Anyone else seen it?  

Probably my most favorite performance by Josh Brolin.  He plays the part to a T.  Sharlton Copley does a great job as the bad guy, Elizabeth Olsen is good as usual and Samuel Jackson was a riot.

Cheap special effects.  I think I would've enjoyed the movie more had I not seen the original, but still worth watching.  

I like the way they ended this one.

I'll have to check this out. I didn't know they made this. I enjoyed the first one.

I don't really have too much interest in seeing this, as I love the original one so much. However, I am curious to hear how the ending differs?

Never seen the original. Taken on it's own terms this was a great little film. Shame it bombed at the box office.

~Zack~

As screenwriters, it saddens me a bit that so many of you haven't seen the original Old Boy. Honestly, don't give this remake the time of day. It doesn't deserve your money and/or attention. If you haven't seen the original, watch it asap. And if you have, watch it again. I read a ton of reviews stating how the remake weakens the story and adds nothing to the story.

Skip this s hit.

I saw the original back in 2004. I really liked it. Upon a recent viewing a couple a months back, I didn't think it was as great as I first saw it.

I was ready to hate this. I'm not a fan of Spike Lee But... I thought it wasn't so bad. It was fast paced, it moved well, I think its started to go down hill a bit in the last third. I think it should have been 15 min longer so the story can get a bit more breathing room.

All in all better than I thought. For sure better than the 5.1 rating it has on imdb.

Quoted from Zack Shame it bombed at the box office.

I think the main reason the remake bombed was because the only people interested in seeing the film would have already seen the original, and we all know how reluctant people are to watch adaptions of media which they love.

Quoted from Demento I saw the original back in 2004. I really liked it. Upon a recent viewing a couple a months back, I didn't think it was as great as I first saw it.

I was the exact opposite. When I originally saw it when it came out I really hated the final act and the twist made me feel dirty, lol. When I rewatched it a few years later, I actually loved the twist. So what does that say about me...? :O

Quoted from albinopenguin As screenwriters, it saddens me a bit that so many of you haven't seen the original Old Boy. Honestly, don't give this remake the time of day. It doesn't deserve your money and/or attention. If you haven't seen the original, watch it asap. And if you have, watch it again.

Amen.

What are your thoughts on the rest of the Vengeance Trilogy, AP? Also, have you watched any films by a Korean director called Na Hong-jin (either The Chaser or The Yellow Sea)? If not, I cannot recommend these highly enough. Now that we're on the topic of South Korean films, I rewatched Kim Ji-woon's masterpiece, A Bittersweet Life, again last night... forgot how brilliant that is! I honestly think the post burial fight in that film rivals the tremendous corridor fight sequence in Oldboy.

Quoted from Toby_E I was the exact opposite. When I originally saw it when it came out I really hated the final act and the twist made me feel dirty, lol. When I rewatched it a few years later, I actually loved the twist. So what does that say about me...? :O

I loved the twist as well. In a non dirty kind of way .

The twist in the original is far better than the one in the remake. It's more personal. In the remake you kind of feel the twist is forced and perverted in order to get a reaction. That's at least my take.

I still think that the original is one of the more clever movies that has come out in the past 20 years.

I think it's fine so long as only the concept is taken and remade in a completely original way... clever references to the original is as far as one should go. My script Amelia is basically the Oliver Twist concept... but is its own original story. I've had an Irish company interested in making it which came as a surprise. Murder of Crows uses Daphne duMaurier's The Birds concept... but again is an original story in itself. I'm writing another similar story now, based on an ancient concept just with my own original twist.

If you're not completely remixing then it is nothing more than cashing in. Sequels are the same... they should bring something new but are often just carbon copies of what we've already seen. The writers should be ashamed. Or maybe it isn't their fault... maybe to get paid they have to do as they're told.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I think it's fine so long as only the concept is taken and remade in a completely original way... clever references to the original is as far as one should go.

I agree.

Lets say I was doing the Oldboy remake I won't add the hallway scene. I think it's just stupid to include something so special to the original. You'll never top it, even if you do, people will always bring up the original scene. No matter what you do with it, it will never stand on it's own, it will always be linked to the original scene. So you really can't win either way. Just drop it and try to think of something else to do, add some kind of new twist.

Let's start by saying I am far from a fan of the original, and although I've tried many times, still never made it through the entire movie.

I watched this reimaging over the weekend and was so far from impressed, it's shocking.

I don't know where to begin even, but I guess I'll get this off my chest - the plot and everything attached to the plot is absolutely ludicrous.  To say it's unbelievable or unrealistic is like saying water is wet.

Absolutely nothing here is believable.  Everything here is poor story telling with all reasoning thrown into a blender with every plot contrivance known to mankind added a seasoning.  I could actually discuss this aspect for days - it's that silly...it's that downright stupid.

SPOILERS     SPOILERS     SPOILERS     SPOILERS     SPOILERS     SPOILERS

I don't want to ruin the big twist here, so please head the SPOILER warning if you haven't seen it or haven't heard what happens...but...what happens and what the big twist is, is something so ludicrous (again), that your eyes will hurt from rolling them so many times.

To think that the big sex scene would go down between these 2 characters is foolish  and story telling at its most immature.  Almost everything here just defies logic and to think that our villian could/would plan this whole thing out and have it work to perfection is like fucking a whore and thinking she really likes you.  Really?

Even the famed fight scene is foolish...in this remake and the original.  What were all the idiot goons using to hit him?  plywood?

Sorry OLdboy fans, but this entire story is preposterous, silly, goofy, completely unbelievable, and so overrated, it makes me angry.

Grade - D

Lighten up, Jeff.  The movie wasn't that bad.  Especially coming from someone (such as yourself) who didn't even like the original.  Could it be it's just not your cup of tea?

The original is a cinematic masterpiece, btw.

Quoted from NickSedario Lighten up, Jeff.  The movie wasn't that bad.  Especially coming from someone (such as yourself) who didn't even like the original.  Could it be it's just not your cup of tea? The original is a cinematic masterpiece, btw.

We all have our own opinions and that's what makes the world go 'round, but for me, it's the very premise of this movie that kills it no matter what kind of masterpiece it is or who's behind it.

The premise does not work in any way.  It's absolutely silly at its core, which makes everything that follows equally silly, or actually more silly.

But on top of that, it's so dull, so ugly, so depressing.

There is an awfulo lot of interesting info on IMDB about casting this and who smartly turned down roles and involvement.

This was an utter bomb at the BO and although that doesn't always tell the whole story, or even the correct story,  it sure does in this case.  $30 Million was spent, and the WWBO take was a whopping $5 Million, which is obviously a complete and utter embarrassment.

Quoted from Dreamscale The premise does not work in any way.  It's absolutely silly at its core, which makes everything that follows equally silly, or actually more silly.

In this instance, I believe there is a cultural aspect at play, and it is story that would speak a little deeper to the Korean audience when viewed through their prism of experience.

Doesn't mean you are not allowed to find it silly and OTT.  Just saying.  

You may be correct, Bert, but I'm still pretty clueless here and maybe I missed something.

So (in the 2013 version of the flick), Joe is imprisoned in 1993 and held for 20 years.  How is it remotely possible or plausible that the Stranger/Adrian Pryce even finds Joe, years after college (where the incident took place), and then how is it remotely plausible that he happens to live in the same city, and Joe's daughter also lives right there as well?

Peeps move around nowadays, especially in the US of A and anyone that buys into this central plotpoint, to me, is being pretty simplistic and foolish.

Even the fact that Chucky still runs his same bar 20 years later isn't very likely, is it?

FOr me, the whole thing was so shoehorned and completely unbelievable, it angered me to think the original is considered to be a classic.

Quoted from Dreamscale You may be correct, Bert, but I'm still pretty clueless here and maybe I missed something.

I have not seen the remake, and I am in no rush to do so, as I deplore remakes that exist only because people are too lazy to read subtitles.  (I am looking at you, "Let Me In")

Some of the specific details you mention are indeed unlikely -- but the tale is more of an allegory around the themes (your favorite word!) of honor and family -- and in a way that are largely unfamiliar to an American audience.

In the Chan-wook Park version, which I adore, the beauty is in the telling.  Lots of Asian cinema tells incredible, impossible stories, but it is a different world over there, and they tell their stories in a different way.

That is, at least in part, why I expected an "Americanized" version to suck.  Sounds like it does.  

SPOILERS FOR VARIOUS (OLDER) MOVIES...

I agree with Bert's take that Asian cinema often handles allegory differently, and a bit more openly, but still, c'mon now. Not plausible? Movies with much, much more impossibly orchestrated antagonist plots include The Dark Knight, Die Hard 3, Matchstick Men, Lucky Number Slevin, Perfect Stranger, The Game…

Movies are almost never realistic or plausible if you choose to look at them objectively. Oldboy is far from an unusual offender. Lethal Weapon 2 can tell us that NOT ONLY does the Getz case that they get reassigned to happen to yield a key clue to the main case, but ALSO that the villain in that case happens to be the one who killed Riggs' wife years ago, for gosh sakes.

I think the BIG difference in the movies you quoted, Chris, is the tone, or what I call "playing for reals" vs. "just go with it...it's a fricking movie" mentality.

We all see and eal with plot contrivances all the time, but these are so far playing for reals, that this kid just can't play, period.

You or anyone can say all they want that Oldboy is all about allegory and themes, but it's so plodding and heavy, that...for me, at least...the end all twist is supposed to hit you as hard as it hits old Joe Doucett.

But, as said, I cannot take anything that lead up to that twist payoff because it's downright ludicrous in so so many ways.

Interesting as always how vastly differently 2 or 10 peeps can see a movie and leave feeling completely differently.

Havn't seen the remake. Just seen the orignial lastnight on netflix. Whoa, twisted shit. I liked it.

I dont mind reading subs as long as the story kept my attention. That, it most surely did.

Surprised I havn't picked up on it until just now. Now I'm gonna have to watch the remake just to see if it holds up. They set a high bar.

Quoted from Dreamscale I think the BIG difference in the movies you quoted, Chris, is the tone, or what I call "playing for reals" vs. "just go with it...it's a fricking movie" mentality.

...Saw, Skyfall, The Illusionist, Fracture, Shutter Island, The Wicker Man (Cage), Se7en, Arlington Road, North by Northwest…

I don't mean to suggest that any allegorical elements excuse plot holes, by the way. It's totally reasonable that you find them problematic. I just think it's a fairly standard level of implausibility considered in the context of film in general, so I was surprised to see it mentioned specifically.

Quoted from bert Lots of Asian cinema tells incredible, impossible stories, but it is a different world over there, and they tell their stories in a different way. That is, at least in part, why I expected an "Americanized" version to suck.  Sounds like it does.

Exactly my thoughts. I think the original is a great film. It has blemishes, imo. But its still great. But can anyone honestly name any original American crime-thriller in recent history that came this close in terms of its brilliance? And no, the Departed doesn't count because it's a knockoff of Infernal Affairs, a much better movie, imo. I can't get my head wrapped around the idea that Scorsese, out of all the great movies he's made, wins an Oscar for a knockoff.

Anyway, I would say the same about I saw the devil and Chaser. Fantastic films.

-J.S.

Quoted from J.S. Exactly my thoughts. I think the original is a great film. It has blemishes, imo. But its still great. But can anyone honestly name any original American crime-thriller in recent history that came this close in terms of its brilliance? And no, the Departed doesn't count because it's a knockoff of Infernal Affairs, a much better movie, imo. I can't get my head wrapped around the idea that Scorsese, out of all the great movies he's made, wins an Oscar for a knockoff. Anyway, I would say the same about I saw the devil and Chaser. Fantastic films. -J.S.

This statement is very interesting. The genre seems to take a timeout with originals. I was astonished how many of the best 90's ones till now are adapted or remakes. I guess that's what you call recent, J.S., not? 90's, 00's, 10's?

I haven't seen the movie you're talking about here, I guess. But "brilliant"... I think, this has to be proven in a larger time frame given to movies. So, how could recent ones compete now...

What about the Hannibal Lector stuff;
Collateral

Concerning crime and a "bit" thriller, I think, Denzel Washington is a big deal in these times. Especially I like Training Day and John Q. For me these films have solid to good plays and of course Denzel Washington makes them great. These films will be called brilliant, imo- but later.


Other "partly good" originals which come to my mind would be We owe the night and yes, I like Crash, even without knowing the plot anymore, I remember there was a great intensity on focus in every scene, which felt unique, different. But, to say it clear, both films are not as good to call them great anytime and in anyway. So, they fall apart and make J.S. post understandable and proven for me. There really seem  to be not many "great" original stuffs in case of quantity in this genre in the last years.

I'm definitely interested to hear some other calls??? What's with Indi-productions for example...

Very interesting statement J.S. concerning the negative look on adaptations with regard to the true quality of movies like American Psycho etc. etc. ...

Quoted from J.S. Exactly my thoughts. I think the original is a great film. It has blemishes, imo. But its still great. But can anyone honestly name any original American crime-thriller in recent history that came this close in terms of its brilliance? And no, the Departed doesn't count because it's a knockoff of Infernal Affairs, a much better movie, imo. I can't get my head wrapped around the idea that Scorsese, out of all the great movies he's made, wins an Oscar for a knockoff. Anyway, I would say the same about I saw the devil and Chaser. Fantastic films. -J.S.

Chaser is one of my favourite films from recent years. Have you seen the director's follow up? The Yellow Sea?

I love certain aspects of I Saw the Devil, although I thought it went of for too long. The director's earlier film, A Bittersweet Life, is nothing short of a masterpiece, however. The 20 minutes around where the protag gets buried are some of my favourite 20 minutes from any film, ever.

Quoted from Toby_E Chaser is one of my favourite films from recent years. Have you seen the director's follow up? The Yellow Sea? I love certain aspects of I Saw the Devil, although I thought it went of for too long. The director's earlier film, A Bittersweet Life, is nothing short of a masterpiece, however. The 20 minutes around where the protag gets buried are some of my favourite 20 minutes from any film, ever.

Yep. I watched it several weeks ago. I thought it was pretty good. A bit long in the beginning but I still enjoyed it. Mother was another one I saw sometime last year and I really enjoyed that one as well.

-J.S.

Quoted from PrussianMosby This statement is very interesting. The genre seems to take a timeout with originals. I was astonished how many of the best 90's ones till now are adapted or remakes. I guess that's what you call recent, J.S., not? 90's, 00's, 10's?

I'd say 2000 and on. There are some pretty good thrillers from the 90s.

Quoted from PrussianMosby Collateral

That was one of my favorite movies when it came out. I wrote a short film loosely based on Cruise's character, actually.

Quoted from PrussianMosby Concerning crime and a "bit" thriller, I think, Denzel Washington is a big deal in these times. Especially I like Training Day and John Q. For me these films have solid to good plays and of course Denzel Washington makes them great. These films will be called brilliant, imo- but later.

I enjoyed Unstoppable a lot more than I thought I would. Not great, but definitely pretty good.

-J.S.

Quoted from J.S. But can anyone honestly name any original American crime-thriller in recent history that came this close in terms of its brilliance?

Having trouble with this! That's a sad thought. For me, the ones that spring to mind are Drive, Black Swan, and nothing. Haha. Excision, if that counts, which probably it doesn't, really. But none of those are quite up to the level of Oldboy, for me.

EDIT: If we go as far back as 2000, I guess I'd throw in Mulholland Dr., Session 9...maybe The Prestige.

Unstoppable is the best, by the way. I'm just focusing on movies that go for the throat a bit more, like Oldboy, in my comparison.

Yeah, Drive and Collateral were the first two that came to mind for me, as well. I've got a lot of time for Gone Baby Gone, Fargo and No Country, also.

But regardless, in terms of thrillers, no one does it quite like the Asians.

Quoted from Heretic Having trouble with this! That's a sad thought. For me, the ones that spring to mind are Drive, Black Swan, and nothing. Haha. Excision, if that counts, which probably it doesn't, really. But none of those are quite up to the level of Oldboy, for me.

I really liked Drive when I saw it in the theater. Flawed as a whole. And I loved the beginning of it. I was like, "Man, I wish more action films were like this." They balanced action so, so well, I nearly thought great crime films were making a come back. Well.... now we know those tears of joy were for naught

But, you're right. It doesn't really come close to Oldboy. The movie balances violence, drama, emotion, just all of it, so damn well, I just want to grab a copy of it and watch it right now

-J.S.

Quoted from Toby_E Yeah, Drive and Collateral were the first two that came to mind for me, as well. I've got a lot of time for Gone Baby Gone, Fargo and No Country, also. But regardless, in terms of thrillers, no one does it quite like the Asians.

NCFOM, Drive, and Gone Baby Gone are technically adaptations. Fargo is original and a fantastic film, but that was like 20 years ago. Nothing really that great in the past decade.

-J.S.

Quoted from Heretic EDIT: If we go as far back as 2000, I guess I'd throw in Mulholland Dr., Session 9...maybe The Prestige. Unstoppable is the best, by the way. I'm just focusing on movies that go for the throat a bit more, like Oldboy, in my comparison.

:O I can't believe you'd say Session 9. I hate that movie

Mulholland Dr. is kinda meh. The Prestige is okay as well. Nothing to write home about though.

EDIT: I guess Memento might be a good contender. But that's psychological thriller, as is Shutter Island, which I actually enjoyed.

EDIT 2: The Prestige is also an adaptation.

EDIT 3: Just realized that Shutter Island is also an adaption.... the world is ending.

^^ My bad, thought we were only talking remake adaptations. In that case, you sir, are very much correct... Original American thrillers have been piss poor recently. It is actually frustrating me that I can't think of any!

Yeah, I'm kinda reaching, just because I really can't think of many. Though I think Mulholland Dr. is one of the best ever.

Martha Marcy May Marlene was quite good.

I love Mulholand Drive. Where is the crime factor? I don't see it there.

Unstoppable?  Really?  I was so underwhelmed...

Same goes for Marcy May...really wanted to like it but was quite bored, actually.

**Spoiler alert**

I haven't seen the original yet, but while I was at the Redbox last night I decided to pick this up.  I like Josh Brolin and he reminds me of my uncle, who passed away about a year ago.  Apparently everyone seems to hate this new American take on the story, but I liked it.  At first I didn't think it was going to work, as they were making Joe out to be a total scumbag so quickly and early on.  I mean, I already had a general idea of what the movie was going to be like so I was thinking to myself "why am I supposed to give a shit if he gets locked up for twenty years?  He probably deserves it."  But I learned something while watching the first couple minutes of this.  If you make your character pathetic enough, we just might feel sorry for the poor bastard and want to see him change his ways.  So when Joe finally does get locked up and his whole life is ripped away from him, it was heart wrenching IMO.

That was my favorite aspect of 2013's Oldboy.  When Joe is released and goes on his search of who fucked him over for so long, the movie kinda lost it's punch.  But I was still into it.  Olsen was fantastic and has made me a fan.  It was also great to see Michael Imperioli in a feature film and acting once again.  I haven't really seen him in much of anything since Sopranos.  Dude's awesome.  I remember reading something about a really crazy twist, but I never thought it was going to be what it actually was haha.  That was fucked up.  I just remember being amazed by that ending.  Of course like Jeff said it all was preposterous how everything lined up just perfectly for the villain, but regardless, I just thought it was a really fucked up twist/ending.  What's even more disturbing about it if you look back on the film is that Joe and his daughter are really fucking like crazy, just going at it.  Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.

I liked it too... and I have seen both of them. What I liked about this one was that my gf understood everything that was going on. I thought it was just fine and exactly the same as the original, give or take... what's there not to like?

Yeah, I dug it.  Brolin, Olsen, and Imperioli, were enough for me.  They kept me invested.

I can understand why people fly into an outrage when their classics are being "remade" or "rebooted" or "re-imagined".  The perfect example is Rob Zombie's Halloween.  People went ape shit over that.  Before it was made, "he's gonna ruin the franchise!"  After it was made, "he's ruined the franchise!"  Sorry but that franchise was ruined from 1981 onwards.  I always thought it was funny that you could make a thousand shitty sequels and no one would cry foul but mention remaking the immortal classic and everyone flips.  Hahah, sorry for the rant I'll try to make it short.  My point is, the original will always be there.  It's not like it was erased from existence once the remake was released in theaters.