Oldboy

“Even though I’m no more than a monster, don't I too, have the right to live?” Holy fucking shit. Even after watching this film for a fifth time it had me left staring at the credits. I watched this movie with my 12 year old cousin today. I convinced him to watch this with me, after I told him that this is the best movie I’ve ever seen. He went Into this movie with the thoughts that It would be a good revenge movie. I’m not joking when I say that he looked to the screen traumatized like he just witnessed his family being murdered in those final 20 minutes. We stared at the credits together for like 5 minutes long without saying anything. Then we talked about the brilliance of this movie for like 20 minutes. We finished this about a hour ago, but I can still feel the tension.  Since this is my fifth time watching this fucking masterpiece, I’ve decided to finally write a dedicated review. I first want to talk about my experiences with this movie, and then about the brilliance of “Oldboy”. My experiences with Oldboy:-first time:Definitely my worst experience with this movie. I just got into cinema, and i didn’t like this movie. I had absolutely no clue where it was about. I only remember watching with disgust the final 10 minutes. I didn’t even realize the plot twist as well. I read it on Wikipedia when taking a dump, so it didn’t left a impact on me.  -second time:Cut to three months later. I had pretty much forgotten all about the movie. I came home late after hanging out with some friends and was scrolling through this new streaming service I’d signed up for. And there it was: “Oldboy.” I was actually surprised to see it. I thought, “Why the hell not give it another shot?” So, I hit play, and man, this time, something clicked. I was floored. By the end, it had jumped straight to the top of my list as my favorite movie ever. For reasons I can’t quite explain, watching it this time felt like some kind of fever dream, something that was both surreal and strikingly real all at once. -third & fourth time:The third time I showed it to my best friend , and the fourth time to my dad. They both rated it a 8/10. For me it became better, every time I watched it. Especially the fourth time, I was getting mad excited just because it was so good and I knew what was going to happen. I already wrote about my most recent experience, so now I’ll talk about the brilliance of this movie.  Why Oldboy is the best movie of all time:The Script and Storytelling:The script of “Oldboy” is an absolute masterclass in storytelling. From the very beginning, it hooks you in with one of the most intriguing premises in cinema: a man imprisoned in a small room for 15 years without explanation, only to be suddenly released and thrust into a complex, twisted game. The pacing is flawless. Every scene propels the story forward, creating a constant sense of tension. The dialogue is good, often laced with irony and dark humor that adds layers of meaning to what’s being said. The film makes you think, constantly keeping you on your toes, guessing and second-guessing, trying to figure out the next twist or turn — but you never do, because the writing is just that good. And that twist — oh my god, that twist. It makes you rethink everything you’ve seen up to that point. It makes you rethink every character’s motive, every interaction, and every choice. Soundtrack: This soundtrack is straight-up one of the best ever. It’s criminally underrated. The music perfectly matches the mood of every single scene, particularly the calm flute melodies that play during some of the most intense moments. When the movie reaches its climax, and the character Oh Dae-su hears, “I love you, Oh Dae-su,” as “The Last Waltz” begins to play, it’s impossible not to just sit there, stunned, staring at the screen as the credits roll. Every time I watch this movie, I do the same thing — just sit there, letting the music wash over me, rethinking everything. I’m even listening to “The Last Waltz” right now while writing this review. I think it has gotten a bit out of hand tho, cause I have the last waltz as my alarm.  The cinematography:Boy, where do I even begin. I mean, the best ever?? Every frame of this movie could be a painting. The whole film is a visual masterpiece. I’ll never forget the shot of Dae-su staring at the painting with that insane haircut and his crooked smile.  The split-screen moment is another genius touch — one side showing news about everything that happened while Dae Su was locked away, the other side showing him clawing his way out. It’s such a unique way of storytelling. And then there’s the fight scene. Oh. My. Days. The fight scene. I could write a whole essay about that scene alone. Let’s just say: cinematic sex.  The Characters:Oh Dae-su is, hands down, the best protagonist I’ve ever seen. He’s not your typical good guy or bad guy; he’s something in between, a character shaped by trauma, anger, and desperation. He’s driven by an obsessive need for vengeance, but you can’t help but feel sympathy for him, even tough he’s brutal, relentless, and completely unpredictable.At the beginning, Oh Dae-su is a mess — a drunken fool with no direction. He’s not exactly a character you root for. But then he’s imprisoned, left with nothing but his thoughts, and slowly, he transforms. Every day he spends in that cell, you see him getting stronger, both mentally and physically. But he’s also becoming more unhinged, more obsessed. By the time he’s released, he’s like a tightly wound spring ready to snap. His journey isn’t just about finding his captor; it’s about finding himself, reckoning with his past mistakes, and figuring out what kind of man he really is.  Mi-do, on the other hand, starts off as a bit of a mystery. You don’t really know who she is or what she’s about. But as the film progresses, you see her grow closer to Dae-su, and her vulnerability starts to shine through. Mi-do represents a flicker of hope, love, and innocence in Dae-su’s dark world, and her presence keeps the audience guessing, never quite knowing where she stands or what her true motivations are. Lee Woo-jin, for me, is one of the most memorable villains in film history. He’s cold, calculated, and eerily calm. He’s not just evil for the sake of being evil — he’s a man with a purpose, a mission, and a tragic backstory that makes you almost — almost — sympathize with him. But just when you think you understand him, he pulls off one final act that leaves you breathless. His conclusion is one of the most haunting in film history.  The final 30 minutes:Brother. The final 30 minutes or I don’t know how long but Jesus Christ. The most intense and crazy 30 minutes in cinema. No debate. I mean what the actual fuck. No one, and I mean no one excepted that. After watching this movie for about a hour, you just think it’s a good John Wick ah revenge movie, nothing that special, well you’re in for a big surprise.. You think you’ve experienced it all when the plot twist comes, but It just gets more crazy and more disturbing from there on. Absolutely insane.Overall thoughts:Best cinematography ever, best plot twist ever, best protagonist of all time, one of the best antagonists of all time, the best movie of all time.This movie has it all. Literally. (Psychological) thriller, drama, crime, mystery, romance (I guess), horror, action. Not one second of the movie is boring. I don’t care what anyone says but this is by far the best movie of all time and I’m gonna dickride this movie until I die. Highest possible 5/5 “Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Weep, and you weep alone”.