Cool News
Kyle does a series of backflips over OLDBOY!
Hey folks, Harry here... OLDBOY was in my top two from last year's picks of the year. Of course, it hadn't been seen by the rest of the world at that point, just to a theater in Austin on a certain spectacular film festival beyond compare. (That's BUTT-NUMB-A-THON! ahem) Recently I was asked by the South Korean company SHOWEAST to do a feature length audio commentary for a super special edition of OLDBOY that they have coming out in South Korea. It hadn't been announced yet, in fact I only just recorded it 2 weeks ago, along with interviews and other craziness. I'm told my commentary will be subtitled in Korean, which is kind of mind blowing. But heck, it's my first dvd commentary, and in total geek fashion having it appear on a Grand Prix winning film at Cannes that premiered at my film festival on a Region 3 South Korean $100 copper boxed set with 4 discs. Well... I hear they're only making as many as they're getting pre-orders for. Heh. I love it, a Region 3 commentary. Heh. It's a surreal life, Mr Knowles... Anyway, here's what the set is supposed to look like, and here's where you can pre-order it!
Hey harry,
I’m not sure if you have any interest in any more glowing reviews for OLD BOY, but with all that you have posted from the Toronto film fest I figured I would send something in b/c the film has been racing through my mind for a while now. I’m not in Toronto, I‘m in Austin and haven’t stopped thinking about OLDBOY for a little more than a week. I wanted to write in b/c I think there are a few things left to say about OLD BOY that until now have remained unsaid.
In the numerous (and I do mean numerous) reviews posted for OLD BOY on this site there has been a great deal of focus on the stunning imagery (which I confirm is absolutely stunning) and the heartbreakingly empathetic character development (which I do confirm is heartbreakingly empathetic). Not to mention the heavy doses of ass kicking (which I confirm did in fact kick my ass thoroughly -- halfway through the “hammer scene” it was already one of my favorite action sequences of all time).
Accordingly I do not find in necessary, stunning as they may be, to blather on about any of the aforementioned cinematic achievements of OLD BOY, as they have already been outlined by many a more articulate man then myself.
But instead I wanted to focus on a narrow, but as of yet the an overlooked, technical aspect of the film that blew me away. The thing that kept up all night after having seen the film. The thing that kept me out for two hours walking around Austin trying to put my mind in order.
As I’m sure was obvious to all, Chan-wook Park utilized the technique, as he did in Mr. Vengeance, of skipping the audience ahead in time past certain events of significance, and allowing them to then catch up through some highly informative visual cues. He does not show the scissors being used as a weapon, but he show a frozen man with blood slowly dripping from his ear. He does not show The fight in the elevator, but he shows the bodies poor out. He does not spoon feed steps A, B, and C, but instead throws the audience into the unfamiliar territory of step F, and then through an ingenious use of narrative economy fills the audience in on what they missed.
His sequences begin with an image that poses a question, momentarily confusing the audience, but we love it, b/c we know we are in safe hands and that in ten seconds, sure enough, he will bring us up to speed. The suitcase sitting on the roof, the repulsed woman in the elevator, the man poking his head through the door on the floor screaming about his imprisonment. These powerful images, in their respective contexts, each pose a question soon to be answered.
I know someone who complained that the jump-ahead jarring technique was to repetitive in Mr. Vengeance. I disagree. This person has yet to see OLD BOY, and I think he would have a change of heart regarding Park’s signature structural move.
It is through the utilization of this technique that Park achieves several things. First: Incredible narrative economy. While this same story might drag in the hands of another director, Park’s film jumps forward by leaps and bounds, while always keeping the audience up to speed. What could have been a long sequence involving Oh-Daseu’s capture and adjustment to his initial imprisonment is completely passed over in favor of the much more powerful structural move of catching up with him a month in to his torment. Second: By constantly staying a step ahead of the audience (or two steps, or ten steps) Park’s film is addictively engaging. He requires his audience to think, to interpret, to understand the meaning of his visual cues to fill in what they missed. The film is not spoon fed to you but keeps you constantly saying “huh?…Oh, I get! Huh?…oh I get it!” Because of this, it does not just hold your attention, it captures it and does not let go for two hours.
The structural and directorial/narrative achievements of OLD BOY are awe inspiring. I know now why Quentin Tarantino says he could not sleep after having seen the film. Neither could I. My mind went racing to the screenplay I am working on, and made me rethink the way I handled everything. It made me rethink the idea of narrative economy. While I have no intention of copying his technique, OLD BOY challenges one to think “How can I make my own work better?”
All film geeks and aspiring filmmakers must see this film, b/c after they do, they will begin to compare everything to OLD BOY.
To see OLD BOY is to be creatively reinvigorated like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart.
That's all I got,
--Kyle
-
+ Expand All
-
Your were the first one to notice Park Chan-Wook's work so it's fitting you be included in the commentary.
One piece of advice, don't use phrases like "I will ass carry Park Chan Wook's child!" I don't think that translates well. -
Go see Oldboy, apparently it's really, really good. I don't want to seem cynical because I do really want to see it, but let's have a review of something else. Anyway go see Oldboy, It's the romantic comedy, with zombies.
-
Steamboy. Oldboy. Hellboy.
-
the shot is just really quick, I guess it's easy to miss.
-
ever heard that story 'the boy who cried wolf'. Harry is the boy who cried Oldboy. this movie has been so overhyped by this site it doesnt matter how good it ACTUALLY is anymore... nobody is gonna be able to see it through pure eyes. it's only a matter of time before they change their url to oldboy.com. seriously... give it a mother fucking devil sucking whore killing rest.
-
so uh... there.
-
Seriously Harry. A major accomplishment. Now you realise that your words stretch farther than you realise. Keep up the good work. Best regards from a film fan.
-
I thought "Oldboy" was okay. Not exactly the greatest movie everyone preaches.
-
you know, chinese or korean name pronounced with the surname first...
-
Sep 24, 2004 12:19:58 AM CDT
You know after learning the "Big Secret" I felt really dirty aft
by anlashok
...and even dirtier when I rewatched it, again and again and again...
-
Sep 24, 2004 4:44:15 AM CDT
Ah, so THAT'S why this site posts 3000 reviews of one old film i
by salvatoregravano
Brother Pimp, come here and learn how to peddle merchandise!
-
Blockbuster doesn't carry this title. --- Only region 3 DVD's available on Amazon...
-
I was always reluctant about to order the ultimate edition of OldBoy because of the price. Man look at this: 100 fucking bucks for a DVD.
But after reading that Harry made a commentary for this edition I have to think again whether i order the ultimate instead of the normal version. http://www.dvdasian.com/cgi-bin/dvdasian/17869.html
and Kyle: Nice review :-) -
the extra material dosent even has subtitles. So unless you think that Harrys commentary is worth at least $80 buy the regular version.
According to Joblo.com Tartan Films has bought the film rights, no releasedates available yet though.
-
This site really needs to quit overhyping these types of movies. I've seen Oldboy, and I will say that it is a very cool film. I enjoyed watching it, but it is far from the flawless masterpiece that this site makes it out to be. The first half is really interesting, and the often mentioned Hammer fight is truly one of the best fight scenes I've ever witnessed. However, the movie loses steam into the second half. By the time Park is ready to start revealing the big twist of the movie to the audience, most everyone will have already figured it out. This would be ok, except that Park drags out the reveal in a painful fashion, and makes the second half seem like a bad sequel to the first half. Like I say, I enjoyed it, and Park is a very talented visual director.. but his storytelling needs work.
-
...seriously!!!
-
could someone delete his post. At least I've seen the film, but so much for spoiler warnings, you prick. I hope you are publically raped by a specially trained giraffe.
-
Sep 25, 2004 7:27:36 PM CDT
its an octopus!!! for the love of jesus, buddha and allah!!!
by brummy scotty
how many shite reviews that say nothing new on this site do we need??
the only thing more annoying than the 14 reviews of this film we get per day are the number of retards who say he ate a squid!! Its an octopus!
Anyway...for the 4 people who havent seen this film it is released in UK cinemas on october 15th. with the OCTOPUS eating scene fully intact apparently. -
try bittorrent. i know for a fact there is a high-quality ntsc dvd version of oldboy floating around on bittorrent.
-
Thanks, I'll check it out. --- Are there subtitles or is it dubbed?
-
Sorry - but this film DOES merit all the attention it's getting - it's the best movie I've seen in at least a year, and i watch a hell of a lot of movies. Mr President should be banned, I hope he has been already, considering i know people who have been banned for simplt daring to question Harry's veracity (which, let's face it, we all know can be shaky at times). Why in Satan's name is this dude still allowed to post. Anyway - the film's a masterpiece. Funnny everybody goes on about the hallway fight scene; it's almost balletic, and quite something the first time you watch it. But on repeat viewing, you realise that the choreography ain't all that, and in many ways it's one of the weakest scenes in the film - it's still cool though. it's little things like the way the photo on the Oldboy becomes a transition for the next scene of the film, or the amazing dialogue which gives the film a real weight. "I thought I'd lived an average life. But I've sinned too much". And yes, you do indeed see him using the scissors, and the method he uses to depict the fight in the elevator is done for comedy and to save money, not as an "informative visual cue". This review by Kyle ain't the best, I have to say. I'm glad he likes the film, but he picks up on the wrong stuff, and the whole review seems to be written with the intention of letting us know he's attempting to write a screenplay. I hate stuff like that. You're a screenwriter? Then write scripts, and don't be so presumptuous as to talk about your unpublished, incomplete attempts in relation to a film which has been through the whole process and come out smelling of roses. Yup - UK AICNers - if you do one thing in the next month, I urge you all to go out and watch Oldboy. "Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Weep, and you weep alone"
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 325 total posts 322 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 106 total posts 106 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 63 total posts 60 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 74 total posts 58 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 159 total posts 51 posts
- If the Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day drops her pen, pick it up, but don’t look at her legs or else it will be on your record. -- 47 total posts 41 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 161 total posts 34 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 488 total posts 33 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 121 total posts 23 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 70 total posts 20 posts