Park Chan-wook talks Old Boy remake

News Glen Chapman 13 Mar 2013 - 06:38
Oldboy movie poster

Whilst promoting Stoker, Park Chan-wook has been asked about his involvement in the remake of Old Boy.

Park Chan-wook has been out promoting his English language debut, the largely well received Stoker, and inevitably he has been asked about the Old Boy remake directed by Spike Lee and his level of involvement with it. Talking to The Wall Street Journal, he revealed that "I'm involved in the film as much as how I'd like if I were doing a remake of another filmmaker's film, how I'd like that original filmmaker to be involved in my remake".

He went on to explain "That, in other words, is nothing. I'm not involved. I don't really want to know anything about it. I want to close my eyes and ears to the remake. I want to go to the cinema as soon as it's out and I want to be amazed.”

It's a nice approach from the director and one that will alleviate some of the stress from Spike Lee as he attempts to remake such a well regarded modern classic. Whilst he's taking a hands off approach to the film he certainly doesn't seem averse to it and is in fact quite clearly looking forward to it by the tone of the comment.

Here's hoping the film does manage to amaze him, in a good way, when it's released in December. Our own interview with Park Chan-wook can be found here.

The Wall Street Journal

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No need for a remake

More rational than those who've only seen and enjoyed the film.

Well, I've seen Old Boy and I love it. Why would I chose to go see an American remake KNOWING the ending??

Poxy Americans just can't leave a good thing alone can they? Surely the directors must be thinking to themselves, why am I bothering?

I remember an interview with him (around the time he was promoting Lady Vengeance) he was asked about his feelings regarding a remake. It looked like it was the first he heard about it as his face dropped, he remained silent for a minute before quickly (but unenthusastically) wishing the filmmakers well. He then quickly changed subject.

That didn't look like a man who supported a remake.

yes there is as the americans cant read subtitles lmao

As commented above, a larger-than-average number of Americans are averse to subtitles so much that they would rather not see a film no matter how great it is. If that film is remade to be more accessible to them, they will probably see it. I don't see the harm in a remake. I will be watching it and suspect i may even be better than the original on which it is based.

How those people jump off a bridge instead? I'm not opposed entirely to remakes. A remake should be the same concept but executed differently. But to remake a film to placate a bunch of lazy morons? Any wonder the world is getting dumber when we keep supporting them.

Some films should not be remade by anybody. This is one of them.