Oldboy

Name: Oldboy
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Released: March 25, 2005
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 78
Cast: Hye-jeong Kang, Ji-tae Yu, Min-sik Choi

2005

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 644 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 644 Ratings

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Oldboy (Remastered US Trailer)

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Movie Details & Credits

Tartan | Release Date: March 25, 2005 | R

Starring: Hye-jeong Kang, Ji-tae Yu, Min-sik Choi

Summary: Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) is an ordinary Seoul businessman with a wife and little daughter who, after a drunken night on the town, is locked up in a strange, private "prison." No one will tell him why he's there or who his jailer is. The imprisonment last for 15 years until one day when Dae-su finds himself unexpectedly deposited on aOh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) is an ordinary Seoul businessman with a wife and little daughter who, after a drunken night on the town, is locked up in a strange, private "prison." No one will tell him why he's there or who his jailer is. The imprisonment last for 15 years until one day when Dae-su finds himself unexpectedly deposited on a grass-covered high-rise roof, determined to discover the mysterious enemy who had him locked up. (Tartan Films)… Expand

Director: Chan-wook Park

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 120 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Michael Wilmington

It's a movie of such jaw-dropping violence, wild improbability and dazzling style it overpowers all resistance. Read full review

100

Dallas Observer Luke Y. Thompson

It's a work of art for sure, but a sadistic one. Oldboy is one of the year's best; it just isn't for everyone. If you're still interested, go for it. Read full review

Michael Atkinson

Whatever its oversteps and excesses (I do think Park ran a little amok with the computer gimcrackery), Oldboy has the bulldozing nerve and full-blooded passion of a classic. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

His film is not for the weak of stomach or heart, but it's a stunner all the same.

James Berardinelli

Regardless of how you look at Oldboy, it's unlike anything you are likely to have seen before. Read full review

Liam Lacey

This is a movie about draining, tenderizing and chopping up the audience emotionally. Read full review

Put simply, in my humble opinion, Oldboy sucks. Read full review

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User Reviews

EmmzDigzMoviez

Sep 23, 2011

Masterpiece. Critics who gave this movie negative reviews probably didn't understand it or it's simply not their taste. The violence may also be a bit too raw for some. But if you're a true movie fan, within 1 hour into this movie you'll realize that you're watching a true work of cinemaMasterpiece. Critics who gave this movie negative reviews probably didn't understand it or it's simply not their taste. The violence may also be a bit too raw for some. But if you're a true movie fan, within 1 hour into this movie you'll realize that you're watching a true work of cinema art. From the intriguing storyline, raw character portrayal and excellent direction to the explosive twist ending, filled with underlying messages and morals, this is one movie you will never forget. You might even learn a thing or two about revenge.… Expand

12 of 17 users found this helpful125

Bradyboy12

Apr 12, 2014

Oldboy is a sick and twisted revenge thriller with shocks and twists through the entire movie. Hands down the best ending in movie history. A well done movie, a must see.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

matta.

Sep 26, 2005

This movie is a unqualified classic. Cinematography, art-direction, screenplay, acting, direction--all pitch-perfect. I've seen some complaints about some of the plot twists, but really, they are so minor compared to other films of this sort that are now hailed as classics that I think This movie is a unqualified classic. Cinematography, art-direction, screenplay, acting, direction--all pitch-perfect. I've seen some complaints about some of the plot twists, but really, they are so minor compared to other films of this sort that are now hailed as classics that I think this film deserves to be forgiven.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

UncleEarl

Dec 1, 2013

It can't be missed. This is one of those films that grab your heart by the aorta and shake it around violently until you have to take a deep breath and recover from the trauma. You don't need to read a review of this movie, you need to watch it tout suite.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Oct 22, 2016

A manga from East Asia is suitable for a great adaptation by Korea which is also from East Asia, but Oldboy has a great visual and outstanding story of being trapped and being free to investigate. The scene when Dae-su fights over 10 men in a small corridor is one whole shot is memorable.A manga from East Asia is suitable for a great adaptation by Korea which is also from East Asia, but Oldboy has a great visual and outstanding story of being trapped and being free to investigate. The scene when Dae-su fights over 10 men in a small corridor is one whole shot is memorable. Asian adaptations is much nicer. I rate it a 92/100.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ahmedaiman9999

Aug 29, 2018

Amélie's quirkiness, Tarantino's violence and gore, interesting characters, intriguing plot, profound philosophical questions, and insanely cool action sequences made this gut-wrenching revenge tale the most gripping, entertaining, and enthralling movie of its kind, except it's actually oneAmélie's quirkiness, Tarantino's violence and gore, interesting characters, intriguing plot, profound philosophical questions, and insanely cool action sequences made this gut-wrenching revenge tale the most gripping, entertaining, and enthralling movie of its kind, except it's actually one of a kind!

Amid the gruesome scenes, and the brutal fight sequences, Oldboy has a very emotionally devastating story. Chan-wook Park could have easily leaned on nothing but the action and the gore to grab the viewers' attention from the beginning. Instead, he knew that if there is anything that can attract the attention of the audience, and make them invested in the protagonist as fast as possible, it would be a thoughtful moral philosophy mingled with a sentimental story. That's how Chan-wook Park captivated the viewers from the opening scene until he evoked a catharsis in the audience at the traumatic third act.

Flawless is a very weak, and unsatisfying word to describe the third act. It's simply look like nothing you've seen before, or even you'll see. With its twist reveal, to the outrageous and shocking visceral images, the third act is provocative, distressful, and utterly maddening. But nothing would have worked in it, and in the entire movie as a whole without Min-sik Choi's kinetic multi-layered performance.

The fact that this movie didn't get a single Oscar nod, at least for Min-sik Choi's incredible performance, is as infuriating as the movie itself. For me, Min-sik Choi delivered one of the best performances in the past decade. Yes, I would easily put his performance alongside Adrien Brody's in The Pianist, Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator, Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood, and Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. But all that thanks to Chan-wook Park who allowed Min-sik Choi to show all his talent challenging him, and his pathetic, Dae-su Oh.

What is truly impressive is how Chan-wook Park put us in Dae-su Oh's shoes by changing the tone, so gracefully, to resemble how the protagonist feels. The movie starts off with flashes of dark humor matching how mazed and lost the character feels. Then, when things become more clearer and clearer the tone becomes darker and darker till the climax when the movie became acutely distressing and dreary.

Nevertheless, these tonal changes didn't work very well at the second act. Not because the tonal shift wasn't smooth, nor it came abruptly, but because that was the time when our protagonist, as well as us, discovering clues, and collecting pieces to get the whole picture. The whole act was very convoluted, for better or worse, but the thing is that the pacing was madly rushed resembling Dae-su Oh's confusion and ignorance. Not to mention, there were some sequences where we get to know about some very important characters, and some specifics related to them. Adding insult to injury, some of these details could be passed up, because they are simply not that important. The result is that the movie almost lost me a couple of times. I mean that I really lose track of some small details.

Oldeuboi is a very powerful, thought-provoking, and visceral film, and that's because what it implies more than what it depicts. I think it's the first Korean film I watch, and it definitely won't be the last. Just help me with some recommendations, if you wouldn't mind! :)

(8.5/10)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jackie

Aug 17, 2007

Absolutely fucking horrific. Good people are tortured in unbelievably vile ways for having done nothing at all; everyone in the film is pointlessly disturbed and it leaves one with absolutely no satisfaction at the end. I didn't feel that justice had been done, which is the point for Absolutely fucking horrific. Good people are tortured in unbelievably vile ways for having done nothing at all; everyone in the film is pointlessly disturbed and it leaves one with absolutely no satisfaction at the end. I didn't feel that justice had been done, which is the point for me of films like this, I just felt like I'd seen some cool fighting and needless suffering. Watch this if you want to destroy your faith in humanity, watch the far superior Lady Vengeance to have it restored.… Expand

0 of 8 users found this helpful

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50	#50 Best Movie of 2005
31	#31 Most Discussed Movie of 2005
13	#13 Most Shared Movie of 2005