Oldboy is rushed, undeveloped and if you haven’t seen the original, you’ll feel lost. The story is not explained well and is a huge disservice to the twist that is supposed to hit you hard.

| Original Score: C+ | Aug 19, 2024

An undisputed reference when it comes to exploring new forms of auteurial expression within the framework of genre and spectacular cinema. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Nov 28, 2023

Lee’s not-inconsiderable talent makes a fine attempt to interpret the story with two or three unique touches, but he doesn’t make it vital or offer a fresh take.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Aug 19, 2022

As a collection of red herrings and mumbo jumbo about "faceless corporations" it's an incoherent mess of information searching for a form.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Feb 1, 2021

The film seems largely an excuse to redo sensational sequences from the original.

| Original Score: 2/10 | Dec 4, 2020

What 'Oldboy' leaves is the clear feeling of wasting time when what we should have done is to watch again, for the umpteenth time, the modern classic that is the Korean film. [Full Review in Spanish]

| Apr 15, 2020

It's an enjoyable work of its own, less hyper stylized, with certain changes that make it more viciously pulpy and, surprisingly, seedier.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 29, 2019

Spike Lee scrambles Chan-wook Park's story in a perfunctory attempt to be original, but too much is lifted from its famous Asian counterpart.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Jun 8, 2019

The unraveling and ending of this who-and-why dunnit mystery is crazily twisted and a double blow to the gut.

| Jan 25, 2019

Oldboy is elaborate and complex, but that's not the same thing as being engrossing and deep. It winds up being a better riddle than it is a movie.

| Original Score: B- | Jan 19, 2019

The remainder of the picture suffers from a predictable lack of originality. But the inability to consistently entertain is an issue of its own creation.

| Oct 27, 2018

It's an unconventional action film whose closest American kin might be Christopher Nolan's "Memento." It doesn't all work, but it's fascinatingly conflicted.

| Feb 17, 2018

The film has graphic violence and perversion, but there is no take-away. It leaves you trying to nail down what the point to this remake really was.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Nov 18, 2017

Lee's remake will strike a cord with unfamiliar audiences, but, for the most part, it's a hit-and-miss effort that comes close to good results.

| Original Score: C | Jun 21, 2016

The first hour or so of Lee's 'Oldboy' is so gripping that it's dispiriting to watch the wheels fall off the wagon so spectacularly in the third act.

| Jun 18, 2016

It's captivating to watch Spike Lee dabble in genre filmmaking.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 15, 2016

Compared directly, the difference between both films are more than a little disappointing, but with all of that said, 2013's Oldboy still has pleasures to be witnessed.

| Original Score: C- | Oct 30, 2014

Lee takes his time crafting fiery characters and an impenetrable, who-and-why mystery only to rush through a series of arbitrary clues and explanations.

| Original Score: 5/10 | Aug 20, 2014

For a "pointless" and "unnecessary" remake, there's actually some really solid stuff in this one.

| May 8, 2014

Sloppy when taken on its own and abhorrent when compared to its predecessor.

| Original Score: D | Apr 8, 2014