MovieChat Forums > Oldeuboi (2003) Discussion > overrated

overrated

posted 12 years ago by replayre
102 replies | jump to latest

I thought the story was weaker than people are claiming, this movie is not an 8.4/10, the story is disjointed thematically like a schizophrenic worldview, the plot in general is a stretch, most notably what Woo Jin points out about Dae Su imprisoning his daughter in the same place he was imprisoned, I know how the movie sells it, I'm just not buying, not that this movie was exactly realist in nature, I mean, he even says "are you really that dumb?", exactly, not only is he that dumb, he's not done being dumb; it seemed like they had to have that character say that because of the utter absurdity of that plot element

the action sequences are mediocre, better has been done before and since, and I can't tell if the acting is good, because of the comically bad voice over work, especially MiDo who sounds like Anime porn, that is, except for the Woo Jin character who took me out of the ominous tone he was supposed to create with inappropriate gestures and facial expressions, I knew his acting wasn't good

but then, neither is Oldboy a 1 or 2, it's really a high 5, closer to 6 but not quite

[–] wangson 11 years ago

oh man!! you totally ruined this film by watching it in English!! I've seen it both ways, (though to be perfectly honest, I've only watched some of it in its dubbed version; it was outrageously and horribly dubbed, it was like listening to pure stupidity). if you heard the passion in their original voices, and read the sublime poetry of their dialogue, your impression would no doubt soar. I don't watch foreign films dubbed into English. to me, you're only getting half of a film - just the cinematography. regarding oldboy's dubbing, SO much of this film becomes lost in translation. in fact it's to the point where the film becomes almost completely without logic or any semblance of reason. I get why the film didn't impress you - frankly, i'd have rated it lower had it been the only version i'd seen. but that's no one's fault but your own, replayre.

[–] arksun1 11 years ago

Yup, I absolutely cannot stand dubbing of movies from the far east. Japan China Korea doesn't matter, it just never works.

It's like with Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, the dubbed version turns that movie into a hilariously bad joke.

Sub-titles all the way.

[–] mjb301086 11 years ago

I watched the proper version and still thought it was a bit overrated! It was a good film yeh but I don't think it deserves the praise it gets

[–] air_canada367 11 years ago

Oh man why do people even bother replying to this idiot who didn't even give a single good reason why he thinks this film is overrated.

www.colourlessopinions.com

[–] Janebo 11 years ago

...but he did give his reasons, in his opinion he didn't think as highly of it as you, that doesn't make either of your opinions any more valid over each others, just different. You just chose to dismiss them. Choice, preference, it's all subjective.

What I don't understand, however, is the urge to start jumping up & down with the hair-pulling & name-calling just because somebody didn't see a movie (!) with your eyes. I mean, why? If something--truly in the grand scheme of life & not the most important thing in the world--like a movie, can completely polarize people, then we as the "human" race, have a long way to go. And when you see the vehemence that flies around just on these boards, it seems like we'll never get there. Really crazy stuff too, like; you can like James Cameron ...& you can like Peter Jackson but! you can't like them at the same time ...or it's War!

There's a phrase you might have heard, if you're really from the Great White up here; Vive la Différence ...& there's not a thing wrong with that!

And frankly, I really liked the movie, I love asian cinema in general...but I would never, never watch anything dubbed. House of Flying Daggers was the first--and very Last--movie I spent about 15 minutes with the dubbed version. *shudder* So, to the OP, you really have to watch it in it's own language, although after your first experience with it and these boards, you probably don't want to. But entitling a thread "overrated" on something that is highly rated, well ...you're taking your life in your hands lol

[–] baygerbieger 11 years ago

If you are arguing people shouldn't care as much as they do, well, do you not see the oxymoron?

Nothing amazing ever happens here.

[–] Janebo 11 years ago

...hardly "arguing", but thank you anyway.

[–] eolloe 8 years ago

OP is right. (And I watched the Korean-audio, English-subtitles version.)

[–] Iceberg4000 11 years ago

Maybe this sounds strange, but i think the story is kind of unbelievable...But, I still think the movie deserves all the praise it gets, everything is done beautifully: acting, cinematography, music....I get taken away during the movie, it makes me want to watch the film over and over again and at the same time: I don't think there is the slightest chance this could happen. I guess it's sort of a bigger than life thing, where the themes of revenge and "ignorance is bless" are weaven in a cruel fairytale like story.

It's survival of the fittest, Max, and we've got the *beep* gun!

[–] triachgul3 11 years ago

If you dont like it, give it a 1. Just because YOU didnt like it, doesnt mean that the 10000+ others who voted arent entitled to their own opinion.

Its a 8.4 BECAUSE it was rated by many people who loved it.

Arguing against the opinions of 10000+ and calling it "overrated" makes you seem like a child.

Watch a different movie or create 10000 accounts on imdb, giving it a 1, if it bothers you that much.

I personally loved it, I watched it in 2003 and it still is one of the most memorable movie experiences Ive had.

[–] DanielMann861 11 years ago

Maybe this sounds strange, but i think the story is kind of unbelievable...But, I still think the movie deserves all the praise it gets, everything is done beautifully: acting, cinematography, music....I get taken away during the movie, it makes me want to watch the film over and over again and at the same time: I don't think there is the slightest chance this could happen. I guess it's sort of a bigger than life thing, where the themes of revenge and "ignorance is bless" are weaven in a cruel fairytale like story.

I can see that. I absolutely love the film, but I love it because of that grandiose larger then life operatic style. Yes, the hypnosis requires suspension of disbelief and could be considered a flaw, but within the context of the film's grandiose style then I can accept. It's a greek-tragic opera of a movie. I think its a film where all of it elements come together so brilliantly to make that. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing in helping to sell that operatic flair, the acting by all is incredible, most notably Choi Min Sik who gives a hell of a performance. The direction is tight, the pacing is spot on, the style is appropriately grand.

Let us not forget that it is still based on a Comic Book at the end of the day. I mean, if its biggest flaw is asking the audience to suspend their disbelief with regards to the hypnosis stuff then that really isn't much of a flaw in my books. I can live with that, especially when the film is that good.

[–] tawitti 11 years ago

agree, one of the most overrated films of all time.

[–] Tito32 11 years ago

Next time you want to truly enjoy foreign movie watch the original version, not ones with horrible dubbing.
Unless you`re one of those morons who just cant seem to read subtitles while watching a movie. Many of those around...

[–] PowerGloveKid 11 years ago

i feel like....i mean this just might be me but i feel like hipsters or snotty movie dicks say things are overrated.

by the way i have netflix as well and it had the english dubbed version, but you know what i did i rented the film with the original sub version and it was fantastic. i hate people like you who seem to lazy to read subs

[–] Batdong 11 years ago

This was one of the movies I struggled to finish watching. I remember being bored to tears and pausing the movie many times to do something else before finally completing it. I honestly remember very little of the plot, but only how disappointed I was in the end. It was about on par with "I Saw The Devil" or "Mother". Maybe Korean movies just aren't my thing? I did like "The Man From Nowhere" though.

[–] chilone 9 years ago

Wow! I love Oldboy, I Saw The Devil and Mother!! Man From Nowhere, too.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] sean-cowan1 11 years ago

Watch it with the original Korean to get the proper feel the actors performance, just because you can't understand their words doesn't mean you cannot understand tone of voice. Any foreign film losses something when dubbed, unless they have EXCEPTIONAL voice actors who faithfully capture the original performance. Das Boot comes to mind as doing this well.

You're a troll.

[–] caitsith01 11 years ago

Despite the raging fans attacking you, I agree (and I saw the original not the dubbed version).

The main problem is simply that the plot is ridiculous. How does the bad guy have infinite resources? Why is our hero willing to risk his life but not go to the police? Since when does hypnosis work so effectively? Etc etc etc.

Some of the acting was seriously poor too. And the pacing and cutting back and forth was amateurish.

I honestly believe that if this movie was American it would be on par with something like Devil's Advocate, i.e. an entertaining but slightly silly and overwrought story.

[–] chris_mcsweeney 11 years ago

I agree with the guy above. The premise (mysterious 20-year imprisonment) is intriguing. However the movie craps all over that with the silly high-school incest thing and eye-rollingly convenient hypnosis plot devices.

[–] chilone 9 years ago

It was 15 years, which was so that his daughter would be old enough for the revenge plan to work. Also, the incest WAS the plot.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] DanielMann861 11 years ago

Why is our hero willing to risk his life but not go to the police?

Ummm, why would Dae Su go to the Police when he is the LEAD SUSPECT behind the murder of his Wife??? Remember, they have his finger prints at the scene of the crime. Are they really going to believe his story of being locked away for 20 years? Or are they going to arrest him based on the evidence they already have?