So, it turns out that New York Knicks sympathizer and novelty eyeglass aficionado Spike Lee is actually an acclaimed director. Who would have thunk it? Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that he directed the remake of a famous South Korean film called Oldboy. It speaks volumes to Lee’s character that he could find time to direct a film of this magnitude between calling Quentin Tarantino a racist. Spike Lee is a true American hero and totally not obnoxious in any way.
The following list includes a series of criteria and points of comparison to better understand the differences between the two films. Also, SPOILERS AHEAD, so watch your ass if you haven’t seen either of these movies.
Matt Rimer is a writer living in Boston. Follow him on Twitter here.
1. finalscore
2. opening
Opening
The opening shot in the original Oldboy is possibly the most memorable image of the entire movie. Our protagonist, Dae-su Oh, holds a man by his tie—the only thing keeping him from falling to his death—as the man leans backward on the roof of a high-rise. Dae-su makes him listen to his story while the man clutches his small dog for dear life.
Spike Lee instead opted for the “hot garbage” approach in his remake. His version starts with Brand from The Goonies stumbling around, pretending to be shit-housed and acting like a total a-hole.
Advantage: Original
3. shotselection
4. hotness
5. aesthetics
Aesthetics
Original version: 90’s grunge music video ambiance.
Remake: Has the color palette of Do The Right Thing.
Advantage: Remake