Oldboy

It's not that categorical waste falls on the director's head because I in fact like Spike Lee, and his handling of the Asian version is culturally much more appealing to me. It is not about criticizing the copying of a favorite title. Spike Lee simply succeeded in removing the curls and mimicry of the Korean version to such an extent that he exposed the vulgar and debased essence of the script in full, all the illogicality and emotional stupidity that is hidden beneath a substantial layer of bait for the festival audience in Chan-wook Park's version. East Asian cinema has long been distant to me, except for a part of Japanese production due to its intense focus on melodrama and love for the aestheticization of brutal violence. Chan-wook Park created a film in the original Oldboy that I privately categorize as cinematic nonsense decorated with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. You have to admit that when you focus your interest precisely on those sweets, the essence often escapes you. Spike Lee shot it without any softening ingredients and that ground-level shit was exposed in full. Seriously, I have a feeling of something very tasteless, which should be avoided at all costs. Overall impression: 5% for the presence of Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen. (02/04/2017)

The original was formally much more eccentric, and a conventional European viewer necessarily had a problem with the emotions, which are much more understandable and easier to read in this not so pointless remake. The action is equally explosive and uncompromising, and very well shot and edited – with whole shots and without frenetic editing. Josh Brolin also gives an excellent performance in such a demanding role. And just when it starts to become routine, a fantastic twist comes along, which keeps the whole film in a very watchable standard. It is not for multiple viewings, it is not a pleasant film in itself (and it is not about violence at all), but it can be easily managed once. (23/06/2014)

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. (09/12/2013)

Well, this was an absolutely insane mindblow that scores points in every way. The central conceit is famously brilliant, Josh Brolin was perhaps the best possible fit, I ate up his entire role, and the dark, gloomy execution that gradually reveals the pieces of the puzzle, and the way shreds the viewer to pieces in the last three minutes makes it even more successful. In short, I don't know what to praise first. The amazing Elizabeth Olsen in a supporting role is also a delight, and besides all the above, there are some unexpectedly intense fight scenes (which reminded me of the church scene from Kingsman) - so a real kick-ass flick. I'm blown away and Oldboy is for me the new cult-classic of the mystery mindfuck genre, definitely a must see for everyone as it mixes genres perfectly and doesn't let the viewer's attention go for a minute. (06/01/2022)

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. (29/06/2014)