Better than expected.

Rating: 10/10 (31 October 2005)

I really, really, REALLY enjoyed the original SAW. When I asked friends who had seen it what they thought, some were impressed, others weren't. I, for one, enjoyed the premise - that this one man forces these people to confront their mortality, and allows (if not forces) them to decide whether they really want to live. I liked that part of the plot, because it was something I hadn't see before. Also, the variety and complexity of the traps were great. And, the twist at the end of the movie was, at least for me (forgive me for being naive) out of nowhere, and got me instantly hooked on the film.
For the sequel, I had mixed expectations. I wanted more of the same mental manipulation - I didn't want to see anything coming. I was worried, however, that the speed with which this sequel released would force it to be sub-par, another sequel to tarnish the memory of the original.
That was not the case.
SAW 2 is amazing. Start to finish. Yes, a little gory (not for the squeamish). Yes, the acting was good but not Oscar-winning. But the storyline was adequate, and made sense. The character development, especially in the case of John the Killer, was a great addition. And, the twists, turns and traps were all great. More than great. Better than I could've hoped for. Whether you liked SAW or not, this movie, in my subtle opinion, is entirely different, while keeping the parts of the original you liked. I was ecstatic when I left the theater, and cannot wait to go see it again.