Shocking

Rating: 9/10 (12 September 2005)

After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released from his tiny cell. Though he doesn't know why he was imprisoned in the first place, or released. Though this is his task. He has five days to find out who did this and why it happened, and seek his revenge.
This is a great romp through the revenge genre and for the violence. This does have intense violence, but its not all in your face. A lot does happen without you seeing it, but psychological violence is so much worse. I wont talk about any of the scenes as the impact wont have that kick to the face that it deals out.
The look and feel is real dark and gritty. Mostly using a bleak grey wash to up the disturbing atmosphere, there are shots of seedy wood grain, contrasting scenes and giving you a few moments to relax before your shot back into the dark side of this revenge tale.
Oldboy i found did feel like the movie Saw, but did it much better. Like Saw, person is taken and locked away and must learn what they have done to survive. Though there is Kill Bill thrown in here as well; revenge to be bestowed upon all who get in Oh Dae-Su's way. The music is also like 2001, a space odyssey. Contrasting ultra modern settings with classical music, mostly violins, creating a tight dark atmosphere.
Oldboy is violent, dark, thought provoking and somehow beautiful within and very disturbing tale.