Dear future Teresa,
The current date is Monday, October 27, 2014. Yesterday, your life may have been changed forever after watching a movie. The specific movie, as you can probably guess is the 2003 Korean film Oldboy. In case you completely lost your memory in the past month, Oldboy focuses on a man named Oh Sae-un who was under constant surveillance as a prisoner for fifteen years. The movie focuses on his life after his capture and his vengeance on the person who ordered his kidnapping. In a breadcrumb trail type way, Sae-un is able to find out who did this to him and why it happened. Of course, there are many murders, fights, and really gross scenes along the way. The ending is probably the most horrifying part.
In general, this movie gave off a very Tarantino-esque feeling, but it wasn’t a Tarantino film at all. The plot was something that would come out of the director’s mind, but Park Chan-wook made it a hell of a lot darker than Tarantino ever would. Where Tarantino usually has comical blood, goofy characters, and an unnecessary cameo, Chan-wook directs a movie filled with taboos, real threats, and very serious situations. For instance, in that last scene, you know where Sae-un cuts off his own tongue with a pair of scissors? Yea, Tarantino would have that happen, but blood would go everywhere. It’d spray on the window, cover all of the photos, cover dead bodies, everything. Chan-wook lets a scream and a tasteful cloth in the mouth get the point across, which makes the scene ten times more messed up.
The movie itself though was downright amazing. If we’re continuing on with the in case you lost your memory possibility, please watch it again, it’s on Netflix and actually in Korean, not the English voice over like it was about six months ago. Another thing, do not mistake it for the recent American remake. Unlike the British to American The Office, this is a terrible remake. I haven’t watched it yet, but trust me; I can smell the trash on that movie. (If you do watch it, please add in your actual thoughts in your second review of this.) The only complaint that I really have is some of the cinematography is lacking. When the movie shows time passing, there is Powerpoint slide show transition feel to the calendar showing the change of day. But, that did not deter me from watching the movie. I just pray for your sake that you forget about it in the next month. Another embarrassing cinematography choice was the mirror symbolism when Sae-un finally meets Woo-jin Lee. Like I mentioned on Twitter, it looked like a bad American Idol music video, all it needed was a cheesy one hit wonder from the 80s. The idea that somebody thought two people talking to each other by looking at the same mirror in theory sounds cool but it just looked bad. Oh well, who am I to judge? I could never make a movie this good. Minus those stylistic weak points, the movie was astoundingly well put together. The plot, acting, and fight sequences were amazing. I just pray for everybody in the room that you don’t put it on during a party or recommend it to some faint hearted person on the internet who can barely handle gore.
Jokes aside, I hope this movie holds up in your memory and still gives you the same feeling of excitement, horror, and joy a month from now. Maybe this will become your next weird obsession movie, actually I hope not for your sanity and your friends’ sake that that does not happen again. We don’t need another Pacific Rim situation on our hands. Now, please don’t fail any tests in the next month, keep writing your reviews, and don’t get hit by a car. Actually, do get hit by a car so you lose your memory just so you can experience Oldboy for the first time all over again.
I’ll experience you in a month,
Past Teresa
The current date is Monday, October 27, 2014. Yesterday, your life may have been changed forever after watching a movie. The specific movie, as you can probably guess is the 2003 Korean film Oldboy. In case you completely lost your memory in the past month, Oldboy focuses on a man named Oh Sae-un who was under constant surveillance as a prisoner for fifteen years. The movie focuses on his life after his capture and his vengeance on the person who ordered his kidnapping. In a breadcrumb trail type way, Sae-un is able to find out who did this to him and why it happened. Of course, there are many murders, fights, and really gross scenes along the way. The ending is probably the most horrifying part.
In general, this movie gave off a very Tarantino-esque feeling, but it wasn’t a Tarantino film at all. The plot was something that would come out of the director’s mind, but Park Chan-wook made it a hell of a lot darker than Tarantino ever would. Where Tarantino usually has comical blood, goofy characters, and an unnecessary cameo, Chan-wook directs a movie filled with taboos, real threats, and very serious situations. For instance, in that last scene, you know where Sae-un cuts off his own tongue with a pair of scissors? Yea, Tarantino would have that happen, but blood would go everywhere. It’d spray on the window, cover all of the photos, cover dead bodies, everything. Chan-wook lets a scream and a tasteful cloth in the mouth get the point across, which makes the scene ten times more messed up.
The movie itself though was downright amazing. If we’re continuing on with the in case you lost your memory possibility, please watch it again, it’s on Netflix and actually in Korean, not the English voice over like it was about six months ago. Another thing, do not mistake it for the recent American remake. Unlike the British to American The Office, this is a terrible remake. I haven’t watched it yet, but trust me; I can smell the trash on that movie. (If you do watch it, please add in your actual thoughts in your second review of this.) The only complaint that I really have is some of the cinematography is lacking. When the movie shows time passing, there is Powerpoint slide show transition feel to the calendar showing the change of day. But, that did not deter me from watching the movie. I just pray for your sake that you forget about it in the next month. Another embarrassing cinematography choice was the mirror symbolism when Sae-un finally meets Woo-jin Lee. Like I mentioned on Twitter, it looked like a bad American Idol music video, all it needed was a cheesy one hit wonder from the 80s. The idea that somebody thought two people talking to each other by looking at the same mirror in theory sounds cool but it just looked bad. Oh well, who am I to judge? I could never make a movie this good. Minus those stylistic weak points, the movie was astoundingly well put together. The plot, acting, and fight sequences were amazing. I just pray for everybody in the room that you don’t put it on during a party or recommend it to some faint hearted person on the internet who can barely handle gore.
Jokes aside, I hope this movie holds up in your memory and still gives you the same feeling of excitement, horror, and joy a month from now. Maybe this will become your next weird obsession movie, actually I hope not for your sanity and your friends’ sake that that does not happen again. We don’t need another Pacific Rim situation on our hands. Now, please don’t fail any tests in the next month, keep writing your reviews, and don’t get hit by a car. Actually, do get hit by a car so you lose your memory just so you can experience Oldboy for the first time all over again.
I’ll experience you in a month,
Past Teresa
It’s November 27th, 2014 and I am mad at my past self. I probably should have thought about how today is Thanksgiving or at least I should have been real with myself and thought about how I’d procrastinate until the last minute to get this done and here we are watching the National Dog Show while writing this review on Chan-wook Park’s classic, Oldboy. I cannot even write a letter to my past self because there is no way my past self will see it. Before I get even madder at myself, there is no point in complaining. Without further ado, here are my thoughts on the 2003 movie, Oldboy.
Even a month later, the plot of Oldboy sticks with me. A haunting story of revenge and hate gets the viewer hooked as soon as Dae-su is captured. I’ve already spoiled the basic idea of the movie in the letter to my current self so there is not much to talk about in this review. After a brief read through of my letter, everything came rushing back to me. Thankfully, I forgot about the embarrassing scene transitions but now I remember them and I wish that I could forget about them again. I did not forget about the mirror cinematography and you know what, you need to take the good and the bad for what it is.
In my review, I talked about the scene where Dae-su cuts off his tongue after the big plot twist, and to be truthful, that scene still haunts me. Another thing this movie has done to me, it has made me hyper aware of fake window art pieces similar to the ones in his hotel room/cell oddly enough. I’ll be watching television or I’ll be in a dollar store and I’ll see one of the fake windows and I think of the fifteen-year struggle of Dae-su all over again. Though the names are beginning to fade, the acting of each actor and actress is still sticking with me. Each character was well portrayed by phenomenal acting and I am curious to know exactly what award the movie has won. When I read name of Korean awards I have no idea how serious they are because I am not familiar with their award systems like I am with the American system. With a quick check of Wikipedia though, you can see that the movie has been nominated for and has won many awards.
Holding up a month later, I am still enamored by this fantastic film. Thankfully, I have picked the right people to recommend the movie to and I have not sacrificed my sanity by watching the American remake. Maybe one day I’ll step up to the plate and finally watch that monstrosity. Before I do that though, apparently Oldboy is the second movie out of a trilogy. So before any American remakes, I will be sure to watch Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Sympathy for Lady Vengance. Together, the three movies make The Vengance Trilogy.
Overall, as much as I want to punch myself in the face for waiting until Thanksgiving to write this review and that I waited a whole month to review Oldboy again, there is nothing I can do about it now. If you are looking for a movie to relax to, cry at a heart warming ending, and have an all together fun time this Thanksgiving, do not watch Oldboy. However, if you want to watch a movie with strong characters, a bloody and compelling story, and a plot twist that will punch you in the gut like no other, then sit an enjoy Park Chan-wook’s cult classic Oldboy while you’re eating your turkey and cranberry sauce.
Even a month later, the plot of Oldboy sticks with me. A haunting story of revenge and hate gets the viewer hooked as soon as Dae-su is captured. I’ve already spoiled the basic idea of the movie in the letter to my current self so there is not much to talk about in this review. After a brief read through of my letter, everything came rushing back to me. Thankfully, I forgot about the embarrassing scene transitions but now I remember them and I wish that I could forget about them again. I did not forget about the mirror cinematography and you know what, you need to take the good and the bad for what it is.
In my review, I talked about the scene where Dae-su cuts off his tongue after the big plot twist, and to be truthful, that scene still haunts me. Another thing this movie has done to me, it has made me hyper aware of fake window art pieces similar to the ones in his hotel room/cell oddly enough. I’ll be watching television or I’ll be in a dollar store and I’ll see one of the fake windows and I think of the fifteen-year struggle of Dae-su all over again. Though the names are beginning to fade, the acting of each actor and actress is still sticking with me. Each character was well portrayed by phenomenal acting and I am curious to know exactly what award the movie has won. When I read name of Korean awards I have no idea how serious they are because I am not familiar with their award systems like I am with the American system. With a quick check of Wikipedia though, you can see that the movie has been nominated for and has won many awards.
Holding up a month later, I am still enamored by this fantastic film. Thankfully, I have picked the right people to recommend the movie to and I have not sacrificed my sanity by watching the American remake. Maybe one day I’ll step up to the plate and finally watch that monstrosity. Before I do that though, apparently Oldboy is the second movie out of a trilogy. So before any American remakes, I will be sure to watch Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Sympathy for Lady Vengance. Together, the three movies make The Vengance Trilogy.
Overall, as much as I want to punch myself in the face for waiting until Thanksgiving to write this review and that I waited a whole month to review Oldboy again, there is nothing I can do about it now. If you are looking for a movie to relax to, cry at a heart warming ending, and have an all together fun time this Thanksgiving, do not watch Oldboy. However, if you want to watch a movie with strong characters, a bloody and compelling story, and a plot twist that will punch you in the gut like no other, then sit an enjoy Park Chan-wook’s cult classic Oldboy while you’re eating your turkey and cranberry sauce.