It's a Korean movie, but you can watch it with audio dub if you don't like reading subtitles in movies (some people don't). It's available for Netflix streamng on your PC or 360 and soon PS3.

First off I would like to say that if you are squeamish or are easily disturbed then you should avoid this movie. No it's not as bad as the SAW movies in terms of violence and it's a much better movie than those.

The one thing you need to know is that a man is kidnapped one night and imrpisoned for 15 years in an apartment. He does not know who put him there or why and that is basically the first 15 to 20 minutes of the movie. Exactly 15 years later he is let free for an unknown reason and basically is out for revenge and trying to survive in the open for the first time in years.

Do not look for the story of the movie online (or discussions about it) unless it's just an intro blurb because it will ruin the movie for you.

The movie is mainly a thriller/drama/action combination and it has a very interesting (and different) story. This isn't for minors either if you didn't get that from the last warning.

If you want to stream it on 360 you have to go to the Netflix site and add it to the qeue, you can't find it in the actual 360 list of movies. Sadly, if you watch this streaming there is no option for subtitles so you will have to listen to the movie with English voice overs which probably take away from the movie, but it is still worth the watch. You should rent the dvd itself from Netflix to watch in the original Korean.

It does have its weak parts, but it is definitely a really heavy and memorable experience.

Oh yeah and the movie takes artistic liberties at times so don't go into this expecting a normal action movie or something of the sort (or any kind of normal really).

It's also the 2nd film in a trilogy! Well, not a regular trilogy, but a thematic trilogy. All 3 films are about people HELLBENT ON REVENGE.

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Oldboy
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance

All good stuff. Not just for the awesome stories and awesome action, but great explorations of revenge and the effects it has on everybody involved.

agree with you and rubang on the movie (and trilogy) being INCREDIBLE

gotta take issue when you say it had 'weak parts'

it had none.

you should do yourself a favour and see that directors (chan wook park's) short film 'cut' like a new oldboy in 20 minutes.

also this movie he did jsa was really good. exploration of life on the border of north and south korea for the guards there

I studied it for my A-level film studies class last year and I honestly don't think it has any weak points, its visually and technically stunning.

Oh and you know the scene where he eats a live octopus? he actually had to do that, and it took multiple takes cos he couldn't stop gagging.

One of my favorite movies. It's like Hitchcock on acid, and that hallway fight scene was infuckingsane.

the sex part was the best part IMO
it was the most memorable part of the movie for me....
and the ending was kinda weird 0.o
what a twist huh?

I'll wait for the Will Smith version.

I haven't seen it unfortunately but all my fellow film production mates swear buy it. And they know their films.

I thought the 'villain's' motives were not enough for what he had done to the main character and the ending dragged a little, but it was really good. Don't watch the dubbed version some lines are really off or feel that way anyway.

Know about the trilogy and I have it qeued on Netflix, they're all available for stream, but the subtitles don't appear in Lady Vengeance on the 360 which was annoying, guess I'll watc on the computer some time.

I watched this just the other night. I thought it was a really good film, although I agree that the 'villians' response was a little disproportionate to what had been done to him! But as you say, the film was about revenge and ultimately putting the offending character in the shoes of the offended.