This movie does not teach anyone the value of life

Rating: 4/10 (25 November 2005)

I'll begin my comment with a bias of mine--I am biased against a movie that leaves a disgusting, grimy feeling on me when I head toward my car having seen it. I'm no movie buff, but I consider a movie good if it consists of various elements of entertainment. A good plot, mixed with some light and heavy moments, depending on what sort of movie it is. Likable characters--always a plus. Overall, a balance which is hard to describe yet easy to recognize. So when I see a movie with no clear protagonist, not one moment of levity, and despicable characters all around, I'm apt to dislike it. The aim of this movie was to invoke two hours of uneasiness and revulsion. I'd say the entertainment value of this movie would be equivalent to staring at fatal accident victims or beheading videos. But at least there's some feeling of separation when it comes to the latter. Movies are different. They're designed to immerse its audience. Big Fish, now that's a great movie. Anyway, my point is give me something to work with, something I can use. Not two hours of filth. To the movie's credit however it did achieve it's aim. It did invoke tension. But where is the release? I suppose the release is when you realize it was just a movie. Now, you see, I hate that. If I'm going to experience something, I would at least like to take something positive out of it. The only positive part was narrowing in on what I don't like. And the cliché of appreciating life. Make every moment count. Not making every moment count is a part of life. Should people be, "Oh my God, I'm going to die at this specific time. What do I do? I'm so scared!" Or should people rather be, "I now know I have two hours to live. I'd rather spend the next two hours calm and collected and then move on to what's next." And anyway, Carpe diem means "pluck the day" not "seize" it. Make the best of opportunities given to you, not go on this ridiculous and constant high. Perhaps part of appreciating life is knowing when not to take it so seriously, because once you start taking life so seriously all the time, it ceases to become your life but contingent on ultimately useless and extraneous parts of a relative reality, which is the message this movie pushes. If someone really wishes to teach people to appreciate life, a good place to start is to teach them to appreciate death. That's the amazing part. Out of all the billions of lifeforms there are, you're just one of them, and like all the rest, you're part of the same cycle. And to just start there and listen to how quiet it is is more enlightening than any Hollywood pedagogy, especially the specious dogma Saw II prattles. And that's why I dislike Saw II and would not recommend it.