Oldboy

I’m right on the fence between three and four stars. I should mention from the start that I’m not familiar with the original Korean version (I definitely plan to check it out in the future), so there won’t be much comparison here. The story managed to captivate me. Josh Brolin did an excellent job; I was completely engrossed in his antagonist's actions, and the casting was spot-on. I also enjoyed the overall audiovisual presentation, the fantastic cinematography, and the rest of the cast (Samuel L. Jackson felt like a bit of a miscast here, as he didn’t have much to do, while Sharlto Copley was a perfect fit in my opinion). Everyone’s raving about the final twist. I admit, I didn’t expect it, and it was well done, but I was disappointed with everything that followed. It felt like the twist and the subsequent events didn’t quite match up, and I was expecting a bolder catharsis. So, I’ll probably lean towards three stars. But definitely give the film a watch. For me, it’s 7/10. (01/13/2022)

The Korean Old Boy is almost one of my favorites, or at least a movie I like a lot. But this one doesn't even come close. The script lacks logic and depth in places. Some of the scenes are completely nonsensical and you could see that they were just shoehorned in because they were in the original. Others were so overdone that they deserved a spanking. And of course they were afraid of the spiciest ones, so they softened them or cut them out completely. The main character is not half the quality of the Korean one. He lacks any charisma, which is almost a must for this role. On the other hand, I recognize that my opinion won't be entirely objective. I could have given it one more star, but knowing and loving the original, I just can't. 2 stars. (06/29/2014)

Oldboy is a brutal thriller with a great noir atmosphere and a secret that makes a point that will bring you to your knees, hidden until the last minute. Josh Brolin was a great choice, as he portrays the personal and physical qualities of the character much better than the Asian actor in the original version, which was interesting in terms of art and its exotic audiovisual aspects, but it didn’t work narratively. It left me cold. Spike Lee developed the story, focused primarily on it and the characters, without underestimating the importance of the key battle with the hammer, which is top-notch in this version as well. I won’t give Oldboy a fifth star due to the the overused “mandatory” casting of Samuel L. Jackson in the role of another iconic, eccentrically dressed character, and due to the overdone digital effects in the climax, which take out some (important) brutality out of the film. (12/09/2013)

If it wasn't an American remake, I'd give it an even higher rating. However, Spike Lee took a great Korean film, or rather its comic book source, and made a similarly good film out of it. The absolutely great casting led to the film being more accessible to Western audiences in this regard. The plot is well constructed, but the Koreans already nailed that aspect. In some cases, it was almost too obvious that Spike Lee didn't just draw inspiration from the Korean film but outright lifted some great scenes from it. Sharlto Copley once again excels in a fantastic villainous role. It’s great, but it’s just a repeat of the original. (05/07/2014)

Great remake! I wasn't too impressed with the original, probably because I was just starting out in Asia, so I really enjoyed the new Oldboy. The film grabs you from start to finish and doesn't let go! Even though there are only three action scenes, they are fucking brilliant and bloody. The pace of the film is very fast and dynamic, there is always something going on, being solved. Josh Brolin was perfect for the role, he's a proper tough guy! Just a great thrilling ride that will keep you entertained. 75%. (02/21/2014)