugs with only a hammer and his fists, this scene was excellently choreographed and beautifully shot using a tracking shot camera moving across the hall as Dae-su punches and kicks his way out, such a fantastic moment. The film also has plenty more memorable scenes as well like the shocking ending which I'm not going to reveal and Dae su eating that tasty looking live squid YUM ;-). The film was also quite violent so if you're squeamish about that stuff then forget it, theres some teeth pulling scenes that made me cringe abit. If you liked Oldboy then make sure you check out Chanwook Park's other films in the vengeance trilogy like Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance those two films were just as good, oh yeah and the film also used some stunning cinematography and great music which was very effective. The extras include a bunch of informative interviews with the director and some deleted and extended scenes and some trailers along with a commentary track. I hope you enjoy this beautiful ode to suffering and revenge, Asian cinema at its finest............. |
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| "Incredible technique, but a disgusting apologia for violence and sex crime." | 2008-04-17 |
| - Reviewed By yowza4 |
First of all, Oldboy really only has one film with which you can compare it and that's Fight Club. Yet whereas Fincher's film explored the origins of, and visceral release of violence, this guy Park just loves the stuff and there seems to be no limit to the lengths he will exploit it for cinematic gain. All wrapped safely in sarcasm and black humor of course.
Yes, it is quite jaw-dropping how well this guy can stage a scene and elicit dry humor amidst total degradation. He also knows good music and the film looks extremely cool with its color palette, endless reams of rotting geometric wallpaper and first-rate art direction. Some of the coolest titles you'll lay eyes on as well.
But this film crosses the line into repulsive ethical territory without condemning it. This is all started in American Films of the 60s with treating criminals and violent acts with sympathy -- but Oldboy wallows in horrendous acts of brutality and treats them like a video game. Even worse is the sexuality of the film, which progresses from unsettling to extremely disturbing by the end. And make no mistake about it, Park really is offering an apologia to a sex crime that has been degenerate for millenia in any civilized society. Unbelievable. You can accuse me of American parochialism but I think this film transcends the usual frame of reference: wanker Hollywood endings or Judeo-Christian hypocrisy.
So, it is incredibly difficult to rate a film of such incredible talent and technique while not hating it for what it is saying. "Just because I am a best...." Give me a break. |
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 "Blu-Ray version not totally 1080p" | 2008-04-17 |
| - Reviewed By epsilondelta |
While I like this movie, I must write here that as of April 2008, the version doesn't seem truly 1080p. It is a bit grainy... maybe it is 720p... the back of the box say 1080p but when I show this movie on the Blu Ray enabled computer with 1920 x 1200 LCD, it is different from other 1080p movies such as Troy or Planet Earth. Those you can tell they are 1080p as there is no grain and almost every frame is a perfect 1920 x 1080 photograph.
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| "A Picutre Perfect Art" | 2008-03-03 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2Z0VZ99RVO10J |
| its hard not to love this movie, the twist in this story is so marvelous, you are sitting and watching the life of a man be ruined for 15 years. the ultimate revenge, and then not only is he forced to find who has caused him so much pain, but he is also forced to find out why. its a mind twisting and mind bottling experience! |
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| "Escaping life in a bigger prison" | 2008-03-02 |
| - Reviewed By mackshere |
-REVENGE-
It might be a shallow comfort once it is obtained. But it can fuel an angry obsession and momentarily comfort some excruciating grief.
Much of Oldboy advances with a crippling energy. It's easy to get caught up in the ferocity, to feel the jolt of rage that pushes a man on his hellbent mission of redemption.
Like Kill Bill, this shot of adrenhaline seems designed specifically for American audiences. That's not to say the story is dumbed down, it's still intriguing and mysterious. It is visually spectacular, a level of brutality to appease most manly savage instinctual cravings. There's some nudity thrown in for good measure. Plus it's in English, no need to read subtitles.
Like Tarantino, Park Chanwook is able to make the impossible seem very believable. It's entertaining without the unconvincing aspects you have to attempt to disregard. A sweet revenge flick, highly recommended.
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Special Features
-awesome collectible tin case
-3disc set with commentaries, 5 documentaries, interviews, 10 deleted scenes, featurette, and a video diary from the filming.
-210 page manga-style comic novel
-collectible film card
-coupon for a free hooker (just kidding, it's only 50% discount)
_______________________________________________________________ |
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| "Artistic and transgressive" | 2008-02-20 |
| - Reviewed By boringuserid |
"Oldboy" is a fascinating mix of Western and Asian cinema, with equal bits Hitchcock, Kubrick and 21st century Asian horror. On one level, "Oldboy" is a classic man-wrongly-accused story of the type Hitchcock did so well - but neither we nor Dae-Su know what he is accused of. Indeed, "Oldboy" starts off as man-wrongly-punished - or is he? Park sets up the camera and lets it remain stationary a la Kubrick for much of the movie, adding to the tension by making us unsure of when he will cut away. And us Western viewers will wish he had cut away from some of the more gonzo horror scenes. Asian horror is far more transgressive than American horror, and while this film does not descend to the same depths that a Takashi Miike film would, several scenes go beyond what we Americans are used to, even in a post-"Hostel" world. Even the subject matter, which is revealed at the end, is much more transgressive than what we would expect from an American movie.
Having said that, "Oldboy" has no shortage of humor, interesting characters, and artistic choices - shades of "Pulp Fiction" and Tarantino's other films. As such, "Oldboy" may be one of the more accessible films to those new to Asian cinema. And it includes a psychopathic Stanford grad, to boot.
I knocked off a star due to some pacing issues, and an ending that didn't quite fit with the rest of the film. Without ruining the ending, it lasts too long, and where we should be racing for the curtain, there is overwrought melodrama and general wasting of time. I thought this was over 10 minutes before it was.
Nevertheless, fans of suspense, action and horror will enjoy this, as will fans of Asian cinema and people who are interested in Asian cinema. "Oldboy" is worth at least a rent. |
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