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[eizarus]

I just finished watching this a few minutes and thought I'd write this up while it's still fresh (but I'm going to keep it short and simple).

God damn! What a movie. It started off strong but ended up becoming a bit confusing throughout the second act. I was sitting there wonder why it's held in such high esteem, to be honest. Then when all the pieces start falling in place, I was seriously left astounded. Especially during that scene when Oh Dae Su finds out the truth, in what has to be one of the best plot twists I've ever seen.

As for the final scene, here's how I understood it:

Spoiler

The movie kept mentioning the quote about laughing together and weeping alone. I think Dae Su laughs but then begins to cry because the hypnosis didn't work, meaning that even though he's happy with Mido, he has to live with the burden of the truth

Oh and apparently the scene with the baby octopus wasn't CGI ��

Next step is to watch Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.

 

[capitalCORN]

I rewatch it every year. Really brought me into Korean cinema. As for the ending....

Spoiler

Your possibility exists, but there's another one where he can't say he loves her too because he cut off his tongue

. Also, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a very different movie, but even more brutal and visceral.

 

[Neptonic]

Oldboy is straight up a modern greek tragedy. It's a masterpiece.

 

[eizarus]

I rewatch it every year. Really brought me into Korean cinema. As for the ending....

Spoiler

Your possibility exists, but there's another one where he can't say he loves her too because he cut off his tongue

. Also, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a very different movie, but even more brutal and visceral.

Think I might have to watch a comedy before jumping into something like that then.

 

[Perfect Blue]

It's okay - the best aspect is the music. Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, JSA, and The Handmaiden are vastly superior films by the director.

 

[Marvie_3]

Oldboy is fucking awesome.

 

[Username1198]

Amazing movie. Prob top 3 for me. Great ending, fighting scenes were brutal, just a fantastic movie all around.

 

[Sölf]

Oh and apparently the scene with the baby octopus wasn't CGI ��

Even better:

Four live octopodes were eaten for the scene with Dae-su in the sushi bar, a scene which provoked some controversy abroad. Eating live octopus in Korea is commonplace although it is usually sliced first. When the film won the Grand Prix at Cannes, the director thanked the octopodes along with the cast and crew.

 

[SpaceWolf]

Josh Brolin was brilliant in this.

 

[Omadahl]

Josh Brolin was brilliant in this.

Joke post?

 

[Magnetic_North]

Yup one of my top films of all time

OP check out a film if you haven't already called I Saw The Devil it's got Choi Min-shik and actor Byung-hun Lee it's fantastic

But yeah Oldboy made me go watch tons of Japanese/Chinese and Korean films

 

[Theorry]

 

[eizarus]

Yup one of my top films of all time

OP check out a film if you haven't already called I Saw The Devil it's got Choi Min-shik and actor Byung-hun Lee it's fantastic

But yeah Oldboy made me go watch tons of Japanese/Chinese and Korean films

That's on my to-watch list. Might watch it next and space out the Revenge trilogy.

I love that moment.

 

[Username1198]

Josh Brolin was brilliant in this.

NO. NO. STAHP.

Also op, The Host is another tops tier foreign movie. It's sad as fuck and awesome like oldboy.

 

[Rad-]

This is what got me into Korean movies. Watch Train to Busan if you haven't, another amazing movie.

 

[NaDannMaGoGo]

Yup one of my top films of all time

OP check out a film if you haven't already called I Saw The Devil it's got Choi Min-shik and actor Byung-hun Lee it's fantastic

But yeah Oldboy made me go watch tons of Japanese/Chinese and Korean films

Saw that recently. Not exactly a good script but the tension was almost unbearably high throughout the entire film and it's a damn long one.

 

[butzopower]

Best Spike Jonze film.

 

[Goldboy]

One of my all time favorites.

Josh Brolin was brilliant in this.

Lol

 

[Undefined]

I actually didnt like Oldboy first time i saw it.

But after a few more viewings its among my favorite films.

 

[pixelation]

Joke post?

I have only seen the american version and quite liked it... is the OG that much different/better?, i started watching the OG (before i watched the remake) and it bored me so i quit watching it.

 

[MANGOD]

Josh Brolin was brilliant in this.

ITS A TRAP lol

 

[Radec]

Josh Brolin was brilliant in this.

So was Elizabeth Olsen.

 

[MANGOD]

Josh Brolin was brilliant in this.

Infact tip of the hat good sir this is a fuckin brilliant post

 

[Negaduck]

It's one of the best movies I'm always hesitant to recommend (based on the person lol).

Fucking love this movie though, it gets me every time

 

[HStallion]

Even better:

The actor is also a vegetarian so eating anything, let alone several living things was entirely out of his comfort zone in several ways.

 

[jetjevons]

And I thought the

Spoiler

sex scene earlier on was kind of hot

. Shudder.

 

[Javier23]

Best Spike Jonze film.

This is a "joke post?" in more than one level. Well played.

 

[Cheshire_Buddha]

The three disc steel box DVD is still one of my most prized possessions in my movie collection.

 

[Ninjimbo]

Make sure you watch Lady Vengeance after Mr. Vengeance, OP. All three are 10/10 films.

 

[Plum]

And I thought the

Spoiler

sex scene earlier on was kind of hot

. Shudder.

You think that's bad? Try watching Oldboy in Film Studies and getting to that scene. Even when the teacher put the sound on its lowest I knew next door could hear it through the thin-as-fuck walls.

 

[Nielm]

Haven't seen this yet, but I recently picked up the steelbook Blu-Ray:

It looks great in person. After watching A Bittersweet Life this is my next Korean movie to watch, I'm looking forward to it.

 

[IronRaven]

If you enjoyed Oldboy, I think you'd like I Saw the Devil.

 

[Llyranor]

Think I might have to watch a comedy before jumping into something like that then.

The dark humor in Oldboy was great, though

 

[eizarus]

Haven't seen this yet, but I recently picked up the steelbook Blu-Ray:

It looks great in person. After watching A Bittersweet Life this is my next Korean movie to watch, I'm looking forward to it.

It was actually your thread and the recommendations of Oldboy in it that made me watch it today.

 

[capitalCORN]

The dark humor in Oldboy was great, though

"Is that the taste?" "I haven't even chewed it yet."

 

[Jeffolation]

The Host is another tops tier ... movie. It's sad as fuck and awesome like oldboy.

Saoirse Ronan is awesome in this.

 

[HotHamBoy]

Oh and apparently the scene with the baby octopus wasn't CGI ��

Next step is to watch Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.

That would have been some incredible CGI by today's standards, let alone 2003...

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is phenomenal but be prepared for a more somber film.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is more tonally in-line with Old Boy. All 3 are great.

 

[Crimson_Echidna]

It was watching Oldboy that made me appreciate just how much a well composed score can enhance the experience of a movie. Those final couple of scenes were fucked up and the score perfectly increased my anxiety while watching them.

Next step is to watch Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.

I honestly found that movie an even more bitter experience.

 

[Moonkid]

Great gateway film into modern Korean cinema. My personal favourite is Mr. Vengeance, unbelievably raw.

 

[DrunkShogun]

Great gateway film into modern Korean cinema. My personal favourite is Mr. Vengeance, unbelievably raw.

Mr vengeance is the rough watch for me. Out the three, lady was probably the best one to recommend to people.

 

[Thud]

Lady Vengeance is just as brilliant. Different kind of thriller tho.

 

[Dizzy-4U]

Even though Lady could be considered the "softest" of the three, for me personally is the hardest to watch just for one scene. It's not extremely explicit but

Spoiler

the hanging of the kid

left me in shock for the rest of the movie.

 

[Ridley327]

Even though Lady could be considered the "softest" of the three, for me personally is the hardest to watch just for one scene. It's not extremely explicit but

Spoiler

the hanging of the kid

left me in shock for the rest of the movie.

Honestly, the whole revelation of

Spoiler

the kids already being dead by the time the videos were sent out

was blood-curdling enough. That entire third act goes in HARD and is all the better for it.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Next step is to watch Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.

this movie is upsetting and hard to watch

 

[Dizzy-4U]

Honestly, the whole revelation of

Spoiler

the kids already being dead by the time the videos were sent out

was blood-curdling enough. That entire third act goes in HARD and is all the better for it.

Oh absolutely. It's been a decade since I last saw it, I'm not sure if I can handle it again.