Old Boy

I have a friend that made me watch this movie about five years ago and it left an impression. I have been keeping an eye on the development of an American version for years now with casual interest.  Now that the new version is in production and being filmed I thought I would revisit the original film.  I could remember little after all the time that had passed but I remembered enough to know that it was a crazy movie.  Watching it with a more attentive eye this time I found the movie to be riveting, shocking, and incredible.

This movie has a story that immediately draws the viewer in and keeps them interested all throughout.  It delivers such a shocking and unexpected ending that you can’t help but spend days thinking about it.  In between there is plenty of mystery and action.  There is one fight scene specifically that might be one of the best I have ever seen.  Dae-su is such a fascinating character because he is hardly even human after fifteen years of isolation.  He is dangerous because he has nothing to lose and he is deadly when someone stands in his way.  All throughout the film there is not even a hint of who is actually behind everything so there is no way to see the ending coming.  I can’t stress enough how insane the ending is either.  With no notion of what is to come it leaves much more impact than the typical mystery that a clever viewer can see coming.  The movie is good enough before the ending to make it worth watching, but the ending makes it a must see.  A must see movie that you will always remember.

As for the American version being made of this film I really have no idea what to expect.  I seriously cannot imagine an American version that matches the ferocity and insanity of the original.  When I saw the original for the first time I remember thinking that on the other side of the world they were much more graphic with their film making. I expect the new version to be tamer than the original but I hope to be wrong about that.  The new version is being made by Spike Lee and will star Josh Brolin in the leading role.  I don’t know that Brolin was the best choice but I will give him a chance.  Samuel L. Jackson is also playing a part and he manages to make every movie he is part of better.  I can’t remember the exact release date for the remake but I know it will be hitting theaters sometime in 2013.  Keep an eye out for it, but before you do see this one.  This is a movie you will never forget.