orchestrated like Vivaldi's dramatic 4 seasons with raw power

Rating: 10/10 (16 September 2006)

Oldboy is with out a doubt the most confronting film I have ever seen. The film is completely devoid of any comic relief or sentimentality. The exterior of Oldboy may at first seem convoluted and bombarded with cliché's however the interior of Oldboy is in fact the film's saving Grace. Various people will perceive Oldboy as your typical revenge movie that utilizes gratuitous violence as a tool for entertainment purposes, it is in fact completely in contrast to that, Oldboy is a heart rendering study of a man's burning desire to get both redemption and satisfaction no matter how drastic his methods may be. Occasionally the film's protagonist crosses the fine line between extremity and malevolence and although you don't condone his actions you can certainly comprehend why he does it. My favorite film of 2005, Chanwook Park has produced a film that is beautifully paced with flawless performances especially from Min-Sik Choi and a refreshing script, all of which is orchestrated at the hands of a cinematic maestro.