Park Chan Wook’s 2003 classic based on the manga comic was, and still is, the pinnacle of Korean Cinema, not only was it a beautifully horrific slice of story telling but also so brilliant in every aspect that many have tried and failed to match it. When it was announced a few years ago that the movie was to receive the American remake treatment.

 

First problem; How would Hollywood tackle such a fucked up story?

 

Well, surprisingly Spike Lee manages to stick to the main story arc only altering small parts of the plot. Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) is spontaneously kidnapped by a lady with an umbrella already summoning the clues to what will happen, and held prisoner for 20 years by the unknown. Not only losing twenty years of his life but also being framed for the graphic murder of his wife. Suddenly released back into the world in an artistic Louis Vitton chest, Doucett has to find out why he was released within a few days armed with only a wallet of cash and a cell phone with his daughter’s image held on it. Seeking help and refuge he finds his old friend Chucky (Michael Imperioli), and helpful nurse Marie (Elizabeth Olsen).

 

So far, so ‘Oldboy’ and it doesn’t let up there. Following the trace of dumplings he’s dieted on over the past 20 years and with the help of Chucky and Marie he is led to the fortress and prison which is being managed by Chaney (Samuel L Jackson) and an army of goons who, quite faithfully, Doucett battles through wave by wave.After several leads he is led to his captor who provides him with an answer to his questions and an answer he may not want to hear.

 

Second problem; How do you solve a problem like reimagining a classic?

 

There is no denying that Lee has stuck to the formula and kept (almost) every grizzly detail in the story. It is however, with the small changes that have been made where Oldboy falls down. Adding an additional 15 or so minutes of Doucett being an arrogant arsehole make him unlikable from the beginning and his characteristics and one tracked emotion until the very end make the shocking climax feel less impacted. In addition without going into spoilers, the Stranger (Sharlto Copley) manages to win the accolade for biggest hilarious caricature in cinema history. From his elaborate accent and mannerisms to his reasons for revenge (expanded quite heavily from the original) are just so absurd it’s hard to see who the real winner is here.

 

Apart from looking like a shiny photo-shoot and extended advertisement in a glossy fashion magazine, and once you get beyond the shockingly abysmal performances from such great actors, it’s hard to give one reason for anyone who has seen the 2003 classic. For newcomers, my only advise is to watch this then watch the original and then you can see how a great film is made. The brutality of the film is tame in comparison and it’s hard to see why. The hammer scene is still present and the teeth ripping scene replaced with more harrowing ‘salt torture’ but loses the impact that Park Chan-Wook so perfectly captured.

 

It's hard to give fault to Lee for trying the impossible and in all honesty, 'Olboy' 2013 is a great home movie, one that should be kept in his vaults as a homage and nothing more. Despite surprisingly sticking to the originals content, the extended origins of both key characters is unwanted and unneeded and to learn that Spike Lee’s original cut was 140 minutes long only makes things worse. A waste of high quality talent that's oozing from the cast and a shame that there will be an audience of this ignorant to a far superior Korean original. 

 

P.S. Don’t reference one of the films key scenes and do nothing with it.