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Oldboy and a Funeral

Remake Hell / Dustin Rowles

Trade News | November 10, 2008 | Comments (70)

There’s a very small, but very possessive number of folks who have seen the 2003 South Korean film, Oldboy, from director Chan Wook-Park. The movie made less than $1 million at North American box-offices, and were it not for the fact that it’s foreign-made, it’d have certainly been included on our original The 10 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen (ooooh. We should totally do a foreign-movie version). And those that love Oldboy (which includes each and every person that has seen it) cling to it like one of the Duggar kids clings to his virginity.

In fact, within a few minutes after news broke on Friday that Spielberg was contemplating a remake, I’d received three emails from incredulous readers, all threatening violent suicides if it were to happen (OK. Maybe not. But they were really unhappy). Unfortunately, it’s true. The good news, really, is that Spielberg is attached, with Will Smith set to star. And I know to fans of the film that that doesn’t sound like good news, but when you consider than, in early 2007, Justin Lin had owned the rights and was attached as director it sounds much more digestable. Justin Lin directed Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, which suggests that Paul Walker might have taken the lead in Oldboy. So, count your blessings, Oldboy fans.

For the many of you unfamiliar with the Korean original, it was about a man who gets kidnapped and held in a shabby cell for 15 years without explanation. Suddenly, he’s released and given money, a cell phone and clothes and is set on a path to discover who destroyed his life so he can take revenge.

I know the hardcore Oldboy fans aren’t down with this, but come on: This post alone will probably inspire a few people to search out the original, so — if anything — a remake will bring some much deserved attention to the original.

And in other less traumatic, personally devastating remake news, Chris Rock is set to star, produce, and co-write a remake of the British farce, Death at a Funeral, a movie that came out only last year. He has plans to take the original and urbanize it, giving it an all-black cast and, hopefully, adding something I felt the original was sorely missing: Humor.


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Comments

Please make a top 10 foreign movies you haven't seen list!

I haven't seen Oldboy (yet), but even I have my doubts about this one. Other than the Ring, every Korean/Japanese/Hong Kong import that has been Americanized and remade has sucked. Maybe I should give Spielberg the benefit of the doubt....

Posted by: Melissa at November 10, 2008 5:09 PM

Dude. I loved Death at a Funeral. Chris Rock disappoints me.

And while I haven't seen Oldboy yet, I'm just sick and fucking tired of remakes.

Are there not enough screenwriters in the Pajibaverse to take over Hollywood and bring in some effing new ideas? I mean, REALLY. Hollywood has basterdized all of my childhood favourite movies (Narnia and The Dark Is Rising, at least).

Between the Movie Movie, and this remake news, I'm giving up. I quit. I'm going to only watch indie Canadian shit from now on. It might be stupid. It might be poorly acted. But at least it will be original.

I'm going home to watch Last Night and Bon Cop, Bad Cop in protest.

Posted by: Pea at November 10, 2008 5:16 PM

Oldboy is a mindfuck of the highest degree. I watched it on a rainy afternoon a few years back and spent the remainder of the day shaking my head incredulously.

When I read about the remake on Saturday I wasn't that upset...it was bound to happen, since Hollywood has put a moratorium on more than 3 original screenplays a year, and I'm kind of sort of masochistically interested to see Will Smith in that role. He does isolated well.

Posted by: Julie at November 10, 2008 5:17 PM

One more thing. My vote for best foreign film: Kolya.

Posted by: Pea at November 10, 2008 5:18 PM

I say bring it. I say MORE remakes. I want remakes and reimaginings and bold new visions! I want remakes of the classics! Remakes of shitty movies and great movies.

I want remakes of movies that haven't been made yet.

I want to die surrounded by them.

In a lake of fire.

I'll take them with me.

Posted by: TK at November 10, 2008 5:33 PM

TK, I heard that Brett Ratner is planning on a remake of Big Trouble in Little China starring Nic Cage, Meghan Fox, and John Cho.

/antagonism

Posted by: Julie at November 10, 2008 5:40 PM

Oldboy is one of the best movies of the past decade (seriously) and, for reals, Choi Min-Sik deserved an academy award.

Best. Ending. Ever.

Never. Would. Happen In. A. U.S. Movie.

Posted by: boogs at November 10, 2008 5:43 PM

Will Fucking Smith? really? nooooooooooooooooooo. NO. This is....how in anyone's mind does that make sense? Also: I bet $20 Hollywood changes the ending.

Posted by: s. pisaster at November 10, 2008 5:45 PM

I just threw up. This is worse than the Michael Bay [insert classic horror film here] remake. Oldboy is pretty much untouchable. There is no way Hollywood filmmakers can get away with the same things that happen in this film. One, it's culturally impossible to translate exactly; Two, it's ultraviolence, like the novel A Clockwork Orange; Three, just come up with your own generic revenge plot versus touching one so utterly brilliant and ruining it.

Leave Oldboy alone. I hope this languishes in purgatory like the Suspiria remake that is never going to actually happen no matter what a yearly update on IMDB going back to 2002 says.

Posted by: Robert at November 10, 2008 5:49 PM

Uhhh.. how in the fuck are they going to stick to Oldboy's original plot?

I'm not against remakes on principle -- I actually kinda like to see stories updated with contemporary actors and advanced technology, *grins sheepishly* -- BUT... again, UHHHHH.. I don't see it happening here. This will end up completely bastardized.

Posted by: monkey_b at November 10, 2008 5:53 PM

I wanted to like Death At A Funeral, but just did not find it funny. I hung around long enough to see what the deal was with Peter Dinklage's character and then I turned it off.

So, who's going to play the gay, blackmailing dwarf? Emmanuel Lewis or the virgin who married that big white woman (his name has slipped my mind and I think that's a good thing).

Posted by: BWeaves at November 10, 2008 6:06 PM

Gary Coleman. Crap, I did remember.

Posted by: BWeaves at November 10, 2008 6:08 PM

In my circle of friends, pairing "foreign" and "haven't seen" is pretty much redundant. Unless it's a big budget romantic comedy or a kiddie movie, they aren't seeing it.

But on the upside, they have no argument when I refuse to see Sex and the City or the latest Adam Sandler nonsense.

Posted by: Wednesday at November 10, 2008 6:16 PM

Perhaps they could just sidestep remaking movies, and just digitally manipulate the ending to make it happier. Hmm, that reminds me of The Critic.

Rosebud frozen peas. Full of country goodness and green peaness.

*cough* Excuse me.

Posted by: Goldie at November 10, 2008 6:16 PM

Gah. I am too just for my own justness.

Posted by: Goldie at November 10, 2008 6:18 PM

Seriously, I really want this to go through, just to see if Spielberg can do anything with the ending. More than likely he would wimp out, but then again, the only reason to even be interested in the movie is the plot, and the ending makes it come together in its own twisted way.

As Julie said, it is a mindfuck of the highest degree.

And it certainly won't fly in REAL America. Well, except in certain parts...

Posted by: Vermillion at November 10, 2008 6:28 PM

Didn't we already have a "Black" funeral movie? Kingdom Come or somesuch?

Posted by: ciji at November 10, 2008 6:35 PM

Wasn't it the strangest thing when "City of Angels" was the one with the unhappy ending?

Posted by: Jay at November 10, 2008 6:38 PM

Julie, depending on the level of Megan Fox's nakedness, TK may or may not get too upset about that one.

Posted by: lordhelmet at November 10, 2008 6:47 PM

re Oldboy -- I guaran-damn-TEE they won't reprise the final scene!

Posted by: sansho1 at November 10, 2008 6:47 PM

I was very, very disappointed with Oldboy. The first half or so was compelling--and it is wonderfully shot and acted--but at about the halfway mark it falls completely apart.

Consequently, I can't muster much outrage over round-eyes movie people "desecrating" it.

Posted by: Jerce at November 10, 2008 6:51 PM

Forgive me if I thought Death at a Funeral was one of the funniest British farces of the last decade, and this remake sounds like Tyler Perry-level bullshit. God dammit.

Posted by: Audiosuede at November 10, 2008 7:03 PM

there is no possible way that Will Smith could ever be in a true remake of this movie . He has neither the balls nor talent . I mean look what he did to I Am Legend for fucks sake !!! That was an awesome story and they turned it into a real shit movie .

Posted by: GILP[ at November 10, 2008 7:04 PM

Saw Oldboy based on rabid praises from friends. What I found was another over-emoted and too highly applauded gift from the Far East ala The Host. Now it'll just be a Hollywood-ified pile.

Posted by: JCynic at November 10, 2008 7:07 PM

Brief OT but: How was the show, TK?

Posted by: bucdaddy at November 10, 2008 7:13 PM

LOVE Oldboy. All the complaints above are valid. It is one of the most visceral pieces of filmmaking I've ever seen, and the point at which it catapults into greatness is that fight sequence. You'll know it when you see it if you haven't already.

Whatever Hollywood spits out with the name Oldboy on it will inevitably be so vastly inferior that I really don't see the point of keeping the name. They should just use the option rights and admit they are doing a loose adaptation. Give Oldboy a "based on" credit.

The funny thing is that I think Spielberg and Will Smith could actually do an excellent job with this material if they weren't so beholden to the mainstream filmmaking dollars.

Also, there's always this cry of outrage whenever a new remake is announced. In general I don't mind remakes. I'll be less likely to watch a remake than an original film, but there are lots of good remakes, and I appreciate new artistic interpretations. If it sucks, it's not like it actually diminishes the experience of watching the original, and - as someone above says - they often bring new attention to something worthy that was overlooked.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at November 10, 2008 7:15 PM

I have to add my voice to the chorus of outrage and frankly, confusion. How the FUCK is Hollywood going to reproduce fucking Oldboy? I had to imdb it to make sure I was thinking of the same movie, because Will Smith in the starring role is just too damn bizarre. A rapper who doesn't swear...is going to do all the things that Oh Dae-Su does in Oldboy. Yeah right.

Posted by: Cara at November 10, 2008 7:16 PM

count my blessings? so it won't be heinous, it will just be awful, awesome I feel so better now.

Posted by: adeline at November 10, 2008 7:19 PM

I should add that I don't care about the remake aspect, because I agree with DarthCorleone's opinion on remakes. I just find it outrageous that somebody thinks this is a good idea, given the insanely graphic violence and fuckedupedness. The fuckedupedness is so key to making the film work.

Posted by: Cara at November 10, 2008 7:20 PM

My friend brought over Oldboy for one of our druken movie nights (everyone has those right?) We had had a long series of great nights watching Monsters HD. When Dish Network dropped the Voom HD channels we scrambled for replacement viewing. We struck gold with Machine Girl and too a lesser extent Tokyo Gore Police.

The guy at the local indie video store raved on and on about Old Boy. He billed it as the greatest revenge flick ever made. If we liked the professional or hard boiled...we had only been watching pale immitations of this master-work.

So we watched Old Boy. And I don't get it. I thought maybe I was watching a different Movie than the one I'd heard the guy behind the counter go on about on several different occasions.

Old boy is tedious and disgusting...not in a good way, but in more of a 'what was the point of all that?' way, similar to something like "Blood Sucking Freaks".

This remake will be horrible because Old Boy is horrible. I can't imagine will smith having sex with his sister (oops spoiler...see I just did you a favor) but even if I could imagine it I still wouldn't see this. AVOID OLD BOY AND ANY OLD BOY REMAKE AT ALL COSTS!!!

Posted by: T. Ryan at November 10, 2008 7:52 PM

OK, I have the perfect gay, blackmailing dwarf for the remake of "Death at a Funeral." Tony Cox, the evil elf from "Bad Santa." The remake is still going to suck, but at least I've got one good part cast.

Posted by: BWeaves at November 10, 2008 8:01 PM

OH, and to make it even better, Tony Cox has been in:

Epic Movie
Date Movie
AND TV: The Movie

Nuff said.

Posted by: BWeaves at November 10, 2008 8:02 PM

Jay - Yes it was! Wings of Desire is one of my favorite movies ever. remaking it into City of Angels was stupid. That's like taking super high quality, expensive chocolate and just using it to coat some sweaty guys balls for foreplay. If you're gonna do that, just buy Hersheys motherfucker. Okay, that was a weird analogy.

Posted by: s. pisaster at November 10, 2008 8:23 PM

I just visited this site after taking a vacay from electronics for a few weeks.
I am sad to say that I can no longer navigate this site with the ease and pleasure I once did.
It is with a heavy heart that I delete Pajiba from my favs.
It was a helluva good run.
~J

Posted by: jeddica at November 10, 2008 8:23 PM

Plus: No Bad Seeds. Not a note. *momentarily lapses into "The Carny" gesticulations*


Oh, excuse me.


I mean, I like Andre Braugher getting work, and I really like Meg Ryan's hair in that era, but....once again, remake like television set on honeymoon.

And BWeaves is certainly right there.

Posted by: Jay at November 10, 2008 8:41 PM

The guy at the local indie video store raved on and on about Old Boy. He billed it as the greatest revenge flick ever made. If we liked the professional or hard boiled...we had only been watching pale immitations of this master-work.

So we watched Old Boy. And I don't get it. I thought maybe I was watching a different Movie than the one I'd heard the guy behind the counter go on about on several different occasions.

See, there's your problem...you WERE watching a different movie, and you had an asshole recommending movies to you. He either a) only watched the first half of the movie or b) really hated you. I can't see how anyone would say it was anything like those movies unless those two situations were involved.

That seems to be the main problem with folks recommending this movie: they make sure to talk about the fight scene (which wasn't that big of a deal) and all this other crap, just so they can enjoy your rantings and ravings over the ending. So when folks led in by a bullshit recommendation DO see it, they are bitterly, bitterly disappointed.

It is not a easy film to accept, let alone like. Hell, I can't even say I liked it. I just acknowledge the fuckup mind behind such a thing and move on with my life. But I still want to see if somebody had the balls to put this thing mainstream.

Posted by: Vermillion at November 10, 2008 9:39 PM

"I was very, very disappointed with Oldboy. The first half or so was compelling--and it is wonderfully shot and acted--but at about the halfway mark it falls completely apart.

Consequently, I can't muster much outrage over round-eyes movie people "desecrating" it."

Is it bad that I just skimmed the comments looking for an opinion similar to my own? Ah laziness. Whatever, I agree. I was underwhelmed by Oldboy, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't God's gift to man or some shit.

Posted by: Mick J at November 10, 2008 9:53 PM

Bucdaddy, it breaks my heart to say this, but... very disappointing. I'll have a full write-up soon, so keep an eye out. I've got two more concerts to go to this week, so it's a busy time.

Posted by: TK at November 10, 2008 10:38 PM

OLDBOY SPOILERS

Vermillion>> The film is much more than the fight scene, I agree. But for me that was the point at which I really marveled at this thing called Oldboy and knew I was watching something special. The scene works on two levels:

1) In terms of visual composition, it's simplistic but extremely compelling. I'd never seen a tracking shot quite like that before. The slow, deliberate progress of a fight against ridiculous odds in this enclosed hallway combined with that score is very effective.

2) How many times have we seen a hero kick the crap out of an unrealistic number of foes? More than I can count, and although it's fun to watch it's usually ridiculous. There's no way Oh Dae-su should prevail. This fight scene achieves a sort of gritty realism, though, such that I actually bought it. Combine none of the enemies wanting to deal with that hammer, the closed quarters, and Oh Dae-su's ridiculous raw determination that enables him to keep fighting in spite of injury, and I was sold. (In some ways in that last respect it reminds me of the final duel in Rob Roy, another of the best fights in film history due to its grounded verisimilitude.)

END SPOILERS

Posted by: DarthCorleone at November 10, 2008 10:42 PM

TK, Oh. Oh dear. I'll try to remain hopeful for Wednesday, maybe you just got a bad night.

One of those shows wouldn't happen to be Rev. Horton Heat/Nashville Pussy, would it? Friend of mine lives near Boston is catching that in Providence (or did, can't recall what night it is).

Posted by: bucdaddy at November 10, 2008 11:30 PM

Why remake Old Boy?

Is it just because some dumb asses a) Can't keep up with the subtitles (or can't read fullstop) and b) Can't follow who's doing what because one Korean looks exactly like every other Korean (and Japanese, Chinese... Fuckin Innuit and Hawaiian... Probably even Italian) to them?

Fuck those people!

Old Boy is not for you. It's for us. The people who can do those things. You wouldn't like it! Go watch WWF or some shit!

Posted by: Godsbane at November 10, 2008 11:52 PM

Indeed, DarthCorleone. The fight scene is quite impressive, but it seems like most folks recommending the movie focus on that point alone, and as we know, it is barely the tip of the iceberg. This video store clerk that compared it to The Professional obviously had no idea what the hell he was talking about, and just lead to more folks being bitterly disappointed.

Then again, it is hard to somehow justify the rest of the film as being watchable, let alone need-to-see.

Posted by: Vermillion at November 10, 2008 11:55 PM

hopefully, adding something I felt the original was sorely missing: Humor.

You know what else is sorely missing humor? Your face.


I don't know what that means...but I don't understand the distaste for Death at a Funeral, I thought it was humorously dark and quirky. My only problem with it was the DVD box cover which contained a bunch on random people sitting in black clothes, a person with a face that looked nothing like Peter Dinklage, and a naked man who looked nothing like Alan Tudyk.

Posted by: Renee at November 11, 2008 12:40 AM

I didn't like Oldboy very much - it was astoundingly directed (Chan Wook-Park, what do you expect), but the ending sort of gave me the feeling that it was fucked up for the sake of being fucked up - it really wasn't up to the standard of the first act. Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is a much better movie by the same director - less nihilistic, more mature, same outstanding direction.

But I agree that it's pretty much blasphemy to have a remake directed by Stephen Spielberg (who, great as he is, is one of the last directors any sane person would pick to direct a movie like this.) Also, Will Smith (who has a daughter! creeeepy!) is a bizarre choice to play Oh-Dae-Su. Seriously, what the fuck, Hollywood?

Posted by: Joe the Plumber at November 11, 2008 1:04 AM

I agree that Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a better movie. It is similar to Oldboy in that it is violent and fucked up, but at the same time is beautifully shot and composed. I think that style just makes the story and the violence more powerful. But unlike Oldboy it didn't have an ending that left me feeling ill. Also, there is no way a remake with Will Smith will stick that close to the original plot, especially with one of the most commercial directors of all time. Plus, the whole scene with the octopus just won't translate into Western culture in any way that will be nearly as cool. Fuck the fight scene, the octopus scene was the one I couldn't stop talking about.

Posted by: The Ross Sea Party at November 11, 2008 2:14 AM

Until I watched Oldboy I didn't really appreciate the multifaceted aspect of the household hammer... one of the best fight scenes EVER... Period.

Posted by: Colombo at November 11, 2008 2:36 AM

hahaha goldie i thought i may be the only person who loved that episode of the critic! rosebud peas full of green peaness! I say that to people once and a while and no one gets it.

Posted by: ab at November 11, 2008 3:34 AM

Oldboy is one of those movies that makes you, basically, think that no-ome had ever made a movie before this. It's so different from anything you've ever seen (and I'm 41) that you are totally thrown. It's like the (first, the good one ) Manchurian Candidate was for me: you are amazed that people make movies like that, and you arre amazed that people don't make movies like that anymore. In this case, you are amazed that a movie this great can come from so far off your radar that you never even looked for ot.


I'd strongly recommend it. Storngly.


But, it is a harsh film. Be ready.

Posted by: karstark at November 11, 2008 3:51 AM


Oh, and, there's absolutely no need to remake this movie. I never understand remakes anyway, ESPECIALLY American remakes of foregin films. A lot of times the sentiments ring false , and besides, almost always, you're better off watching the material at its source.


The only good remake I can remember is The Departed. And evem then, it's a great movie in its own right but the original Infernal Affairs (and Infernal Affairs 2) are well, well worth seeing.


don't remake Oldboy!


If you're that good (and, well, you ARE Steven Speilberg) then make a new movie!

Posted by: karstark at November 11, 2008 3:54 AM

I also really didn't like Oldboy, I found it frustrating and ridiculous, and honestly not that memorable. I recall the ending, obviously, but I couldn't even tell you why I disliked it so much. I think we also got played in the selling of it as an awesome action movie. Also it was loaned/recommended to us by a friend of my husband's that also loaned us Straw Dogs and Sisters. I think was tainted by being in the hyper-violent, woman-hating trifecta.

Posted by: Roni at November 11, 2008 6:01 AM

goddamnit. will smith "acting" is a vile scourge upon this here planet. i'm bracing myself for the inevitable announcement of him being Barack Obama with Thandie Newton as Michelle in a future bio-pic.

Posted by: je ne sais twat at November 11, 2008 6:37 AM

i guess i'm in the minority- i've seen Oldboy and i was totally not impressed. the beginning was very good, but once he got out it became rather lame and very predictable- i figured out the ending half an hour before it happened.

Posted by: causaubon at November 11, 2008 7:35 AM

Spielberg, yes
Will Smith, AW HELL NAW.

Oldboy is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It thoroughly destroyed me and left me a husk of my self. I was rebuilt, better and faster than before. It was akin to a religious awakening, except God had a hammer aimed at my head.

Posted by: chenry at November 11, 2008 9:52 AM

I just want to see Will Smith inhale a live octopus.

Posted by: Adam C at November 11, 2008 10:16 AM

Did you really just say that the Oldboy remake is *better off* with Spielberg as a director and WILL SMITH ATTACHED?!!?!?!? WILL SMITH as who, the funny sidekick who shows Oldboy muted dance moves so he can seduce the teenager? Exactly. This character did not exist. Oldboy the character is way too dark and gritty for Will Smith, who is likely to turn the ending into a Disneyesque happy ending!!!

Posted by: surly suzie at November 11, 2008 10:41 AM

"i'm bracing myself for the inevitable announcement of him being Barack Obama with Thandie Newton as Michelle in a future bio-pic."

Will could play the hell out of Barack's ears.

Posted by: bucdaddy at November 11, 2008 10:49 AM

Hehe, I put Oldboy on the family Netflix queue. I suspect it'll get there when I'm not home. Boy are they in for a treat.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at November 11, 2008 11:31 AM

i saw oldboy a couple years back, and it's one of those movies that sickens me when i think about it. it's so original and yet so freaking disturbing, it makes my va-jay want to close up.

I wonder if Spielberg will include the incest reveal and self mutilation at the end, which was the essence of what made this movie so disturbing. I for one think that he won't, he'll puss out and screw it up or dilute it in some idiotic way that only he can, which is already expected anyways.

honestly, i wouldn't mind if he got this one wrong, the original was so disturbing, i don't think i would be able to handle two oldboys.

Posted by: smiley at November 11, 2008 12:03 PM

Will fuckin Smith? Really? What is Nic Cage, Keanu Reeves or even Carrott Top not available? There are hundreds of far more talented actors for this role. Tim Roth, Benicio Del Toro, Daniel Day-Lewis or Javier Bardem would all be near the top of any list for the role over Smith. Then again, Scorcese is the only one I'd let near it.

Some things should never be fucked with. OldBoy is one of them!

Posted by: Ben at November 11, 2008 4:13 PM

Goodie, goodie gum drops an Oldboy remake! I can only hope that Tyler Perry tries remaking "Ichi the Killer" just to put the fucking cherry on this shit pile of an idea.

Posted by: Ben at November 11, 2008 4:22 PM

How come people talk about Oldboy as if it's some unknown movie? From my memory, it was very popular and lauded and all my friends have seen it. I recall Chan Wook-Park's two other movies in this trilogy being quite good, with the theaters pretty packed when I saw them. And I live in the mid-south! Gee whiz, get out from under the rocks, people.

Posted by: Amanda H. at November 11, 2008 4:35 PM

Why, why? What can Will Smith, of all people, see in Oldboy? It's just upsetting. Almost upsetting as the remake of "The Edge of Darkness" with Mel Gibson.

Mel Fucking Gibson. If you have seen this British series, you know what I mean

And the most galling thing is that "Edge of Darkness" will be a pretty good vehicle for him.

Just not for me.

Posted by: Janis at November 11, 2008 10:01 PM

I did a lot of skimming, so I may be repeating someone else, but Has anyone read the original stories the movie Oldboy was based on? It was a Japanese story (manga) that was adapted for Korean cinema. It's possible the remake will come more from the original Japanese stories. Probably not, though. My heart sank when I found out about it a few days ago. The material is far too dark for a mainstream Hollywood film. I suppose the upswing is that neither Tarantino or Zombie are going to get their hack fingers on it.

I agree the movie isn't for all tastes and I'm of the opinion that most people championing the film are missing the point of the the entire movie. Oldboy is great because of the fight scene? That's akin to saying Irreversible is great because of the rape scene. Oldboy, and it's two film cousins (the Sympathies for Mr. and Lady Vengeances) are about how Vengenace and Revenge corrupts and destroys everyone involved. The films are all much more complicated than. "Wow that shot was really cool". Frat boy mentalities can stay home with their copies of "The Devil's Rejects" (Ick.)

For the record, I prefer "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" of the three. Of course, it doesn't have a cool fight scene, so Your mileage may well vary.

Posted by: Renaldo at November 11, 2008 10:02 PM

I did some skimming in the manga, Renaldo. I know it's not fair, but meh.

It came in several volumes, and I guess I picked up one where people stand around in a restaurant for a long, long time.

Posted by: Janis at November 12, 2008 12:02 AM

I'm going to reserve judgment on whether Oldboy is a worthy film, and also as to whether Oldboy is a film worthy of being remade. Personally, I liked the film as it was, indeed, quite visceral (and not just the fight scene either).

That said, what the hell does Spielberg plan to do with this film exactly? Make an inspirational film about the courage of the human heart using the vehicles of imprisonment, incest and vengeance? What aspects from this movie, aside from the premise of the film (i.e.: a person being imprisoned for 15 years in lieu of explanation) does he actually intend to use? Hey, here's a heartwarming film where the protagonist uses channel pliers to remove teeth from another person. Will it be released on Christmas Day?

Posted by: Darcy at November 12, 2008 2:42 AM

Yeah, let's remake every goddamn good foreign movie, because the US audience might feel uncomfortable seeing something un-american. They might squirm at the sight of *gasp* foreign people. Oldboy is a goddamn modern classic, a Sophocles style pure tragic. There's absolutely no need to remake it. heck, this movie isn't even old. If subtitles really put people off that much, dub it with some fine voice talents. Why, the rest of the world does it with US movies, so why not the US doing the same with foreign movies? Damn, i'm so mad about this non-sense. Why do every movie has to be americanized for the audience? (and mostly dumbed down in the process)

Posted by: Arthur Dent at November 12, 2008 9:50 AM

Remaking Oldboy in Hollywood is like remaking Godfather in Bollywood: the absolut insane thing. Oldboy is nowadays a classic, and no one can't make it better as it was made originally. One of the Top10 movies for me!!!

Posted by: Bobby at December 19, 2008 12:40 PM

I tell you. this is absurd. they will change the ending to be all happy and gay.
Will can't act nearly as well.
spielberg could direct such a movie BUT his recent movies have been all family friendly and have been raped(aka the new indiana jones)
i say stay away from a classics! yes it's disturbing. it's definitely a love or hate kind of movie but remaking it so that spielberg and smith can steal the glory from the originally talented actors/director just sounds....well hollywood.
like remaking the karate kid?!?!?!?!?! COME ON smith. ur an idiot. u won't get that oscar! even if ur son tried for you. u try WAY to hard.

Posted by: yoyoyoyo at December 22, 2008 2:17 AM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: james k at January 6, 2009 3:49 AM

You people are all dicks. Spielberg is one of the great directors of our time and Will Smith is one of the most entertaining actors ever. Can you come off your snobby ass high horses and give the guys some credit? They are clearly both talented, clearly both fans of Oldboy, and have enough clout to do whatever the fuck they want in Hollywood. Spielberg did Schindler's List and you don't think he can do fucked up? Smith in I Am Legend showed he can do more than comedic action man.

Oldboy is one of the most fucked up things ever put on film and you think Spielberg and Smith want to remake it as a happy-ever-after story? You people are retarded.

Posted by: corneliusj at February 10, 2009 1:55 PM





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