Oldboy | 
 enlarge | Director: Chan-wook Park
Actors: Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu, Hye-jeong Kang, Dae-han Ji, Dal-su Oh
Studio: Tartan Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $22.95
Buy New: $16.32
You Save: $6.63 (29%)
New (37) Used (18) Collectible (2) from $14.94
Rating:  186 reviews
Sales Rank: 2626
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: Korean (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 120 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 842498030042
UPC: 842498030042
EAN: 0842498030042
ASIN: B0009S2T0M
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
Release Date: August 23, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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Product Description
After being kidnapped and held a prisoner for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is mysteriously set free with money and new clothes, and searches for his captor.
No Track Information Available
Media Type: DVD
Artist: OLDBOY
Title: OLDBOY
Street Release Date: 06/27/2006
Domestic
Genre: ACTION / ADVENTURE
Amazon.com
In the realm of revenge thrillers, you'd be hard pressed to find more ultra-violent vengeance and psycho thrills than in the creepy story of Oldboy. This Korean import made a pop splash at the Cannes Film Festival and during its limited theatrical run thanks to the imprimatur of Quentin Tarantino, who raved about it and its visionary director, Chan-wook Park, to anyone who would listen. It's easy to see why QT fell in love with the grindhouse attitude, fast-paced action, violent imagery, and icy-black humor, but it's a disservice to think of Oldboy as another Tarantino homage or knockoff. The darkly existential undercurrent in the themes that Oldboy traces over its life-long narrative arc is much more complex and deeply disturbing than anything of its kind. The movie's tagline is, "15 years of imprisonment... 5 days of vengeance." The imprisonee is Oh Dae-Su, an ordinary Joe who is snatched off a Seoul street corner and locked away in a dank, windowless fleabag hotel room for the aforementioned 15 years. Just as abruptly he is released, and thus the five days begin. Why did this happen to Oh Dae-Su? Ah, but that would be telling, and in fact we don't know ourselves until the final wrenching scenes. Oldboy breaks into a classic three-act saga, the first of which details the hallucinatory period of imprisonment in which Oh Dae-Su wades from mild insanity to outright psychosis in the hands of unseen yet attentive captors. Act 2 is the revenge, when an entirely different tone takes over and Oh Dae-Su moves with single-minded purpose and clarity. It's this section that has gained the most notoriety, primarily for the claw-hammer dentistry scene, the one-man-army tracking shot, and the wriggling octopus that Oh Dae-Su consumes in a sushi bar (he's been dead so long he simply needs life back inside him in any way possible). In act 3, answers finally start to emerge and the sinister atmosphere grows even more profound--not without a healthy dose of extra bloodletting, of course. Oldboy is an undeniably poetic masterpiece of tension, fury, and dynamic craft. Ultimately, its epic cycle of tragedy is of the sort that mankind has been inflicting upon itself for all time. Some of the images may be gruesome, but all converge into a kind of beauty. It's in the telling of this lurid tale that these details become one and the memories of pain ultimately heal. --Ted Fry
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| Customer Reviews: Read 181 more reviews...
 Don't waste your $$$ January 5, 2009
T. Kim (Princeton, NJ United States)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Don't waste your money seeing this grotesque movie. I'm not a prude and I enjoy watching stylized violence in an action flick, where the story calls for it. However, this movie goes way over the line with incest and a very twisted act of revenge. There's nothing redeeming about this movie. I'm really ashamed that something like this came from Korean media. Thumbs way way down on this movie...
 Entertaining mystery/thriller with plenty of plot twists and turns! January 5, 2009
. (Seattle, WA USA)
I won't give away too much of this film's plot, as part of the enjoyment is the anticipation of what happens next from very early on (and I would encourage avoiding other reviews that give to much away and just watch it!) This being said, early on the film's protagonist is kidnapped and locked away in a room for reasons which are unknown to him. Beyond being feed, cleaned, and treated medically, his captors completely refuse to communicate with him who they are or why he is being held (however, his "cell" does come furnished with a TV - his only means of receiving communication from the outside world!).
Generally this Korean-made suspense/thriller (with English subtitles) was received well by critics. Part of the enjoyment unquestionably is the twists and turns of the plot throughout. Overall, very fine acting and a plot that (near as I can tell) holds up; whether one truly buys the bizarre storyline may depend on the particular viewer.
I give it a thumbs up - it's definitely memorable, stylistic, and entertaining, though it seems to fall under the trend of thrillers world-wide that seem to be competing for "one-ups-manship" in the areas of extreme plot, violence, mutilation, and perversity. I would give it around 7 out of a scale of ten. I would add that it is one that seems worth a second viewing based on being full of subtle plot details that the viewer may not pick up on their meaning the first time.
Though it's not considered a horror, in outrageousness, some aspects it seem to rival the Japanese made horror movie, "Audition."
 beautiful and important January 3, 2009
R. Burns
this is quite possibly the most beautiful revenge film ever made. the script, which has been overlooked, hits very important topics regarding life and the decisions that you make during it. the acting is phenomenal and the violence is perfectly coreographed to be very visual but relates to the story. (ive read that is considered an ultra violent tarantino comparison....very untrue). bottom line this movie is a very entertaining movie but if you listen and pay attention to the words, it will strike a chord with you
This Movie Is A Brilliant Violent Action/Love Story With Quite An Edge That Should Not Be Missed December 31, 2008
Ryan Kaminky
Oldboy is one of my favorite films.
Let me get that out of the way to show my bias. I love Oldboy. I think it's brilliant, I think the story is fantastic, I think the cinematography is phenomenal, and the acting is amazing. I can go on, but alas, I've run out of adjectives.
This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to get just a piece of the puzzle throughout the movie until the shocking (and it is extremely shocking) ending. You will find the grand reveal disturbing. There is no way around that. Once you get past the initial shock though, you will find yourself asking new questions about true love. The action is great but, contrary to what some reviews you may read have said, shockingly restrained (at least in comparison to other Japanese films along the same genres). Most of the most brutal parts are psychological or implied (the root canal scene comes to mind). As for the controversial octopus scene, eating an octopus while still alive isn't completely unheard of in Japan. It's just a cultural difference really. If it's any consolation, Min-sik Choi (who plays the main character) is a devout Buddhist who said a prayer for the octopi before every take. If you enjoy action or appreciate cinematography, this film is a must buy simply based upon the hallway fight scene.
All in all, whether you like Asian cinema or not, if you have a desire for a dark dramatic action movie and possess a strong stomach, you need to see Oldboy. You will be happy you did.
 Don't watch this with your mother!!! December 31, 2008
movie babe (NYC)
I had no idea what this film was about, but I got it for xmas.. I have a great dvd collection, and I love foreign films.. I was excited to recieve such a present from my uncle... So I decided to sit down with my mom and watch it. Yea, big mistake.. At first we were both enjoying it, at the teeth scene she was screaming.. (pretty funny).. and when remembering the old high school days, I figured out the entire plot.. My mom didnt believe me, so she sat through the whole movie-- hoping that I was wrong.. Sorry mom to dissapoint, its not a disney movie.. Anyways very disturbing movie, that has a great score, suspensful action and more.. But it def isnt for the average joe. At the end my mother said she never wants to watch another movie my uncle gives me again.. lol I read some reviews and people on here overrate the violence factor, but to each his own. I would reccomend to rent first.
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