South Korean Masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (20 May 2004)

South Korea has been making some outstanding movies these last couple of years, but unfortunately not many people have given enough credit to these remarkable movies.
The director Chan-wook Park showed what he was capable of doing in South Korea with his first smash hit movie Joint Security Area.
After that he went into a complete different territory with the very dark, but excellent thriller Sympathy for Mr Vengeance.
Due to it's dark theme Sympathy failed to attract the repeated success of Joint Security Area.
Did that stop Chan-wook Park from making more movies?
Absolutely not!
Chan-Wook Park is back with a Vengeance himself giving us an incredible revenge masterpiece!
I wish I can comment more on this movie, but doing that could be a threat in spoiling this amazing experience in cinematic history!
Instead I will focus my review on the acting and direction of the movie. As many are aware now, the movie revolves around a man imprisoned in an apartment for 15 years. The motive of the movie is revenge. But the most important answer to all this revenge is WHY????
This movie will litterly have you nailed to your seat. Yes, it's very violent, I would say graphic as in the likes of Last house on the left, though NEVER exploited in that sense. This movie is all brains!
The direction is the first thing that will have you in awe. From the first 15mins of the movie, you will see how masterfully this movie is shot. In a split screen scene you will actually feel what this man has missed in those 15 years imprisoned in this apartment. His anger for his imprisonment, the complete mess in his look and clothes are all truly convincing by Choi Min-shik who has appeared in two other big Korean movies which are Failan and the award winning movie at Cannes last year Chihwaseon.
As I have already mentioned the violence is very graphic and will probably be rated in the USA NC17. Which is understandable. But do not be put off by the extreme violence. This movie is bound to have you talking and discussing for days if not for months. Just be very well prepared for the final shocking twist!I could not sleep at night after watching this movie!
Well done to Chan-wook Park you who has showed the world what a truly excellent film director he is. Oldboy gets a well deserved 10/10
.