Saw 2 [2005]

[dean]

Saw this just tonight and thought I'd post a little something on it.

Overall it wasn't bad, but it lacked the atmosphere that I really enjoyed the first time around.

Basic plot: The Jigsaw killer is back, but this time he's calling out to a certain detective, Donnie Walhberg [playing 'Matthews'].  Matthews is sent from desk duty [which he's on at the moment] to the newest jigsaw crime scene, and after learning he was called out by name, he does about three seconds worth of thinking, and comes up with an answer:  How about we look for the place that this crude metal spike helmet came from?  A masterful piece of detective work I must say.

Eventually they find Jigsaw, who has now started his new game:  Matthew's son and a few other people are locked in a house, slowly poisoning them with Sarin Gas.  They have two hours to get out and get an antidote.  If Matthew's wants to see his son again he has to play by Jigsaw's rules, otherwise the time runs out and he'll never see his son.

In the meantime the locked up folk are trying to find the antidotes that are hidden around the place and whatnot.

Anyway, that's the basic plot.

What made the original film interesting was the traps that Jigsaw set for his victims.  This film has some pretty good ones, but also some unoriginal/kind of silly traps when you think about it, for those in the house.  Another annoying note is the fact that you don't even learn half their names.

Because we now know Jigsaw's game-plan after seeing the first film, the effect of these traps are diminished somewhat, and also we as an educated audience are wise to his tricks, and general plot twists, so if you are savvy enough, you can figure out what's going to happen pretty quickly.

But I didn't figure it out so the twists when they do come, are quite the surprise.  Gore in some places is pretty nasty, but in others a little dissappointing as well.

The film somewhat suffers from having too many victims.  What made the original work was the focus on the two victims.  This one just has about three too many characters who are just pointless, not even if they became victims or not.  But anyway.

Overall, however I enjoyed it.  Not nearly as much as the first [these sort of trick and twist gore films get a bit predictable/monotonous after a while when you get used to the style] but it had some good moments.

It would make quite a reasonable rental when the mood hits you, but don't be dissappointed you missed it at the cinemas.

[Scott]

< Still has to see the first one. Dean you say the fist had good atmosphere?

[dean]

Well I can certainly understand if people didn't like the first one, but when I saw it at the cinemas, I thought it was a hoot.  In the first Saw movie, because I wasn't analysing every little detail and just enjoyed it for what it was, it had me reasonably on edge, and the twist was surprising and pretty good.  Though the twist in Saw 2 was by no means badly done, and rather one of the more intelligent parts of the film, I was getting used to the whole 'twists' idea, and perhaps it lost a bit of impact.

I really enjoyed Saw 1's style, and it had a much more tense atmosphere than the second one.

[trekgeezer]

My only question is, are Ben Affleck and J-Lo among the victims?

[Scott]

Dean along with Odinn7 I think we can add Trek_Geezer now.