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Every year, right near Halloween, a SAW movie is put into theaters. Just hearing about this, many people are worried about it. The audiences may decide that the movies are rushed and the quality is lowered each film. This accusation I have heard many times, buy it is is far from correct.The story is about a man named Jeff who is put into a series of traps. He must decide for a group of people whether he wants to save them or let them die. All of these people are connected to a hit-and-run involving his son. There is a woman, named Lynn, who must keep Jigsaw alive. She has a collar around her neck connected to shotgun shells. If his heart rate monitor flatlines, then Lynn will die. The story is one of the best of the series. It has deep connections to the characters. Each person is relatable and can be seen from different points of view. It is also well-written, which was not the case with SAW II.
The acting has improved from the first two films as well. Shawnee Smith and Tobin Bell give spectacular performances. Both of them connect well. Shawnee's character gets irritating as the film continues, but she plays her part dead on. Tobin Bell delivers each line perfectly.
The budget has also gotten much larger. This means that the visuals and sets have become better. Each trap is more realistic and more gruesome than in the past two films. The blood, props, and wardrobe are all done perfectly. The camera picks up the grittiness that the film is intended to give. The visuals have definitely improved.
SAW lll is definitely one of the better SAW flicks. Everything, from the strong story, to the great characters, to the eye-popping visuals are superb. This movie is not for the faint of heart. There is a full brain surgery shown, which many may find disgusting.. The ending is unpredictable and surprising, as are all of the SAW endings. SAW lll is one of the best of the franchise and is recommended for all horror fans.
Next movie: SAW IV
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I was excited to see how this movie would address the questions in SAW llI that were never answered. I am disappointed. Some of the questions are not answered or are avoided. Hopefully, these questions will be answered as the franchise goes on. However, this movie does show Jigsaw's past and what caused him to become what he is. SAW IV has its ups and downs.Jigsaw and Amanda are dead. SWAT Commander Rigg has been abducted and has ninety minutes to overcome different traps to save an old friend or he will face consequences. The story is alright, but could of been better. The writing is good, but at times comes off as trite. The script needs some work, but is OK for what it is.
The acting ranges from tremendous to mediocre. Agent Strahm hits his dialogues fairly well. The biggest problem with the acting is that a few of the characters in the traps come off the same. All of them have about the same lines and do not sound realistic. They just cuss, scream and groan and many of them simply don't deliver. The actors could have done their jobs better.
The visuals are not as strong as they were in SAW lll, but the camera angles have gotten better. The transitions between a few of the scenes are very interesting to watch. The blood may be too red to look real, but the traps look great. The look of the film is still splendid.
SAW lV is one of the weaker films in the SAW series. The best part of the story is the back story on Jigsaw. This is well-written, but the story of Rigg is a mess. It focuses more on shock value than story.The first scene of the film is not to be seen by anybody who doesn't know what they are getting into. This is an autopsy scene. It is an accurate autopsy scene, but many will be grossed out. I had to watch this movie twice to understand it. This is the most confusing film of the franchise. SAW lV is a decent film, but doesn't compare to a the better films in the series.
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Horror flicks have been remade. Most of these films are disappointing and turn out laughable. There are very few remakes that match the original and even more unlikely, surpassing it. The Ring may be one of these rare cases.The story is about a reporter who investigates a video tape. It is linked to several deaths. Once she watches the video, the phone rings saying she will die in seven days. The reporter must find the secret of escaping this curse before her seven days are up. The plot is well-written. There are moments of the film where it is slow, but once it gets started it doesn't stop. This is one of the only American remake scripts I can take seriously.
Naomi Watts (King Kong (2005)) plays the reporter. She is the main character, the reporter. Naomi hits her role dead on. She does a terrific job of showing fear as any real person would. Daveigh Chase is Samara, who is the little girl who comes through the television in seven days. As an actress she doesn't perform her stunts quite right. She is a little girl in real life and I don't expect a lot out of her. What she fails to do in movement, she makes up for with her voice. When she talks in The Ring as Samara on the phone, it sends chills down your spine. Daveigh hits the voice perfectly and deserves recognition for this.
The visuals vary from good to lousy. The trick where Samara comes through the television looks fake. It is easy to tell green screen and computer effects were used. I expect more out of an American remake, since they do have the money to make the visuals better. The visuals are not awful, but they could have been improved.
Overall, The Ring is eerie as hell. The atmosphere, lighting and sounds are creepy. It is a great movie to watch at midnight with all of the lights off with a bunch of friends. This is one of the few PG-13 horror flicks to accomplish being scary and intense without blood, gore, or nudity. Just about every death is off screen and left to your imagination. I applaud this movie for being such a strong horror/thriller that will be remembered. The Ring is definitely recommended.
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WhenThe Ring was re-released, American audiences were shocked as to how good it was. It accomplishes everything a horror fan wants and more. It is eerie, has a great atmosphere and is just a great movie. That is much more than what could be said about The Ring Two.The Ring Two follows Rachel and her son, Aidan. Both of them have moved to a new town to make a fresh start. Soon, they figure out that Samara is back. She wants Rachel's son and will do anything to have him. The script is corny and repetitive. It tries to build suspense and keep you on the edge of your seat. The first succeeds in this, but the second one fails miserably. The writing offers nothing new or exciting.
Naomi Watts is a terrific actress. She does a great job in every role she does. Unfortunately, this is not one of her best. The script is bad, so she doesn't have good material to start with. Watt's lines sound forced. I expect more out of her, but I don't think this is a movie she wants to do. The acting is mediocre, at best.
The visuals change throughout. The cinematography is absolutely stunning at times. There is a scene with water defying gravity and being on the ceiling, but dripping down. This scene is shot perfectly and is a beautiful display. Unfortunately, the shots of Samara crawling out of the television and up the wall are weak. The special efffects look even more fake than in the first. When somebody ends up dead, their face is terribly deformed. The make up and props used for this look awful. In the end, the visuals are a hit and miss.
The Ring Two is a big disappointment. The first is a very good movie. The second doesn't compare. It is boring, long, and achieves nothing the first did. The scares are cheap and don't make the viewer even blink. The Ring Two is a film audiences should stay far away from. Leave this one on the shelves to collect dust. This sequel is nothing but a reason for the company to try to cash in.
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Sometimes it is weird to think how long a movie franchise has lasted. Friday the 13th has reached its twelfth sequel. The company is even in progress of making a thirteenth sequel, possibly in 3D. Some sequels are better than others, but this is the first remake to hit theaters.Most of the public knows the story of the original Friday the 13th. It is about a boy named Jason Voorhees who drowned in Camp Crystal Lake. He is horribly deformed and now lives at the abandoned camp. A guy named Clay goes to the camp to find his lost sister. A group of teenagers visit this camp to have sex, do drugs, alcohol, and party. Little do they know, they aren't alone. The idea of being alone in the forests with a killer on the loose can be a scary concept. This film doesn't focus on story, writing, and characters. It focuses on shock, gore, and body count.
Jared Padalecki (Supernatural) is Clay. He is the most level-headed and relatable character. Padalecki does a decent job. Derek Mears is Jason Voorhees. Many will question why it matters since he doesn't talk. His body type and the way he moves is big for his role. Derek does a wonderful job as Jason. He gives Jason something no other movie in this franchise has gotten. Jason is bigger, faster, and stronger than ever. The acting is alright, with the exception of Derek Mears.
When a big hollywood remake is released, I expect great visuals. The companies have the money, but sometimes decide not to spend it on visuals. This flick has some great props. The look of the film is dreary and ominous. Each prop is designed perfectly. The mask of Jason seems to look different in each movie of this series. This is one of the best looking masks to be released through the years. The visuals pass with flying colors.
Friday the 13th is a well-done remake. Viewers can't expect a good script, character development or oscar-winning acting. This film is made to entertain and be in your face with violence and nudity. It is entertaining from start to finish and has a very large body count. Friday the 13th is the film all horror fans should check out.
