"Sawful" sequel fails to deliver
Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: Student Life
If you ever needed proof that you can have too much of a good thing, look no further than "Saw VI," which follows Detective Hoffman as he tries to hide his identity as Jigsaw's replacement. Unfortunately, instead of adopting the rogue vigilantism of his predecessor, Hoffman turns out to be nothing more than another corrupt cop looking to get his jollies by killing (mostly) innocent people.
What made the first three "Saw" films memorable was that they revolved around Jigsaw, a man whose life wasn't exactly filled with puppies and rainbows. After being stricken with cancer and surviving an automobile accident that made him appreciate the little time he had left, Jigsaw was instilled with a desire to contribute to the world before he died. Even if that meant kidnapping people and making them face life or death choices, his intentions were at least noble. He was only trying to make people appreciate their lives.
Jigsaw never killed his victims because no matter how twisted he might have been, he always appreciated the value of life. There was always a way for the victims he selected to live. Agent Hoffman isn't so gracious however, and tends to kill everyone he gets his hands on. The original Jigsaw also had some connection to his victims, but in this movie anyone was fair game, whether it be a spouse or the barista who gave the incorrect change for Hoffman's double shot mocha latte, either one could find him or herself strapped to the merry-go-round of buckshot and death.
One crucial element missing from "Saw VI" is the famous, or infamous if you prefer, twist ending. The first few films did an excellent job of throwing a curve ball that completely rewrote the audience's expectations of what they had just seen, but with "Saw VI" anyone can guess the ending regardless of whether or not they have seen the previous films. What adds insult to injury is that the ending does indeed set the stage for even more films, and you can bet that next Halloween we'll be seeing more trailers for Saw VII in between sessions of YouTube.
Still present in "Saw VI" is the iconic gore. The visual effects are up to par with the previous films and the queasy-stomached should, as per usual, steer clear. From a man being filled with hydrochloric acid and melted from the inside out to a fat guy cutting his beer belly away with nothing more than a kitchen knife, there is plenty of blood to go around, but without a solid story to complement it, it starts to lose its touch.
The teeth of what once was an iconic mystery thriller have become rusted and dull. It is almost certain that next year there will be yet again another "Saw" film, but maybe next Halloween I'll go out and get a treat somewhere else, instead of being tricked out of my cash to watch a 90 minute train wreck.
What made the first three "Saw" films memorable was that they revolved around Jigsaw, a man whose life wasn't exactly filled with puppies and rainbows. After being stricken with cancer and surviving an automobile accident that made him appreciate the little time he had left, Jigsaw was instilled with a desire to contribute to the world before he died. Even if that meant kidnapping people and making them face life or death choices, his intentions were at least noble. He was only trying to make people appreciate their lives.
Jigsaw never killed his victims because no matter how twisted he might have been, he always appreciated the value of life. There was always a way for the victims he selected to live. Agent Hoffman isn't so gracious however, and tends to kill everyone he gets his hands on. The original Jigsaw also had some connection to his victims, but in this movie anyone was fair game, whether it be a spouse or the barista who gave the incorrect change for Hoffman's double shot mocha latte, either one could find him or herself strapped to the merry-go-round of buckshot and death.
One crucial element missing from "Saw VI" is the famous, or infamous if you prefer, twist ending. The first few films did an excellent job of throwing a curve ball that completely rewrote the audience's expectations of what they had just seen, but with "Saw VI" anyone can guess the ending regardless of whether or not they have seen the previous films. What adds insult to injury is that the ending does indeed set the stage for even more films, and you can bet that next Halloween we'll be seeing more trailers for Saw VII in between sessions of YouTube.
Still present in "Saw VI" is the iconic gore. The visual effects are up to par with the previous films and the queasy-stomached should, as per usual, steer clear. From a man being filled with hydrochloric acid and melted from the inside out to a fat guy cutting his beer belly away with nothing more than a kitchen knife, there is plenty of blood to go around, but without a solid story to complement it, it starts to lose its touch.
The teeth of what once was an iconic mystery thriller have become rusted and dull. It is almost certain that next year there will be yet again another "Saw" film, but maybe next Halloween I'll go out and get a treat somewhere else, instead of being tricked out of my cash to watch a 90 minute train wreck.
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