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Post by Frakkyfire on May 29, 2008 3:03:18 GMT -4
Well, I have seen a fair few disgusting horror movies in my time, and Saw was much less gory than I thought it would be. If you pay close attention, there really isn't all that much blood - it's mostly the implication of blood (well, okay, that bit where the girl was searching that one guy's intestines for a key was a bit gory, but it's no worse than CSI). I've also seen a lot of disturbing movies (8MM kinda got to me, and judging from the trailers I don't think I'd be interested in movies like Hostel -- y'know, the gore porn type), and I appreciated the fact that Saw didn't spend all its time focused on sickening stuff. The character interaction with Lawrence and Adam was especially refreshing, since most characters in horror movies are pretty uninteresting and don't have a lot of non-cliché conversations.
I also agree that Michael Emerson's character wasn't used to his full potential. A few more scenes with him that explained his motivations would be nice - and I would have loved a better plot device than 'I've poisoned you and have the antidote. Go kill people.' Maybe I've watched too much House, but Zep works in a hospital does he not? Can't he just tell them he's been poisoned and ask for some tests or something? Figure out what kind of poison it is and get them to cure him? And also - he did not at all interact with Lawrence's wife and kid in the way a normal person would. I know this was supposed to make us think he was the killer, but it implies that he wasn't exactly an average Joe before Jigsaw singled him out. Could they not have taken that a bit further and maybe had Zep be someone who just needed an excuse to hurt/torment/kill people? That Jigsaw saw that (no pun intended, honestly), and that's why he targeted him?
Anyways, enough of my ramblings. Liked the movie, liked the Emerson (though it needed more of him), but probably won't watch the whole thing a second time.
EDIT: I haven't seen it mentioned here yet, so I thought I'd point out that freightie ghostbuster MILES STRAUME (Ken Leung) from LOST is in this movie!!! This whole '6 degrees of LOST' thing is almost creepy - next thing you know, Ethan will have starred in a movie with Scott and Steve!
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Post by Edith S. Baker on May 29, 2008 11:40:55 GMT -4
Well, I have seen a fair few disgusting horror movies in my time, and Saw was much less gory than I thought it would be. If you pay close attention, there really isn't all that much blood - it's mostly the implication of blood (well, okay, that bit where the girl was searching that one guy's intestines for a key was a bit gory, but it's no worse than CSI). I've also seen a lot of disturbing movies (8MM kinda got to me, and judging from the trailers I don't think I'd be interested in movies like Hostel -- y'know, the gore porn type), and I appreciated the fact that Saw didn't spend all its time focused on sickening stuff. The character interaction with Lawrence and Adam was especially refreshing, since most characters in horror movies are pretty uninteresting and don't have a lot of non-cliché conversations. I also agree that Michael Emerson's character wasn't used to his full potential. A few more scenes with him that explained his motivations would be nice - and I would have loved a better plot device than 'I've poisoned you and have the antidote. Go kill people.' Maybe I've watched too much House, but Zep works in a hospital does he not? Can't he just tell them he's been poisoned and ask for some tests or something? Figure out what kind of poison it is and get them to cure him? And also - he did not at all interact with Lawrence's wife and kid in the way a normal person would. I know this was supposed to make us think he was the killer, but it implies that he wasn't exactly an average Joe before Jigsaw singled him out. Could they not have taken that a bit further and maybe had Zep be someone who just needed an excuse to hurt/torment/kill people? That Jigsaw saw that (no pun intended, honestly), and that's why he targeted him? Anyways, enough of my ramblings. Liked the movie, liked the Emerson (though it needed more of him), but probably won't watch the whole thing a second time. EDIT: I haven't seen it mentioned here yet, so I thought I'd point out that freightie ghostbuster MILES STRAUME (Ken Leung) from LOST is in this movie!!! This whole '6 degrees of LOST' thing is almost creepy - next thing you know, Ethan will have starred in a movie with Scott and Steve! Yes, he was. Ken is as intense with his acting techniques as Michael is. I guess that's why I admire them both. |
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2008 12:22:57 GMT -4
my whole take on Zep was that he was a few bricks short of a load, and therefore easy to manipulate because he would not use good reasoning skills and could be relied on to carry out the sick things he did.
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Post by leighs11 on Jun 12, 2008 9:10:26 GMT -4
Finally watched this movie, in the daytime, only because Michael was in it. No way was I watching this at night by myself!
Pretty much agree with everyone else's reviews/comments.
I was wondering the same things as Frakkyfire about why didn't Zep just go to the hospital since he was apparently allowed freedom of movement (not locked up or tied up like the other victims)... Mythicfeline - your thoughts seem like a pretty good explanation. Hadn't thought of Zep like that before, but going back over his scenes that makes sense.
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Post by fylimar on Jun 19, 2008 14:39:38 GMT -4
Yes, he was. Ken is as intense with his acting techniques as Michael is. I guess that's why I admire them both. Ken was brillant - and I love to watch him, too. I like the idea of a Saw-Rewind-Party. I'm a huge Saw-Fan - not just the first, but all movies. Normally, I'm not so much into blood and gore, but the Saw films have an interesting story and good characters (Tigerlily: Donnie Wahlbergs character is very well developed for a thriller). Since one of my other favorite actors beside Michael Emerson is Tobin Bell, the Saw movies are an obligation for me (he plays John Kramer) |
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Post by tigerlily on Jun 26, 2008 14:25:38 GMT -4
I just bought 'Saw' on Ebay (very slow day at work)!! I'm hoping to get it in time for my July 4th weekend getaway so I can Zep along with me! woo-hooo!! Fylimar, if I can handle watching the movie more than once, I would totally be up for a Live Rewind!!  I'm pretty squeamish, though...wondering if I'll be able to get through it once, but I'm just dying to see Michael as someone other than Ben, and it'll probably be a while before "OK Go!" comes out on DVD. scared....very, very scared......(but deliciously so!) |
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Post by benobsessed on Jun 27, 2008 18:29:45 GMT -4
Michael is totally adorable as Zep- he adds a dimension to the character that I thinl other actors would have overlooked. He makes you just want to hug Zep  |
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Post by crazymaryt on Jun 27, 2008 19:36:16 GMT -4
For me Michael really is the best thing about Saw. When I first saw it all those years ago I didn't really care for it but I do remember Zep was such an intriguing character.
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Post by tigerlily on Jul 7, 2008 17:49:26 GMT -4
I finally watched Saw!!! I bought the DVD from eBay and it arrived just in time for my mini-holiday. I ended up watching it on Friday night. My first two thoughts were: 1. Nice twist at the end! 2. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH MICHAEL!!!!  I was expecting him to have a much bigger role. I liked it, it wasn't nearly as bloody as I thought it would be. I actually found that mask to be the most creepy element in it. But the concept of Zep as a red herring I found to be a little too obvious. For one thing, they made a point of introducing him in the very first hospital scene, when it wasn't really necessary. Of course, I was on the lookout for him so it might have only been very obvious to a Michael fan.  But then when we learned that he was involved with the doctor's wife and child, he wasn't wearing a mask, and if it he were really the Jigsaw killer he would never take the chance of being seen without it. To me, that only reinforced the idea of him as a red herring. And of course, it was very difficult to see him get beaten to death...  Overall, not bad. I like the twist at the end very much, when we found out the killer was the body in the room with the victims the entire time. What I thought was missing most was the killer's motive. I mean, we know he had an inoperable spinal tumor, but I'm not sure that's enough. There must have been something that this doctor did to him, or what the killer might have perceived that he did to him, in order to make him a target of such an elaborate game. I don't buy that he was just angry about dying. There's more to it that they're not telling us - does that maybe become more clear in the sequel? |
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Post by tigerlily on Jul 7, 2008 17:51:46 GMT -4
PS- Is there enough interest out there for a 'Saw' Live Rewind Party?? I'd be up for it!! I'm sure there are things that I missed the first time around, and it would be much less scary with all the fangirl gushing to distract me! |
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Post by raksha on Jul 7, 2008 19:17:20 GMT -4
Folks... i really don't mean to sound rude, but maybe you should post the full details of the plot in spoiler tags... or maybe a mod can edit the title of the thread to indicate there are spoilers inside? Cause personnaly I'd be a bit angry if I had know about this before seeing the movie  |
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Post by tigerlily on Jul 7, 2008 21:22:47 GMT -4
Good point. I've added spoiler tags.
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Post by fearandloathin on Jul 7, 2008 22:19:02 GMT -4
It's taken you this long to watch saw?   lol. One of my fav horror films. Made me laugh so much. Michael is brilliant in it, and does make me laugh....I only wish he did play a bigger role in that particular movie. |
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Post by raksha on Jul 7, 2008 23:17:29 GMT -4
Good point. I've added spoiler tags. Thanks very much tigerlily! But let's just say my comment wasn't directed only at you... there are spoilers all over the thread. I didn't really expect it when I created it so I really wish a mod could edit the title... Edit: of course this is far from a new movie, being from 2004, but still... it seems some people have yet to see it Edit 2: and I'm all in for a live review party, of course, being the one who suggested it in the first place (see beginning of thread). |
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Post by fylimar on Jul 18, 2008 16:08:02 GMT -4
Tigerlily: Yes, you get to know more of his motives in the later films. Saw 2 isn't that bloody either, but Saw 3 is heavy - it's a good film, but it has a lot of blood and gore in it. I've only watched it to the end because of the brilliant Tobin Bell - that man is a genius...not as good as Michael, but very close And yes, I would love a Live rewind party for Saw. I just need to remember whom I borrowed my DVD  And I have only the direcotr's cut (more Michael and Tobin ;D) |
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But then when we learned that he was involved with the doctor's wife and child, he wasn't wearing a mask, and if it he were really the Jigsaw killer he would never take the chance of being seen without it. To me, that only reinforced the idea of him as a red herring. 
