Oldboy (2013)

***
Release Date: December 6th 2013

Obsessed with vengeance, a man sets out to find out why he was kidnapped and locked into solitary confinement for 20 years without reason.

Director: Spike Lee (Inside Man, 25th Hour, Malcolm X)

Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Imperioli

Joe Doucett is an unsympathetic inebriated man who thinks only of himself. After going out on a bender, Joe is mysteriously kidnapped and cooped up in a hotel room that has no windows and no means of escape. He is fed and watered but besides that he is left to his own devices.

Over the course of the 20 years Joe disciplines himself day and night. From laying off the alcohol to exercising and practising martial arts, he's biding his time. After his eventual escape, and weirdly enough no ones attempt to stop him, he aims to find out who imprisoned him with what little clues are at his disposal.

This recent American remake lacks the feel and depth that the 2003 South Korean original has. Using the same choreographer, there's little in the way of unique. The renowned hallway scene from the original is a spectacle to behold. The new take spices it up by adding another floor, but lacks the raw power that Chan-wook Park's direction has.

Josh Brolin's character is hard to relate to; the story moves at such a fast pace that there's no time to pause and reflect. Joe bumps in to Marie Sebastian (Elizabeth Olsen), who after a time attaches herself to Joe and his esoteric manner. Samuel L. Jackson makes a few appearances in some incredibly gruesome scenes, whilst Sharlto Copley is magnificent as ever as an ambiguous villain. 

For those who haven't seen the original, you're in for a few shock twists that make Oldboy memorable, but not necessarily for the right moralistic reasons.

Violence is seen fairly differently in Western culture to other countries in the east. Factors such as religion and cultivation have a great impact on that. If you look at Tartan/Extreme Asia films such as Battle Royale, R-Point and The Butcher, you'll notice that violent acts are never toned down to face a wider audience. They master it well, but they also don't have the BBFC having the power of forcing the major studios to edit their work. Oldboy, the remake, has been hit by this. A Director's cut will be available, but we will have to wait for the DVD release to view it's full potential.

Overview: It's advised to wait and see the untouched Director's version to fully appreciate this film. If you're unsure, stick to the original.