WARNING: This Review Contains Spoilers
If you were locked in a room for nearly two decades with no explanation – what would you do? The following review will explain the comparisons between exactly this and the reactions of Oh Dae-Su and Joseph Doucett in each version of OldBoy.
Reference to the Title
It is not clear in the second film why the title OldBoy was chosen, it only references the school attended by Joseph Doucett. This is the same as the one attended by Oh Dae-Su in the original film, Evergreen Academy, but not that the lead character was an ‘Evergreen Old Boy’.
Audience Alterations
It is understandable that due to the different audiences these films were produced for, there will be differences in the way the film has been portrayed. For example, while Dae-Su is imprisoned in his room, it is implied very subtly that he attempts to take his own life twice. However, in the remake, we actually see Joseph slit his own wrist with a piece of glass from his broken mirror.
In addition to this, the way our antagonist goes about his plan to exact his revenge on our protagonist is very different. I think in the case of the remake, this is an influence of technology. So that he does not realise Marie is his daughter, Doucett is shown ‘Mysteries of Murder’ while he is imprisoned and it only seems to focus on the murder of his ex-wife and the development of his daughter with her adoptive family. I feel that this is an overly convoluted idea – if it was possible for Dae-Su to understand without this, why did it need to be added into the new film?
I also find that for some reason the Americans decided to over-sexualise the remake. Part of me understands not adding in a scene where Joseph throws himself at Marie while in a compromising position (even though #MeToo is a long way off). However, for some reason they chose to change what comes across as a first time experimentation between two siblings in the original film to a seemingly uncomfortable sex scene between father and daughter. Let me explain, in the original film Dae-Su sees Lee Soo-ah with her brother (he doesn’t realise this at the time) making moves towards having sex – removing her knickers etc. Flashforward to 2013 and this scene is of Amanda in the middle of coitus with her father (yeah,the incest side of the story doesn’t change – sorry folks).
Homages to the Original
As I’ve already said, when they remade OldBoy in 2013 – it wasn’t a perfect remake, things were changed. However, they did take the time to add little things that hark back to the original film. For example, when Joseph goes to buy his daughter a birthday present the young girl running the stall is wearing angel wings. These are similar ones to the pair in the original film that Dae-Su has bought for his daughter’s birthday. Because of this, I naturally assumed to keep with the original film Joseph would demand to buy them off of the girl but he doesn’t.
In addition to this, and I guess some of you reading this may find it a little tenuous but stay with me, Chucky’s tongue is given to Joseph in a box, in place of the hand that is given to Dae-Su. Now, I know if you look at it literally – it was because of him calling Adrian’s sister a slut but let’s look at it less literally. At the end of the original film, Oh Dae-Su cuts out his own tongue in order to repent of his supposed slanderous comments that led to the death of Lee Soo-ah, so in my opinion – the taking of Chucky’s tongue could also be seen as a homage to the end of the original film, especially as Joseph does not do the same thing.
Reasons for Revenge
This part of the story is and is not different all at the same time. Through both films runs the theme of incest – in the original, between brother and sister, and in the remake, between a father and what turns out to be both his children (yeah, I know what you’re thinking – I thought it too). Also, in both films our protagonist sees the incest taking place and ends up telling others which brings disastrous consequences. In the original film, Lee Soo-ah decides to kill herself as she cannot handle the idea of birthing her son and nephew. It is this that drives Woo-jin Lee to take revenge on Dae-Su by tricking him in to falling in love and sleeping with Mido (prepare yourself for this part).
In terms of Joseph and Marie, the end-game is exactly the same but the reasoning is very different. You naturally expect that Adrian wants revenge because the rumours have caused him to lose not one, but three of his loved ones but it seems he is only out for revenge for his father (I told you already, he was sleeping with son as well as his daughter).
In Conclusion
For me, the remake is quite contrived in certain ways that it really did not need to be. For example, the way he meets his daughter could be seen as a coincidence but we could also question whether Joseph is deliberately led to her by the lady with the umbrella. I also feel that the fake television show could be one twist too many. So once again, and with no offense to Josh Brolin, I have to side with the original (I am not even sorry anymore).
