Gratifying for its fazing effect

Rating: 8/10 (10 August 2012)

Well, before I start reviewing this Korean masterpiece, thanks to Sanjay Gupta and his team for making Zinda else I wouldn't have known about this film. Zinda is an unabashed copy of this film. Although, Zinda has hits high points, Oldboy scores over it.
I know nothing about Eastern films let alone Korean. Although I wouldn't call this the best film ever but it is undoubtedly good. It makes you hate it, shocks you and tests how much violence you can digest. Finally, the ending could shock you more than you ever were. Park Chan-wook's direction is excellent and that makes the film very enjoyable.
Cinematography by Chung Chung-hoon is another scoring point in the film. The acting by the leads is just consistent and nothing worth mentioning. Story and screenplay are Oldboy's assets and it makes thorough use of them to overcome all the shortcomings. The opulent fight scene halfway through the film where the lead character fights his way through a hundred goons with a hammer is wonderfully choreographed and shot in a single take. The film deserves a watch for that scene. Then the film slightly drags as it shifts focus to other things but it regains momentum towards the end. The final scene is abstract and confusing but you are shocked enough not to think of that scene.
Violence and a bold theme are the USP of the film and it scores for that. On the whole, the film gives a distorted image of the world around in a very convincing manner which is far from true.