Oldboy (2003) returning to theaters from NEON (4K restoration)

[MifuneFan]

NEON will be releasing Oldboy (2003) back in theaters for its 20th anniversary. The new release will be from a 4K restoration (I believe the same used internationally). The release opens on August 16th.

After 20 years, Park Chan-wook's transgressive masterpiece, OLDBOY, returns to theaters remastered and restored on August 16th.

OLDBOY - Official Trailer - YouTube

[MifuneFan]

Showtimes now up at IFC here in NYC. Hopefully other places around the country list it soon too

https://www.ifccenter.com/films/oldboy/

[BluBonnet]

Hudson Film Festival to Premiere 20th Anniversary Remastered Version of Park Chan-wook’s ‘Oldboy’

The inaugural Hudson Film Festival in Hudson, NY will premiere the 20th anniversary remastered edition of Park Chan-wook’s classic film “Oldboy” this August. In partnership with Neon, the premiere will be in advance of the film’s theatrical re-release on Aug. 16.

Founded by John Maybee, Sarah Peters, and Sonia Freeman, the festival will take place Aug. 11-13; their website states that the festival “serves as a platform to champion and showcase underrepresented local and global films, filmmakers, artisans and talent.”

The festival co-founders said in a joint statement, “As devotees of Director Park and Neon, we are ecstatic and honored to have been chosen as the only festival to screen ‘Oldboy’ prior to its 20th Anniversary theatrical relaunch.”

“Oldboy,” released in 2003, is a South Korean neo-noir thriller about a man named Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) who attempts to exact revenge on his captor after being mysteriously held prisoner for 15 years. The second installment in Park Chan-wook’s “Vengeance” trilogy, the film originally premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim and is one of the auteur’s most prominent films. It has also spurred multiple adaptations, including Spike Lee’s 2013 film of the same name.

“If the community of Hudson missed ‘Oldboy’ in theaters in 2003, now’s the chance to see it in all its twisted glory the way it was meant to be seen,” the co-founders said.

Individual tickets and ticket packages are now on sale for the festival. In addition to “Oldboy,” other titles include “She Came to Me,” “Going Varsity in Mariachi,” “Perpetrator,” “Mutt” and several short films including “The Flying Sailor” and “When You Left Me on That Boulevard.”

[Walter Kafka]

So, so many jokes here. Can I make one?

[Show spoiler]Should have released it on Father's day.

[j_sazin]

I forgot this was coming up so soon, looks like my local AMC has showtimes starting Aug 16, definitely going.

[Zivouhr]

If you watch the remake of Oldboy with Justin Brolin (name?) and then watch Sam Jackson's The Samaritan, you'll see the exact "surprise" theme repeat itself. Almost like it's a reboot of this film in some ways, though it unfolds when Sam's character gets out of jail after decades.

I haven't seen the original yet.

[Ben_C]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

If you watch the remake of Oldboy with Justin Brolin (name?) and then watch Sam Jackson's The Samaritan, you'll see the exact "surprise" theme repeat itself. Almost like it's a reboot of this film in some ways, though it unfolds when Sam's character gets out of jail after decades.

I haven't seen the original yet.

Don’t remember that much about the US adaptation, and though I seem to recall not really having any issues with it, it’s not in the same league as Park Chan-wook’s cult classic.
The 2003 version was one of the breakout hits that really helped to put modern Korean cinema on the map, allowing us to discover more gems in that early 2000-era from the likes of Bong Joon-Ho, Kim Jee-woon, Lee Chang-dong, Kim Ki-duk, etc.

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by Ben_C

Don’t remember that much about the US adaptation, and though I seem to recall not really having any issues with it, it’s not in the same league as Park Chan-wook’s cult classic.
The 2003 version was one of the breakout hits that really helped to put modern Korean cinema on the map, allowing us to discover more gems in that early 2000-era from the likes of Bong Joon-Ho, Kim Jee-woon, Lee Chang-dong, Kim Ki-duk, etc.

Sounds good, thanks. I'll check it out next chance I get.

[thenexus6]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Sounds good, thanks. I'll check it out next chance I get.

This was one of the major movies that introduced me to SK cinema years back. Never looked back. I'd love to see this on a big screen.

[BenAndrewsNYC]

Hope it gets a digital release after this, it’s been MIA for a while now. Sadly, only one theatre near me will get this - for three days - in SEPT :\

[prkchopexpress]

has anyone heard if neon will release this on 4K?

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by prkchopexpress

has anyone heard if neon will release this on 4K?

Supposedly it will get a Criterion but TBD. At any rate, Arrow Video did put out a 4K release in the UK and the 4K disc itself is Region Free. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Oldbo...lu-ray/279379/

[BenAndrewsNYC]

Originally Posted by BenAndrewsNYC

Hope it gets a digital release after this, it’s been MIA for a while now. Sadly, only one theatre near me will get this - for three days - in SEPT :\

Pre-order up on Vudu!!

[prkchopexpress]

Originally Posted by MovieBuff647

Supposedly it will get a Criterion but TBD. At any rate, Arrow Video did put out a 4K release in the UK and the 4K disc itself is Region Free. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Oldbo...lu-ray/279379/

is this just wishful thinking or did a trusted source hint at it?

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by prkchopexpress

is this just wishful thinking or did a trusted source hint at it?

More than a few Neon releases have gotten Criterion releases as of late, so it’s a safe bet considering Arrow put out a release a few years ago. EDIT ON 09/22/23: Criterion is not happening, Decal is releasing it themselves.

[russweiss1]

I caught this in the theater and there was an intro by the director saying to stay after the film ends for a Q & A recording. I told my friend about this but when he went to see it neither was included. Apparently Regal has this buy AMC does not (at least where I live).

The last time I saw the film was on DVD back in 2005. I enjoyed seeing it on the big screen. Fortunately, it had been long enough since my last viewing that I didn't remember some main plot points and it was kind of like seeing it for the first time.