Fűrész VI.

After the problematic fourth and fifth parts, this was an incredibly pleasant surprise. As expected, Saw VI  milks the original first part again, but the story this time is consistent and without any major holes in logic – it makes sense both on its own and within the context of the franchise (and even those who didn’t watch the previous parts more than once shouldn’t get lost). They also don’t overdo it with the flashbacks, and one of them actually provides an important new angle (to the ending on the third part). The new cast is good (you won’t find here the pieces of wood from the fifth part) and even the change of director was a good decision – I actually couldn’t believe how strong some scenes are in the hands of Greutert, not only with regards of the brutality, but also the emotions (a miracle!). Basically, the characters are believable again, they don’t look as if they didn’t mind finding themselves in “the game”. The twists aren’t impressive (one of them is actually clear from the start), but they are effective – Saw has clearly improved. The ending makes it quite easy to guess what the seventh part will be about, and if the creators decide to change the genre (which is the logical conclusion given who survives and how), they could bring a very needed breath of fresh air to the entire franchise – though this part is also that in its own way. Those who have succumbed to the fad of hating Saw will hate on, but the sixth part will make fans happy. My personal ranking: S1, S2, S6, S3, S4, S5. (2009.10.22)

It's hard to know what to expect from a film that, for the sixth time, once again follows the same pattern. Yet there’s no denying the fact that for the first time in many of the films, it has a more coherent story that, while again turning some of the wisdom of the past on its head, does so with a surprisingly self-conscious eye for clichés that makes me wonder if it's intentional. Paradoxically, what bothers me so much about the film is its moralistic subtext, in which the employees of an über-evil, exploitative and inhumane insurance company are torn apart. It doesn’t work on its own, but it is a definite step up within the series, for the first time since the second film. I’m giving it a better two stars. PS: I’d like to see more perspective in the seventh installment, it would definitely help. (2009.11.24)

This game has really hit a snag. The traps are not as impressive as they are boring and predictable. Jigsaw has become a whispery mascot and the attempt at a complex plot is annoying. I could put together those few puzzle pieces in a matter of minutes and not miss anything. Trying to connect the dots in the sixth installment that were convolutedly twisted in the third or fourth is starting to smell like embarrassment. But more or less, this disappointment saddens me. This unnecessarily looking final part hardly deserves the feeling of closure. (2010.04.10)

The sixth part is not poorly developed in itself, but you simply learn information here that you are not terribly interested in. The constant flashbacks are more for confusing the enemy than for the story to develop in the right direction. On the other hand, there are twists that will surprise you and surprise with their logic. But it is probably clear that without knowledge of the previous parts, the viewer has no chance of understanding the film. However, that is the case with the whole series. It is best to watch all seven films as one very long movie or stick to the first three. (2014.03.10)