Comments on: Oldboy Mind Job Discussion and Explanation

By: Olivia

Olivia — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 05:58:04 +0000

Ok. So, the guy basically realizes while he’s imprisoned that he was a pretty terrible guy. He even goes as far as to imply that he likes who has become as a result from being imprisoned. Well, the hypnotist admits she didn’t want to help him until she read the last line of the letter about him being a beast but still having the right to live. Ultimately I think, when she was hypnotizing him she decided to kill off the guy he was before going through imprisonment thinking that aspect of him was worse than who he became after, despite the fact that he is in love with his daughter.

By: Taylor Holmes

Taylor Holmes — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 03:03:47 +0000

In reply to Dan T. Or he's attempting to protect her from the ultimate truth? Dunno. That's a good question.

By: Dan T

Dan T — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 13:17:01 +0000

In reply to McElroy.

What’s your take on the VERY end? I always assumed, from the dazed look on our hero’s face that HIS memory didn’t get wiped and that he knows very well that he is messing with his daughter and tortured by the memory but he doesn’t dare break contact because it would hurt her too much… just as much as her finding out the truth. So he’s continuing with the unpardonable sin of incest as a way of psychological self-punishment?

By: McElroy

McElroy — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 18:05:39 +0000

In reply to john hazard.

Agree with you, “john hazard” and thank you for sharing list of other amazing Korean movies. Admittedly, I didn’t dislike the remake of Oldboy either…but the original had a different depth the remake lacked…”bad editing” aside lol!

By: john hazard

john hazard — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 22:53:40 +0000

If you liked Oldboy, then don’t stop there when it comes to South Korean movies. Check out, I saw the Devil, The Chaser, The Man from Nowhere, The Host, The Wailing, Train to Busan, Bedevilled, and so many more great movies. (On a side note, I didn’t mind the remake of Oldboy. Most people claim to hate it, but it wasn’t bad.)

By: Taylor Holmes

Taylor Holmes — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 04:06:06 +0000

In reply to Ryan. Oh that's a great parallel. I hadn't noticed that opening and closing parallel. Well played. And thanks for the recommendation. Kudos.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 22:40:03 +0000

YES! You finally watched it! Good to hear and it’s great to read about your reaction as you progressed along the movie! I’ve shown this to so many of my friends just to watch their reactions and thoughts too.
I love that you connected it to Kafka’s The Trial. Both are so oppressive and “kafka-esque” (excuse my redundancy lol)
One thing that I noticed was the parallel between the Dae-Su at the beginning of the movie (when he is held at the police station) and at the end (when he is begging Woo-Jin). He basically goes through the same actions such as begging, anger, sadness and even sings. Not sure what to make of it, but both moments are right before a major life event. Wonder what you think.

By: Taylor Holmes

Taylor Holmes — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 13:11:48 +0000

In reply to Taylor Holmes.

Well, make sure you let us know which movies you are watching and what you thought of them. I have a pile I can recommend if you just give me a movie that you liked… Always start with The One I Love. That is ground zero for low key mind job movies… and then work your way up from there.

By: Natalia

Natalia — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 19:04:16 +0000

In reply to Taylor Holmes.

Yeah, I’ll admit I don’t have a very diverse list of “movies I have watched” so I wouldn’t know much worse than this. In fact, that list is only growing because I was looking for mind job movies and just happened to stumble upon your website, which then led me to making a way too long list of movies to watch – and I have to tell you I have not been disappointed.