Saw III

[Will]

For the first half at least, 'Saw III' is rendered half as good as it should be by the same problem that plagued the disappointing first sequel – namely director Darren Lynn Bousman's misguided belief that the various mind games and tortuous traps aren't horrific enough without overbearing music, rapid-fire editing and hyperactive sound effects. It's a real shame, because the plotting is ingenious but tends to get lost in amongst the flashy technique. Once that plot REALLY kicks in, though, the movie ups the grue quota and becomes quite an ordeal to watch thanks to a series of inventively nasty 'games' (the pigs, the twister) that really do test the stamina. In that sense, 'Saw III' is brilliant at what it does, but hopefully the fourth film will be helmed by someone who understands the value of a quiet moment.

***

[cbaproductions]

Hmmm, how did you rate the sequel (Number II) - I'd give it a two personally - none of the characters were given personalities, so watching them die/suffer wasn't remotely gripping or even that entertaining to be honest (unlike in the first) - Donnie Wahlberg was worth following admittedly, as was Tobin Bell - and the plot twist with the "live" footage and the kid in the safe was adequate, but I did not buy that lame junkie girl's role in things at all so the very end kind of grated for me.

Basically, I wasn't sure if I'd bother with the third, but maybe I should. Lol, one question: does number III really warrant a IV to bust open the trilogy? Given the US box office takings for this I can imagine their motivation lol.

[Will]

I didn't like II at all, it barely scraped a **. The apprentice stuff I didn't mind but I wish someone other than Shawnee Smith had played her - she just doesn't have the gravitas, man. No gravitas! Anyhoo, I don't wanna give anything away, but I will say that there's no real need for 'Saw IV' beyond the cash it'll bring in. It's gonna be made by a new creative team anyway, so it'll be separate in that sense. But you should see III, it's something of a return to form.

[cbaproductions]

Fair shout - the prospect of checking it out now seems a bit more appealing, as I definitely enjoyed the first.

You're right about Shawnee by the way - just didn't convince at all.

[simoncba]

Dear oh dear....finally checked it out, but not sure if it was worth botherin' now lol - should have stuck with my gut I think.

What was great about the first one is that whilst it was very gory - all those scenes were gripping and tense because it was working alongside the story and you cared for the characters involved - here, the story appears to be secondary to "what nasty trap can we come up with?" - and they were REALLY nasty - too much for me personally - didn't need it and when you chuck the music and flashy cuts on top - total overload.

Then, there was 2's problem all over again - not one character I cared for - the dilemma faced by Jeff each time he found someone responsible for his pain and anguish in a dire position was practically non-existent in my opinion - all of them were no-brainers because nothing any of them had done warranted that treatment. The backstory should have been heightened if they wanted us to identify with such a dilemma - such as his son being killed through intentional manslaughter and not an accident!!!! They even show the driver crying in pain and anguish in the flashback at what he's done - the man has suffered enough, he doesn't need to have his joints broken slowly! It made me despise Jeff quite frankly, which isn't very good at all! I was begging for someone to put that TWAT in a nasty trap.

Shawnee did nothing but shout rude words and point with her gun, but at least she got shot and to be fair the rounding off of her arc in the final twist was the one good point about that film. I like how that played out.

Yet again, the one person I empathised with was Donnie (in his brief role lol) and when he was beating Shawnee, I was like yes! finally - but no, I know what she did to him was the point and she gets her comeuppance for it, but still, I felt we saw his poor foot being bludgeoned one too many times - it's like there's only so much trauma you can see a good guy go through in my opinion ESPECIALLY if in the end he doesn't even come out of it ok.

Again, like the twist, I suppose the very end with Jeff's final test was quite good, but I was only just hanging on at this point to be honest - it does what it set out to do I suppose - and Hostel fans will be salivating at the gore and pure nastiness on display, but there's not much beyond that in my opinion (like the step by step brain surgery - necessary??!!?!?) so uh yeah.....needn't bother with it if II didn't float your boat.

2 stars. IV will be given a miss I think. Thanks but no thanks.

On a side-note, one does worry about screenwriter Leigh Wannell sat in a dingy room typing all this stuff for three films worth........