Saw VI Blu-ray offers solid video and great audio in this fan-pleasing Blu-ray release
Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood.
Lionsgate Films | 2004 | 100 min | Rated R | Region free
| Jun 27, 2006
Obsessed with teaching his victims the value of life, a deranged, sadistic serial killer abducts the morally wayward. Once captured, they must face impossible choices in a horrific game of survival. The victims must fight to win...
Death, taxes, and Saw. No doubt about it, they have plenty in common, all three
capable
of reliably bleeding one dry, though Saw proves a bit more punctual, predictable, and
welcome in its annual October release schedule (though it would be rather ironic to see the series
switch to a tax day release schedule, especially if the filmmakers decide to take on the IRS rather
than insurance companies in the next installment). The latest Energizer Bunny of a Horror
franchise is now on its sixth entry and is still as gruesome as ever, not to mention as
meticulously
involved as, well, a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle that, when assembled, doesn't show cuddly kittens
or a
scenic landscape but instead a complexly-realized series of gruesome traps and deaths born of a
master manipulator with the uncanny ability to predict convoluted turns of events, read people's
psyches, and understand both the base elements and more intricate structure of the human
condition than any other person in history. With this kind of insight into future events, John
Kramer, AKA "Jigsaw," could have had himself a career as the next Miss Cleo if the whole
torture/revenge/lesson-teaching routine hadn't worked out for him.
Don't breathe.
Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is dead, but his legacy lives on through Lieutenant Mark Hoffman (Costas
Mandylor), the
man
who is continuing on with his mentor's work of punishing the guilty for their various
crimes while giving them a choice to live or die as they reflect on their lives and perceived
maladies
that have landed them in the deadly grasp of another torturous device. With the police still
believing the recently-deceased Special Agent Peter Strahm -- not Hoffman -- to be Jigsaw's
apprentice, Hoffman
nevertheless finds that his identity may soon be revealed through the clever work of both the
forensic and investigative teams on the case, not to mention the return of an old colleague long
thought dead. While attempting to cover his tracks, Hoffman begins a new game, this time
ensnaring an insurance company executive, William Easton (Peter Outerbridge), who has time
and
again denied health care coverage to those that fail to produce a profitable result in a
mathematical
formula of his own creation. In the game, William is forced time and again to choose life or death
as he comes
face-to-face with various acquaintances along the route Hoffman's planned for him to follow,
deciding who is worth saving and who is better off dead, using not a complex equation but rather
his instincts in a game that he knows all-too-well -- but is finally forced to play in the flesh.
Saw VI is nothing but more of the same, but for fans of the series, more of the same is
exactly what they want. Though the gore seems slightly toned down from previous entries,
there's still plenty of self-mutilation, gallons of blood, deadly traps, and a finale that's as
gruesome as anything found throughout the series. The picture retains the industrial,
no-nonsense tone of its predecessors and places its victims inside old, complex, labyrinthine
structures that provide enough insulation and isolation to keep the proceedings on the down-low
and minimize the chances for outside influences. Additionally, the traps remain intricately
devised but crudely implemented; they run on gears, bicycle pedals, scales, valves, and other
simple mechanisms that help cock and fire shotguns, release steam, or in some way gorge,
gouge, or mutilate victims. The tried-and-true Saw formula
works in spite of a dull plot line that deals with "evil" insurance companies that are
painted in the most negative light imaginable, but in all fairness the writers have smartly and
adequately intertwined this standalone plot to the series' overreaching story line that ties it all
back to John Kramer's past and his well-planned execution of this series of events from beyond
the
grave.
On its sixth release, it would appear on the surface that there's not much differentiating the
Saw Franchise from the other godfathers of Horror, the Halloween, Friday the 13th,
and A Nightmare on Elm
Street pictures that have seen their numbers increased steadily over the decades.
However, Saw does take things a step further by building intricate layers of mystery atop
the gore, each film slowly assembling a piece of the puzzle that always manages to bring parts of
the story full circle but at the same time construct a new mystery that promises to be revealed in
future segments. No matter one's opinion on the film's horrifically gruesome content, there's no
denying the noble effort to make this franchise something more, and even for audiences sick and
tired of the excessive gore, there's still a morbid allure to the pictures if only to discover the next
secret and admire the effort -- sometimes strong, sometimes feeble, but now, mostly,
somewhere in the middle -- to keep the story going with a purpose other than to simply pour
blood and spill guts all over the screen. Certainly, the Saw films sometimes lack in acting
and scripting, but the production values are generally superb, and even if the story has a slightly
jumbled feel, it's the effort even more so than the execution that earns the films a generally high
mark. Saw VI continues with the tradition, unraveling through various flashbacks both
to
scenes in previous films and newly-revealed details of Kramer's past that keep the story fresh and
engaging, and the film once again ends with plenty of revelations but also unearths new
questions that beg to be answered in future installments.
Saw VI rips into Blu-ray with a quality 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. The picture retains
the series' rusty industrial look where greens, yellows, and browns dominate much of the film;
though it lends to the picture a vomit-like consistency, it stays true to the tone of the movies and
it's strongly rendered on Blu-ray. Additional scenes offer a wider array of colors -- some more
balanced and natural and others taking on a cold, steely blue feel -- but the transfer handles the
variety of locales and color schemes nicely. Saw VI retains a fine layer of natural grain that
allows textures to remain naturally intact; faces appear appropriately rough while many of the traps
offer nice detailing on rusted frames and worn gadgets. However, grain does spike at times --
particularly in some of the darkest corners of the film -- and while blacks are fairly routine, some
scenes take a turn towards an unnatural shade of gray. Flesh tones remain fairly accurate
throughout and under the various lighting conditions, but a hint of banding is evident in a few
scenes. While not a rock-solid transfer, Saw VI should satisfy fans; this is a visually
uninteresting film, the dreary, dreadful, foreboding tone not exactly the stuff of high definition eye
candy, but Lionsgate's Blu-ray transfer appears rather faithful to the source.
Saw VI tears into Blu-ray with a powerful but not memorable DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless
soundtrack. For a movie with plenty of screaming, grinding gears, smashing traps, blowing
steam,
and many other unpleasant things going on, there's just not much here that allows the
track to stand out from the crowd. It's perfectly fine in every area, but hardly a mix that's going
to
stand apart from others. Saw VI does feature a hefty surround
presentation; industrial tones and haunting music flow through the soundstage with precision,
while victim screams and squishy gore are handled clearly and primarily across the front.
Ambient sound
effects -- booming thunder in one sequence or blowing hot steam in another -- nicely flow from
about the listening area and feature a distinctive surround presence. A potent low end also
accompanies parts of the film; bass is never overbearing but it's certainly a welcome and, more
importantly, nicely-realized companion throughout the film. Unfortunately, several shotgun
blasts
lack much power; racking the weapon to chamber a fresh round actually proves the more
realistic and satisfying effect. Saw VI also features pinpoint dialogue reproduction. While
a
solid track all around and certainly a technically proficient offering, there's just not much here
that's
worthy of a more in-depth discussion. It's well above average, but not a track to get lost in.
Saw VI features a nice array of extras, the collection headlined by a pair of audio
commentary tracks. The first features Producer Mark Burg and Executive Producers Peter Block
and
Jason Constantine. This trio discusses the work of first-time Director Kevin Greuter, who worked
as the editor on the previous five entries; the contribution of VH1's "Scream Queens" winner
Tanedra Howard; the process of churning out a new Saw picture every year; the film's
gruesome special effects; the process of editing the picture together; scenes included
in the unrated version of the film; the continuity between the films; the use of the health
insurance industry in the film; and plenty more. This track is nicely paced, smartly-presented,
and consistently engaging. Fans will want to give this one listen. Track two offers Director Kevin
Greutert and Writers Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton. They begin by teasing Saw VII
in 3D but also cover some of the same ground as the Producers' track. Still, while some of the
same issues are discussed, they approach them from different angles and with different insights,
and offer some strong commentary regarding the production of the films, assemblage of the
stories, the technical
aspects behind the shoot, connections to previous films, intercutting standalone dialogue scenes
in the midst of the action, and much more. This track is lighter in tone than its counterpart but
no less
effective. Again, fans will want to give this one a listen.
The Traps of 'Saw VI' (1080p, 8:50) examines the conception and construction of the
various traps: "The Game Room," "The Breathing Room," "The Hanging Room," "The Steam
Room," and "The Carousel Room." Jigsaw Revealed (1080p, 6:01) features a look into
the
contributions of Actor Tobin Bell to Saw, including his ability as an actor and his desire to
develop the character through the series. A Killer Maze: Making 'Saw:' Game Over
(1080p, 10:40) takes viewers into the making of the Saw attraction at Universal
Studios. Next up is a collection of four music videos: "Your Soul is Mine" by Mushroomhead
(480p, 4:52), "Ghost in the Mirror" by Memphis May Fire (480p, 3:54), "In Ashes They Shall
Reap" by Hatebreed (480p, 3:18), and "Genocide/Saw VI Remix" by Suicide Silence
(3:01). Also included are LG-Live functionality, BD-Touch Compatibility, and the Saw VI
theatrical trailer (1080p, 0:51). Disc two of this set features the original Saw on Blu-ray disc.
Though the label on the disc is new, the contents are identical, from the awful menu system to
the
lack of a lossless or uncompressed soundtrack.
Saw VI is a crude film, but it's true to the series' tone and appeal. Structurally, the film is
barely distinguishable from the past few entries; the traps are still novel in look but not
necessarily in function, while the standalone story concocted for part six fits in well with the history
of the franchise as both previously established and newly minted in this picture. With a strong
ending that's both satisfactory in its revelations but still leaving viewers with a juicy cliffhanger, the
series is still as good as it ever was and continues to be relevant in its ability to craft a seemingly
endless but halfway plausible Horror legend. Lionsgate's Blu-ray release of Saw VI delivers
the goods. Featuring a good technical presentation and a host of extras, including a somewhat
superfluous Blu-ray copy of the original Saw (it would seem most buyers of Saw VI
would already own Saw, not to mention the other five films), there's enough here to
warrant a purchase for those that adore the series. To them, Saw VI comes strongly
recommended.
To some, he was known as the “King of Pop”. To others, he was “Wacko Jacko”. But to most, Michael Jackson was one of the most gifted and influential singers of his time. His untimely passing while rehearsing for a comeback tour caused shock throughout the world, ...
Lionsgate Home Entertainment is set to release 'Saw VI' on an unrated director's cut Blu-ray on January 26, 2010. The Blu-ray release will also include the original 'Saw' film, as a way to introduce new viewers to the series and foster sales of the other instalments. ...
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