DreamWorks is in the process of trying to secure the rights to remake South Korean indie cult hit Oldboy. Chatting about possibly collaborating on said remake for Universal is none other than Steven Spielberg and Will Smith.
Oldboy is a revenge movie. It follows Dae-su Oh (Min-sik Choi) who’s kidnapped and kept captive in a room for 15 years. If the capture wasn’t inexplicable enough, he’s randomly released, given some money, clothes, and a cell phone and sent on his way. This is where he begins his quest to find his captors and gain his revenge.
I’m not a person who has seen Oldboy, but it is one that I’ve always had on my list to see due to the incredible amount of love people have for it. Even having not seen it, if you would have told me that Steven Spielberg and Will Smith were going to do the American remake (wait, how has it taken 5 years to remake this when we’re remaking most foreign films before they’re even done shooting these days?), then I would have certainly laughed at your silly attempts at attention.
In any case, even if this happens and is great (which I sure hope it is — Spielberg could use something like this after that whole Indy thing), I’m sure the original is probably pretty insurmountable.
Be sure to see the original as I plan to do before waiting on this one! Not that it will be out anytime soon.
[Source: Variety]
Umm, well first off “The Movie God” See this film! It’s effin brilliant!
And secondly. I didn’t think another property that I love would be soiled by the Fresh Prince. I mean “I am Legend” was a terrible adaptation of the book, anyone who has read the book and seen the film will agree. Steven Spielberg is crap in my book regardless, for many reasons.
I may end up renting this when it comes out, but as with “I am Legend”, I associate it apart from the originator.
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! that is the worst thing I’ve heard all year!!!! That movie is totally great!!! as well as the other 2 movies from the trilogy (specially Lady V) … damn!!! I hope this is not true….!! Remake?? OMG!! they’ve done enough damage trying to remake My Sassy Girl… omg… i truly feel bad abouth this:( no:( Will Smith with his trademark faces… no :( I’m willing to sign a petition… fudge!
This is a wretched idea.
They should know better.
The original film is as perfect as they come.
Why not just buy rights and release the ORIGINAL to the big screen here in the states? That would be far to superior than any castrated, bastardized, so-called ‘attempt’ (as if one could) to remake Old Boy.
A remake should stem from someone saying, “No, really, that was good, but I think I can amplify the message or recreate the material in a culturally relevant setting” (Kurosawa, for instance.).
Though, I suppose we are in a culture of the bottom dollar. . .
Dude…
This really is a bad idea.
As I am a fan of the original movie…
I honestly don’t think Spielburg can set the mood the original film had.
The Korean film had great acting and although I love Will Smith…
I truly do not believe that he would fit the part well.
Oh well, we’ll see how this turns out I guess…