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Posted: Oct 17 2005 09:55 pm

The movie was overhyped a year ago, but hearing there was going to be a sequel I decided to finally watch it. Thank God the twist ending had been saved for me, because it made the whole movie for me. Not the reason for the twist, but the fact I can identify someone just from their voice.

I just bought the prequel comic today and found a website that said: "BE THE FIRST TO REVIEW IT!" so I did. Hopefully, I am first... Twisted Evil

If not, here was my review anyway:

"SAW" was movie that divided its audience. People either loved it or hated it. The real factor that decided this for audiences was the unorthodox ending, which left more questions than answers. "Rebirth" tries to answer those questions in this prequel/bridge.

Without giving the twist away, "Rebirth" follows The Jigsaw Killer as he decides to dedicate his life to making people appreciate life by practically (or even successfully) killing them. It is always hard for a prequel to explain why a killer does what they do. The reason is: every killer is insane, but the audience needs to be convinced that the killer has a plausible reason to do what he does. "Rebirth" succeeds at accomplishing this. The comic is told in the first person and as the killer justifies it to himself, he is also justifying it for the audience.

Some "SAW" fans will be disappointed by this comic. There's no killing or grand death designs in this book, but instead we watch Jigsaw begin to set up his traps in the film. We see him construct the jaw trap and how he finds his victims. However, there is no blood or gore of any type. This is a human story.

What I found difficult to accept is how easily Jigsaw could've been caught judging by the facts this comic brings us. The movie seems to have Jigsaw select his victims randomly, but here we see that isn't the case. We see a hint of the puppet Jigsaw eventually creates, but we have to question what stopped the police from investigating where the puppet came from which would lead them to the killer? The comic offers several leads and clues to discover Jigsaw's identity that were evident in the film, but still not explored by any character. This only faults the believability of the overall mythology, but if you loved "SAW" chances are plot holes don't phase you.

The artwork is unique, but enjoyable. The same grimy look of the film translates itself very well to the comic, but some fans may want more of a darker tone than is presented. The writing is also well done and would translate very well into a short story by itself. The whole comic would actually have made a great short film and the reader should treat the presentation of the material as such.

I'm giving the comic 5 out of 5, because as far as comic adaptations and story bridging goes "Rebirth" is one of the best I've seen. It's delivery is fresh, well executed, and even a kind of morbid compassion toward the main character. After reading it I wished this story was tacked onto the end of "SAW", because it answers a number of questions about Jigsaw. The true success of the comic though lies in the presentation of these answers. Jigsaw is not a lesser character because of this comic, but adds even more depth when we revisit "SAW"'s gloomy bathroom again and again and again...

Posted: Oct 18 2005 12:03 am

I enjoyed Saw immensely and even though Cary Elwes isn't in Saw 2, I am going to hold onto my highly dubious belief that he could have maybe somehow survived the original movie since he didn't die on camera.

Posted: Oct 18 2005 12:10 am

Yeah, I too loved this movie, and I'm very excited about Saw 2. And indeed, the ending was definately the part that made the movie. I really enjoyed the whole concept, but the ending sealed the deal.

Posted: Oct 18 2005 12:37 am

Syd Lexia wrote:

I am going to hold onto my highly dubious belief that he could have maybe somehow survived the original movie since he didn't die on camera.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

I totally think he lived. Jigsaw would just walk over him if he saw him crawling away when he left. Jigsaw doesn't seem like the type of person who kills you, he just kinda leaves you screwed. The place had phones, right? Plus, I believe Glover is still alive... just very old for this shit.

Posted: Oct 18 2005 09:27 am

saw is quite an amazing movie indeed. the killing devices are very innovative,and i especially like the Barbed wire one.

*Saw 2 spoiler ahead*

from what ive heard and read,saw 2 is going to be generally about 5 people who are locked in a room breathing Nerve gas,and have to find ways to get out without setting off any of the numorous traps jigsaw sets up for them. people also have been saying that it will follow close to the style of the first saw and show Side storys involving other killings,and how each of the 5 prisioners are related (just like the way the doctor and the privite detective were related,and how Kip (or zip or whatever) related to the doctor,And to jigsaw.

Posted: Oct 18 2005 03:18 pm

I saw the movie Saw last Veteran's Day when our system went down at work and we had three hours to kill. I have to say that I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the sequel as long as it's as unpredictable and greusome as the first film.

I don't know if any of you saw the first movie poster for Saw II with the two severed fingers denoting the sequel, but it was kickass and is now gone because society sucks a fat cock.

Posted: Oct 18 2005 03:42 pm

those posters are still up,there was only some towns who wanted them removed due to "graphic" nature,which also happened when the first one came out and the posters depicted the severed foot.

Joined: Aug 25 2005 Posts: 287

Actually, the U.S. posters HAVE been modified. You still see the fingers, but the bottom of the image is cropped so that you can't see that they're severed.

On another note, yesterday was a mega-DVD release day. One of the five discs I picked up was the "Saw: Uncut Edition". Supposedly the transfer is fixed to James Wan's specifications and it has some decent extras, but the coolest thing about the disc is the CASE. It has the severed foot and a thin film over it that has REAL RED LIQUID ("blood") flowing through it. While the tactic was used a few years back on the VHS release of the movie "Bleeders", it's still REALLY cool. I grossed a few people out with it. Very Happy

Posted: Oct 21 2005 11:22 pm

Remember the drug addict "amanda" from saw 1 who had the jaw machine on her head?
yeah,she's in the second one inside the nerve toxin situation

Posted: Oct 21 2005 11:30 pm

She's having a really bad life...

She's also in the comic. Wan loves her WAY too much.

Posted: Oct 28 2006 01:04 am

Further Saw discussion:
http://www.sydlexia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=158

For ease, this is the official "SAW III" thread.

I was happily surprised again. It seemed MUCH more emotionally motivated this time around instead of cool ways to kill people. One of the best 3's to a trilogy I've ever seen.

Edit: I just saw the movie fifteen minutes ago, so I might be biased in the above statement.

Joined: Feb 24 2006 Posts: 2578

Sweeeet! I'm excited. Looking forward to seeing it. The ending of the first one royally pissed me off, but otherwise I loved it. And I adored the sequel.

Posted: Oct 30 2006 12:06 am

SAW IV has just been greenlit thanks to the huge opening. Yay. Very Happy

Next Halloween.

Joined: Apr 14 2006 Location: Lake Michigan Posts: 3332

The problem is,

SPOILER
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Who can continue Jigsaw's work in a sequel???

Posted: Oct 30 2006 01:28 am

Cattivo wrote:

The problem is,

My solution would be a cult. Wikipedia seems to think it'll be a prequel. I don't know what they'd do with Amanda's character though.

Of course, the films could do arcs. With potentially six films in total, they could make two trilogies out of them.

Posted: Oct 30 2006 02:09 am

Spoilers far below for the sake of those who haven't seen III (since I can't find a color to obscure this text.

Well remember that at the ending, that guy still has to find his sister and that Jigsaw covered that one cassette with hot wax (for some reason). I suppose it'll involve Jigsaw in a narrative sense alone.

Posted: Oct 30 2006 02:49 am

SPOILERS!!!

lordsathien wrote:

Well remember that at the ending, that guy still has to find his sister and that Jigsaw covered that one cassette with hot wax (for some reason). I suppose it'll involve Jigsaw in a narrative sense alone.

I missed the hot wax bit... but I'm fairly sure the daughter will die.

Posted: Oct 30 2006 06:09 am

Tebor wrote:

SAW IV has just been greenlit thanks to the huge opening. Yay. Very Happy

Next Halloween.

Tobin Bell was already signed up through like Saw VI or VII though.

Posted: Oct 30 2006 09:38 am

Syd Lexia wrote:

Tobin Bell was already signed up through like Saw VI or VII though.

Just cause an actor's contracted, doesn't mean the film will happen. The cast of "Lost in Space" were signed for three films and that never became a franchise.

We also don't know if the original creative team will be involved which will have an effect on the film.

Joined: Dec 11 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 3

man I can't wait to see the 4th one. I love these movies. Sequels usually suck half the time, but these are really good.

Joined: Aug 25 2005 Posts: 287

Okay, so I JUST saw "Saw III" (picked up the DVD tonight.. it was the first of the series I wasn't able to see in the theater). I liked it a lot, but one question...

SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE!!

Did Amanda get royally screwed? The movie goes back and forth playing it like Jigsaw really cares about her, but his whole plan for Jeff's final test was contingent on him walking in to see Amanda kill his wife. In that sense, then, didn't Jigsaw WANT Amanda to fail and end up being killed? He still sheds a tear when she dies, though, so I'm not sure. It seems more like she was just a pawn, as Amanda pointed out before plugging the doctor.

Posted: Feb 17 2007 02:05 am

greeneyedzeke wrote:

SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE!!

All of Jigsaw's games have serious consequences. When Amanda made her choice, she paid the price.

I really didn't think he wanted her to fail. Had Amanda not killed the nurse, the husband would've found them, gone to his wife, Jigsaw would've released her, Amanda would've knocked them both out or her and Jigsaw would go to jail... one or the other.

Posted: Feb 19 2007 06:59 am

I thought the SAW movies had really good storylines, but terrible acting. I didn't see 3 yet, but 1 had an awesome ending, just some icky acting. 2, eh, still ok but even worse ending and the story seemed dumbed down.

Posted: Feb 24 2007 11:59 pm

I love Cary Elwes, but God did overact in Saw. The sad part is, he actually can act. People know and love him for his cartoonish portrayals of Westley and Robin Hood, but watch The Riverman. He plays Ted Bundy and he does a damn good job.

Finally saw Saw III tonight OnDemand. As I watching it, I was planning out a post complaining that the Saw movies have gotten progressively less clever and as a result they've become gorier to compensate. My opinion changed in the last ten minutes... Saw III was actually really cool. It even addressed my complaint that the Saw II seemed largely unwinnable.

It still didn't address what happened to Dr. Gordon. I'm definitely pulling for him. If he can survive being tied to the Prince Humperdinck's torture machine, I think he can survive hacking off his foot - Donnie Wahlberg did.

Posted: Feb 25 2007 12:07 am

Syd Lexia wrote:

As I watching it, I was planning out a post complaining that the Saw movies have gotten progressively less clever and as a result they've become gorier to compensate. My opinion changed in the last ten minutes...

I changed my mind halfway through the film (not counting the AMAZING opening teaser). True, the first machine was rather lame and the way they killed Oracle off was just terrible. Sad