OhBoy!

Rating: 8/10 (20 November 2014)

Director Chan-wook Park created a "Revenge Trilogy". The first, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), is followed by Oldboy. The third is called: Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005). I still have to see the first and second. I'll definitely keep you posted.
In Dae-su's cell there's a painting (by Belgian painter Ensor **proud Belgian over here**) with the quote I mentioned under the picture. This line is original from the poem 'Solitude' by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Full poem: link.
The movie has great soundtracks. I was amazed to hear a Starsailor song but it fitted perfectly. The two classic, composed songs by Vivaldi and Khachaturyan were remarkable and adding to the drama.
Oldboy was filmed in an arty way, the colors were really brisk. Every scene felt like a moving painting, a feast for the eyes. There was quit a bit of blood but it wasn't this nor the climax scenes that were determining the genre. Instead, the emotions played a lead role. It was more frightening to see the characters collapse emotionally than seeing one kill another. This is one of the reasons whereby I refuse to see the American remake. I'm pretty sure it won't beat the scenery and madness of the original.
This negative point is rather a personal defect than a serious issue. I couldn't bond with one of the characters. Mostly you'll have a good, or even bad, personage with whom you feel connected and wishing them the best. With this one I felt pity with them all in a bad way. I think it's caused by the acting because it differs very much from the American/British way. I'm not claiming that their acting was bad, on the contrary, I just need to get used to it and what a better way to do it than undergoing the winter with Asian movies.
Personal rating: 83/100