Visually stunning, no doubt about that, but....

Rating: 8/10 (25 November 2005)

Many things have been written about this Korean movie, both praising it and bashing it. I just watched it for the first time and found a movie that, even when it's not perfect, it's definitely worth a look, at least so one can make an opinion about it.
The plot is well known these days, a man is locked in an apartment for 15 years, and has 5 days to get his revenge. Very simple, and very complex at the same time. What has this man done to be locked like that? Why is he released after 15 years? and why doe she have the chance to get a revenge? These questions are what drives the main character, Oh-Dae-Su, and the questions that keep the suspense among the audience.
Adapted from a Manga(Japanese comic), the film's beautiful camera work and outstanding direction really create a visually stunning piece of art. There are scenes full of surrealism that really display a visual poetry and flow like water, thanks to a near-perfect edition. The infamous corridor scene must be seen to be believed.
The acting is for the most part good, and we really feel for Dae-Su, who is some sort of bizarre Count of Montecristo. We go from this regular guy who after 15 years of torture turns into a subhuman being, a monster as he calls himself, a pawn in a game that he doesn't know. It's a very Kafkian feeling.
The main criticism to the film goes to the way the script is developed. It's not really a bad script, but the story unfolds in a way that leaves the audience unsatisfied. I won't spoil a thing, but it has to do with the fact that one ends up wondering if the revenge had any sense.
Personally, I'm not sure if the cultural differences are responsible of this, but I felt that when the motif of Dae-Su's 15 year torture is revealed, the movie loses steam and wraps up the wrong way. Maybe it's because western audiences are used to a more active attitude towards revenge, but somehow it doesn't live up to the expectation. As I wrote above, one ends feeling that everything had no sense at all.
Nevertheless, and putting that aside, "Oldboy" is still a movie worth a view, if only for the astounding camera work and the solid direction. Watch it with an open mind and make your own opinion of it.
Solid 7.5/10