|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
184 Reviews
|
Average Customer Review
Share your thoughts with other customers
Create your own review
|
|
Most Helpful First | Newest First
|
|
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Squeamish Gore-fest with a disturbing ending,
By Ryan Kelley "Professional Shark Tamer" (Cleveland, Ohio) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Saw III (Unrated Widescreen Edition) (DVD)
I'm not even going to bother going over a synopsis of the plot. All you horror fans need to know is that this movie surpasses the first film, but in my opinion, it doesn't stand up to the second film in terms of suspense. Saw 3 is the goriest, most disturbing of the films. It seems like 2006 was the year of gore! First came Hostel, with it's torture and blood, then came The Hills Have Eyes, with it's rape, animal killings, parent killings and brutality, and now comes Saw 3...With it's flesh tearing, bone breaking, head twisting, gore splattered shock-fest. I have NEVER, in all my years of watching horror, had to actually cover my own ears and close my eyes while watching more than one scene in a movie before this one. The opening scene had me squirming in my seat with my lids tightly shut (after 15 seconds into the scene I had to mute the tv because I was so grossed out by the noises) and the scene involving a victim trapped in a device that "TWISTS" every limb on his body until the skin tears and the bones break made me want to literally vomit. But, still, the movie was very suspensful and horrifying. It kept you watching and interested. If you can stomach extreme gore and terror then you might enjoy this film. I have to admit that I REALLY hated the ending though. I can't even explain how upset it made me, but overall, the movie was very scary and disturbing. Better than the first, not as good as the second...give it a try...but do it on an empty stomach!!
27 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
OH YES, THERE'LL BE MUCH MORE BLOOD,
By
This review is from: Saw III (Unrated Widescreen Edition) (DVD)
Not being an avid fan of the first Saw and disliking a lot the second one, I nevertheless was very surprised in a good way about the third installment. Yes, it's utterly relentless and gory, I saw people covering their eyes with hands in a theater, even I winced a couple of times although I had seen many of the films alike. But what I liked the most here was not the brutal nature of Saw III (and it's quite important for the fans when a movie lives up to its R-rating, so that they can say money was spent wisely) and not even the intricate story-line that keeps you surprised and on the edge of your seat all the time. Not the final twist which was expected of course but surely you didn't know what it would be exactly.
The main merit of the third part is that it doesn't appear to be a usual stupid sequel that lacks ideas, it brings some new sense into the series, glues all the three films together making a perfect trilogy out of it which now can be watched as a one big 5-hour film. There's plenty of flashbacks here that explain a lot from the second and even the first part, and some things become clear that were not in the ends of previous series. It really takes talent to make a movie that not just stands alone, but adds a lot to the other parts and completes them. Guys that were making it are true professionals and real maniacs :) And apart from being as it seems overly gory and graphic Saw III can boast of being rather thoughtful too. The evil genius of Jigsaw (and of the makers of the film) made the characters (and us along with them) think about rage and its manifestations, about revenge and people's insatiable urge to punish those who took their beloved ones. By quite simple examples inclusive of flesh-ripping, bone-crushing, joint-wresting etc. the killer himself shows us killing is bad. Those will survive who don't succumb to the desire of payback. Only forgiving can grant forgiveness for ourselves. And that's the rule for everyone, even for the evil manipulator's apprentice, and it can't be broken. Otherwise death awaits you as well as your victims. In this movie Jigsaw is seen not as an ordinary killer maniac, but as some kind of a teacher if you will. So this time his puzzles must be solved not only using strength, keen wit and will to live, but also by testing your own virtue and that's something new for this kind of flicks, don't you agree? I don't know what they will do with Saw IV, because the third part wrapped it all very nice making a perfectly neat structure of a trilogy. I'd leave it like that. You can top previous parts in respect of blood and guts, but it'll be pretty hard to keep the same level of thoughtfulness the third part established.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
GOOD ENTRY IN THE SERIES! WAY BETTER THAN SAW 2!,
By
This review is from: Saw III (Unrated Widescreen Edition) (DVD)
I was so disappointed with 'Saw 2' that I almost skipped this film entirely.....I'm glad I didn't. In this third installment they go back to the roots of the first film and come up with an entertaining sequel. The version I watched on cable was not extremely gory to me but, it had enough blood and aftermaths to make most gorehounds happy. This is definitely worth a look.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The way Saw III was meant to be seen.,
This review is from: Saw III - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition) (DVD)
To start, let's review the film itself.
The Jigsaw Killer is back, and he's got new test subjects to toy with. With the help of Amanda, his new apprentice, she sets the stage for their two unwilling participants in his twisted game: Dr. Lynn Denlon and Jeff Reinhart. Before the night is over, one will have the chance at life, another will have a chance at revenge, and another will have the chance for redemption. There's not much else I can say without spoiling the plot, and since this review is geared towards why this 2-disc DVD treatment is superior to the previous versions, let's move on. Saw III has more plot twists than you can shake a broken arm at, and this film doesn't have too many characters to bog down the action as in the previous film. With a running time of 120 minutes, the Director's Cut of Saw III has more gore and violence than the last two treatments. If you think the directors have run out of trap ideas, believe me when I tell you that there are plenty of moments that caused seasoned horror movie fanatics to cringe and wince at the tortures unfolding before them on the silver screen. If you have already been introduced to the 'Saw' universe, Saw III is required viewing. As for the DVD treatment of the movie, it's common knowledge these days that the first version of a DVD release is typically not the one with the best features, or the most complete version of the film. The most complete version comes later. The best example I can think of is the Blade Runner (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition) - I had to wait 25 years for that. Thankfully, Saw III got the best DVD version (so far) within a year. When you open the DVD, you're treated to a certificate allowing you to see Saw IV in the theaters for free. However, the ticket was only good until November 10th of 2007. Even if you buy this DVD after that time, the certificate makes a nice collectable for Saw fans. When you put in the first disc, you have to wade through 5 movie advertisements before getting to the main menu. At the main menu, there is an endless one minute loop of "Killer Inside-Messed Up World" playing in the background. It's my belief that DVD menus shouldn't have music playing, and this is a perfect example: The song is WAY too loud. I'm sure it was put there to direct viewers to the music video on the second disc - but it's simply an annoyance. Some of the features on the first disc include: -- Audio commentary by Leigh Whannell, the co-creator of SAW. -- Audio commentary by Director Darren Lynn Bousman -- Audio commentary by Tobin Bell (Jigsaw) and Shawnee Smith (Amanda) There's one choice in the special features section for "D-Box, Mastering Motion" - this is a shameless promotion for a company that offers a new way of experiencing motion in movies with special chairs/helmets/etc. On the second disc, there's a mixed bag of special features. First, we start with "Jigsaw's Plan", a trivia game that tests your knowledge of the three Saw films to date. However, the questions are not randomized and if you get one question wrong, you have to start all over; making the replay value of this feature almost non-existent. Nest, we have "Choose the Death" which allows us to view the scenes of 10 Saw traps from Saw 2 and Saw 3 with commentary from the director. Not a bad feature. The next feature is "Looking Tortured" - I'm not sure who came up with this idea, but it was a pleasant little surprise. 4 people are chosen to have makeup applied to emulate their 'Saw' counterparts. The viewer is shown from start to finish how to create & apply the makeup to look like the perfect Saw victim. Anyone who wants to spend $25 on a Halloween costume can watch this and make a better one themselves. Hydrovibe offers us a music video of "Killer Inside-Messed Up World" with Shawnee Smith offering additional vocals. This video wasn't bad, but it felt like it was tacked on at the last minute. You'll probably find yourself saying "Hey, isn't this that annoying song playing in the background on the first disc?" "Filmmaker Faves": This feature is totally unnecessary. Do you lay awake at night wondering about Leigh Whannell's favorite line/scene/trap of the Saw series? This is good for trivia night, but it's really not needed. Plus, the font of the lettering is hard to read here. The last feature is a "Sneak Peek at Saw IV". This scene is mainly to wet the appetites of those folks eagerly awaiting the next Saw movie to come out on DVD, and they will not be disappointed. The first batch of SAW III DVD's were out in January of 2007, The "Unrated Edition" and the standard edition. Both of these DVD's had features that did not make it to this version, such as some deleted scenes, commentaries, and trailers. If you are looking for the longest running, most complete version of Saw III, this is the version for you. Gift Card or Credit Card...make your choice.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Steps down from the originals but still an enjoyable watch,
By SteakSalad101 (Madison, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Saw III (Unrated Widescreen Edition) (DVD)
I am not usually attracted to this type of film...slasher/horror flicks, that is. I find most of them a waste of money and time, to be honest. This is why I was genuinely shocked at how I truly loved the first two "Saw" films, realizing they exercised absolutely brilliant examples of film-making, acting, and special effects. Both films had a genuinely awesome screenplay with well-written, realistically portrayed dialogue...and of course, forgetting the almost-too-intense amounts of suspense both films lavished upon its viewers would be criminal. Some of the scenes in those films brought on the nail-biting suspense I hadn't felt since Ridley Scott's "Alien." I remember being sick with jealousy after watching the first film that novice filmmakers James Wan and Leigh Whannell could create such a brilliant, intricate, breathtaking horror film that had just the right amounts of blood & guts mixed with a truckload of otherworldly suspense. I remember after watching the second film that Darren Lynn Bousman seriously has got a future on his hands with an exquisitely directed "Saw II." So, naturally, I felt more than compelled to view the third installation of the "Saw" franchise before the fourth film hit theaters. Described as "staggeringly violent" and "sadistically horrific," along with the true incidents of audience members vomiting and fainting in the theater, I felt less and less excited about the third Saw film, and began thinking it was nothing more than a Halloween horror film face-off between Saw III and Hostel to see which film could possibly be more sickeningly violent. In addition, I began to think "How could a third film possibly live up to the caliber of the first two?" After viewing the third film, I really wasn't sure what to think of the theory of the film being violent just to be violent. But here's what I generally thought of the third installation to the brilliant "Saw" franchise. The interlocking two-part story deals with a fatally ill Jigsaw capturing a doctor who must keep him alive for however long it takes for a man, who is psychologically insane with his lust for revenge for the drunk driver who killed his son, to maneuver through a series of Jigsaw's infamous "traps." Jeff, the man, is not actually in the traps, though--it's the people who he's been vengeful towards regarding the death of his son--for instance, the judge who locked away the killer for only a short period of time, and witnesses who didn't do anything. Jeff has the power to stop these traps--find it within himself to forgive them. Either that, or watch them get slaughtered in ways too shocking to write about in this review.
That said, Saw III is definitely a step up when it comes to the gore meter compared to the first two films. Some of the traps are so sickening you feel compelled to turn away from the screen. People vomiting in theaters, though, is a gross overreaction. I ate pizza while watching and I wasn't really nauseated or anything. Don't let that fool you, though--Saw III is extremely violent and the violence in the first two films is pale compared to it. There are plenty of moments where I cringed and thought to myself, "Holy crap, that's just wrong." While a part of me wants to condemn the film for being so excruciatingly violent, I can't help but think the violence was a necessary aspect to the story. You'd really have to see the film to know what I'm talking about here, but anyway, Saw III might've competed with Hostel for "most violent award" but the gore wasn't extremely over-the-top or too intense to watch. Which brings me into my next point--the storyline. As I said in the first paragraph, the story lines for the first two film blew me out of the damn water with their brilliance. This is where the third film declines--and steeply, at that. The development of new characters is handled extremely poorly and in the end, you really don't give a flying crap who dies and who is left living (extremely unlike the second film). The acting is both up and down at different times. Shawnee Smith (Amanda) and Tobin Bell (Jigsaw) are absolutely top notch, as always. Smith's performance, especially towards the end of the film, sent chills down my spine and Bell never fails to disappoint. Yet, literally every single other actor/actress in the film didn't deliver, and that for me was major point loss. I liked the directing, editing, and cinematography. Especially the cinematography, which reminded me immensely of the 2004 Denzel Washington action flick "Man On Fire," also dealing with the human spirit's lust for revenge at the loss of another. Fortunately, Darren Lynn Bousman's above-average skills as a film director manage to balance a close-to-falling Saw III and keep it shakily on its feet. Again, I blame this on the weak story. Yet, it is hardly fair for me to completely condemn the story. The screenwriters did a very good job incorporating flashbacks into the film, and explaining elements from the first two films that may have been considered plot holes in the past. This aspect to Saw 3 was immensely enjoyable and made for a good film. Though, the ending was also very poor, in my opinion. It is very depressing, unhealthy, and unsatisfying like a Big Mac. You almost feel at a complete loss--the events building up from the beginning of the film (and, for that matter, the other two films as well) end up--like this? Bleh. Been there, done that. There also is no shocker at the end, unlike the first two films which each had shockers that pretty much blew the brains out of your ears and left you speechless and unable to move. Still, though, Saw 3 is a decent film. But it should be understood that unless you are EXTREME fans of the first two films, as I am, you should stay away from this movie. You'll be revolted and disappointed, to say the least. But for hardcore Saw fans, it should be rather pleasing. I don't think "Saw 3" was a great film, But it certainly is decent and I've seen FAR worse. I have hopes for the fourth film that it may redeem the third film and restore the hopes of me and a million others that a great movie--turned into just a decent one--can be brought back to greatness. 3-Stars
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Friday the 13th Part 12,
This review is from: Saw III (Unrated Widescreen Edition) (DVD)
The original "Saw" was everything a horror film should be. It had gore both implied and explicit, twists and turns in the plot, and characters that the audience didn't particularly want to see die. Then came along Saw II, which ramped up the gore factor considerably, and while it had its moments, it was obviously only there to make money off of the success of the original. Now the horror genre has been graced with the third offering in the series, which is firmly in Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street territory. The series is now officially a parody of itself, and its continued existence is only assured as long as it remains a cash cow (which it will).
The main problem with Saw III is that Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are no longer believable villains. They exude no sense of terror or aura of fear, as they are creatures that simply could not exist in reality. Jigsaw has essentially become the God of the universe. He knows every minute detail of every person's life. He knows where everyone sleeps, how they take their coffee, how long it takes them to drive to work, when the best time to break into their house to plant cameras would be, how their relationships with their spouses and children are, what color underwear they buy, etc. Both Jigsaw and Amanda are also expert locksmiths, pharmacists, and engineers. With no funds at all, they can craft any torture device of any size in minimal time. These devices are also so expertly crafted that they can be deactivated and removed with one small padlock, even if the device is fully covering a person's entire body. These villains are no longer scary because there is obviously no hope of survival at all. No matter how physically strong or prepared a person is, they cannot avoid being captured by Jigsaw, and they have no chance of escaping his traps alive. Jigsaw is portrayed as a sort of avenging angel in this movie. Out of all the characters, he is the most rational and detached from emotion. The overall tone of the movie almost implies that he is correct and that everyone should just submit to his will and change their lives according to his system of beliefs. The problem with this logic is that if Jigsaw's beliefs are applied to his own life, he should be the one stuck in a deadly trap. His whole point in capturing and torturing people is to show them that they have been wasting their lives and they need to start living and being happy with their lot. He states that one character was chosen because she spends her life doing nothing but trying to save the dead, while her family life is dying. However, this exact same sentence could be applied to Jigsaw. He spends his life trying to save others from emotional death, and this obsession has obviously killed him inside. Even with all these problems, Saw III does have some merit. The gore in this entry of the series is simply out of control, and exceedingly well done. The tone of the gore has become even more sadistic than in Saw II. An early scene involving chains that have been run through a man's flesh, including his jaw, is absolutely stunning. Pretty much everyone will cringe or look away when he starts ripping the chains out of himself. The final major trap, dubbed "the rack", is one of the most diabolical devices put on film in recent memory. The script is also better than anticipated, and it neatly brings the series full circle, connecting several events that didn't appear to be connected before. The parallels between Friday the 13th and Saw are occurring with increasing frequency. Jigsaw and Jason both kill in retribution for people not agreeing with their view of how the world should work. While Jason punishes those who do drugs or have pre-marital sex, Jigsaw punishes those who have squandered their lives. Both are unstoppable, invincible whirlwinds of death who can sneak up on anyone, no matter how implausible the situation. Like every Friday the 13th movie ever made, even though the ending of Saw III completely ruined any option for a sequel, Saw 4 is currently in production. Obviously Jason, I mean Jigsaw, will rise again to continue torturing those who don't agree with his world view. I'll be skipping that one.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
OH YES, THERE'LL BE MUCH MORE BLOOD,
By
This review is from: Saw III (DVD)
Not being an avid fan of the first Saw and disliking a lot the second one, I nevertheless was very surprised in a good way about the third installment. Yes, it's utterly relentless and gory, I saw people covering their eyes with hands in a theater, even I winced a couple of times although I had seen many of the films alike. But what I liked the most here was not the brutal nature of Saw III (and it's quite important for the fans when a movie lives up to its R-rating, so that they can say money was spent wisely) and not even the intricate story-line that keeps you surprised and on the edge of your seat all the time. Not the final twist which was expected of course but surely you didn't know what it would be exactly.
The main merit of the third part is that it doesn't appear to be a usual stupid sequel that lacks ideas, it brings some new sense into the series, glues all the three films together making a perfect trilogy out of it which now can be watched as a one big 5-hour film. There's plenty of flashbacks here that explain a lot from the second and even the first part, and some things become clear that were not in the ends of previous series. It really takes talent to make a movie that not just stands alone, but adds a lot to the other parts and completes them. Guys that were making it are true professionals and real maniacs :) And apart from being as it seems overly gory and graphic Saw III can boast of being rather thoughtful too. The evil genius of Jigsaw (and of the makers of the film) made the characters (and us along with them) think about rage and its manifestations, about revenge and people's insatiable urge to punish those who took their beloved ones. By quite simple examples inclusive of flesh-ripping, bone-crushing, joint-wresting etc. the killer himself shows us killing is bad. Those will survive who don't succumb to the desire of payback. Only forgiving can grant forgiveness for ourselves. And that's the rule for everyone, even for the evil manipulator's apprentice, and it can't be broken. Otherwise death awaits you as well as your victims. In this movie Jigsaw is seen not as an ordinary killer maniac, but as some kind of a teacher if you will. So this time his puzzles must be solved not only using strength, keen wit and will to live, but also by testing your own virtue and that's something new for this kind of flicks, don't you agree? I don't know what they will do with Saw IV, because the third part wrapped it all very nice making a perfectly neat structure of a trilogy. I'd leave it like that. You can top previous parts in respect of blood and guts, but it'll be pretty hard to keep the same level of thoughtfulness the third part established.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some Tests Cannot Be Passed...,
By Justice0309 "Justice" (Joplin, MO USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Saw III (Unrated Widescreen Edition) (DVD)
Here's the thing that's proving to be somewhat strange for me with the 'Saw' series of horror films. I had seen each of the first three movies in the franchise when they were initially released to DVD, and had developed opinions both good and bad for each of the films at the time. For instance, when I watched the first film, "Saw", I really didn't think all that much for the movie, I thought it was alright but not worth all the hype it had received. Then I watched "Saw 2" and felt it was a much better movie than the original, I thought the story was improved, and didn't borrow as heavily from other influences. After that I watched "Saw 3", but I hadn't seen the first two in so long that I thought the third film contradicted certain elements contained in the first two, and was also much gorier and seemingly short on plot. However, after re-watching each of the movies in the franchise back-to-back my opinions have somewhat changed. I actually found myself liking the original film much better the second time around, and found "Saw 2" to be fairly disappointing by comparison, due to a lack of character development and an over-reliance on shock and gore, instead of developing an eerily creepy atmosphere and a story that would deliver genuine thrills as the original film had done. Which brings me to my re-watching of the third film in the series, "Saw 3". Going into this film I wondered if my opinion would change as drastically as it had on the previous two films or if it would remain essentially the same as it was after the first time I watched the movie. Either way, I was curious to see what results awaited my repeat viewing of the film that I felt was the weakest in the series thus far.
"Saw 3" picks up immediately after the events of "Saw 2", and we find Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) desperately trying to free himself in order to save his son. However, Amanda (Shawnee Smith) isn't as fair as Jigsaw and has no intention of allowing Eric to escape. After their brutal altercation (essentially tying off the dangling loose ends left over from the previous film), Amanda joins her mentor, the ailing Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), in overseeing their latest series of tests, one involves a doctor (Bahar Soomekh) who is extremely talented and caring in the operating room yet is cold and aloof to her family at home. The second test focuses on a heartbroken father (Angus MacFadyen) who has lost his son in an automobile accident and would give anything to exact vengeance on those he holds responsible. As each of the subjects advance through their own series of tests, Jigsaw's already deteriorating health seems to be declining at an increasingly rapid rate, but this will not deter the maniacal mastermind from seeing his carefully designed plans come to fruition. When I watched "Saw 3" for the first time after it had recently arrived on DVD in early 2007, I initially found the film to be just another standard horror film that was intent on using as much blood and gore as the MPAA would allow in a film. Basically the filmmakers wanted to see just how much they could get away with before the audience was completely disgusted. The traps had seemed more grotesque, and were even more inescapable than those in the previous two films (which it turned out was the case due to Amanda's refusal to give her victims a chance at life, a fact that was shown in several flashbacks throughout the movie), and the results of the traps were even more bizarre and horrifying than what either of the first two films had attempted. Also, I had thought that the story for "Saw 3" contradicted certain events of the previous two movies, especially the first movie, and a couple of moments in the second, leaving me wondering why the writers of this installment, James Wan and Leigh Whannell (who also wrote the first film together), would contradict their own work from the original movie. Well, after finishing "Saw 3" for the second time I must say that my opinion of the film has changed in some instances. I found that the story, which I initially found contradictory, was very well put together and was not contradictory in the least. The story also felt more in sync with the tone of the original film, by having Jigsaw and Amanda's traps be more planned out, forcing their victims to take part in them rather than the rather coincidental approach to the second film where the victims seemed to be allowed to avoid the traps if they could. One facet of the story of "Saw 3" that I really enjoyed were the flashbacks to events surrounding the first two films, which really deepened the story for the overall franchise and connected each of the films together even more than before. For the most part, I liked that the flashbacks explained the change in how the traps went from being escapable to impossible to survive, and also how careful the planning was for the traps used in the first film. One complaint I did have with the flashbacks was the fact that we are introduced to Jigsaw's past, which was fine, but we are shown a woman with whom he is seemingly in love with, but we learn nothing about her other than the fact that we see them together for a couple of scenes. I really hate it when a movie simply introduces an element into the plot that is intended to be resolved in the next film, so that nothing comes of it in the current movie you are watching. Why bother including a segment in one film if nothing will come of that segment until the sequel, just wait and include the segment when you (meaning the writers) are ready to flesh it out further. Because the segment, though intended to show a much softer Jigsaw from the days before he became the monster he now is, was ultimately pointless and even more irritating due to the fact that it seemed like it's sole purpose was for us to feel some empathy for Jigsaw, and view him more as a normal human who has slipped into a state of insanity, rather than a man who was merely masking the monster hidden deep within. The traps of "Saw 3" were just as I had initially felt, they were way too grotesque and seemed to be intended to shock and gross out the audience as much as possible rather than scare us. I don't understand why horror films have shifted from trying to scare the audience with atmosphere, story and a genuinely creepy villain, but instead have chosen to simply shock us by including as many gross sequences as possible into a 90 minute film, but that's what the powers-that-be must feel is needed to make a successful horror film these days. Maybe it's because we moviegoers have become de-sensitized to such things, that the only way the moviemakers feel they can scare us is by shocking us with as much blood, gore, and sadism as they can get away with under the guidelines of the increasingly liberal MPAA rating system. As a franchise, the 'Saw' series has definitely fallen into the school of thought within filmmaking that feels it is necessary to show the most gore possible to give the audience a good scare. When this franchise began, the original film was more of an actual horror film, in the vein of the old school horror films from Alfred Hitchcock ("Psycho") and John Carpenter ("Halloween"), relying more on atmosphere and the audiences own imagination to create genuine thrills with which to scare us, not buckets and buckets of blood. However, over the course of three films, the 'Saw' series has become just another horror franchise, albeit with much better scripts than your average horror movie (which allows these films to rise above the rest of the current crop of horror offerings), but one can definitely see the downward spiral in terms of quality that is occurring within the series. The characters of "Saw 3" were much better than those within "Saw 2". This time around I actually cared whether the main characters survived their respective traps, unlike in "Saw 2" where I would have been fine if the majority of them failed their tests. The new cast members to the franchise fit into the same profile as those of the previous film. Both of the two new lead characters were portrayed by acting talents that many people would recognize if they'd seen them, but most likely not by their names. Bahar Soomekh (TV's short-lived drama "Day Break") was solid as Lynn, the doctor who had all but abandoned her family emotionally, but in the midst of Jigsaw's trial, discovers that she longs for nothing more than to hold her family members yet again. She was so genuine in her desire to do what is right according to the oath she took as a doctor by helping Jigsaw through the pain of his cancer, and at the same time she was so afraid of losing her life to the trap she was in that she was tempted to take a life in cold blood. The character of Jeff, the distraught father, as portrayed by Angus MacFadyen ("Braveheart") was a character that was so consumed by his thirst for revenge that he teeters on the edge of sanity, and is struggling to retain his last shred of humanity so he can be there for his daughter that desperately wants her father back. Angus portrayed the conflict within Jeff perfectly, each of the trials that he faced tested his thirst for vengeance, while at the same time threatening to strip him of his last shred of humanity, and each time Angus played the indecision perfectly, and in the end gave audiences a character that was so deeply flawed, and yet the audience couldn't help but relate to him and his struggles. "Saw 3" is a better movie than "Saw 2", and felt more in line with the tone and quality of the first movie. However, as improved as "Saw 3" was, it still fell prey to the shortcomings of its predecessor by featuring an over abundance of gross-out moments intended to shock the audience rather than scare it, and way too much blood and gore, to the point that it detracts from the overall movie. "Saw 3" is available in rated R and unrated editions, both contain violence, language, and nudity.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
saw 3 rules,
By Yolanda M. Gutierrez "Yolanda G utierrez movi... (las vegas nv usa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Saw III (Unrated Full Screen Edition) (DVD)
saw 3 is the best horror film of 2006 and the best saw yet.there were at least a few scenes that made me look away.it also has the most horrifying traps of the series.one that's call the rack almost made me leave the theater. so go see saw 3 it's gory,ultraviolent,and one heck of a suspensful ride.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
THIS *SAW III* IS NOT THAT SHARP !!!,
By
This review is from: Saw III (Unrated Widescreen Edition) (DVD)
U know the first SAW, was SCARY and SHOCKING in the end, Frezz me & people in the chair End of "SAW" in the theater!! Everyone loved it & shocked! Well everyone I know, I guess just hit the spot.! "SAW 2" was good, I liked it too, But not like the first SAW, But this SAW 3 is kind of looks like a lots flash backs and getting little lame and drama type the flick, I guess really wasn't all that like first saw & saw2, A bit downfall to me. The "SAW" series is kind of like "HOSTEL" scrip. Well "HOSTEL 2" going to release in theaters soon, Hope they NOT going to screw it up like they did with this SAW3!!I bought first SAW & 2 on DVD ...But this "SAW3" is ok rental instead to Buy!! C+
|
|
Most Helpful First | Newest First
|
|
Saw III (Uncut Edition) (Fullscreen) by Darren Lynn Bousman (DVD)
$4.79
In Stock | ||