Old Boy

Une histoire simple, présentée d'une manière inutilement incompréhensible. Une œuvre visuellement époustouflante avec une musique incroyablement bien utilisée et de formidables acteurs, mais l'histoire elle-même, surtout sa résolution, m'a laissé plutôt froid. Les Asiatiques sont tout simplement différents, ils s'expriment différemment et perçoivent les choses différemment - et moi, avec Oldboy, dont l'histoire a quelque chose d'unique - je n'ai pas vécu ce que les différentes scènes dramatiques essayaient de me convaincre. Mais je suis très curieux du remake américain. (24/10/2004)

Well, wasn’t that a shock. After a long time I was flabbergasted by a twist! A great story, fantastic performances and direction, and a very interesting narrative style. The cultural differences can be felt and I didn’t get the emotional side of Old Boy, but thumbs up for everything else. PS: This is one of those films where bringing the story closer through a western remake would not be out of the question, provided it gets in the hands of a competent director, of course. (27/05/2010)

An extreme variation on the classic Oedipus Rex substance, where Fate replaces the motive of revenge? Why not? Especially when it's all filmed in an excellently light style, narrated by a few "voices" and shipped in a luxurious visual package... For me, the insight and the natural oscillation between black humor and drama is the culmination of Oldboy. Surprisingly, even the brutality of some of the passages does not appear self-serving and fits well into the Asian trend of "crippled" heroes. Great music. The famous acting performance of Dae Su... a perfect and unexpected final twist, which is embedded in the structure of the film so systematically that I would to enjoy watching it again. I'm a little bothered by the formal coldness that emanates from most of the film, but at the end it turns into existential heat. Not entirely captivating, yet still an unforgettable film. (08/04/2007)

I have a problem with Asian films because their emotionality is beyond me. I don't deny the camera finesse, a few visually memorable scenes (although judging by the reviews I was expecting a much, much more visually striking work), but a three-minute fight in one uninterrupted shot, a close-up of teeth being pulled and a live octopus being eaten don't make a memorable film. First and foremost, it's about the story, and the story here – told in a somewhat incomprehensible way for my taste – couldn't quite reach me, as well as the twist and emotional outpourings in the last twenty minutes. I can't help it, Oldboy is overrated in my eyes, which is not to say it's not worth watching. (27/06/2005)

Asian miracle, which didn't affect me. The music accompaniment is flawless, but visually, even the highly praised scenes reach the limit of mediocrity. If there is something brilliant, it's the punchline, too bad that right after it, director Park "adds blood" and loses me again on the way to the climax. I understand everyone who was moved by the last minute or captivated by the film as a whole. I understand them, but I will never belong with them. (29/12/2005)