Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Spike Lee's solid, literal remake is extremely violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Oldboy (2013)
What's the Story?
After a bad business deal and a night of drinking, Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) is abducted and locked in what looks like a hotel room. He's given meals, a TV to watch, and vodka to drink. A spray of gas puts him to sleep each night. One day he learns that he has been accused of killing his wife, and that his baby daughter has been adopted by a new family. He gives up drinking and begins exercising and learning how to fight. He starts working on letters to his daughter. After some 20 years, he is suddenly, unexpectedly released and left with a single mission: to figure out what happened to him and why. One thing is for sure. His new fighting skills will come in handy. Elizabeth Olsen co-stars as a helpful nurse.
Is It Any Good?
Spike Lee has never devoted his vicious talents to a pure exploitation film before. But his hard, brutal OLDBOY tackles that mind-bending, subversive story without flinching. On the other hand, Lee does do the American thing by adding a little more backstory, both to the lead character and to his situation; the Korean version leaves these things a little more opaque. Sometimes, this more literal approach opens up unwanted new questions about characters and motivations. The main problem with OLDBOY, though, is that anyone familiar with the original story won't have much to be surprised about; Lee doesn't mess around with it much, and, indeed, it's so solid there's not much to mess around with. Josh Brolin gives an appealingly fearless, nearly lunatic performance and Elizabeth Olsen nicely compliments him. Samuel L. Jackson provides a loony, sinister presence, even if Sharlto Copley overacts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's extreme violence. What is the mood of it? How does watching it affect you?
Why is a movie like this appealing? How does the movie compare to the Korean version? Why do you think Spike Lee chose to remake it?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 27, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : March 4, 2014
- Cast : Elizabeth Olsen , Josh Brolin , Sharlto Copley
- Director : Spike Lee
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , African American Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : FilmDistrict
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong brutal violence, disturbing images, some graphic sexuality and nudity, and language
- Last updated : August 6, 2022
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