Dae-su Oh: Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone.
I guess flixster messed up and erased everyone's Oldboy reviews, so here it is again...
Dae-su Oh: If they had told me it was going to be fifteen years, would it have been easier to endure?
The… More
Dae-su Oh: Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone.
I guess flixster messed up and erased everyone's Oldboy reviews, so here it is again...
Dae-su Oh: If they had told me it was going to be fifteen years, would it have been easier to endure?
The second part of Chan-Wook Park's vengeance trilogy, this film centers on Oh Dae-su, played by Min-sik Choi. We are first introduced to him as a man in a police station, drunk, and babbling. Probably not a bad guy, but in some trouble. After being bailed out by his friend, Oh Dae-su is suddenly kidnapped and put in a prison designed to look like a cheap motel room.
Od Dae-su is forced to stay in this room for 15 years. During that time he learns that his wife has been murdered, and his daughter has been given to a family in Europe. Oh Dae-su goes understandably a little crazy during his time spent in this room, learning how to fight through shadow boxing, dying to get revenge if he is ever released.
Woo-jin Lee: Remember this: "Be it a rock or a grain of sand, in water they sink as the same."
Once Oh Dae-su is released, he has plans for revenge, but the games is not over for him, as his capture soon meets up with him, and gives him 5 days to find out the real reason why he was imprisoned. This leads to the reveal of questionable pasts and the truth of certain matters.
Dae-su Oh: Even though I'm no more than a monster - don't I, too, have the right to live?
This film is impeccably made. Skillfully crafted. Wonderfully acted. Beautifully scored. And has an awesome story.
Park's direction is wonderful. The film is not paced slow per se, but the plot is revealed over time. The visual style is completely fitting and works well with set ups for each character. And the score is wonderfully appropriate and classy.
Dae-su Oh: Revenge is good for your health, but pain will find you again.
Min-sik Choi as Oh Dae-su is amazing. He completely embodies this character, giving it his all to create a tour de force performance.
Then you have some of the stunning and memorable scenes. One involving a live octopus and the other involving a single take of an excellently executed fight scene.
The story is also very layered, making it perfect for repeated viewings, and giving the viewer multiple ways to interpret things.
Dae-su Oh: Can the imaginary training of fifteen years be put to use?
Dae-su Oh: [Dae-su beats up his assailants] Yes. It can.
It also helps that there is a sweet cool vibe running throughout this wonderful story that combines a Hitchcock setup, sweet visuals, and some unruly violence to make an awesome film overall.
Dae-su Oh: [after a very messy beating] Anyone here with an AB blood type, raise your hand.