OLDBOY

OLDBOY Review

By Darin Skaggs

     What is the point of a remake? Is it that the special effects are better like in Peter Jackson’s King Kong?  Is it that you can get away with more graphic images such as De Palma’s Scarface? Or has a life event brought up the same themes as the original like Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds?  Or maybe it’s just to make an updated version of the story like Spike Lee’s new film Oldboy. 

     One decade ago Park Chan-Wook made the film Oldboy.  It is one of the craziest, more stylized films ever made.  For a long, long time an American adaptation was in the works.  Finally Spike Lee, director of great films such as 25^th Hour and Do the Right Thing took the reins.  The film stars Josh Brolin as the lead role.  Was it worth the wait or the rehashing of this grim tale?

     At some points the film had shocking moments, some of them were taken from the original, and others were changed for better or worse.

The story starts in 1993, Joe Doucett is drunk.  It is apparent that he is always drunk.  Not long into the night he disappears to wake up in a hotel room.  There is no way out, someone gives him a meal under the door.  He also has all the necessities, a toothbrush, a shower, a toilet, a bed and a TV.  While in the room he sees on TV that his wife is murdered and he is held responsible.  This leaves his daughter an orphan.  Twenty years go by and he awakens in a man size suitcase out in the real world.  On his person is a phone, money and not much else.

He then sets out on a venture to get revenge on whoever did this to him.

     Fans of the original will see that the story, with minor changes, is similar.  While viewing the movie I was struck by the grossness and fascinating moment’s portrayed in the film.  Though after leaving the theater and thinking about the film, I realized I have seen all of this before. The moments that change are still shocking, but do not add to the themes of the film.  Spike Lee is an amazing director but why did he choose this film to remake?  The only thing that this film adds is that it is set in America and is set in 2013 instead of 2003.  You could almost say that in this segment of Oldboy, Oldboy discovers the internet. There is literally a line that reads “So you just type something up here and it will come up with a bunch of stuff on that subject?” 

     There is not much added onto the film.  It does try and hide the fact that the big twist, that we know is coming, is different this time but it’s pretty easy to figure out what is going on.  Sadly even big scenes from the film are almost lifeless.  It seems they just made some scenes just because.  There is a big fight where Joe fights a ton of people and all he has is a hammer.  In the older one it’s amazing and awesome; in this one it is kind of boring and faceless.  Even the villain goes out fast with a get it over attitude. 

     The end of the film is an odd choice.  It is the only moment that seems to be trying to say anything.  It says that the real world is too scary to be in and just makes our protagonist look like a loser.  In some aspects he is supposed to be, but not as he is portrayed in this film.  The film does not work.  With all the grossness that happens in this film I never knew I could also be, well almost bored with it.