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The Brilliant Film, OLDBOY Is Coming To The U.S. - Slowly, but surely!

The name sounds familiar, but I can't remember anything about th by Monkey Butler	Feb 22nd, 2005 09:10:58 AM
Anyone care to fill me in?
UK DVD release this Monday by Pumpkinsboy	Feb 22nd, 2005 09:27:57 AM
For anyone who can play multi region discs.
Ichi by Trevor Goodchild	Feb 22nd, 2005 10:03:34 AM
Caught Ichi the Killer at the weekend. What the fuck was all that about. Chris Morris does Manga? David Lynch does Japanese Gangsters? Must see Oldboy before the Hollywood remake hype. Surely Oldman for Oldboy.
Blueberry by Trevor Goodchild	Feb 22nd, 2005 10:06:44 AM
Maybe this talkback will attract the kind of person that knows when the Blueberry DVD is released in the UK.
Monkey Butler: by evergreen	Feb 22nd, 2005 10:08:25 AM
http://www.aintitcool.com/disp lay.cgi?id=16721 - this is the link to Harry's faves of 2003. The film won the prix du jury at Cannes last year. I will go on record as saying that as soon as I saw it, it became one of my 5 favorite films of all time. I lent it to my mum, which I owuld not normally do with an ultra-violent Korean film. But the violence is irrelevant when you consider the superb plot, magnificent performances, unforgettable music and mind-blowing cinematography. Hell, I even changed a 5 year-old user ID because I loved the film so much! It's also been pointed out by another talkbacker that it contains a scene which is cinema's best representation to date of the computer game genre "side-scrolling beat-'em-up"! Hey, Pumpkin, why would the UK dvd release be non-region 2? That seems a little odd. Anyway, I'll be buying it regardless, in the hope that some of the translations are a little more accurate than my dodgy Korean copy (even though it has a cool case/wallet type thing)
cool! look at the little icons in the credits on that poster!! by evergreen	Feb 22nd, 2005 10:12:21 AM
Hammer, scissors, dead guy, syringe(?) and squid!! I like to think that's the reason Harry put the poster up, rather than the fact that the only recommendation on it comes from himself.....
Two Words: by IvyMike	Feb 22nd, 2005 10:26:08 AM
Hammer Fight!
hell yeah! by Strabo	Feb 22nd, 2005 10:27:14 AM
On Harry's recommendation, I, err..."obtained" this film and watched it. Wow. I'll definitely have to see this on the big screen if it comes anywhere near me.
Get the film score of Oldboy by Darth Fart	Feb 22nd, 2005 10:49:41 AM
Because it's incredible, stunning piece of work!
raraaaaa by ScaryJim	Feb 22nd, 2005 10:49:46 AM
www.play.com we can buy the region 1 dvd's in the uk from here so i don't see why you can't get the region 2 oldboy released on the 28th . Damn that it was only in those hard to find 50 seater art cinemas of which we have one in a 50 mile radius ... bastards..
Sorry Trevor by evergreen	Feb 22nd, 2005 10:53:47 AM
I didn't really notice your post. I think Blueberry was supposed to be released in the uk on the 10th of January, but they can't agree on a certificate for it.It's all quite mysterious. Play dot com lists the film as costing
www.trashbat.co.ck by Trevor Goodchild	Feb 22nd, 2005 11:02:07 AM

Tramp Racing all round? by Trevor Goodchild	Feb 22nd, 2005 11:04:29 AM

I haven't been affected by a movie the way Oldboy affected me si by redtom	Feb 22nd, 2005 11:47:01 AM
... I saw Seven... unbelievable show...
Let the flaming begin by Garbageman33	Feb 22nd, 2005 11:49:12 AM
Ok, I seem to be the lone dissenting voice whenever Old Boy comes up, so maybe instead of just calling me a "fucking retard" (again), perhaps someone can fill me in on what they like so much about the film. Is it the incredible single take fight scene in which most of the punches miss by a foot or more? Is it the over-the-top villain who's roughly 15 years too young for the role he plays? Is it the fact that the devoted father gets sprung after years of captivity and doesn't even consider trying to locate his daughter? Is it the way hypnosis is used to explain away everything that doesn't stand up to scrutiny? Yes, it was a killer concept. And yes, the cinematography and score were incredible. But to me, the story just didn't live up to it. So there, I got it off my chest. Now have at it, guys. I've always been partial to "fucktard" and "assmunch", so if you can work those in, great. Just leave my mother out of it, please. Oh, and no, I wasn't molested as a child. But thanks for asking.
Garbageman33 by redtom	Feb 22nd, 2005 11:52:12 AM
for me, the concept was enough to overcome any shortcomings - it was the only film to give me an emotional wallop (and a mighty huge one at that) last year...
redtom by Garbageman33	Feb 22nd, 2005 12:01:36 PM
Yeah, it was a great concept. I guess that's what was so frustrating to me. I felt like they squandered a wonderful opportunity. To me, "Fight Club" doesn't stand up to scrutiny any better than "Old Boy" does (would one guy beating the hell out of himself really make others want to be like him?) But the story was so incredibly well told, I was willing to look past it. I couldn't do the same thing with "Old Boy".
I heard Nic Cage was playing OLDBOY by Darth Kong	Feb 22nd, 2005 12:06:37 PM
Anyone else heard that?
OlderBoy by Barney Hood	Feb 22nd, 2005 12:19:52 PM
Indeed, Good film, but not quite the 'revolution in cinema' I had been promised. Ballsy flick.
Trashbat is..... by evergreen	Feb 22nd, 2005 12:51:49 PM
a night down the pub with your mates and it's fuckin' mental. You move from the pub to the club for some awesome sounds. Choppin' the chalk out, on the cistern, snout it up and FUCKIN' THE SYSTEM! The man is a legend already -peace n fuckin'
Garbageman33, he tough his daugher was dead, I think. by Judge Doom	Feb 22nd, 2005 12:58:49 PM
I also , errrr... got this movie somehow, and from what I remember they told him that she had died. That just pissed him of even more. Oh, and another two words...Squid eat!
Garbageman33: I'll have a go at answering your criticisms. SPOIL by evergreen	Feb 22nd, 2005 01:27:15 PM
...although most of them don't really hold up as criticisms of a work of fiction. If I was to ask you to name 5 of your favorite films, I guarantee I could pick holes in the "realism" of each and every one of their plots, and don't even get me started on the casting decisions! OK, you've made 4 points: [1] that the most of the punches in the fight scene miss by a foot or more. NO, they don't; you're exaggerating in order to try and win an argument. There are about 4 or 5 swings which clearly miss their mark out of a total of around 50 or more. So at the very most, 10% of the punches thrown in that scene obviously don't connect. But out of those, only maybe half of them have the accompanying sound effect of a connecting blow. In other words, the ones which don't have the sound effect ARE NOT MEANT TO LOOK LIKE THEY CONNECT. It's a lengthy fight scene, longer than a round in a boxing match. Have you ever seen a round of boxing where every punch thrown by each boxer hits its intended target? Because if so, I know some people who would be very interested in signing those boxers up! It just doesn't happen, you're moaning about what you perceive to be a lack of realism, but you criticize a fight scene because all the punches don't connect - how does that work? Yes, at least 2 punches thrown in that scene miss by a mile, but have a sound effect which indicates otherwise - but is this the most important scene in the film? No, not by a long shot (pun intended). So in no way could this be the only reason for disliking the film. [2] Why is Lee Woojin 15 years too young? Why? You seem to assume that he's in the same year as Daesu at school - but he could be at least 3 years younger. Add to this the fact that Daesu has spent 15 years eating nothing but dumplings, hacking his wrists up, stitching tattoos in his arm and generally going nuts, coupled with the fact that Woojin is a pampered rich boy who takes at least 2 showers a day and probably smothers himself in expensive moisturizing creams and oils on a daily basis - and I think it's fairly easy to account for the differences in the way they look. Woojin is just a babyfaced guy anyway - some people are like that. Some people age quicker than others, look at Jude Law - he could easily have a wet shave and pass himself off as 20, but in fact he's over 30! Elle Macpherson is 40 for God's sake! Again, you can't possibly hope to reject the film based on a criticism like that. [3] The devoted father gets sprung after years of captivity and doesn't even consider trying to locate his daughter? Um, dunno if you were in the toilet having a hand shandy at that point, but he does try to locate his daughter, almost immediately. He gets Mido to do it - she is told by the adoption agency that Daesu's daughter was adopted by a family in Stockholm, Sweden. He's a wanted criminal, remember? He can't even attempt to get on a plane, not to mention the fact that Stockholm must seem like a pretty far removed place when you're in Seoul. Did I mention that the man is NUTS, and is bent on revenge? He's become a monster, so he's kind of got other things on his mind too. And what makes you think he was a devoted father? He spent his daughter's 3rd birthday getting wrecked off his tits and harassing other men's girlfriends. He is supposed to have cheated on his wife repeatedly - he isn't devoted, that's part of the point of why it's such a compelling movie. [4] Hypnosis is used to explain away everything that doesn't stand up to scrutiny? I think I've shown that you have clearly missed many aspects of the film, so I really have no idea of what you mean here - what doesn't stand up to scrutiny? And how is hypnosis used to "explain" it away? I've said my piece, I'm sure you'll come back with a devastating counter-argument, but perhaps you should watch the film again first. All this and not a word about your momma! I must be getting old, boy....
Thanks, Evergreen (spoiler-ish) by Garbageman33	Feb 22nd, 2005 01:52:25 PM
I respect the fact that you feel so strongly about the film that you're willing to argue its merits, at length. But allow me to respond. The only reason I mentioned the fight scene is that it's widely regarded on this site as, like, the coolest thing ever. And if you go back and look, you'll see that assailants are left reeling from punches that miss by comical distances. The missed punches are also accompanied more often that not by bone-crunching sound effects. As for the age difference, it bothered me, so I checked on imdb and, indeed, the actor who played Win is 15 years younger than Oh Dae-Su. 15 years! Assuming Oh wasn't held back a whole bunch of times, that's kind of glaring, don't you think? Finally, the hypnosis thing bothered me because it was used to explain a major plot point (Mido falling in love with Oh Dae-Su) that couldn't have been explained any other way. I mean, let's face it, he wasn't exactly an easy person to hang around with.
Shweet! by Ribbons	Feb 22nd, 2005 02:34:18 PM
I'll be there. If it ever reaches a theater near me, that is, but if it does, I'll definitely be there.
newish Oldboy review by wreckbless	Feb 22nd, 2005 03:17:09 PM
http://yaleherald.com/article. php?Article=4040
Release date? by Doc_McCoy	Feb 22nd, 2005 03:31:46 PM
Saw the trailer in an L.A. theater the other day, before IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL. What's the projected L.A. release date, did it say sometime in March? I recommend that everybody go see this. Easily one of the coolest movies I have seen in YEARS.
Old Boy coming to Australia by Latauro	Feb 22nd, 2005 03:32:39 PM
Antipodean readers, Old Boy is definitely getting a cinema release down here. I've been searching, but I can't find any info on when.
Old Boy Poster Where the hell can I get one?!?!?! by Junior Frenger	Feb 22nd, 2005 05:42:41 PM
Anyone? Also along with the UK release of Old Boy, Tartan is also releasing a special edition of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance that has the Short film from Chan Wook Park "Simpan" aka The Trial..or AKA Judgement. This short was only previously available on the 4 disc $100 mondo box set.
Well Garbage, I think it's.... by evergreen	Feb 22nd, 2005 05:49:23 PM
"agree to disagree". I can't really argue the age thing any more than I have already, but the idea of Daesu being held back for years did make me laugh! And the hypnosis - i kind of see your point, but I guess I just don't have a problem believing that the chick is some kind of shit-hot hypnotist, and Woojin says they were both unusually susceptible anyway. But fair enough, those points are valid enough to have ruined the film for you, but it's a shame they did. Have you seen Sympathy for Mr Vengeance? You might prefer that, that's more straightforward, but a hell of a lot bleaker. Cool flick though, I do believe Harold voted it his Number 1 of 2002.
Saw this movie 3 times in a row in Belgium in 2004, they showed by Windowlicker74	Feb 22nd, 2005 06:20:25 PM
it s a terrific film indeed..
This Flick is The Goods!... by PerineumLick	Feb 22nd, 2005 09:35:18 PM
This is one of the few flicks that I've seen that oozes style and substance without feeling contrived or pretentious. Quentin Tarantino would give his left nut to be able to make a flick like this. But regarding Garbageman, so what the actor playing Woojin is 15 years younger, when you consider how each character lived his life, you could clearly look past his youthful appearance and still enjoy the film. Oh well, to each his own. Great film.
On Dae-Su's and Woo-Jin's age difference by Damned Skippy	Feb 22nd, 2005 09:59:11 PM
Woo-Jin looking so much younger than Dae-Su is supposed to symbolize the fact that Woo-Jin has never been able to forget the insignificant incident that has led him to seek his revenge. He's living in the past. This is mentioned specifically in the Korean-language film commentary.
gee its only been on dvd forever by cornstalkwalker	Feb 23rd, 2005 03:29:13 AM
I swear I hate how we have to wait forever for the films to be released here in the USA. Thank god there is internet and ebay.
Whatever.... by gg	Feb 23rd, 2005 04:35:45 AM
I still can
yes indeed by ScaryJim	Feb 23rd, 2005 04:40:39 AM
i have been well tempted to buy one of those terrible copies off ebay for 3 uk pounds or something stupid like that , but i did that with the original Juon 4 dvd films and probably ruined the experience because of it(because i don't know what all the fuss was about ) , just love that sub vhs standard and dolby 5.1 reduced to mono !..Piracy is baaaad mmmmmkay...
Emotional depth? SPOILERS by evergreen	Feb 23rd, 2005 06:30:37 AM
How about the fact that a man spens 15 years plotting revenge against a faceless enemy, only to end up begging (literally) like a dog at the feet of his enemy. One of the main popints of the film is that it completely turns the standard revenge story pattern on its head. What about the fact that a man who belives he has been imprisoned for no good reason spends much of his time in there realising that he has, in fact, behaved like a complete asshole for most of his life? What about the notion that the tiniest, most seemingly insignificant throwaway comments can have such drastic effects on the lives of others that they eventually come back to haunt you in the most vicious way imaginable? what about the concept of digging your way out of a prison with a chopstick for the best part of 15 years, only to realise that you'll probably fall to your death anyway, but still deciding that this is a more preferable way to go. What about the notion that a man can become changed to such an extent that he becomes a monster - unable to do anything except seek his "revenge". And what about the love which he finds with Mido, and the way it makes him feel almost thankful for the years in prison. He wonders if he could ever have won the heart of a girl like her without haveing spent those years in prison - and obvously, think about the true relatinship which he shares with Mido in light of that comment. And what about the extremely uncomfortable idea that when he realises the truth, he decides that it would be preferable to just forget altogether, and carry on his relationship with Mido, than share the truth with her? Emotional depth? Watch the movie again......
You argue your case very well.... by gg	Feb 23rd, 2005 09:03:49 AM
...but I still don
But let me add: by gg	Feb 23rd, 2005 09:07:12 AM
I didn
"Oh, well" indeed, gg! by evergreen	Feb 23rd, 2005 12:52:49 PM
I have to agree when you say that "there are too many good films out there rewatch movies you didn
A question for Evergreen SPOILER by Garbageman33	Feb 23rd, 2005 02:01:10 PM
That's another thing I wanted to bring up. Did you like the way the revelation of Oh Dae-Su and Mido's real relationship was handled? Obviously, that was meant to be the huge gut punch and, to me, it was kind of anti-climactic. He finds out by looking through a scrapbook? That's it? That's the big revelation? I thought that was a letdown. But you know what, I'm totally planning on seeing it again (in the theater, this time) and maybe I'll have a different opinion. I find it hard to believe that so many talkbackers could be wrong. Racist and homophobic, maybe. But not wrong.
the more I think about it... by Strabo	Feb 23rd, 2005 03:09:31 PM
...the more that poster just rocks. Oh yeah, Evergreen, great job defending the film against the attacks of the philistines. ;-)
judging by the fact that its all this site ever talks about... by Harrierthanthee	Feb 23rd, 2005 06:48:19 PM
looks like it's good. long live blink-182 by the way
Rent it! Spoiler? by God of Gamblers	Feb 23rd, 2005 08:04:00 PM
I got to watch this gem a couple of weeks ago by renting it at the local (Portland, OR) Japanese toy store/DVD rental (www.justbetoys.com). Check your area for someting similar, I suppose. I'm surprised at the criticism of the "big fight". "you'll see that assailants are left reeling from punches that miss by comical distances" I didn't notice any of that when I saw it; I was too knocked out by the kinetic viciousness of the fight. And yes, although I could easily perceive that there were balsa-wood bludgeons being used, I didn't care. I was just too into it. That level of criticism reminds me of a story. I was on the way out of "Crouching Tiger" when I heard this kid say, "the effects sucked; you could TOTALLY tell they were on WIRES." If you went to a CIRCUS and saw Chow Yun Fat swinging from a wire 40 feet off of the ground while having an intricate sword-fight with a fabulous babe, you might describe it as one of the most amazing thing you'd seen. It's funny how movies do not enjoy the "suspension of disbelief" that is taken for granted in other performance arts.
I don't even bother trying to convince people of the merits of a by Anlashok	Feb 23rd, 2005 11:57:48 PM
More power to folks like evergreen, I don't have the energy. I showed it to my father and he said it was so/so, know why? Because he was convinced the guy was dreaming the whole situation and he never actually left his bed, he thought THAT would have been a better story. Whatever, life's too short to argue over mess like that.
UK DVD Details by Grando	Feb 24th, 2005 04:01:50 AM
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/cont ent.php?contentid=56140 My copy is on it's way......
"Philistines" rolls eyes LOL by gg	Feb 24th, 2005 07:38:14 AM
Evergreen: you arguing the movies merits, have actually made me want to rewatch the movie to some degree...it
By the way: by gg	Feb 24th, 2005 07:41:37 AM
"Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Weep, and you weep alone"? Yes, I noticed that one, and thought it was great, however I
Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep (cry) and you weep (cr by Garbageman33	Feb 24th, 2005 07:50:10 AM
Was written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, a 19th (19th!) century poet and has been recited to pouty kids ever since. So no, that line didn't resonate with me at all. If it did, I would have considered my mom a philosopher.
Garbageman, GG - I have now woken up... [MORE SPOILERS] by evergreen	Feb 24th, 2005 07:59:53 AM
Sorry for the delay, I was asleep in a puddle of my own urine. GG: I haven't had the chance to see The Tenant yet, but I'm intrigued and I'll definitely check it out on your recommendation; it sounds cool - I always appreciate being made aware of cool movies. Garbage: I have to admit, I can see your point about the scrapbook reveal, mainly because I worked out what was going on literally about a minute before he opened it (I realised that Mido was looking at the wings which Daesu had bought for her 3rd birthday), but on subsequent viewings, I introduced people to the film, and some of them guessed the ending about half an hour into the film! Some didn't get it until right at the end of the scrapbook, but all were very moved by the film. And, speaking personally, I found that repeat viewings just improved the film for me, and I really see so much more to the story than just the "shock" ending. The significance of the end for me was more the fact that, after Mido says she will be praying to God that Woojin will have to bow down to Daesu and beg him for forgiveness, instead the exact opposite happens. And that whole thing was made more interesting for me by the way Daesu cheats fate by making himself forget the dark secret, with the aid of the hypnotist. Even cooler is the fact that the hypnotist only agreed to help Daesu because in his letter, he wrote the sentence "Even though I'm worse than an animal, don't I have the right to live?" Which, of course was said to him by the suicidal man right at the beginning of the film, a character who seems to be of no importance at all. As viewers, we're encouraged to understand that this story is nothing to do with him, through the way that Daesu walks off after telling him how he came to be on the roof, even though he wants to tell Daesu his story. Minutes later, he crashes into the car on the street below. Yet in the end, Daesu owes him an enormous debt, if you think about it that way. Anyway, I do endorse your decision to see the movie again, I hope you get more out of it this time. I've enjoyed the debate though, it's always nice to be reminded that you can have discussions and disagreements on AICN with people who don't resort to saying stuff like "EAT SHIT, U FUCKING RETARRD!" Cheers! I'm eager to see Sympathy for Miss Vengeance now, I would love it if the suicidal guy is a main charcter in that film, but it's pretty unlikely! Different note: I saw 2046 a couple of days ago, holy crap that film was good!
On the laugh/weep thing by evergreen	Feb 24th, 2005 08:06:46 AM
But surely you don't think that I was saying the scriptwriter came up with that himself? It's just an integral part of the story, the last image we see is Daesu laughing in the snow with Mido, but it almost looks like he's crying to. And right after they Mido and Daesu go to the adoption agency, there's a moment when he's stomping off down the street, and she's running after you saying "shall we go and visit your wife's grave", and he turns round to reveal that he's crying, but almost immediately he forces his face into a grin and we hear his thoughts (another cool touch which is employed a few times in the film). He thinks "I'll kill that bastard first"
And, Damned Skippy: a belated thanks by evergreen	Feb 24th, 2005 10:38:36 AM
I read your comment yesterday and was amazed that I hadn't even considered the explanation you give for the age difference - I think it's a fantastic one, and definitely gives the film more depth - good stuff! I take it you speak Korean? The film must be even more of a joy to watch if you don't need the subs!
"But surely you don't think that I was saying the scriptwriter c by gg	Feb 24th, 2005 12:18:46 PM
No, not really, I mentioned it because if he didn
Just go order it here... by Monkey_King	Feb 24th, 2005 12:45:45 PM
www.aznfilms.com they have 'Old Boy' and others(including the modern day Star Wars/Matrix wannabe 'Arahan')
"just repeating clever words written by someone else" by evergreen	Feb 24th, 2005 01:00:00 PM
I think you'll find every writer who ever existed copies ideas which originated outside of their own mind. Tarantino even makes self-conscious admission of the fact in Jackie Brown when Bridget Fonda says~: "he's just repeating shit he overheard". Anyhoo, I ordered The Tenant on play.com this afternoon, it sounds fuckin cool - see ya!
Nathan Barley by Fitzcarraldo2	Feb 24th, 2005 02:59:04 PM
Evergreen, if you like Nathan Barley I assume you've read the TV go home website archives? That's where he started (in the listing called simply "cunt"). That website is the funniest thing I've ever seen on the net, I learned some fantastic insults from it. www.tvgohome.com
Sure.... by gg	Feb 24th, 2005 05:29:02 PM
...but the great ones come up with a few ones themselves ;-)
Re: The Tenant by gg	Feb 24th, 2005 05:34:19 PM
(yeah, I
While it may be tiresome to see Harry waving the Oldboy flag *ag by SalvatoreGravano	Feb 24th, 2005 06:37:06 PM
At least this time Boss Harold is pimping a good film for a change. That's good news, considering that most titles which Harry recently chose to promote turned out to be undeserving of even as positive a description as, say, "abysmal drivel" (Sky Captain, Texas Chainsaw Remake...)
gg - by evergreen	Feb 25th, 2005 05:42:56 AM
Reading the synopsis, I'm pretty sure I'll like it!
Fitzcarraldo2 by evergreen	Feb 25th, 2005 06:28:59 AM
I'd heard about the site, but didn't check it out until this morning. I've just spent my first two hours at work trawling through the archives and pissing myself! Looking forward to tonight's episode....
great film by mavsman15	Mar 6th, 2005 12:43:10 AM
just got in on vcd and i was like wow, i never saw this comming, harry is correct on this film and when it comes to the usa you need to see it.

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