Oldboy (2013)

"Relentlessly gruesome, self-consciously shocking and pretty much pointless."

"It's shock for shock's sake. It doesn't track."

"It's got no kick to it... Oldboy just lies there like old news that's not worth a second thought."

"A vivid yet academic remake, this Oldboy is shorter, leaner and lesser."

"Hollywood's wildest cinematic freakout since Shutter Island is a remake of - and an improvement on - the Korean original from 2003."

"Passing (Oldboy) up would be the best revenge."

"A garish reproduction that never pretends to know who it's for."

"The facsimile is pointless but dependable until Lee and his screenwriter add increasingly ludicrous embellishments."

"Revenge, like octopus, is a dish best served cold, but Spike Lee's disappointingly straight remake is a lukewarm meal at best."

"To its credit, Spike Lee's remake isn't a slavish imitation. On the other hand, its grit is a grey substitute for the original's vision and verve."

"Give credit to Lee for staying fresh, even if this feels like slumming."

"If you have seen the earlier version, you can occupy yourself with point-by-point comparisons. If not, you may find yourself swerving between bafflement and mild astonishment."

"Another pointless remake, and I couldn't swallow it."

"Joe walks out of his prison cell with a singular sense of focus; Lee's Oldboy never achieves anything like that kind of clarity."

"Dark, violent thriller stands on its own despite its revered predecessor."