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Oldboy (2003) vs Oldboy (2013) Spike Lee comes up short.
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Oldboy (2003) vs Oldboy (2013) Spike Lee comes up short.
One of my ATF films has to be the 2003 Korean revenge drama Oldboy by Park Chan-wook. Gritty, hyper-violent with that plot twist that left me stunned for days if not weeks. One of those movies that stays with you long after you've seen it and I've seen it multiple times. It was the second in Park's Vengeance trilogy: Sympathy for Mr Vengeance(2002-Pretty interesting); Oldboy(2003-Classic) and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance(2005- Respectable).
There have been some mixed results of late with American directors remaking/reinterpreting the best of Asian cinema with perhaps Scorsese's remake of Infernal Affairs (The Departed) among the best.
So when I heard Spike Lee was "reinterpreting"it, colour me skeptical, but not enough to pass on it.
Truth be told this Spike Lee joint pales in comparison to the original. Gone was the Korean's gritty, realistic violence, epitomised in the classic hallway fight scene(armed only with a hammer and facing about 20 thugs), and replaced with a sanitised Hollywood by-the-numbers fight sequence(same hammer, but really weak in comparison).
The plot involves Oh Dea-su/Joe Doucett being held captive for 15 years in the Korean version, 20 years in the US by person(s) unknown. Finally released his tormentor gives him 5 days to figure out who held him and why.Yes the original's story line was convoluted and a bit absurd, but this one was even more so with Sharlto Copley(District 9), playing the over-the-top captor.
Too bad though, I was hoping for the best with this remake. Left disappointed, but the good thing is it made me wanna watch the original again.
Be nice... Western remakes of foreign films, especially when it comes to horror or gore, are damn near never as good as the original. I feel it goes double when the inspiration comes from Korea, Japan, Thailand, etc. One Missed Call, Ju-On: The Grudge, Ringu (The Ring), and many others loose their impact thanks to pacifying general American Movie goers with plots that must explain, in clear and certain terms by the climax, why the horrible things are happening. However the bigger hindrance IMHO is that we all want to see the protagonist/victim/underdog prevail. That's what's holding the adaptations back. As in most supernatural cases, it's not meant to be understood, therefore rarely beaten. When dealing with the ultra-violent, things have to get worse than what most can digest especially in cases when your hero dies because the situation red lines and becomes more than what any human can handle. None of that is palatable or profitable here. Also, it bears keeping in mind that most Eastern movies, stories, legends, etc., are meant to be tales of caution and are seated in spiritual beliefs, superstitions, and traditions that would be lost on anyone who doesn't know of the origin or intended message.
Be nice... Western remakes of foreign films, especially when it comes to horror or gore, are damn near never as good as the original. I feel it goes double when the inspiration comes from Korea, Japan, Thailand, etc. One Missed Call, Ju-On: The Grudge, Ringu (The Ring), and many others loose their impact thanks to pacifying general American Movie goers with plots that must explain, in clear and certain terms by the climax, why the horrible things are happening. However the bigger hindrance IMHO is that we all want to see the protagonist/victim/underdog prevail. That's what's holding the adaptations back. As in most supernatural cases, it's not meant to be understood, therefore rarely beaten. When dealing with the ultra-violent, things have to get worse than what most can digest especially in cases when your hero dies because the situation red lines and becomes more than what any human can handle. None of that is palatable or profitable here. Also, it bears keeping in mind that most Eastern movies, stories, legends, etc., are meant to be tales of caution and are seated in spiritual beliefs, superstitions, and traditions that would be lost on anyone who doesn't know of the origin or intended message.
Very well said beautiful...having spent a considerable number of years living and working in Asia, I immersed myself in movies, music and entertainment in general from around the region.
I agree the Japanese and Thai do horror best(frightening and suspenseful). Less so the Malaysians/Indonesians, their horror movies come off as comical by our western standards. Although their recent Silat(martial art)oriented action movies are very well choreographed and they are beginning to make a name for themselves.
Hong Kong Chinese and Koreans do gritty gangster action movies the best by far. Where the mainland Chinese epics(like Red Cliff etc...)are the gold standard and rival western epics.
The Korean version of Old Boy is in my top 5 movies of all times.
As well it should be...but a warning to others before you add to your netflix or hulu queue, it's not for the faint of heart, or more sensitive viewers.
I have a good feeling this remake won't be better but I still plan to see it.
Sure, go see Spike's...but see the original first, if you haven't, is my recommendation...it's not on netflix streaming anymore, maybe on amazon prime or hulu plus.
Where the mainland Chinese epics(like Red Cliff etc...)are the gold standard and rival western epics.
Correction: Red Cliff was made by John Woo, who is from Hong Kong and made his name in HK action movies.
Oldboy (2003) vs Oldboy (2013) Spike Lee comes up short.
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