Reviews of Saw

Ruined by the thing that became a series staple

Posted : 2 months, 1 week ago on 20 October 2009 02:07 (A review of Saw)

Saw. I really do have a love/hate-relationship with this movie. Why? I'll tell you. The script is superbly written. Lawrence and Adam act exactly like human beings would act in such a situation, and Elwes and Whannell live up to their characters as far as their acting goes, and Charlie Clouser's spectacular score does really elevate their performances, even though it isn't necessarily used as well as it could've been used. Even though Elwes kinda overacts, it is interesting to see how well he manages to keep his british accent out of the way, transforming his voice to this Eastwood-kinda thingy. Actually he even sounded like Dr. Loomis from Halloween 6 around the end, which is great. Glover also surprised me, taking on a pretty serious dramatic role when you usually see the guy as Mel Gibson's funny sidekick. The rest of the cast did a good job as well, and the voice of the killer is pretty good, nothing compared to some others though. Anyhow, back to the script. It has some really, really clever use of flashbacks. We find out a few intriguing things of the characters through flashbacks rather than the regular way of being told. And also, even though the rest of the film is, these flashbacks aren't all too "in your face" so it doesn't get annoying or feel exploitive.

Part of that credit must go to the director and co-writer, James Wan. Wan makes this movie with heart, even though it sure is one cold heart. He gives us everything we would want from a thriller of this kind, and he does so with expertise and craftsmanship... Until the last two minutes of this movie. The ending of this film prevents it, atleast in my case, from becoming a great movie. Since I won't spoil the ending twist for you, I will only say that it is utterly, inexcusably ridicilous, retarded and overall so very meaningless. There is no need whatsoever to end a twist filled movie like this in the way this movie ends. It seriously feels like they would've just thrown it in there so that all the teenagers could go "Z0mGG I t0t4lly n3v3r s4w th4t c0m1ng!!1!" It is dumb, naive and vulgar, and yet again, there is no need whatsoever for it to even be there. Without the ridicilous ending, this movie would be a great movie, but with the ending it has now, it isn't one.

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He Wants to Play a Game...

Posted : 11 months, 2 weeks ago on 20 January 2009 09:07 (A review of Saw)

the 2004 movie that started the series, about lessons learned in life; the hard way. Danny Glover plays a detective on a hunt to find a madman who’s victims deaths are just they’re failures of an unsuspecting unwilling game. The game depends on how they view life and what they choose to take for granted; setting up the room they die in and how they get helped before they even realize it. The main game taken place in this film is with two people in it, trapped in a room with a chain on their foot and a dead man in the middle of them. Both have to cooperate in order to play the game, and both of them have secrets, form both the world and each other. This film came out before there was hype in the series, when it was just a horror film with not that big of an audience. I decided to give it a chance because I haven’t seen a film idea like this in a new movie and I also had some money to blow on movie tickets. (Trying to help out a smaller twin type theater that ending up closing anyways. Great.) I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and thought the plot stuck, not too many holes in it or boring scenes of dialogue. The movie starts already into the game and preludes it within the next 30 minutes; how each person got there along with flashes of they’re past. Just enough to give you some idea of what they do in life. The idea of a killer who doesn’t actually kill anyone brought curiosity to see and gave me the idea of a good horror film series in my lifetime. Able to catch the last episodes of Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street bummed me out and after the shocking ending of this film; I looked forward to the next installment.

John: [on videotape] Hello Amanda. You don't know me, but I know you. I want to play a game. Here's what happens if you lose. The device you are wearing is hooked into your upper and lower jaw. When the timer in the back goes off, your mouth will be permanently ripped open. Think of it like a reverse bear trap. Here, I'll show you. There is only one key to open the device. It's in the stomach of your dead cellmate. Look around Amanda. Know that I'm not lying. Better hurry up. Live or die, make your choice.

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A piece of the Puzzle!

Posted : 1 year, 1 month ago on 5 November 2008 03:39 (A review of Saw)

''I want to play a game.''

With a dead body laying between them, two men (Whannell and Elwes) wake up in the secure lair of a serial killer who's been nicknamed "Jigsaw" by the police because of his unusual calling card.

Leigh Whannell: Adam

The original Saw, a film that was originally planned for a straight-to-video release but after receiving positive nods at pre-set screenings, was finally given the go ahead in October 2004, just in time for Halloween. Saw contains one of the those plots that shows you certain plot threads then twists them and distorts them for mouth watering results.
It's not hard to see why this almost hit the instant DVD release list. I mean, people will closely observe that it obviously contains similarities of its successors, namely Seven (95), and that may be all the ammunition the haters will need to crush it.

But I begin with assertions and an experience that Saw is a genius thriller, yet not exactly original or daring. The film does its best to exploit the claustrophobia and mounting tension that collects as it progresses.
This is a Silent Hill 2 similar venture in some ways, the hero even looks like James Sunderland from that game. Saw falls into the trap alot of franchises do, such as Matrix, Pirates of the Carribean, these films needed no follow up but due to Box Office and more money to spin they followed them on with sequels unequal to the effortless originals. Again this happens with Saw
Ironically, the title has alot to do with plot, a hooded psychopath who deals his own brand of justice, going by the name of Jigsaw, a puzzling anti-hero. A clever piece of the title, Jigsaw is,
The two main characters, the main players of the sick game at center stage, Lawrence (Cary Elwes) and Adam (Leigh Whannell, also the film' screenwriter) are the main focus here.

The two men awaken to find themselves chained to lead pipes in a decrepit public bathroom. In the middle of the floor, is a dead body that's surrounded in a pool of its own blood, with a gun in one hand and a tape recorder in the other. As it would turn out, they're the latest victims of a serial killer known as the Jigsaw Killer.
Jigsaw has a nasty little way of torturing his victims by trapping them in a situation where they have to kill if they want to survive. As Lawrence explains, technically Jigsaw is not a killer, simply because he hasn't killed anyone, the victims do that themselves. As one fortunate victim observes, who survived her ordeal, she is bound to a chair with a reversed bear trap-like device strapped to her head with pliers wired into her upper and lower jaws. A timer is on the device and if she does not locate a key before it runs out, her mouth will be ripped open and no more pretty face. In order to get out, she must open up the stomach of a dead man lying on the floor next her to get the key.

''Face it Larry, we're both bullshiters. My camera, it doesn't know how to lie. It only shows you what's put right in front of it!''

As Jigsaw ever so carefully points out to his victims, he doesn't just choose them at random. To him, they're all perfectly immoral individuals and he uses their immorality to set up horrific situations where the victim rarely survives the trap; in essence, life is its own reward because Jigsaw's victims don't value it, as he explains to the one young woman lucky enough to fight through his plan. Also on the case of Jigsaw, are two detectives Tapp (Danny Glover) and Sing (Ken Leung), who bring forth the news of Jigsaw's previous victims in one particularly gruesome flashback sequence.

Lawrence is pretty well aware of the case of Jigsaw, as even once he was considered a suspect by the police. As you would have it, Adam is not especially trustful of Lawrence being that he seems to know a lot and is not reporting many details to him. They realize, however, that if they are going to survive this nightmare, they're going to have to play into Jigsaw's game, observe the clues he's willing to give them, and ultimately make it out alive.

''Live or die, make your choice.''

Saw was directed by James Wan and written by Whannell, with dazzling results who also makes an effective victim alongside Elwes. Elwes, a highly underrated actor, is given a chance to shine here, even though this really isn't an actor's movie, as it is more in the ball court of the director. However, we do get a sense of the desperation of the two leads, who soon realize that they're not the only ones trapped in this madman's puzzle.
The movie does benefit from its own moody atmosphere and vibes it sends forth, which may cover up any of the film's shortcomings. Towards the end, it does lose pace slightly, as events seem to go spiraling down the conclusion route, but quickly regains an injection of momentum as it draws to a climax.

But having said all this is Saw a genre classic? Certainly. Is it a classic like Seven? I don't know. There's alot to consider when pondering a question that compares two different levels of movie making. I loved it, but the sequels that followed has everyone after a twist which kind of denotes that no surprise is in store for fans of the original. Granted this will always be the best of the franchise and that shocking ending is genius. So some poor acting and unrealistic traits let it down but Saw's mind set and ideas are phenomenal.
While Seven was a blown up epic made for the big screen, this is a more small scale TV-styled mini project compared. Having said that it works and the feel and vibe also works too. Jigsaw raises some interesting questions about the complacency of society and shows that sometimes just a little push is sufficient to make individuals appreciate life and more specifically their own lives.

''Most people are so ungrateful to be alive, but not you, not any more...GAME OVER!''

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Sick And Twisted But Great.

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago on 24 February 2008 03:06 (A review of Saw)

I admit this film is sick and very twisted. It has a lot of blood, and the ideas that Jigsaw has for killing his victims are also very sick but this film is entertaining and very enjoyable to watch. I mean, come on people, it is not real torture, it is a film. The plot in the first saw film is just starting to show what Jigsaw does, how he does it, and why he does it. It starts off with two men trapped in a big room, with a dead guy laying in the middle. While they are in that room,they must find clues and figure out why they are there. Meanwhile, they begin realizing who each other are, and the story becomes even more in depth and enjoyable to watch. If you have not seen this film, then I suggest you do. It is a great horror film.

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saw

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago on 19 February 2008 12:20 (A review of Saw)

I think "saw" was a fun amazing movie. With some many twist and turns. I give it 5 stars. There is some much blood and lives that were lost...

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Saw Review

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago on 5 February 2008 06:15 (A review of Saw)

The lowest common denominator of film. The Saw films are more easy to make than a baked bean sandwich. Anyone with a pen can write these storylines, take a weirdo, a warehouse and make someone sew their eyes together..done.

In fact my friends and I have developed more orginal and 'ironic' ideas in drunken 'would you rather?' conversations.

I also question the mental stability of anyone who enjoys watching movies of this genre.

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Saw review

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago on 6 June 2007 02:29 (A review of Saw)

This film had Danny Glover in it, so just HOW was it so bad! I can only assume that the appreciation for this film and its sequels comes from the sick pleasure you get out of seeing the weird and wonderful ways the killer comes up with murdering his victims. There really isn't much else to say about this film. It isn't really clever or interesting, Se7en blows it clean out of the water. Just watch that instead.

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Terror Modeno

Posted : 2 years, 10 months ago on 27 February 2007 08:37 (A review of Saw)

Muchísimo suspenso, una película que combina terror con suspenso y que seguramente se convertirá en precursora del thrller moderno. No apta para personas impresionables, cruda, con ecenas fuertes y con una creciente tensión que no cesa hasta el segundo final de la película en el que el descenlace es la frutilla del postre.

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