Old Boy

A Film Review by  Jasper Trias

Oldeuboi (2003) / Oldboy (2013)

Director: Park Chan-Wook / Spike Lee 

Main Character: Dae-Su / Joe Ducett

Genre: Mystery Thriller Neo-Noir

Based on Japanese Manga

“Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone”

South Korean Thriller “OldBoy” was a massive cult success. Just take a look a FEW  it’s rewards:

Asia Pacific Film Festival 2004: Best Film Director

Hong Kong Film Award 2005: Best Asian Film

Blue Dragon Films 2005: Best Leading Actor

Among 25+ more awards globally

Oldboy is nothing short of captivating, mysterious, riveting…

Even though it was a simple revenge story, this film had more to do with everything else but revenge. This Asian film touches everything from human emotion to simple human curiosity. Amazing director, Park Chan-Wook was able to create a very compelling narrative with a twisty plot that keeps the audience on their toes. Violence was central theme, but was done so beautifully and creatively in an unpretentious way.

It is loaded with unforgettable visuals, subtle poetry, and beautiful music. This is a combo that made the film into a global spectacle, having numerous nominations for it’s epic work.

Box Office: $15 million

Budget: $3 million.

A good movie can make you felt something even if it’s anger, sadness, confusion. This is what the original exceeded on. Even though it was based on Manga, film director Park Chan-Wook was able to utilize cinematic elements in a way where the human senses are curious.  

It was a film that could not really be remade because it didn’t adapt cultural differences. The characters are re-made successfully as both our “hero” are in an alien world, however character motivation failed.

OLDBOY (MANGA)

• (1996-1998) Spanning 8 Volumes. Park Chan Wook’s film adaptation maintained the plot overall, having the manga fan base satisfied with the film structure. Because of massive success, the manga was re-published with English translations for customers worldwide.

Famous 1-shot, Fight Scene

Western Old Boy Flop

Undoubtedly, this one is the least favorite between the two films. It was actually Spike Lee’s worst film, even though he has created such great films (US) such as “He Got Game” and “Inside Man.” 

A film that perhaps had a chance to impress, but became more known as a “Box Office Bomb.”

• ($30M in production, etc., $4.2M Box Office Sales Worldwide)

There were many reasons pertaining to the attitudes on the less rated film. However, the film critics and the score, especially on the internet, are not really accurate scores of the film. To be honest, I actually enjoyed the film-the American Version, even if it’s not as much as the original. The original, mentioned by many film critics, is a piece of art. And because of it’s uniqueness, it holds a special place in the film industry. Wook’s display, on the screen, is depicted in a way where you really feel the abstract details, and the anticipation of your own emotion. Not to mention the very odd, yet fascinating overall plot. The subject of incest, violence, and corruptness were a surprise to the overall audience. Old boy-Western version, is just not that, at all. It is not a bad film, it’s just a less entertaining, predictable, roughed version of the original. Many people already disapproved on the production of the Korean thriller because they valued the original so much. The remake, carried a lot of typical Americanized stylistics. A more vulgar, crude, and blunt narration on the story. Here are some key differences between the two.

• Main Character persona is tweaked.

Not only was this apparent, but the ending had a different transformation to which the Western version, our “hero” seems to be content, and less ambiguous.

• Villain’s Assistant is a woman
• The tongue incident

The original uses a metaphor in the slicing of the tongue. Why they removed this in the US version didn’t seem right.

• Famous Hammer Fight

What made this great was the 1-shot performance. Spike Lee scrapped that idea.

• Octopus Meal?

Also scrapped from the original, which was less entertaining for the audience.

• Different environment, rooftop

The original just had some very intriguing settings overall. The US version was so bland and tasteless compared to the Korean.

• Music

It’s very apparent that the Korean Old Boy used a variety of music genres and even popular artists in the production on the film. It was intense, energetic, rhythmical, and wonderful. Unfortunately the US version was the opposite.

Personal Favorite Scene: