'Saw' a decent thriller

Adam (Leigh Whannell) and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) wake up in a bathroom, each chained to one side of the room. In between them lies a dead body. An audiotape tells them that if Dr. Gordon does not kill Adam, Dr. Gordon's family will be killed. This is the method of a serial killer known as Jigsaw. He provides puzzles for his victims to figure out; the punishment for failure is death. As the story progresses, other Jigsaw cases are shown, demonstrating his various methods of torturing his victims.\nThe film has both thriller and horror aspects to it. It is over-the-top sometimes in its attempts to unease the audience. Blood flows, sudden movements and bizarre camera shots are all used as scare tactics. The film has many moments that will remind a lot of people of "Se7en." While not living up to the quality of its predecessor, it does have good pacing and a noir-like feel as the viewer tries to figure how all of the characters are connected.\nUnfortunately, the film falls apart in the final 15 minutes. The ending is very rushed as they try to have too much happen too quickly. Also, the conclusion does not make a whole lot of sense. The twist at the end will be obvious to some and probably disappointing to all. Some sort of explanation would have been nice in order to understand why the events in the movie happened. We'll have to wait for the already announced "Saw 2" to get answers for the questions.\nThe DVD extras are a mixed bag. The commentary, provided by writer/director James Wan and actor/co-writer Whannell, is one of the best that I have heard in a while. They have a lot of energy, providing some interesting information while also being entertaining. Also, unlike most commentaries, they are willing to poke fun at their own movie. It is refreshing to hear a commentary of this quality when most are just 2 hours of praise. However, everything else (one short featurette, trailers and a music video) are all throwaway add-ons.\nWhen deciding whether or not to watch "Saw," it all comes down to whether or not you like the genre it belongs to. If you are a fan of thrillers such as "Se7en," then this movie will probably appeal to you; if not, then it won't. Be sure to give the commentary a listen if you see it, though. It might just make you appreciate the movie more.