This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Joe (Josh Brolin) is an ad man and not a nice person. He is a womanizer, bully , lousy husband or ex-husband, and a lousy father to his 3 year old daughter. One night Joe wakes up imprisoned in a room. He has a TV and discovers his ex-wife was raped and killed as his DNA is all over the place. Joe was framed, but remains imprisoned by Samuel L. Jackson. Weirdly Joe is set free and engages in a cat and mouse game of life and death. He meets Marie (Elizabeth Olsen) who aids him on his quest.This is an oddly conceived film, reminding me of parts of superior films. The audience attempts to figure out what is happening and are given no clues. We find out when Joe finds out. The climax was anti-climatic and Joe's response was overly dramatic and out of character.Okay quirky rentalParental Guide: F-bomb, sex, nudity (Elizabeth Olsen)

Seriously I was never a fan of original Oldboy(2003) movie..but this Spike Lee movie was a blast.Josh Brolin gave one of his best performance as an arrogant and carefree person who realizes his mistakes when he was confined to a small room for 20 years.The action sequences are very great. Sharlto Copley as the antagonist was best suited for the role..especially his smile-less expressions can't be matched by anyone.He is shown very confident on his future course of action that his patience level at every scene is quite justified.Of course we can never forget Mr. Samuel L Jackson as Chaney-the kidnapper.His comic timing (which was actually not portrayed as comic) is also praisable.Specially the conversation with Joe while his torture i.e "I swear, I don't know nothing'! I swear before God and eight motherfuckin' white people! " was very well timed.But the climax and end of the movie steals the show when he handover all the money to mia and go back to chaney for imprisonment shows the salvation achieved by Joe Doucett.In all it was a very satisfied movie and expect a sequel to the same.

This is my first movie review and I felt this must be wrote after just finishing the movie. I find myself still in an odd state that's hard to describe, a bit of disbelief mixed with a touch of what-the-hell followed by silence. I was curious what others thought so I looked up the movie on here and was astounded by the number of 1-3 star ratings. The number one critique seems to be that it was not on par with the original.Being honest, going into this movie I never heard of this movie nor the original. I watched it because it had Elizabeth Olsen and my expectations really weren't that high going in.I enjoy movies that take you on a roller coaster of emotions which I definitely found true in this movie. I felt both Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen delivered great performances. Maybe I don't have the developed palate, to say, to find this movie as horrendous as the other reviewers, most of whom I assume highly praise and review Sundance Film Festival movies as "Graceful style with complex earthy tones of sage, a flutter of tobacco and the faintest soupcon of pencil lead flavors, which focus and gain intensity on the finish."I strongly suggest giving this movie a chance, and apparently, make sure to watch this one before you watch the original or you're sure to be let down.

this is a good movie, make u curious until the end. if u never watch the Korea version i suggest u to watch this version first, i think the western version better than the Korea version. it is thrilling and surprising... this is one of josh brolin best movie u must watch!! ignore all the critics, if u like thriller and mystery genre movie then u will like this movie.