Oldboy

Release Date: Nov 27, 2013 
Runtime: 1 hr. 58 min. 
Director: Spike Lee 
Cast: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, James Ransone, Samuel L. Jackson.

It's one thing to remake a movie and another to remake a cult classic, especially one as revered as "Oldboy," the ground-breaking Korean film based on the Japanese manga. Highly provocative and morally vexing, the original bore no limits when it came to glorifying the violence through the twisted mind of Park Chan Wook. Nevertheless, Spike Lee attempts to brave the impossible and inevitably suffers the common case of déjà vu. In both versions, "Oldboy" tells of a man imprisoned for many odd years only to be released inexplicably to track down his captor. A story doused in mystery and suspense, it's a gripping tale of revenge with an unexpected ending. And here lies the problem that hinders the remake, any element of surprise gone which belittles its sole purpose. Though some details are spared to adapt to a new audience, not much has changed or, more importantly, been improved upon. What made Park's adaptation so arrestingly poignant was its graphic nature and inclusion of metaphors. Lee, on the other hand, has little else to offer, other than a multi-floor hammer scene that still feels inferior. The casting, fortunately, is its only saving grace, as Brolin has epitomized tormented souls for what feels like half of his career (ie. "No Country for Old Men" and "True Grit.") Sharlto Copley continues his turn as villain, mirroring the soft-spoken tormentor played so brilliantly by Yoo Ji Tae. Together they strive towards a resolute ending, each with their own goal and provocation. But in the end it all feels anticlimactic, even with the alteration that perceivably gives some closure. Maybe to unbiased viewers the film will have its merits but to loyalists who were doubtful, there's really not much to see.

Rating: 2 stars