News for
Oldboy (2003) More at IMDbPro »

2009 | 2008 | 2006 | 2004

1-20 of 46 articles from 2009   « Prev | Next »

---

Thirst DVD Review

29 November 2009 7:57 AM, PST | Collider.com | See recent Collider.com news »

It’s said if you stare at something for more than four seconds, other people start staring at it too.  This is especially unfortunate for vampires.  They survive on remaining unnoticed.  In Thirst, famed Korean filmmaker Chan-wook Park (Oldboy) bites into the vampire myth by asking “How would a vampire have to survive in society today?”  This isn’t a new question–it’s actually a very popular question of late.  But Park has a decidedly darker take than Twilight; darker even than True Blood or Let the Right One In.  His aesthetic is very much his.  It’s almost as if Park said, “You think you know the vampire myth? You have no idea…”  Find out what I mean after the jump.

Thirst tells the story of Sang-hyeon (Kang-ho Song, also the star of Joon-ho Bong’s The Host), a priest who commits to a medical experiment that aims »

- Michael Sullivan

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Palisades-Tartan will bring Vengeance on Blu-ray Disc to the Us

18 November 2009 11:47 AM, PST | Affenheimtheater | See recent Affenheimtheater news »

Region A fans of Chan-wook Park rejoice! Palisades-Tartan announced in their newsletter to release the Korean director’s Vengeance Trilogy consisting of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, OldBoy and (Sympathy for) Lady Vengeance in North America in March 2010 on Blu-ray Disc together with its DVD counterpart! While OldBoy has been available on Region A Blu-ray Disc for some time now, the other two parts of the amazing trilogy just got released as Region B locked in the UK.

[via DVDTalk Forum] »

- Ulrik

Permalink | Report a problem

---

The week in geek: will Kick-Ass be a 21st-century superhero?

12 November 2009 10:06 AM, PST | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »

So what do you think of the Kick-Ass trailer? And is it good or bad that Steven Spielberg's Oldboy remake is apparently not going to happen?

You would be forgiven for thinking that now the superhero-loving public has got Watchmen – the holy grail of superhero movies – out of its system, the appetite for everyday Joes who dress up as masked vigilantes might have been sated. Not so, or at least that's what Matthew Vaughn and his team will no doubt be hoping in advance of their release of Kick-Ass next year.

The film is based on a Mark Millar comic book about a New York teenager who decides to don a costume and head out on to the streets to fight crime. Just as in Watchmen, the absence of real superpowers proves a major drawback in his efforts to take out the bad guys, but the comic also features »

- Ben Child

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Will Smith and Steven Spielberg Abandoning Oldboy Remake?

10 November 2009 11:32 AM, PST | FilmJunk | See recent FilmJunk news »

This should make more than a few people happy. After last year's announcement [1] that Spielberg wanted to produce a remake of Chan-wook Park's Oldboy with Will Smith in the lead role, people freaked out insisting that this is one masterpiece that should not be marred by a watered-down American retelling. Eventually Smith tried to re-assure people by saying that it would be a different movie based on the original manga instead, but still doubts persisted. This week the folks over at Latino Review [2] bring a pleasant update on the project indicating that it may be officially kaput. According to their source, Dreamworks and international distributor Mandate Pictures "didn't see eye to eye", and so Dreamworks simply walked away from the flick. It's unclear if they actually did acquire the rights to the original manga or not, but for the time being it looks like this is no longer happening. »

- Sean

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Oldboy Remake Not Proceeding After All

10 November 2009 11:21 AM, PST | DreadCentral.com | See recent Dread Central news »

Last we heard about the proposed Oldboy redux that was in the capable, but rather incongruous, hands of Steven Spielberg and Will Smith, it was moving forward despite some wrangling over various rights issues. Now, however, it seems to be a dead deal with DreamWorks deciding to walk away from the project completely.

Our friends over at Latino Review got the scoop from a "trusted source" that Mandate and DreamWorks didn’t see eye to eye, [and] therefore DreamWorks has apparently walked away. As we mentioned in our previous story about the film's tangled legal mess (click here for the whole thing), South Korean sales company Cineclick Asia, which represented the original film in international territories, actually negotiated the remake deal with Universal. Universal brought in Roy Lee's Vertigo Entertainment to produce the picture, and then Mandate acquired the rights from Universal. DreamWorks secured remake rights from Mandate, which remains involved in the project. »

- The Woman In Black

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Is the Oldboy Remake Dead?

10 November 2009 8:57 AM, PST | Beyond Hollywood | See recent Beyond Hollywood news »

You don’t have to be an Asian movie snob to think that remaking Chan-wook Park’s “Oldboy” is probably not a really good idea. But then to announce you’re not really going to remake the Korean movie, but will actually go back to the original Japanese manga source material for your version? As if Park’s version was somehow lacking? That was just bound to rile up a lot of people, especially the aforementioned Asian movie snobs. But that’s all a moot point now, because according to Latino Review, the remake is dead. D-e-d. Dead. Citing “trusted sources”, Lr claims that the remake is dead because Dreamworks and Mandate couldn’t agree on how to proceed with the movie in a timely enough manner. As a result, Steven Spielberg, who was supposed to direct, and Will Smith, who was supposed to star, have walked away from the project. »

- Nix

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Is The Steven Spielberg And Will Smith 'Oldboy' Adaptation Dead?

10 November 2009 8:31 AM, PST | MTV Splash Page | See recent MTV Splash Page news »

News has been very quiet on the "Oldboy" front since Steven Spielberg and Will Smith were initially announced for the project — and according to one source, that's because the film is no longer happening.

Latino Review reports that Smith and Spielberg are no longer attached to "Oldboy," saying that official news should make the rounds sometime soon.

For now, the report is far from official, but the alleged demise of "Oldboy" would certainly explain why we haven't heard much about the project in close to a year.

Spielberg's film would have been an adaptation of the original manga series written by Garon Tsuchiya and illustrated by Nobuaki Minegishi, not a remake of the Japanese "Oldboy" as many initially speculated. Spielberg's DreamWorks and Mandate Pictures were in the process of securing the film rights to the "Oldboy" manga, but Latino Review reports that creative differences between the two companies have killed the project. »

- Josh Wigler

Permalink | Report a problem

---

'Oldboy' is Dead! Long Live the Real 'Oldboy!'

10 November 2009 7:32 AM, PST | Cinematical | See recent Cinematical news »

Looks like our friends over at Latino Review have some news on that Oldboy remake that would have starred Will Smith with Steven Spielberg directing. The initial news about this remake (which actually would have been an adaptation of "the Japanese manga by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya") had fans of the uber-violent and disturbing cult film confused and distressed, to say the least. (Okay, irate. They were irate.) I haven't read the manga, but I find it hard to believe that it would be any easier to adapt for a Smith/Spielberg-type audience than the movie Oldboy itself. Either way, it's bananas.

So fans can rest easy because a trusted source has tipped off Lr that the whole shebang is as dead as a doornail because "Mandate and DreamWorks didn't see eye to eye, therefore DreamWorks has apparently walked away." And the thing with Latino Review is that their trusted sources are, »

- Jenni Miller

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Steven Spielberg's Oldboy Remake Is Dead

10 November 2009 5:09 AM, PST | MovieWeb | See recent MovieWeb news »

It seems that fans against the remake of a beloved Chan-wook Park film may have finally gotten their wish. Latino Review is reporting that the Oldboy remake/reboot project is currently dead.

DreamWorks was in the process of obtaining the rights to the original Japanese manga by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya with Mandate. The film was going to be based on that manga and not the Oldboy film, but it seems that DreamWorks and Mandate couldn't see eye to eye and have left the project.

We'll be sure to keep you posted on any new developments about this project as soon as we have more information.

»

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Will Smith and Spielberg Remake of Oldboy Gets the Axe

10 November 2009 5:04 AM, PST | Reelzchannel.com | See recent ReelzChannel news »

Seriously, can you think of anything thing that sounds worse than Steven Spielberg (one of the most iconic-yet-conventional directors in history) crafting a movie based loosely on the edgy, stomach-churning Korean horror movie Oldboy? Oh yeah ... how about remaking it with Will Smith (one of the most-iconic-yet-conventional actors in recent years) as the star?

The 2003 Chan-wook Park-directed Oldboy won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and became something of an instant cult classic among connoisseurs of exotic horror and Asian cinema. The story involves a man imprisoned in a room for 15 years under mysterious circumstances. When he finally emerges, he sets about trying to find the identity of his captor.

For some reason, Smith and Spielberg decided it would be a great idea to remake the movie for American audiences, with Smith as the star. Admittedly, they planned to base their version on the original manga rather »

- Rich Z Zwelling

Permalink | Report a problem

---

OldBoy: Spielberg & Smith Remake canned…for now!

10 November 2009 2:47 AM, PST | Affenheimtheater | See recent Affenheimtheater news »

Blarg! Latino Review exclusively reports that Stephen Spielberg and Will Smith’s adaptation of OldBoy (not based on Chan-wook Park’s 20003 film, but the original Japanese manga by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi according to Smith) has been canned.

The report doesn’t mention specific reasons, but I guess the licensing problems that appeared last month could have something to do with it. While this may be great news for fans of Park’s amazing adaptation, I don’t think this was Hollywood’s last try to bring this story to the big screen itself.

»

- Ulrik

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Steven Spielberg and Will Smith’s Old Boy is No More

9 November 2009 11:58 PM, PST | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »

Could it be? Have our prayer's been answered? Latino Review is reporting that Steven Spielberg's Old Boy starring Will Smith is dead in the water. Apparently Dreamworks and original Korean production studio Mandate were working together to get the rights to the manga, but the two couldn't reach an agreement, and Dreamworks simply walked away. Spielberg's film was to be an adaptation of the original manga by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi, and not a direct remake of Park Chan-wook's Oldboy. I honestly loathed this project a lot less when we learned that they were looking at the manga more than the film, but at the same time it would have been impossible not to compare Spielberg's vision to Park's. Had Spielberg tapped a more compelling actor for the role, I probably would have even been excited for this project. It'd be like Scorsese remaking Infernal Affairs as The »

- Devindra Hardawar

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Oldboy remake is Dead!

9 November 2009 5:11 PM, PST | JoBlo.com | See recent JoBlo news »

   When it's just not meant to happen, let it go. And so apparently Will Smith and Steven Spielberg have put their Oldboy re-adaptation to rest once and for all. Dreamworks and Mandate pictures have had a hard time from the get go with that project, first shouldering backlash from fans of the Chan-Wook Park original film -ok, it was me, but in my universe I count- then having to navigate an endless maze of legal rights. But it was internal rumblings that drove the final... »

- Tony Lang

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Chan-Wook Park's Vengeance Trilogy Comes to DVD on November 24th

30 September 2009 10:26 AM, PDT | MovieWeb | See recent MovieWeb news »

You can bring acclaimed Korean director Chan-Wook Park's fantastic trilogy home in one boxed set this November. Park's Vengeance Trilogy will be released on DVD on November 24. We don't have cover art or pricing details yet, but this will be an eight-disc set and you can take a look at the full press release below.

You've been asking, we've been planning and this November Palisades Tartan will release the most exciting, impressive and comprehensive Vengeance Trilogy box-set the world has ever seen! Featuring 8-discs and more special features then any other set on the planet (including the Korean version), celebrity essays as well as a few surprises, Palisades Tartan will release Park Chan-Wook's Vengeance Trilogy November 24th in DVD stores across the country.

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is the first film in Park Chan-Wook's acclaimed Vengeance trilogy. The sister of a simple and deaf factory worker, Ryu, falls ill and needs a kidney transplant, »

Permalink | Report a problem

---

More details about Tartan’s Vengeance Trilogy box

28 September 2009 9:05 PM, PDT | 24framespersecond.net | See recent 24FramesPerSecond news »

Palisades Tartan sent out the official press release today for their upcoming 8 disc Vengeance Trilogy box set, previously reported on here. You can see the official artwork to the left. The set, collecting Chan-wook Park's three similarly themed films Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance, will be released November 24th. According to the press release, the special features included in the set will include, but are not limited to: An essay on each film by celebrated filmmakers, actors and writers, including Eli Roth... Additional features include but are not limited to Audio commentary by Park Chan-Wook and actor Ryoo Seung-wan (Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance), Behind the Scenes, The Process of Mr. Vengeance, My Boksu Story, Storyboards, Photo Gallery, Filmographies, Film Notes, Crew Interviews, Three Audio Commentaries (Oldboy), 5 Behind the Scene featurettes, Le Grand Prix at Cannes, Deleted Scenes with commentary, Regular and Fade-To-White versions (Lady Vengeance), Character Interviews – Lee Geum Ja, »

Permalink | Report a problem

---

More details about Tartan’s Vengeance Trilogy box

28 September 2009 9:05 PM, PDT | 24framespersecond.net | See recent 24FramesPerSecond news »

Palisades Tartan sent out the official press release today for their upcoming 8 disc Vengeance Trilogy box set, previously reported on here. You can see the official artwork to the left. The set, collecting Chan-wook Park's three similarly themed films Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance, will be released November 24th. According to the press release, the special features included in the set will include, but are not limited to: »

Permalink | Report a problem

---

HMV has Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance…on Blu-ray

16 September 2009 10:47 PM, PDT | Affenheimtheater | See recent Affenheimtheater news »

And another bunch of good news for you Chan-wook Park fans out there. Looks like Tartan Video is back on track with new releases after the merging/takeover by Palisades in July 2008. At least UK based retailer HMV.co.uk has listed a shop-exclusive Blu-ray Disc release of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, the first part of Chan-wook Park’s amazing Vengeance trilogy for November 2nd.

With this release, the complete Vengeance trilogy consisting of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, OldBoy and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance would be available on Blu-ray Disc with English subtitles.

Thanks to AnimeOnBlu for the heads up! »

- Ulrik

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Thirst Spills the Blood on DVD November 17th

15 September 2009 12:27 PM, PDT | MovieWeb | See recent MovieWeb news »

You can bring home the latest from acclaimed filmmaker Chan-wook Park on DVD this November. Thirst will be released on DVD on November 17. The DVD will be priced at $29.98 Srp, and you can take a look at the cover art below. No special features were listed at this time, but we'll update you if any features are added to this release. The film stars Song Kang-ho, Shin Ha-kyun and Kim Ok-bi.

From the acclaimed director of the global hit Oldboy comes a shockingly original vampire story with a chilling, erotic style. A blood transfusion saves the life of a priest, but also transforms him into a vampire. He struggles to control his insatiable thirst for blood until a love affair unleashes his darkest desires in deadly new ways. Hailed as "Daring, operatic, and bloody funny!" (Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly), Thirst is a truly wicked love story that takes classic vampire lore to twisted new heights. »

Permalink | Report a problem

---

Why Park Chan-Wook’s ‘Thirst’ Isn’t Worth the Hype

3 September 2009 4:50 PM, PDT | FilmSchoolRejects.com | See recent FilmSchoolRejects news »

Vampire films have been around as long as film itself. Dracula earned his wings as one of the original Universal Monsters back when the role was helmed by the incomparable Bela Lugosi. I thought about this a lot today because I think Universal Monster is a very apt term for a vampire; in a way that transcends studio labels. Vampires stories have origins in scores of ancient cultures from all over the world. Vampire cinema exists on almost every continent and, for better or worse, each entry boasts a unique set of cultural flavors. Chan Wook-Park is a fantastic director and all I heard for weeks was how his vampire opus Thirst was a gorgeous, deeply affecting film; my interest was duly peaked. Two very long hours later, I emerged in the minority. I did not like this film. Thirst is a beautiful film........for the first half hour. It explores the deeper, contemplative »

- Brian Salisbury

Permalink | Report a problem

---

What I Watched, What You Watched: Installment #6

30 August 2009 2:58 AM, PDT | Rope of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news »

Outside of seeing three films in theaters this week I also took in nine titles at home including films from Akira Kurosawa, Roman Polanski, Claude Lelouch and two from Chan-wook Park. It's a mixed bag going from a movie about a girl with a machine gun arm to a film from the French New Wave. As always, remember you can keep tabs on my personal Netflix queue right here. Now, here's the recap of my week in movies... The Machine Girl (2008) Quick Thoughts: I can't remember which one of the Netflix friends I have had this in their queue, but I saw it and noticed it was on Instant Play and just had to give it a watch. I mean, at 96 minutes who wouldn't want to give a movie about a girl with a machine gun on her arm a chance? Well, I gave it a chance and must say, »

- Brad Brevet

Permalink | Report a problem

---

2009 | 2008 | 2006 | 2004

1-20 of 46 articles from 2009   « Prev | Next »

---