The true meaning of a modern masterpiece!

Rating: 10/10 (8 December 2005)

Title: Oldboy (2004)
Director: Chan Wook Park
Cast: Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu, Hye-jeong Kang, Dae-han Ji
Review:
A lot of good things have been said about this movie....and usually when a movie is hyped so much your are almost certainly headed for a disappointment because the movie you see doesn't live up to your high expectations. I'm am extremely happy to say that this was NOT the case with Oldboy. This movie surpassed my expectations in every way possible. And then went a little further.
The story is about a man called Oh Dae Su. One day, someone puts something in his drink he ends up in a police station acting all drunk. The police decide after a few minutes of seeing him act all drunk, to release him after all he is just a guy whos had one too many drinks. As he exits the police station he decides to phone his daughter from a pay phone...it is at that exact moment that he is kidnapped by an unseen enemy. When he wakes up he realizes that he is locked up in a room from which he cannot escape. A room in which he will be locked up inside off for the next 15 years. Who put in there? And for what reason? These are the questions that eat up Oh Dae Su as he spends the next 15 years in that room. With hatred and a very strong desire to quench the thirst for vengeance growing inside of him Oh Dae Su cant wait for the day in which he can escape too deliver revenge to whoever did this to him.
If you think I have revealed too much of the story with the previous paragraph, believe me, thats just the tip of the iceberg on this movie. I have to praise this movie right from the beginning because it really is something of a masterpiece. I know a lot of people (myself included I guess) use that word a little too often...but in this case this movie deserves it! Its a truly well crafted film with an incredible story to tell. From the get go, you are completely sucked in by the credibility of the performances which is one of the best things about this movie. The actor who plays Oh Dae Su (Min Sik Choi) he really out did himself in this film. Displaying incredible amounts of rage, love, hatred and desperation. This guy should get the oriental version of the Oscar if there is such a thing. For his performance is something truly remarkable. Oh Dae Su is a very very likable character, even though he is not perfect.
To director Chan Wook Parks credit, the movie has some really well orchestrated sequences that are a delight to watch. Just wait until you see Oh Dae Su fighting about 50 henchman down a very tight corridor....and all in one amazing take! I was left speechless and had to instantly rewind that sequence! The film has some really interesting shots and sequences that are very original and make the film all the more interesting too look at. The movie is filled with moments that instantly leave you in awe. Well, at least thats the effect it had on me.
Then of course, there's the violence which there's plenty off. There's that sequence with Dae su fighting the henchmen...there's teeth being pulled out, there's tongue that get cut out...man the movie is just really amazing from a violence stand point. There's not much gore per se...for it is almost always implied. But the situation itself is so tense, that you cant helped but cringe.
But the real star of the film (apart from Min Sik Chois performance) is the well crafted story. Its a constant mystery that we along with Oh Dae Su figure out one piece at a time. And by the time we get to the ending...well let me just say this is one of the most incredible endings story wise that I have ever seen. I felt like the first time I ever say Finchers Seven. My jaw just dropped. It truly is worth it to reach the ending of this film, its a true delight.
Anyhows, I'm not going to go on and on about this movie (though I could) because I don't want to reveal anything else. This movie is like caviar, you just want to enjoy every little piece of it and savor it with great delight. One thing is for certain, Oldboy went straight up to my top ten movies of all time. Its that good. Now go check it out! Rating: a very very strong 5 out of 5