Oldboy
Dir: Spike Lee
2013
****
When an Asian film such as the original Oldboy gains popularity on a global scale, the Hollywood remake is inevitable. Why make films for the lazy people who can't be bothered to read subtitles? If a film has a good story but doesn't reach full potential then sure, remake away but when it is recognised as a modern classic you leave it alone. To hear that Spike Lee was behind the remake was the real surprise. The fact that it wasn't going to be one of his 'Joints' but merely a 'film' didn't exactly get anyone's hopes up either. We are all agreed that this remake was a needless one but I would argue that it is a good one. The changes are slight but for my money it is still pretty entertaining and the differences are interesting enough to keep me entertained throughout. Of all the Asian films made into Western movies, this was the one that shouldn't have worked but somehow it does. 99 Luftballons' by Nena is a great song, a party classic but so is 99 Red Balloons.