10 Iconic Movie Moments The Director Didn't Understand
2. Spike Lee's Handling Of The Main Action Setpiece in Oldboy Shows He Misunderstood Its Thematic Background
Spike Lee is an undoubtedly singular talent but his 2013 remake of Park Chan-wook's haunting masterpiece does not live up to his own work or the 2003 thriller. Admittedly, there was some studio meddling in this film, especially the famed one-take action sequence but its overall execution still demonstrates that Lee did not quite comprehend the importance of the beloved setpiece.
The South Korean version of Oldboy sees Oh Dae-su go up against multiple thugs in a hallway that Park stated was a metaphor for the hurdles one faces in their life, as well as the irony in such challenging situations.
This allegory largely feels absent in the American remake, with its changing levels and faster pace leaning into an action movie-esque excess the original did not convey. To be fair to the sequence, it is technically competent and there is no need for a shot for shot remake of the seminal sequence, but Lee's depiction of the protagonist's struggle lacks a personal touch that was palpable in the original.