For this cut-report the Theatrical Version (R-Rated), provided by the US-DVD from Lions Gate, has been compared to the Unrated Version, represented by the US-DVD from Lions Gate and Maple Pictures.
The MPAA has never gone easy on the "Saw" series. Director Bousman, who directed both the sequels "Saw 2" and "Saw 3", seemed to be taking a liking in turning both movies inside out for the Unrated DVD releases - apart from the violence cuts demanded by the MPAA several storyline sequences have been extended, changed and recut. Although a few scenes are somewhat better in the Theatrical Version (the absence of some shots in the Unrated Version, e.g. during Lynn's death is rather annoying), the Unrated Version is the overall better version. Surprising however is the dimension of the cuts. There are only a few extensions of violence that really make sense; scenes that are rather explicit for mainstream measures, like Jigsaw's brain surgery scene, have not been censored at all in the Theatrical Version. However, most changes would most certainly not catch the viewers attention without a direct comparison, due to the fact that they are mostly very short changes which only in a few cases enhance the scenes' brutality compared to the Theatrical Version . The Theatrical Version in Fullscreen as well as the Unrated Version in Widescreen have been released on DVD in America. Creditable is the fact that the Unrated Version and the R-Rated Version had been released at the same time, unlike the Unrated Version of "Saw 2" which had been released several months after the Theatrical Version. Also remarkable is the fact that the Fullscreen release is not presented in simple Pan & Scan but in a clever mix of pan & Scan and Open Matte, thus allowing for the relevant details to always be on screen. We want to warn everyone attempting to watch (imported) DVDs via their computer that Lions Gate has put all sorts of copy protection onto the DVD, so your computer may not be able to read it correctly. Explanatory notes to the cut-report:
Due to the large amount of alternative footage and recuts it is impossible to calculate an exact running time for the cuts made. That is why we only present a comparison of the running times of both versions: Running time of the Unrated Version without credits: 1:49.11 min. Running time of the R-Rated Version without credits: 1:43.39 min. The time data comes from the DVD of the Unrated Version. Altogether there are 132 cuts/changes recorded, consisting of the following: 27 violence cuts 12 of those violence cuts on frame levels 34 storyline cuts 12 violence/storyline cuts 19 recuts 15 cases of alternative footage 1 censoring of sound 22 cuts in the Unrated 2 scenes running a bit faster in the Unrated 0.00
Storyline cut The blackscreen is a little longer in the Unrated. 1,21 Sec 2.59 Violence cut Xavier's corpse from "SAW II" on the floor of the room from „SAW“ is longer illuminated by Eric. 1,13 Sec
4.19 Cut in the Unrated Eric hits his foot one more time in the R-Rated (off screen). +1,04 Sec
4.20 Violence cut Right after the close-up of Eric hitting his foot, the removed part has been re-integrated into the Unrated, followed by a second close-up missing in the R-Rated. 1,83 Sec
4.23 Recut The next long shot of Eric hitting his foot has also been changed: R-Rated: Eric holds the toilet piece in his hands for a little longer. (0,38 Sec) Unrated: Just like in the cut above a shot of Eric has been integrated, this time followed by a long shot of the crushed foot. (1,75 Sec)
Difference: 1,38 Sec 4.26 Violence cut Eric smashes his foot one more time. 1,71 Sec
4.41 Violence/Storyline cut After Eric has broken his own foot, the end of the shot in which the light-cone is not anymore illuminating the foot is a little longer. 0,5 Sec
5.02 Cut in the Unrated The blackscreen after the „SAW III“ title is longer in the R-Rated. +1,17 Sec 6.37 Violence/Storyline cut Troy standing longer in the middle of the abandoned classroom. 2,04 Sec
6.45 Violence cut on frame level One (!) frame is missing during the camera movement towards the ring in Troys shoulder. 0,04 Sec 6.45 Violence cut on frame level The end of the shot of the ring in Troys shoulder is a little bit longer as well. 0,13 Sec 6.46 Violence cut on frame level The ring in Troys waist can be seen a little bit longer as well. 0,17 Sec 6.46 Violence cut on frame level Same here with the ring on Troys arm. 0,17 Sec 6.47 Violence cut on frame level Same here with the rings on Troys feet. 0,17 Sec 6.47 Violence cut on frame level Only two frames have been removed during the shot of the ring through Troys right shoulder. 0,08 Sec 6.48 Violence cut on frame level Two frames are missing during the shot of the ring through Troys right hand. 0,08 Sec 6.48 Violence cut on frame level Two frames are missing during the shot of the ring through the right side of Troys waist. 0,08 Sec 6.49 Violence cut on frame level Two frames are missing during the shot of the ring through Troys right leg. 0,08 Sec 6.49 Violence cut on frame level Two frames are missing during the shot of the ring through Troys left hand. 0,08 Sec 6.49 Alternative footage The end of the shot of the hand is not brightened up in the R-Rated. No time difference
6.49 Violence cut on frame level The ring through Troys jaw is presented a little longer. 0,25 Sec 6.49 Violence/Storyline cut Troy is breathing out after a few frames of the jaw-shot is missing. The long shot of Troy standing in the classroom is also shortened at the beginning. 3,67 Sec
8.23 Violence cut Troy does a practice-rip with his hand. 1,42 Sec
8.29 Storyline cut Longer shot of Troys face. 0,58 Sec
8.52 Storyline cut A longer shot of Troys face after he has ripped the ring out of his right shoulder. 1,33 Sec
9.03 Recut Before Troy rips the ring out of the right side of his waist some recuts have been made: R-Rated: 3 Frames of Troy i various poses were used here. (0,13 Sec) Unrated: Troy pulls the chain off screen (longer shot of his face) as well as on screen before it is ripped out. (1,21 Sec)
Difference: 1,08 Sec 9.15 Violence Cut Troys back as well as the wounds caused by the ripping can be seen. 1,21 Sec
9.27 Alternative footage While Troy rips the ring out of the left side of his waist alternative footage has been used in both versions. R-Rated: Troy pulling the ring followed by a shot of his face, so the ripping itself is done off screen. When the waist is shown again the ring is already gone. A few extremely short shots of Troy top the sequence off. (2,46 Sec)
Unrated: Troy rips out the ring followed by a longer close-up of his face distorted with pain. (2,25 Sec)
Difference: +0,21 Sec 9.52 Cut in the Unrated A policeman taking a picture. +0,96 Sec
9.58 Storyline cut The policeman tells Kerry that Eric is not a homicide case but only a missing person. Kerry tells him about her nightmares and the policeman assures her that Eric's disappearing is not her fault. 39,5 Sec
11.48 Cut in the Unrated Another shot of Kerry walking towards the mirror. +2,58 Sec
Thanks to the cut at 9.58 the viewer of the R-Rated knows nothing about Kerry's nightmares, so the following scene in which she sees Eric in the mirror seems somewhat illogical. 16.48 Cut in the Unrated The shot of the room in which the "Angel Trap" is placed is a little longer in the R-Rated before Amanda appears. +0,42 Sec 17.01 Recut The "Angel Trap" holding Kerry is only censored in one scene in the R-Rated, but this is one hell of a scene. Because of the many recuts and usage of alternative footage I have merged these few seconds into one cut and will be listing the shots of both versions in detail: R-Rated (6,21 Sec)
Unrated (10,5 Sec)
Difference: 4,29 Sec 30.46 Storyline cut Jeff hammering against the crate after the first long camera movement. 1,04 Sec 30.50 Storyline cut After another shot of the outside of the crate Jeff hammers a little longer. 1,67 Sec 30.54 Storyline cut The next shot of the hammering has been shortened as well. 0,6 Sec 30.56 Storyline cut The wall of the crate gets kicked one more time before it breaks. 1,33 Sec 30.59 (2 cuts!) Storyline cut Some more of Jeff's raging before the crate falls off the forklift truck. The shot that is used here in the R-Rated is in the Unrated as well, somewhere in the middle of the cut – an exact indexing is next to impossible due to the differing aspect ratios, so I subtracted the running time of the sequence in the R-Rated from the total running time of this sequence in the Unrated. In the list of cuts this one is regarded as two cuts. 3,67 Sec 31.10 Storyline cut During the first flashback two short shots of Jeff's daughter have been added. 0,13 Sec 34.13 Storyline cut 3 frames of Jeff's daughter are missing in the fast sequence after Amanda appears behind the door. 0,13 Sec 34.14 Storyline cut The next few fast shots of the daughter have been replaced by 2 frames of a cuddly toy. Difference: 0,21 Sec 34.14 Storyline cut Already a few frames later there are again pictures of Jeff's daughter missing. 0,13 Sec 35.39 Storyline cut Jeff walks through the hanging plastic stripes. 9,04 Sec
39.31 Cut in the Unrated The sequence of the writhing Jigsaw with the closed-circuit breathing apparatus is longer in the R-Rated. +0,29 Sec 41.06 Storyline cut Jeff walks through the corridor for a lot longer. After he has discovered something on a wall (not really identifiable because of the darkness) he wipes his hands on his clothes. 14,91 Sec
41.34 Storyline cut Again Jeff walks a lot longer in the Unrated, lifting a plastic tarp with the piece of wood in his hand. The shot where he discovers the "Face your fears" writing is longer in the R-Rated. Difference: 14,29 Sec
42.54 Recut When Jeff walks past Danica in chains both versions have been cut differently: R-Rated (4,83 Sec)
Unrated (3,33 Sec)
Difference: +1,5 Sec 44.01 Violence/Storyline Cut After the second flashback about the death of Jeff's son (the last shot shows Danica in her car) follows a very big change of footage. Jigsaws tape is playing in both versions but the pictures are completely different. While the scene is still "calm" in the Unrated, the trap activates itself a few seconds after the flashback in the R-Rated. So Danica is already sprayed with water when the tape is playing. 31,63 Sec
44.15 Censoring of sound The length of the pauses between Jigsaws sentences on the tape are different in both versions; one passage is missing in the R-Rated. Jigsaw: „You alone can grant her the gift of life before she freezes to death!” No time difference 44.38 Recut A small recut again. R-Rated: Longer shot of the face of Danica sobbing. (2,79 Sec)
Unrated: Another shot of Jeff and one of Danica. (5,46 Sec)
Difference: 2,67 Sec 44.48 Violence cut Long shot of Danica getting sprayed with water. 2,71 Sec
44.58 Cut in the Unrated Longer close-up of Danica's face in the R-Rated. + 0,92 Sec
45.08 Cut in the Unrated / Alternative footage The end of Danica's next long shot is longer in the R-Rated. The following shot of Jeff is different. +3,21 Sec
46.33 Cut in the Unrated Before Jeff gets the key the R-Rated contains a sequence missing in the Unrated . Jeff tries to open the door with the key from his pocket, then hammers against the door with his foot - fast pictures of Danica in between. +7,79 Sec
46.35 Storyline Cut Jeff stands in front of the bars a little longer before reaching for the key. 2,46 Sec
46.43 Storyline Cut Jeff reaches for the key. 0,38 Sec 46.45 Storyline Cut Longer shot of Jeffs face reaching for the key. 2,58 Sec
46.49 Violence Cut 2 fast shots of Danica. 1,33 Sec
46.50 Violence/Storyline Cut The sequence of Jeff trying to open the door with the key (46.33 in the R-Rated) has been re-integrated into the Unrated, including fast shots of Danica and Jeff trying to reach the other key. 14,54 Sec
47.39 Cut in the Unrated Two additional shots of Jeff reaching for the key. +2,83 Sec
49.56 Cut in the Unrated A shot of an axe is seen in the R-Rated, while Lynn is talking to Amanda. The Unrated contains a little logical flaw in this scene.Amanda says "Like this axe I saw you (were) looking at" although Lynn has not been looking at any axe in the Unrated. +0,96 Sec
52.34 Scene that runs a bit faster in the Unrated Amanda leaves building in Slow Motion (R-Rated). +3,46 Sec 54.47 Storyline cut Jeffs face is on screen a little longer as he walks through the hallway. 1,83 Sec
55.02 Storyline cut Longer shot of Jeff standing in the hallway. 0,17 Sec 55.09 Storyline cut Jeff makes a few steps looking around. 3,04 Sec
55.14 Cut in the Unrated The end of this shot is longer in the R-Rated. +0,79 Sec
58.43 Cut in the Unrated The shot of the first pig is a bit longer in the R-Rated. So is the shot of Jeff. +1,63 Sec
58.57 Violence/Storyline cut Jeff peers disgusted into the container in which Judge Halden lies. Then another wave of mushed pig hits the judge. 9,38 Sec
59.09 Violence/Storyline cut Longer shot of Judge Halden lying in the pig-juice before he begins to talk. 3,83 Sec
59.21 Violence/Storyline cut Another shot o the disgusted Jeff. 1,63 Sec
59.39 Violence/Storyline cut A longer shot of the judge before the next pig appears on screen. 3,08 Sec
59.46 Violence/Storyline cut A bird´s eye view on the judge has been added. 0,76 Sec
59.54 Violence/Vogelperspektive A medium long shot of the judge in the pig-mush and two shots of Jeff have been added. 4,63 Sec
1:00.16 Recut A little difference here: R-Rated: The shot of Jeff wiping his mouth appears earlier. (2,38 Sec)
Unrated: The shot of the judge is a bit longer - then another pig is railed into the room. (3,67 Sec)
Differenz: 1,29 Sec 1:00.20 Storyline cut The end of the shot of Jeff wiping his mouth is missing in the R-Rated. 0,46 Sec 1:00.23 Storyline cut Jeffs shot begins a little earlier. 0,42 Sec 1:00.27 Storyline cut Jeff walks down the stairs. 1,33 Sec
1:01.08 Alternative footage The shots of Jeff, before the pigs are being railed into the room, differ in both versions. The Unrated shows many shots while the R-Rated only shows one. R-Rated: 2,13 Sec / Unrated: 8,54 Sec / Difference: 6,42 Sec
1:01.23 Recut The pig shot is a bit longer in the R-Rated. The Unrated contains an additional shot of Jeff followed by much more gruesome pictures of the pigs. R-Rated: 1,67 Sec / Unrated: 4,33 Sec / Difference: 2,67 Sec
1:01.30 Scene that runs a bit faster in the Unrated / Storyline cut When Jeff walks towards the glass case containing his son's cuddly toys the R-Rated runs in slow motion while the Untated runs in normal speed. In return, the following shot of Jeff is longer in the Unrated. R-Rated: 3,21 Sec / Unrated: 5,63 Sec / Difference: 2,42 Sec
1.01.37 Storyline cut Longer shot of Jeff walking away from the glass case. 0,83 Sec
1:01.40 Recut The shot of Jeff is a bit longer in the Unrated while the R-Rated contains a long shot of the cuddly toys catching fire. R-Rated: 2,83 Sec / Unrated: 0,54 Sec / Difference: +2,29 Sec
1:01.53 Recut One shot of a burning cuddly toy is longer in the R-Rated. The Unrated contains several new shots of the events. R-Rated: 0,67 Sec / Unrated: 11,04 Sec / Difference: 10,38 Sec
1:05.38 Cut in the Unrated The removal of Jigsaws scalp is a bit longer in the R-Rated. +0,21 Sec 1:05.57 Alternative footage The shot in which Lynn begins to say "Fill that syringe with Alcohol" differs in both versions. No time difference
1:12.14 Cut in the Unrated The blackscreen after the shot of Amanda looking around is longer in the R-Rated. +3,46 Sec 1:16.59 Storyline cut Lynn wipes her face after she saw Jigsaw lying in his bed. 1,75 Sec
1:17.31 Alternative footage Both versions contain different shots of Amanda throwing herself at Jigsaw. 0,46 Sec
1:23.28 Violence/Storyline cut A longer shot of Tim screaming. 1,13 Sec
1:23.29 Cut in the Unrated In return, the next shot of Jeff is longer in the R-Rated. +1,13 Sec
1:23.54 Recut Both versions contain different shots while Jigsaws tape is playing, each with shots of all participants. R-Rated: The judge examines the shotgun case and pulls the cord slightly. (9,83 Sec)
Unrated: The judge looks into the case followed by a camera movement from Tims face to the tape recorder. (7,79 Sec)
Difference: +2,04 Sec 1:24.14 Violence The breaking of Tims right arm is missing completely in the R-Rated. The shot of the judge pulling the cord in the shotgun case was also used for the Unrated at this point. 66,25 Sec
1:25.26 Storyline cut A shot of Jeff has been integrated. 2,08 Sec
1:25.33 Recut Both versions use different shot for the twisting of Tims right arm. R-Rated: Fast sequence of shots of Tim and Jeff. (6,38 Sec) Unrated: Tim is on screen a little longer, Jeff is only seen once - including shots of the grinding gears of the "Rack Trap". (5,21 Sec)
Difference: +1,67 Sec 1:25.46 Alternative footage Both versions contain different shots of Tim as the judge tells Jeff that he is an accomplice of Jigsaw, should he not help Tim. R-Rated: 2,21 Sec / Unrated: 0,92 Sec / Difference: +1,29 Sec
1:25.56 Alternative footage Different shots of the judge have been used here. R-Rated: The judge with a horrified look on his face. (0,79 Sec) Unrated: The judge talks about Jeffs family. (4 Sec) Difference: 3,21 Sec
1:26.09 Storyline cut Different shots of Jeff and Tim have been used before Tims broken left arm is seen. 2,21 Sec
1:26.13 Cut in the Unrated After the shot of Tims broken left arm another shot of Jeff and the judge is only shown in the R-Rated. +4,71 Sec
1:26.15 Violence cut The breaking of Tims right leg is missing completely. Jeff takes a look at the shotgun case. 24,75 Sec
1:26.42 Alternative footage The shots of the judge are different. R-Rated: The first shot is missing while the second one is a little longer. (0,96 Sec)
Unrated: Two shots of the judge, the second one a bit shorter. (1,96 Sec)
Difference: 1 Sec 1:26.44 Storyline cut Jeff looks into the shotgun case and reaches for the key. 4,5 Sec
1:26.50 Cut in the Unrated The shot from time data 1:26.15 has been re-integrated into the R-Rated: Jeff examines the mechanism of the shotgun. +8,38 Sec
1:26.56 Recut When Jeff gets the key both versions have been cut extremely different so that a detailed comparison is not possible or reasonable. The recut starts with Tims splintered leg and ends as the shotgun goes off. R-Rated: Jeff grabs the key with a short summary of the breaking of Tims right arm and leg in between. (35,17 Sec)
Unrated: Short shots of Tim and the judge before Jeff grabs the key. (15,25 Sec)
Difference: +19,91 Sec 1:27.15 Violence cut A shot of the wounded judge an another shot of Jeff are missing in the R-Rated. 2,08 Sec
1:27.21 Cut in the Unrated Integrated into the R-Rated: Tims right leg is breaking while Jeff walks towards him. +6,25 Sec
1:27.23 Alternative footage Due to the fact that Jeff already did walk towards Tim in the R-Rated but not in the Unrated, different shots of Jeff are shown after the "Rack Trap" has begun to twist Tims head. R-Rated: 1,38 / Unrated: 0,67 Sec / Difference: +0,71 Sec
1:27.25 Recut Another set of differing shots. R-Rated: Jeff searches for the lock that fits the key. (1,88 Sec)
Unrated: Jeff walks up to Tim - then Tim is on screen and Jeff searches for the lock (shot is different from the R-Rated). (4,67 Sec)
Differenz: 2,79 Sec 1:28.05 Recut The end of the "Rack Trap" scene is different in both versions. R-Rated: Close-up of Jeff kneeling in front of Tims corpse. Jeff looks up to Tim. (11,5 Sec)
Unrated: Tims twisted head is on screen a little longer. Jeff takes off his bathrobe and kneels before the "Rack Trap". He then looks up to Tim in a slightly different close-up. (17,75 Sec)
Difference: 6,75 Sec 1:32.37 Storyline cut The end of Jigsaws shot is a little longer. 0,42 Sec 1:32.39 Recut Jigsaws questions concerning the other test subjects is different. R-Rated: Jigsaw asks "And what about the other test subjects?", followed by a short flashback of Amanda smothering Adam with a plastic bag. (0,88 Sec)
Unrated: Jigsaw asks "And what about the other test subjects that we left alive?", followed by a different flashback in which Amanda locks Eric inside the infamous bathroom. (2,71 Sec)
Difference: 1,83 Sec 1:32.45 Recut The second flashback has been recut as well. R-Rated: Jigsaw asks, after a few short impressions of the "Ring Trap" and the "Angel Trap", "Was that how you felt about Eric Mathews?", followed by sequences of Amanda imprisoning Eric and Eric smashing his foot. Amanda answers "I tell you how I felt about Eric Mathews!". In another flashback she starts to scream in a few fast shots. (21,51 Sec)
Unrated: After Jigsaws question "Was that how you felt about them?"follows a shot of Eric smashing his foot. Jigsaw then continues to ask "Was that how you felt about Eric Mathews?" and Amanda answers "I tell you how I felt about Eric Mathews!". In another flashback Amanda walks down a hallway, then starts to scream in a few fast shots. (20,63 Sec)
Difference: +0,92 Sec 1:33.06 Storyline cut The shots of Erics destroyed foot and Eric leaning against the wall are now connected by a camera movement. 5,96 Sec 1:33.18 Recut Another rather large recut flashback about Eric. Because of the many changes a detailed listing is not possible. R-Rated: Present-Amanda says "Eric Mathews learned nothing from the test!", Eric moves on the floor and Flashback-Amanda turns around. Present-Amanda continues "He was the same person when he arrested me!" Flashback-Amanda continues to lament while walking off in the Unrated. After two short cuts to Eric leaning against a wall and holding a pipe in his hand and another cut to Present-Amanda Flashback-Amanda is attacked by Eric. (49,29 Sec)
Unrated: In the Unrated we see the flashback "in one piece". After a longer shot of Eric getting up Amanda starts to follow him. Eric hobbles through a hallway while Amanda sneaks after him. Suddenly Eric attacks Amanda. (79,83 Sec)
Differenz: 30,54 Sec 1:34.48 Violence cut Eric beats Amanda one more time. 3,63 Sec
1:35.24 Violence cut Eric smashes Amandas head against the wall. 1,88 Sec
1:35.34 Violence cut Again Amandas head is smashed into the wall. 1,29 Sec
1:35.36 Violence cut on frame level Eric and Amanda are on screen at the end of the shot. Nothing spectacular happens, though. 0,21 Sec 1:35.41 Violence cut Another head-to-wall smashing. 1,21 Sec
1:35.58 Alternative footage In the Unrated a slightly closer shot has been intefrated into the shot of Amanda kicking against Erics foot, not really resulting in a more gruesome effect but a little jump cut – but one hardly notices due to the overall speed of the scene. In return, the "normal" shot is a little longer in the R-Rated. Difference: 0,08 Sec
1:36.00 Cut in the Unrated Amanda moves her leg away from Erics foot. +0,5 Sec
1:47.32 Violence cut Another shot of Jigsaw bleeding. 1,88 Sec
1:47.36 Alternative footage The shots of Jigsaw bleeding differ in both versions. R-Rated: 1,71 / Unrated: 1,5 Sec / Difference: +0,21 Sec
1:47.44 Cut in the Unrated We see Jigsaw a little longer before he turns on the tape recorder. +0,75 Sec
1:47.47 Alternative footage After Jigsaw has turned on the tape recorder the shots are different again. R-Rated: Lynn. (1,67 Sec)
Unrated: Close-up of Jigsaws cut throat. (1,67 Sec) The following shots of Jeff and Jigsaw are different as well - the R-Rated contains a longer shot of Jeff, the Unrated one of Jigsaw.
No time difference 1:47.57 Alternative footage The R-Rated has a longer shot of Jeff in it, the shots of Jigsaw are again different and also longer and gorier. No time difference
1:48.37 Alternative footage The shot of Jeffs daughte is different in both versions. The "clipping" is bigger in the Unrated moves differently over her body. No time difference
1:48.51 Recut Jeffs screaming is slightly different in both versions. The camera movement around him and Jigsaw is longer in the R-Rated, the close-up of his face appears earlier in the Unrated. R-Rated: 3,17 / Unrated: 1,33 Sec / Difference: +1,83 Sec 1:48.54 Cut in the Unrated Another shot of Lynns necklace is added in the R-Rated before it explodes. + 0,46 Sec
1:49.02 Recut The ending is different as well. R-Rated: After the shot of Lynns corpse two shots of Jeff and Jigsaw have been added. (6,25 Sec)
Unrated: Lynns corpse is on screen a little longer, followed by a long whitescreen finally blending into a blackscreen with the ending credits. (8,83 Sec)
Differenz: 2,58 Sec |