The direction is a little uneven, but I appreciate the effort

Rating: 5/10 (23 January 2011)

** out of (****)
After a plethora of your average crime investigation flicks, here comes "Saw". A film quite different than your run-of-the-mill cat-and-mouse game, but plays a lot like your daily CSI episode. I really appreciate the movie for its script because that is what really makes this movie stand out. There were some solid twists and turns, and the whole ride is very interesting. It's just that... the direction wasn't quite up to par with the script. Not to mention the performances are very substandard, and some scenes can be a little far-fetched.
Let's start out with what made this film come out strong: the concept. This isn't a torture porn like so many are claiming it to be. "Saw" uses its gore when necessary, and honestly, I don't think it's that graphically violent. If there's one thing you'll get out of "Saw", is that you'll be entertained. Another aspect is the gore. When the gore comes on screen, granted it's not sickening, but the effects are well-done. Not to mention the traps are very invented. You can tell James Wan, the director, was very dedicated to this project.
Now where this film went wrong: the acting. The two protagonists in this movie aren't very likable, and personally, you really don't care what happens to them. Amanda and John are the only characters that really gave a strong performance. To top it off, some areas are a little far-fetched. Which is fine, but comes a little too close to becoming a cliché.
All in all, "Saw" is a tough movie to review. I really liked its atmosphere, but I don't think the film reached its fullest potential. I still advice that audiences see it because it's probably the best thing out there. Not to mention the traps are pretty cool.