Oldboy

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Well, I finally had Oldboy come up in my Netflix queue.  This is one of those Korean classics that comes with a can’t be missed reputation.  And I have now completed all segments of the “vengeance trilogy”.  If pushed, I guess you could say these are in the “Kill Bill” genre, although there is bit more meat here than in Tarentinos effort (violence being the potatos).  Although you will definitely get a good deal of starch in this as well. (ok, I’ve worked that analogy about as far as it will go, don’t ya think?)

Oldboy was was by far the most disturbing of the three.  It is definitely a mind bender.  I didn’t see what was coming until it hit me.  I’m not going to spoil this one for you.  If you want to know more, go here.  Otherwise just watch it yourself.  It might creep you out, but you’ll be entertained as well.  Hitchcockesque, but with sex and violence.  Ok?

On the other hand, don’t waste your time with Flightplan, a Jodie Foster vehicle.  Now, I’ve always felt Ms. Foster was a fine actress.  And I suppose her acting was just fine in this picture as well.  But what a waste of film this story was.  Just full of holes and plot contrivances that had me shaking my head in disbelief.  Which is not good, because a movie is supposed to make you believe in the reality on the screen.  The entire scenario was pure rubbish, and I felt like I was being toyed with throughout the film.  Well, I was not biting.  Better things can be found to with those two hours, trust me.

2 thoughts on “Oldboy

  1. Damn, John – two freakin posts in one day…..???? what’s come over you???

    I will definitely avoid Flightplan, though am not enamored with Jodie Foster in any case – surely not as much as she seems to be with herself, anyway.

    The Korean movies/trilogy/whatever – they sound interesting, but haven’t before heard of them. I’ll look out for them on “Asia Extreme”, the Sundance channel, Sunday night series. I was over in Clearwater and missed it this last Sunday – thought the recorder was set but it wasn’t. Damn ! It’s one of my favorite weekly offerings.

    Thanks for the coverage

  2. I have actually seen this movie. I thought it was one of the film choices for the DC international film fest but didn’t get the chance to see it so I got Michael to put it in his netflix selections. I thought it was pretty good.

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