Saw III

Saw III **1/2

I am somewhat disappointed with the direction that the "Saw" movies are taking. The first one was clever, crafty, and really did have you at the edge of your seat, simply with tension. Sure it was extremely violent and bloody, but it didn't rely on that for spooks. Now we're up to the third one in the series, and while it is still somewhat clever and crafty, now it seems to rely on blood and gore to keep you at the edge of your seat, and keeping you arms in front of you in case there's something that's a little too much. In this "Saw" film I was subjected to seeing a man get his limbs twisted off, a woman get covered in ice, pigs fall into a shredder and the juice falls onto some man, and there is graphic brain surgery-brain and bone and scalp getting cut off an all. And if that isn't enough, there isn't really any kind of clever twist. This was just an excuse to show as many nasty and disturbing images as possible, something that I don't really expect from "Saw." Number two bordered on this type of storytelling, but it's so apparent that they are running out of ideas during this one, that I was a little upset by the fact that "Saw IV" is due out next October.

In this one, we find out that Jigsaw is dying, and it's difficult for him to go through his old tricks. We also learn that his apprentice Amanda is doing his dirty work for him, but she puts people into traps and situations that are impossible for them to get a way out. She doesn't give them a choice-only death. In order to keep her mentor alive, Amanda kidnaps Lynn, a doctor that Jigsaw chose himself, to preform surgery on him and find a way to keep him alive for a little while. Jigsaw attach's a device to Lynn, so that if his heart rate goes under a certain level, she will explode and die with him. And she has to keep him alive in order to see one man go through a series of tests. If he is still alive after all the tests are complete, than she will be able to go free. So, Jigsaw watches as Jeff, a man who lost his son in a horrible accident, goes through a series of tests where he confronts some of the people that are responsible for the accident-the woman that didn't do anything when she saw the son in danger, the judge who gave the man who did it a small sentence, and lastly the man who was fully responsible for the death. And then in the end we learn that the two stories are more connected than you would imagine. . .

By the end, I think I've had enough "Saw," and sadly this episode of the series was a somewhat disappointment. I wasn't shocked, and I wasn't looking forward to seeing how this is resolved. In fact, I can't even imagine how it is possible for them to do a fourth one, and I don't want to tell you why. Tobin Bell is a worthy actor to play Jigsaw, and he even is the creepiest looking man alive. Sadly, it's hard for him to do much with him laying on a hospital bed the entire film. But the constant gore didn't make this anything special, and I thought it suffered from it. The brain surgery scene especially seemed useless and out of place. It was not an enjoyable five minutes, and I can't even imagine how anyone could get any enjoyment out of it. "Saw III" was more of a snuff film than a horror one. I made a comment in my review on "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" about how the horror genre is dead, and is instead being replaced with torture. Well, I was happy that the original "Saw" included torture, but also had a clever plot and story. By "Saw III" there is nothing clever about it, and it's just gross and disturbing, and I left the theatre dirty and exhausted. This is a pointless and disappointing third film in the series that I really enjoyed. Those who are into blood and gore, you'll love it. If your looking to be surprised by twists and plot, then look elsewhere. . .