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Spileberg & Smith's OLDBOY Project Isn't The OLDBOY You're Thinking Of, Even Though It Is!!
Merrick here...
A few weeks back we learned that Will Smith and Steven Spielberg were teaming up for a remake of Chan-wook Park's 2003 film OLDBOY (more details HERE). This news had many imagining a dramatically sissified, thoroughly neutered commercial vehicle. WHICH...could still be the case.
This said, some may find comfort in knowing that the original film is not actually being approached by Spielberg and Smith. Will touched on the project while attending the premiere of his new movie, SEVEN POUNDS. FilmSchoolRejects tells us what he had to say:
"We’re looking at that right now. Not the film though, it’s the original source material. There’s the original comics of ‘Oldboy’ that they made the first film from. And that’s what we’re working from, not an adaptation of the film…"
...says Smith in THIS ARTICLE at FilmSchoolRejects.
The comics he's talking about are readily found at amazon.com (HERE). Simply type 'old boy' (no quotes & two words) into the search field to find multiple volumes.
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Spielberg is incapable of good movies anymore, he's an egomaniac. The thought of him teaming with Smith raised the same anticipation factor as him teaming with Cruise - i'd rather suffocate in a vat if rancid faeces.
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The concept "copping out" smells unsurprisingly of Bullshit. Sad to smell it on Will Smith's breath, but no surprise considering where Spielberg's asking him to put his tongue.
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Just watch the original movie or read the comics and pretend that this doesn't exist.
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I highly doubt that, although I would love to see him make a movie on a limited budget again - say $20 million. I think limiting your resources is the best way to test your genius.
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The movie is like the graphic novel so how does this change anything?
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Put him out to pasture. He messed up Jurassic Park, he messed up AI, he messed up War Of The Worlds. Ryan was a great opening and an okay ending wrapped around a weak film, Minority Report telegraphed its ending in the first 10 minutes. The man is also a tool. He pretends to be all cool and of the people but behind the scenes he's an asshole.
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Sounds like bullshit to me. Like they'd really be making this version of some little known comic, if there wasn't this pre-existing movie with a huge cult fan base? Blech.
So who has read the books? Are there any glaring differences? Octopus? Incest? Walkie talkies? -
Talk about a lame attempt at passing the buck.
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"..."
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I Am Legend, he cannot be trusted with remaking or re-adapting any source material with fidelity.
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What does it matter if they are working from the original source material or not? Does the 2003 film not already exist in everyone's minds? That's like Soderbergh's pussy-fied explanation that he was just adapting Lem's SOlaris novel. That's fine for the numbnutses' who liked that movie, but to me, that's still a remake, and Soderbergh is no Tarkovsky.
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The original OLDBOY is way overrated. It's a nihilistic piece of garbage that doesn't deserve it's reputation one iota. If Steven Spielberg and Will Smith want to sissify it by toning down or eliminating the more sickening aspects of the film ... then by all means do so. Perhaps it'll be more watchable than that piece of crap that AICN reviewers seem to love to the point of fetishism.
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Speilberg and Smith are two of the biggest Hacks in Hollywood. The sooner everyone realizes this, the better the world will be. The source material is still too much for these pussies.
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FUCK RIGHT OFF YOU SCIENTOLOGY HACK AND TAKE THE BEARDED MIDGET CUNT ALONG WITH YOU.FUCKING BASTARD COCKSUCKER (this part is actually true)WANKSTAIN HALFWIT. I feel strongly this moive is a bad idea.
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difficult in Oldboy. FAIL.
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There are scripts floating around Hollywood.
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Oh, you thought we were talking about the film? No there's a manga strip that was printed on steam and hidden in a unicorn's horn many years ago. Not very many people have seen it but that's our inspiration. We didn't even know there was a film!
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In terms of how it treats the story, it's substantially different from the movie. http://tinyurl.com/5nfpad I'd call it an inverted noir. It's more genre based, and hard boiled. Rather than investigating an external history, the protagonist is beating down doors trying to discover the truth behind his own past. If you're interested almost check out Astral Project by the same author under his "marginal" pen name http://tinyurl.com/6qpeh3
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How can you have such a lack of respect for other works? Indy IV.....uhhhhh yeah. Just die. You have done quite enough.
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who's looking for a Speilberg/Will Smith collaboration anyway?
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If the movie flops in any way, the executive idiots can claim that it's not their fault, they went with top "talent."
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just make Interstellar or Lincoln already!! Pleaase Sir, you're my hero and I do not want you to tread in waters that others have already sailed. My money always gets in your hands, so i'm just asking not to make me spend on something I've already seen in it's most effective form. Blow us away again in whichever way you seem fit, I just doubt it'll be an " adaptation of the original OLDBOY manga".
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I enjoyed both of the Solaris' and i went into the remake as a skeptic. So w/e it's possible to like them both
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Nov 21, 2008 11:19:38 AM CST
Sad that most of the AICN staffers will praise this piece of shi
by sick fixx
Will Smith playing Oh Dae Su? Only he won't be called Oh Dae Su I guess. This fucking sucks. Worst idea ever. Oldboy wasn'y nihilistic. It was melancholy. It was a beautiful movie full of ennui, existentialism and quiet regret. Greatest movie I've ever seen. Floored me harder than even The Matrix.
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Cause I ate the shit everyday? and While you're at it- I need sumpin to eat dat's alive.
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Nov 21, 2008 11:31:21 AM CST
Will Smith is out to remake everything into shit...
by irrelevntelefant
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I definitely called that they would use the comic, where Oh Dae Su looks like Superman and there's no sexual history or incestual overtones, or that they would just use the jumping off point of the guy trying to find out why he was in jail for 15 years. Manga and Movie are way different, like Scott Green said.
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DVD with Harrys commentary and the maga comic?
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... So what sense does this approach even make? Is it just so you can say, when the inevitable outrage ensues, you can go, "Aww hell nawww... we were'nt even TRYING to do a version of the film... we were doing the manga version." You an idiot, Smith... you too "Hasbeenberg"!
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...It's just accepting that he can't really top the original Old Boy. Hey Riskebiz, don't get your knickers in a knot, you should check out Christian Spotlight On Movies if AICN so offends your delicate sensibilities.
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I've enjoyed plenty of both Spielberg and Smith's movies. This *could* be a good film. Espescially if this is taken as an opportunity to stretch themselves as artists...
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If Oldboy the movie is already a great adaption of the source, why make another one with Will "overrated one-note actor" Smith? Smith sucks and so do all of his movies and Spielberg needs to quit making projects just to work with certain people.
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Ahhh Hell Nawh...
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Thankfully you guys gave us that helpful link to "Amazon", I would NEVER have thought of looking there!
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And whether the original manga is quite different in many aspects than the film, then maybe we get something worthwhile that's different? Guess we'll see...
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Isn't he a former SNL cast member?
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...have you seen Munich? Personally, I feel it's his best film. Schindler's List hits resonant chords in the popular consciousness, but Munich is a masterwork of craft and performance. In my opinion, his second best film is Close Encounters of the Third Kind, then Empire of the Sun, followed by Jaws and Raiders. In Shindler's List, Spielberg revelled in the obvious notes a story like that has to offer. Was it great? Absolutely? Did it break ground? No. It was more like a compilation and recap of what was already understood and felt about the Holocaust. In that respect, it's importance outweighs it's craft.
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...was ABSOLUTELY! Shindler's List is a great film. Not as good as Munich, though. Nor as creative.
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Whenever they're remaking something they always claim they're "re-adapting the source material" when we really know the reason they're interested in making a movie that's already been made is because of the already existing film's success.The press release about "re-adapting the source material" is usually followed by another press release saying they intend to model it after Batman Begins.
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They were such a good couple, his second marriage to Tom Hanks wasn't as good, but still okay, and his third marriage to Tom Cruise was pretty lousy. I think he and Richard should try to sort things out.
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...needs to revisit his filmography. Six Degrees of Separation. Ali. The Pursuit of Happyness. Even his characters in Hitch, Bad Boys II, and Men in Black, and Hancock are distinctly different performances. If anything, the problem with Will Smith is that his image is so strong that directors and producers keep insisting he tapdance through performances. Look at his work. The guy is constantly working to break the mold that was shaped with the Fresh Prince. Give him Othello with any halfway decent director, and I bet he'd take it in a New York second.
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...why remake Oldboy? Really? Give us Lincoln! Especially now, with Barack Obama talking so much about him!
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When I spoke to him a few days ago in Saint Louis. Scroll down on this page to hear him talk about the remake - straight from the Fresh Prince's mouth. http://tinyurl.com/6lsy6t
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Nov 21, 2008 2:42:18 PM CST
I've got the ridiculous plot of 7 Pounds for you guys
by industrykiller!
I'm sure now that alot of you have finally woken up to how awful and formulaic everything WIll SMith touches is you don't wanna keep paying like suckers for his crap. But maybe you're intrigued by 7 Pounds because the trailer gives no plot whatsoever. Well allow me to ruin it for you, trust me you will be missing nothing. Will SMith plays a guy who kills 7 people in a bus accident, the guilt is so strong in him that he plans on killing himself and finding 7 strangers to donate his organs to in order to save their lives. Which of course he ends up doing but not before he falls in love with one of the strangers (Rosario Dawson) and plenty of melodrama can ensue. Please dont pay for it, wasnt Hancock bad enough?
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Outside of here, most people aren't aware of the movie, much less the manga...
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Shock for shock value is not art. To me, the film went out of it's way to be "Watch for it: incest! Ain't it cool?! Watch for it: self-mutilation! Ain't it cool?!". But hey, I bought the damn thing years ago on AICN based on the glowing reviews. To me the King is wearing no clothes on this one. It's a knee-jerk, cliched AICN reaction to say that if you don't get the fetish-like love for Oldboy you ought to tune into the Christian Spotlight On Movies. But hey, whoever wanted that 3-disc version of Oldboy, they can purchase mine on the cheap. And for the record: Not a fan of Will Smith ... at all. To me, his remake of I AM LEGEND was so much more a travesty than anything that could possibly happen to Oldboy. The world's smallest violin is playing for the tragedy of Spielberg remaking this. But that's me.
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Basically, they thought "oh shit, that's a really great concept - guy is locked up mysteriously for 15 years and then has to find why, but screw all this depth and philosophy and super taboo stuff". They basically bought the concept.
Shit though, I'd pay 50 bucks to see Will Smith eat a live octopus. -
Nov 21, 2008 3:37:45 PM CST
RE: Spielberg and what have you done for me lately
by i_am_not_the_droid_you_are_looking_for
Minority Report is pretty fucking awesome.This will still be compared to the movie, no matter what spin Will puts on itThats all i got
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not ok
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You guys sold me on that movie for months and years and you could not have been more wrong. It is the only DVD I can remember throwing in the trash after watching it. Nothing redeeming about that film.
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To Spielberg and Smith, it'll always just be another Spielberg and Smith project. But Park Chan Wook poured the essence of what he felt about revenge into that movie. I don't care if it has naysayers that balk at it. There's plenty that I balk at on here that gets coverage, but Oldboy, to me, is sacred.
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you know it's gonna happen. Change. Aw hell yeah we can.
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Leae Oldboy and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance alone
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but on the forgotten 1954 french film by korean expat park mai kar... which the comics were based on
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directed by michael bay starring shia laboof
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and suddenly everyones head explodes and the world sets on fire.
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This "going back to the source material" talk was used for the Burton Chocolate Factory remake, and a few other crap movies that liked to pretend that they didn't totally owe their existence to a superior precursor film by claiming they would stick to the book and that nobody involved in production had even seen the original film, blah blah blah.
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This "going back to the source material" talk was used for the Burton Chocolate Factory remake, and a few other crap movies that liked to pretend that they didn't totally owe their existence to a superior precursor film by claiming they would stick to the book and that nobody involved in production had even seen the original film, blah blah blah.
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...shouldn't we, as geeks, be looking forward to this? I'm guessing a lot of fans of the original don't want its memory blemished, but seeing that it's NOT a remake but a readaptation of the source material, what's all the pissing and moaning about? You can keep to the Korean version and ignore this one wholly, because it's not a remake!Park Chan Wook did an awesome job, and it's not like this is going to affect its existence in any way whatsoever. Those who think so are just being elitist pricks.
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Maybe it will be closer to the source material...isn't that what most of you whine about anyway?
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"Oldboy" was one of the few that I actually feel completely lived up to the hype. An absolute masterpiece.
I know it sounds like hyperbole, but I really feel that way. I think it's right up there with "Memento" in the psychological thriller category, which is really saying something.
I know, I sound like a pathetic fanboy. *shrug* -
a pg13 oldboy adaption - no thanks
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PERFECTLY worded, my friend. I couldn't have put it better.
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each time he makes a movie his hair (and hair line) gets weirder - and it distracts me from the story - not in a good way - go bald with dignity - like ed harris, malkovich, sam jackson, willis, jason statham - they can act, and theyre all bald or balding - but ill admit, i can see cage in this before will smith - his weird hair would finally suit the role
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yes - we, as geeks, should be looking forward to this... except for the fact that its spielberg and smith - do you see these 2, with their recent resumes, pulling out the stops and giving us a hard r rated modern film noir - with lots of blood and great tits - i dont - we dont see enough tits anymore in movies - i miss the 70s
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that movie shouldve had way more gore and cussing - like a good r rated horror movie should - but will is a family man - he makes movies for the biggest audiences possible - so does spielbeg - so ill be shocked if they deliver the unexpected
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I take it that you either never bothered watching or simply forgot the "jamming the knife hilt deep in baddies skull" or "shooting naked chick in tit" scenes in Munich. Disappointed Munich doesn't get more love on these boards - hell of a lot better than the ridiculously overhyped "Oldboy" with its truly sad "hypnotic suggestion to get daddy to bang daughter" (Take it you folks never read Oedipus before - been there done that) and the "wealthy freakshow imprisons guy for 17 years" nonsense. Honestly - what is it with Asian filmmakers ripping off Willy Shakes (looking at you Kurosawa-san) or the Hellenic Poets and being hailed as geniuses?
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And we´ll talk. I´d buy a Spielberg western any day.
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Or Joe and Ashley Simpson. Come on, that's a no-brainer.
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I love Munich. Great film. One of Spielberg's best by far.
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"She is your daughter."
"Awwwww hhaaaiillll nnaaaawwwwww!!!!!!" *Clutches his groin* -
I mean sheesh, who wouldn't want to be put in that category?
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good point on "munich" - a great movie for adults that not enough people saw - except will smith is in this - spielbeg plus will smith doesnt equal a "munich"
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wiht men in tights.
It's called a MANGA, Will $mith, a MANGA!
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Sweet Willie time!!! July 4th or Christmas holiday!!! I hope this film is neither the kind of family friendly opus these guys cradle to. This film should be and deserves a hard R. Smith hasn't been hardcore since BAD BOYS II, which I think is a great film and ballsy--takes no prisoners, and Spielberg can produce a hardcore film like Munich and Saving Private Ryan. The problem is ,pertaining to Spielberg, is his hard R's are strictly biographical. He hasn't endulged himself in adult fare for simple entertainment and I doubt he will with this film but we'll see. Me thinks Spielberg is gonna rub President Bush's nose in it one more time for good measures. He hasn't sprinkled his political views on Guantanamo Bay yet.
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all his other films since have been lacking in some respect or another. then again his last great film before Schindler was E.T. an eleven year gap. But that was the culmination of his prime 7 year period when he made Jaws, Close Encounters, Raiders and E.T. (conveniently ignoring 1941)
I've finally come to accept the fact that directors such as Scorsese, Spielberg and Coppola are past their prime and no longer make masterpieces. If it happens it happens. Fincher, Jonze, Wes and P.T. Anderson are the film makers to look forward to. -
I'm not expecting much from those filmmakers as well. No of those filmmkars you mentioned has created magical films ala George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppolla, and Martin Scorsese. Fincher, Jonze, Wes, and PT Anderson just don't have it. They copy stories and themes from the great filmmakers I've mentioned and modernized it. Their Box Office numbers have also been mediocre at best and never made anyone I know crank out 12 bucks to see their film. The closet from the new batch who came close to getting that kind of interest was M. Night Shyamalan. As we know now The Sixth Sense was an anomoly, a FLUKE. I'm looking forward to James Cameron's next film... he's my only hope right now.
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I'm not expecting much from those filmmakers as well. None of those filmmkars you mentioned has created magical films ala George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppolla, and Martin Scorsese. Fincher, Jonze, Wes, and PT Anderson just don't have it. They copy stories and themes from the great filmmakers I've mentioned and modernized it. Their Box Office numbers have also been mediocre at best and never made anyone I know crank out 12 bucks to see their film. The closest from the new batch who came close to getting that kind of interest was M. Night Shyamalan. As we know now The Sixth Sense was an anomoly, a FLUKE. I'm looking forward to James Cameron's next film... he's my only hope right now.
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As much as I love Old Boy for it's viscerality, Lady Vengeance was way more dramatic, powerful and stylish. I think that's the film everyone should talk about. Anyway, all of us will be watching this, so stop complaining.
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Spielberg and Will Smith making a movie based on an obscure manga?
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I guess I'm committing a TB heresy here, but I'd love to see these guys do it RIGHT and heck maybe they will....
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