In 2004, a low-budgeted torture porn film called ‘’Saw’’ became massive hit. Was it because it was original…….no. Was it because the acting good…….no. But the film found an audience and turned b-film actor Tobin Bell into a horror icon. Honestly, I thought the ‘’Saw’’ film series should’ve ended after ‘’Saw III,’’ but Lionsgate continues to prolonged it. It’s kind of difficult to watch a ‘’Saw V” if you have not seen the previous ”Saw” films.
At the end of ‘’Saw IV’’, it was revealed that Amanda (Shawnee Smith) was not Jigsaw’s (Bell) only apprentice, but corrupt Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) was one too. With Jigsaw and Amanda both dead, it is left up to Hoffman to carry on his former master’s work of rehabilitating people in unethical ways. The premise of ‘’Saw V,’’ centers on Hoffman trying to tie up some loose ends because he believes that someone has discovered his connection to Jigsaw.
‘’Saw V’’ cannot be a ‘’Saw’’ film if there is not a torture game included, right? Well, ‘’Saw V’’ barely ignores the game aspect of the film, which involves four people. None of the four people involved in the game were likable, so I don’t expect viewers to have any sympathy for them when they’re being tortured in the film. In the ‘’Saw’’ film series, I have always been annoyed by the clichéd flashback sequences to explain current events. This is done a lot in ‘’Saw V’’ to explain how Hoffman became Jigsaw’s apprentice.
Surprisingly, the torture scenes in ‘’Saw V’’ were not as homoerotic as they have been in previous films. If I recall, there is only one half-nude man getting tortured in the entire film. The other torture scenes ranged from being laughable to extremely shocking. Once again, Bell sleepwalks through his role as Jigsaw. Considering the fact that he keeps reprising his role for the ‘’Saw’’ films, it is obvious he’s only doing for it the money. Mandylor is not intimidating as Jigsaw’s successor; he practically just sneers the whole time and speaks in a monotone voice.
I would be lying to myself to say that ‘’Saw V’’ was one of the worst torture porn films of 2008. ‘’Saw V’’ didn’t stoop to the same level of films such as ‘’Untraceable’’ and ‘’Funny Games.’’ As long the ‘’Saw’’ films continue to be profitable at the box office, Lionsgate won’t lose interest in the series. I’ll be happy when the torture games of ”Saw” are finally over someday, but they are here to stay for now.
Film Grade: C+
Forgetting Sarah Marshall was released to theaters on April 18, 2008, and just came to DVD at the end of September, so I’m just a little late reviewing this one. 
Yes, I’m probably late to this party of finally figuring out that this movie was actually funny, but hey… at least I showed up!
This movie was written by and starred Jason Segel as Peter Bretter, who has to deal with his and his TV-star girlfriend’s (Sarah Marshall, played by Kristen Bell) break-up. To get over her, he decides to travel to Hawaii on a vacation to relax and regroup. Unfortunately, his ex happens to be there with her new boyfriend.
Now, I have to say that I didn’t watch this movie initially because it didn’t seem like it would be one I’d enjoy. It was promoted heavily as “From the guys who brought you ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin‘ and ‘Knocked Up’…” neither of which I liked all that much (Virgin was better than Knocked Up, but that’s not saying a whole lot).
But from the beginning, this movie had me alternately moaning and laughing. I have to say that I don’t need to see Jason Segel’s body at any angle ever again (full male frontal nudity was funny, but a little odd). Beyond that however, the cast and situations were funny, cute, and romantic in places.
Who knew Jason Segel could play piano?! He’s a very funny actor on How I Met Your Mother and now I’m going to have to see if I’ve missed any of his other movies.
Kristen Bell was hot as Sarah Marshall, the shallow TV actress. Mila Kunis was amazing as Rachel Jansen, the front desk clerk at the resort in Hawaii. Bill Hader and Liz Cackowski were hilarious as the warped married couple helping Peter feel better.
Jonah Hill played a very warped character as Matthew the Waiter. I’m not sure whether I should like him or despise him. He’s a very funny guy, but I can’t stand most of his characters on screen.
Paul Rudd as Chuck was funny too. The surfing instructor with apparently no long term memory. Hello Memento!
Overall, I thought this was a great movie with amazing one-liners all over the place. If you like funny romantic comedies, this is one I would highly recommend.
And the movie has lots of extras, but the Line-o-Rama and Gag Reel features were my favorites. We were rolling on the ground during both of them.
DVD extras included:
- Deleted/Extended Scenes
- Line-o-Rama
- Gag Reel
- “We’ve Got To Do Something” Music Video (starring the hilarious Russel Brand)
- “A Taste for Love”
- Raw Footage - Video Chat
- Red Band Trailer
- Commentary with Nick Stoller (Director), Rodney Rothman (Executive Producer), Shauna Robertson (Producer), Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, and Jack McBrayer
This definitely gets a thumbs up from me and a 3.5 out of 4 (it would be 4/4, but I don’t need to see any more of Segel’s naked body!).
Definitely worth checking out!
–Fitz
p.s. Rent it at Netflix or pick it up from Amazon
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Body of Lies is not a great action film, its not a great thriller and its not very engaging. In fact if you’re not concentrating from the first minute you will get halfway through and go, “what’s happening now?” But I guess the makers would argue that’s the point, this is on similar ground to Syriana but I did find Clooney a better lead character.
What the film is good for though are strong acting performances from Crowe, Dicaprio and Mark Strong. They all knock the ball out of the park and are definitely potentials for the awards season coming soon. But the problem is the story is so convoluted (with Crowe and Dicaprio essentially sharing the lead role) that it does fall apart towards the end.
Ridley Scott does a good job but there’s nothing here we haven’t seen from him before.
So, maybe that’s the problem… we expect too much from Crowe, Dicaprio and Scott and what we get this time is alright, just nothing special.
Anyone who has played the game knows the story, cop loses his wife and daughter and aims to find who murdered them whilst constantly talking to the gamer in a hardboiled private detective kind of way. Well, it seems the test audiences didn’t like that because it has almost completely disappeared.
And worse still the film then commits the worst sin of them all… takes away the very reason the game was so great… bullet time!! I know the Matrix invented this but Max Payne is such a great game because you can slow down time before you start shooting, yet the film barely uses it!! Why even bother associating with a brand if you’re not going use the reason it stands out from the crowd in the first place??
It looks very Sin City-esque and at least it isn’t overlong but there is far too much discussion and very little action and when it all goes very Constantine in the final act, you just yawn as the murderer (signposted clearly after 10 mins in a Murder She Wrote “Spot the only other famous name” kind of way) is revealed and then dispatched.
Has done well at the box office so potentially they could get it right for the sequel but for now this will be classed under “missed opportunity”.
Jake
Founder/Owner jake@themoviespace.com