Here's the thing.....

Rating: 5/10 (1 November 2005)

It's just not as good as the original... for many reasons. I will include some here, but know beforehand that this review contains *specific* spoilers (including the final twist), so if you haven't seen the movie, beware.
OK, I saw this movie last night (Halloween) and was really pumped (mostly because I saw the ratings on IMDb matched the original), which may be part of the reason I was a little disappointed. The beginning hits it running, which is a good thing, since the movie is only 90 minutes long. Then it goes into this new story, with unsympathetic characters that it's really tough to give a sh about. Then it wastes about twenty minutes while the new detective figures out where Jigsaw is (which I thought was stupid, they show his face within the first 30 mins of the movie). He's terminal, and non-responsive, but we know the "game" is ultimately about the detective. If you pay attention, you notice Jigsaw in agreement (or at least non-argument) with the detective's contention that his son doesn't deserve to die (Jigsaw replies, "But what about you?", or something like that). At this point, I knew it would end with the detective's demise. Then, Amanda reveals her past affiliation, and she knows where the first key is, so you know something's up. But the thing that really gives it away is: SHE NEVER GETS SICK! Even my gullible brain can't miss this one. Here, the value of the movie is reduced to the violence and cringe factor of the crazy stuff they have to go through. This is the glory of this movie! the needle scene, the human BBQ*, the Chinese hand trap*, and the final throat-slashing are all brutal and really pretty awesome.
Bottom Line: The language was noticeably gratuitous, the gore was entertaining, if at times unrealistic, and the twist was transparent. An entertaining movie, but not much like the mind-bending original.
* - Reminds me of Fear Factor...I could hear Joe Rogan in the background.