Let's talk about the SAW movies...

[Human Snorenado]

Question:  are these movies mindless trash or indicative of the bottomless well of suck that America has in place of taste these days?

Discuss.

[TVC15]

I think the first two are entertaining, even if I do feel kind of embarassed for liking them.

I'd go so far as to say the first is almost legitimately a good suspense flick, held back by the hasty histrionic acting, and a few plot twists too many.

The sequel, well, significantly weaker, but at least they didn't do a straight rehash.  Not a good movie by itself, as in you probably had to like the first one to dig it.

The third is terrible, though.  Stupid plot, stupid acting, a storyline that apparently thinks it is somewhat deep (a complaint that can't be put against the first two).  Even the traps, the most superficial element of enjoyment in these things, were lackluster.

I'll probably end up pirating the fourth movie.  Worth noting that I have never paid to see any of these movies.  I did get the first two for free on DVD via buy 2 sales, though.

[tiesto]

I thought the first one was really interesting for the time... the acting was terrible, but they really nailed the gritty, Silent Hill Otherworld type aesthetic, and the plot twists at the end totally caught me off guard. The second one wasn't nearly as interesting for me and I never even bothered with the 3rd one, due to all the complaining about it.

[Himu]

Question:  are these movies mindless trash or indicative of the bottomless well of suck that America has in place of taste these days?

Discuss.

Both answers are true.

Saw SUCKS.

[Ichirou]

They're churning them out once a year, I don't know how long they can keep going at this rate.  I think people only go to see them as sort of a Halloween tradition nowadays.

I actually liked the first as I thought it was a pretty inventive take on the whole serial killer thing.

[Human Snorenado]

They're churning them out once a year, I don't know how long they can keep going at this rate.  I think people only go to see them as sort of a Halloween tradition nowadays.

I actually liked the first as I thought it was a pretty inventive take on the whole serial killer thing.

Horror movies are the cheapest to make- don't require name actors and can be done on a shoestring budget, so they'll probably do them until people stop seeing them.

[TVC15]

They're churning them out once a year, I don't know how long they can keep going at this rate.  I think people only go to see them as sort of a Halloween tradition nowadays.

I actually liked the first as I thought it was a pretty inventive take on the whole serial killer thing.

Horror movies are the cheapest to make- don't require name actors and can be done on a shoestring budget, so they'll probably do them until people stop seeing them.

I'd like to think this is the year they dive, though.  Between Hostel 2 bomba and the corner they drew them into in the third movie, I think the writing is firmly carved into the wall.

At this point I will be watching just to see what sort of terrible bullshit they pull to get them out of said corner.  I think it will be something groaning, and either absolutely ridiculous or stupidly predictable.

It's kind of been a light Halloween season for horror, both in theatres andon DVD/HD. Disappointing.

[Phoenix Dark]

I think the first two are entertaining, even if I do feel kind of embarassed for liking them.

I'd go so far as to say the first is almost legitimately a good suspense flick, held back by the hasty histrionic acting, and a few plot twists too many.

The sequel, well, significantly weaker, but at least they didn't do a straight rehash.  Not a good movie by itself, as in you probably had to like the first one to dig it.

The third is terrible, though.  Stupid plot, stupid acting, a storyline that apparently thinks it is somewhat deep (a complaint that can't be put against the first two).  Even the traps, the most superficial element of enjoyment in these things, were lackluster.

I'll probably end up pirating the fourth movie.  Worth noting that I have never paid to see any of these movies.  I did get the first two for free on DVD via buy 2 sales, though.

I was going to make this thread and mention this. The first Saw is the perfect example of a film with a great concept - but horrible execution, both from a technical and writing aspect. Some of the dialogue is just dreadful, while the acting swings between laughable to cheesy. Yet despite these noticeable surface flaws, the plot and pacing are quite entertaining. I watched it again yesterday, and even though I knew what was going to happen - I still felt the suspense and chills. This is quite rare for me. In fact one of the few films that also gives me chills (despite not being "scary" to me) is Psycho; seeing Bates run into the room with the knife always catches my attention. Of course, I'm not comparing Saw to Psycho.

The first is definitely worth watching Raoul; despite the flaws it's one of those solid 6-7/10 type films. I can only hope that once the next six sequels come out and the franchise loses luster a more able director will choose to revive it with a quality remake.

[TVC15]

As a fan of the genre at large, I also feel a certain need to stay on top of trends, whether good or bad.  The Torture Porn trend has been a mixed bag, yes, but I think I like it a bit more than the Horror Remake-O-Rama trend, all said and done.

[Mupepe]

I rented Saw when it first came out on DVD and I literally laughed at the acting towards the end and the shitty writing made me just think "wtf?".  But it had soooo much potential.

The other 2 are pretty shit with the third being a whole new level of shit.

[Human Snorenado]

The first is definitely worth watching Raoul; despite the flaws it's one of those solid 6-7/10 type films. I can only hope that once the next six sequels come out and the franchise loses luster a more able director will choose to revive it with a quality remake.

Dude, I've seen all of the Saw movies.  My friends made a horror movie that went to Sundance this year, and as research we watched every fucking horror movie ever made.  The first one I would categorize as "watchable" but not "good".  All subsequent ones I would categorize as "cinematic abortions".

[Bloodwake]

I'm going to see all three tomorrow. In a row. In Lexington.

I've enjoyed all three, but they aren't high cinema or anything.

[Phoenix Dark]

So people are bullshitting me when they say III is worth watching, but to avoid II?

[Bloodwake]

So people are bullshitting me when they say III is worth watching, but to avoid II?

I liked II better. III isn't THAT bad, and in some ways it's more creative, but II is the best IMO, mainly because the acting is a step up from the first film.

[The Sceneman]

I remember being blown away by the script of Saw 2, but I was really baked. . The killer is a fucking joke though, a dummy called Jigsaw that spouts the most BS rhetoric ever "Hey,.... I wanna play a game"

[Mupepe]

I remember being blown away by the script of Saw 2, but I was really baked. . The killer is a fucking joke though, a dummy called Jigsaw that spouts the most BS rhetoric ever "Hey,.... I wanna play a game"

[The Fake Shemp]

Hopefully, Saw IV will bomb and then next year they'll remake Saw and start all over again!  Combine Hollywood trends!

[Eel O'Brian]

They can get one more out of the series by focusing on the killer's past - show what'shisface before the cancer got hold of him, intertwined with some elaborate series of traps he had planned from moment one (like all the rest of the movies), and if they want to twist the twist they can have the whole series of films flashback to hinge on the killer extracting a single final revenge on someone he feels wronged him in some way (but was otherwise a total innocent) - basically making him no better than the people he judged.

That might actually be clever, though, so it won't happen

[Phoenix Dark]

Hopefully, Saw IV will bomb and then next year they'll remake Saw and start all over again!  Combine Hollywood trends!

The series is averaging like a $5 million production budget for each film, so it'll be hard for it to totally bomb. But oh how I wish it would!

I'm guessing they'll go for 6 more sequels to this into a ten part horror franchise! Then maybe wait a decade for a remake... 

[lordmaji]

EB LTTP.

Yes, Saw series fucking sucks.

[Mr. Gundam]

I've never seen any of them. 

[Bloodwake]

I watched the latest Saw film.

It was entertaining, to say the least

UNTIL

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The big twist: A random nameless cop they introduce at the beginning of the movie at Jigsaw's autopsy is the real Jigsaw successor. HE'S NOT EVEN IN ANY OF THE OTHER FILMS. Disappointment am total.

I mean, I didn't see the twist coming earlier, but I didn't think they would pull something stupid like making some random character the Jigsaw successor whenever he wasn't even in any of the other films.

The other part of the twist: the entire movie after the autopsy scene is a flashback.

[close]

Yep, Saw is officially on the shitty horror film sequel list now. Even horror fans can't appreciate Saw V after this bullshit.

5/10 (mainly because of the ending)

[bud]

the acting in the first one is some of the wrost i've ever seen. it almost totally killed the movie for me. like, when that doctor cried... wtf. glover's character was useless, and the big plottwist was just unbelievable. it didn't make any sense at all. it was fun to watch it once, but i doubt i'll ever do it again, though i like the concept. i have 2 on my computer and i'm hoping it's better.

[Phoenix Dark]

There are so many laughable dialogue scenes

Glover: You ARE a drug addict?
Girl with the shitty mouth: *shakes head uhh yes*
Glover: Do you think that is the reason he picked you
Girl with the shitty mouth: He...helped me

And the part where the dude snaps and cuts off his leg brings the lols like a bag of dead babies 

[GilloD]

I watched the latest Saw film.

It was entertaining, to say the least

UNTIL

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The big twist: A random nameless cop they introduce at the beginning of the movie at Jigsaw's autopsy is the real Jigsaw successor. HE'S NOT EVEN IN ANY OF THE OTHER FILMS. Disappointment am total.

I mean, I didn't see the twist coming earlier, but I didn't think they would pull something stupid like making some random character the Jigsaw successor whenever he wasn't even in any of the other films.

The other part of the twist: the entire movie after the autopsy scene is a flashback.

[close]

Yep, Saw is officially on the shitty horror film sequel list now. Even horror fans can't appreciate Saw V after this bullshit.

5/10 (mainly because of the ending)

"What if we made it more like LOST?"

[dynamitejim]

I watched the latest Saw film.

It was entertaining, to say the least

UNTIL

Yep, Saw is officially on the shitty horror film sequel list now. Even horror fans can't appreciate Saw V after this bullshit.

5/10 (mainly because of the ending)

spoiler (click to show/hide)

He was in Saw III.

[close]