Intense Korean thriller...

Rating: 9/10 (4 January 2006)

I have been wanting to see "Oldboy" after reading some rave reviews.
Just the thought of watching a movie in Korean language, subtitled in English was making me postpone it! Anyway, I caught it on the Sundance channel the other night, and I watched with amazement, as what unfolded on screen was one of the most powerful stories of vengeance I have ever come across.
This is not your ordinary, run of the mill Asian action movie. Although it may seem like it is...in the first half; but as the mystery begins to unravel, you realize that this is something different altogether! The complete package comes as a brutal, disturbing and shocking tale of revenge that is bound to haunt you for a long time after the movie ends.
Min-sik Choi delivers a terrific performance as Dae-Su Oh.
This movie is certainly not for the squeamish..it contains some scenes that are difficult to sit through.
An important note for viewers from India (especially lovers of Bollywood movies): Please see "Oldboy" before you see the upcoming Sanjay Gupta movie "Zinda", starring Sanjay Dutt. It is a blatant copy of "Oldboy", as is obvious from the plot line and the trailer. After you see "Oldboy" you may not want to see "Zinda" after all, since you wouldn't want to spoil the powerful effect of the former.