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Reviews
Oldeuboi (2003)
Interesting Premise That Ultimately Fails
I think the best word to sum up how I felt after watching Oldboy was "frustrated." The premise underlying the film is an interesting take-off of The Count of Monte Cristo and it certainly promises a lot of potential. And the director certainly cannot be accused of taking obvious directions to appease the masses. I certainly paid close attention to Oldboy and, admittedly, watched it a second time. But in all honesty, I did not enjoy it and I can say wholeheartedly that this must be one of the most overrated films on IMDb.
Like many of Oldboy's harshest critics, my major problem with the film was the big "twist" - - the reason Dae Su was imprisoned. This twist was completely preposterous. Even in the realm of fantasy/action films, I just could not swallow it. It felt like the kind of cheap twist you would find in a B slasher movie like Prom Night. Unlike films like Sixth Sense, where you can re-watch and see connections that lead to the surprise twist, you can't do that with Oldboy. Further, the twist does not fit with the overall mood of the film. Oldboy strives for a real and grim atmosphere but the major villain's plan fits better with a James Bond film.
Oldboy has other problems. Its action set-pieces are not particularly impressive and are few and far between. There is no action scene that will stick out in your mind, like Hard-boiled or The Killer. Yes, there are some seat-squirming graphic revenge scenes, but even they are not as "extreme" as advertised.
Ultimately, Oldboy's success hinges on the suspense and impact of its major plot twist and, given its implausibility, the film falters and falls on its face. I have seen that this film has been scheduled for a re-make and, despite generally disliking remakes, I think Oldboy is an excellent candidate. Somewhere in this muddled mess is a great idea that, with the right script, could make an excellent movie.
Haute tension (2003)
A Good Horror Film But Fails in its Ambition to Rise Above a Slasher Pic
High Tension is really two movies rolled into one film. First, High Tension is a horror movie. This is not a PG-13 Hollywood horror film. It's done in the style of 70's horror films ... very raw, graphic, and uncompromising. Viewers that are easily put off by gory and grim depictions of violence will hate this movie. But for viewers that like their horror films intense and unrelenting, you'll be satisfied with High Tension. Like older horror films, High Tension relies on tense situations, atmosphere, and graphic imagery to create a feeling of strong unease. Watch this film in the dark alone ... it is one of those rare horror movies that will actually deliver on its promised scares.
Unfortunately, in the last quarter or so of the film, the director attempts to elevate High Tension beyond just a well-done derivative of classic horror films, and introduces a twist in the tradition of The Sixth Sense or Fight Club. Where High Tension succeeds as a horror movie, it fails as a smart thriller. It is not so much that the twist is unnecessary ... it was an interesting premise and, had it been done properly, could have made High Tension a great stand-alone film. But the twist is implausible and does not withstand even the slightest bit of scrutiny. The twists in The Sixth Sense, The Usual Suspects, etc., were good because you could go back, re-watch the films, and still buy into the surprise.
**WARNING -- SPOILERS AHEAD** In High Tension, there is no male killer ... Maria has killed her friend's family and abducted Alex herself. She has Dissociative Identity Disorder -- or a split personality. The killer is a creation of her own psyche; she has been watching herself commit the acts of violence in the film. While this is an interest, albeit not original, twist, there are several things in the film that make this implausible. Where did Maria get the truck the killer drives? If she has been driving Alex in the truck, how was she able to drive the gas attendant's car out into the woods? And if she was not run off the road by a depraved male killer, how did she sustain the injuries on her head and arm? The twist just does not hold up to any scrutiny.