A striking and unbelievably good thriller.

Rating: 10/10 (6 February 2007)

Korea has been making some of the freshest and most exciting cinema of recent years, and Chan-wook Park's film is no exception. Part of his revenge themed trilogy which also consists of his previous film 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance' and the last film in the series 'Lady Vengeance'. Dealing with retribution and its affects on human emotions, Oldboy is the story of Oh Dae-Su (played remarkably by Min-sik Choi). An average man, who is kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years without any explanation. In his prison with very little to do, he takes out his pain and anger on the walls by hitting them with his bare fists and unwittingly he transforms himself into a hardened and capable fighter. On his sudden release a puzzling story of gritty revenge unfolds. The less you know about this film from here on the better, so I wont reveal anything else of the actual plot.
The cinematography is striking and the action sequences are pulled off with an energy and realism, balanced with a quirky sense of humour lacking from western films of this kind. A key scene where Min-sik Choi fights his way through a stream of foes down a narrow corridor is one of the best shot fight scenes I've seen, with its awkward and realistic choreography that is clumsy yet flowing. It is simply breathtaking, it left me speechless and with my jaw firmly on the floor. But if you're expecting a action film with relentless fighting this isn't the one for you. Oldboy is a mystery thriller about revenge, it's bleak and dark, and it's plot will keep you gripped. Everything about this film for me is perfect; the acting is extraordinary, the direction is flawless, and simultaneously it is brutally and beautifully delivered. But it's the unsympathetic, harsh story that makes this film stand out in the end, it defines the revenge film and will leave you in awe.