Eight years later, the “Saw” franchise is reportedly coming to a close, and although the history of the horror genre – specifically, the fourth “Friday the 13th” film – has taught us that no chapter is ever truly final, they’re at least trying to make us think they’re going out with a bang, eschewing a straightforward “Saw VII” and instead offering fans an additional dimension of gory fun with “Saw 3D.”

First up, Costas Mandylor and Kevin Greutert…

Journalist: So there’s, like, a volcano eruption of 3D films out there now, with the whole “take that and run with it” Hollywood attitude. What sets this one apart from other 3D horror films?

Kevin Greutert: Well, for one thing, this film was actually shot in 3D. We didn’t do a post-conversion like a lot of the other movies that have come out lately. I think that shooting it in 3D makes all the difference in the world, so it just looks that much better. This was shot with state-of-the-art cameras that are a lot more lightweight than any previous 3D films, so we were able to preserve the “Saw” style of doing a lot of stuff handheld and keeping the camera moving around a lot and very dynamic. Because technology is advancing so quickly, we were able to just take advantage on all aspects.

Journalist: Has 3D changed the blocking of the set and what you’re actually doing in the film?

KG: Yeah, it affects the way we block the scene, because we want to maximize the feeling of depth in the image, even if it’s not an in-your-face moment where stuff’s flying into the camera. We still wanted it to look as rich and full of space as possible.

Journalist: At what point in the production process was the decision made that the film was going to be in 3D? Was that from the outset, or did that happen…

KG: It was decided…that was probably the very first decision made on the film, and I had actually hoped even before we made “Saw V” to direct “Saw VI” in 3D but wasn’t able to make that work. So by the time “Saw VII” came along, now there’s enough infrastructure in terms of theaters that are equipped with 3D equipment to go forward, and…yeah, no one ever thought twice about doing it in 3D.

Journalist: How does 3D enhance the storyline?

KG: Well, I don’t know how much it actually plays into the story. There’s a bit of self-reference in the opening scene of the movie, which is the first “Saw” scene that takes place in broad daylight, with a big crowd watching one of Jigsaw’s big contraptions at play. There’s, I think, a little bit of an implicit message about horror audiences watching voyeuristically. 3D, I think, just kind of takes that to another level.

Journalist: Costas, what keeps bringing you back to this franchise?

Costas Mandylor: You know what? In a way, luck. And the character seems to have worked. And, you know, when you collaborate with people like Kevin and a couple of the other guys before him, and you know what you’re doing together, it’s a comfortable situation where you don’t have to get really… (Hesitates) I mean, some guys in life are a pain in the ass, and they die. “Saw” does that really easy. I committed to it as best as I could, and spending time with Tobin (Bell) and seeing how committed he was to keeping a certain standard, not letting the fans down was really important to him, so it wasn’t just going to a gig, doing my thing, and leaving. I actually paid attention. There’s a great example of…when I first started, I think it was in “IV,” he had a great idea for a scene and he called me at, like, 11:30 at night. He goes… (Does a Tobin Bell growl) “Hey, Costas, are you awake?” Jigsaw’s calling me at midnight on the phone. I’m in trouble here. (Laughs) I went to see him…reluctantly…but we spent some time together, and the scene…that was a really long scene that we did, with the gun to the…? It just worked beautifully, because he put the effort in and forced me to be okay with putting in my ideas as well. So I’m still here ‘til the end of this one, and…we don’t even know the endings. But for now, I’m in.

KG: We have more control over Costas by not letting his character die. (Laughs) We hold that over his head every year.

Journalist: But that doesn’t keep Tobin from coming back!

KG: (Laughs) He has more screen time dead than he did alive!

Journalist: Does there come a time when you’re doing a series like this…I know that when you do sequels that maybe there’s a temptation where you have to outdo, improve, and do better with each and every film, but does there become a point, though, when you get to a certain stage where you can’t sort of outdo what you’ve done before, and so maybe you have to go in sort of a sideways direction with the franchise?

KG: Well, I think that’s why the decision was made to have this be the final chapter, because, like, I do think that we do and should always try to outdo ourselves, and I’m just not sure how much longer that process can be true to itself. So, you know, I don’t think we went sideways in this film at all. Actually, the scope of the production is a lot bigger than any of the other “Saw” films, so the idea was to go out with a bang rather than, as you say, go sideways or let it sort of deteriorate.

Journalist: Was the process different consciously, knowing that this was the final chapter?

KG: Well, sure, because we wanted to wrap up a lot of the lingering questions and storylines that had been around. Rather than do the trick of ending on a cliffhanger to sort of force people to buy tickets next year, we went all in with this. So that was very much part of the process from the beginning.

Journalist: So there’s no possibility of a “Freddy vs. Jigsaw” or…

KG: In Hell. (Laughs)

Journalist: Jason already went there.

KG: But he didn’t fight Jigsaw there!

Journalist: You mentioned the fans. How much attention do you pay to fan feedback, and did that have any input into the story?

KG: Well, I think the fans have a lot of impact on the series, whether they know it or not, because we pay a lot of attention to what we discuss with friends and what we read on all the various websites where people are talking about “Saw.” So we get a good sense of what’s working and what isn’t working just from watching those.

CM: And then I’m afraid to ask. I mean, we went to a big convention once… (Starts to laugh) …and this little skinny kid gets up, and he asks us something that nobody’s ever asked. And I looked up, and I said, “You little smart-ass.” And then I went, “That’s a Kevin question.” (Laughs)

KG: Yeah, right!

CM: The guys pay attention to detail. I think that’s part of the magic of the “Saw” movies. It’s clever, and people want to put the clues together and follow everything, and they really pay attention. And I think that everybody’s tried to be responsible to them, to not let them down.

KG: Yeah, nothing gets past the fans. If there’s a flaw…

CM: …they’ll let you know.

KG: (Laughs) We hear about it. Big time.

Journalist: How do you feel about those who refer to this in the term of “torture porn”?

KG: (Sighs) Well, torture is involved in this film, but porn? I don’t know. It’s a little bit fetishistic, I suppose, but…I don’t know. I don’t really like the phrase “torture porn,” at least as it applies to “Saw.”

CM: (Puts up his dukes) Who said that?

KG: (Laughs) To me, it sort of cheapens what it is, which is a psychological thriller. If it was just one scene after another of people getting tortured with no storyline through it, then sure, but it’s not that, and everyone knows that. The only people who call it that are people who haven’t ever watched a “Saw” film. In my opinion.

Journalist: Is it important to you that the films have kind of a social consciousness level to them, as opposed to some of the other competitors within the subgenre?

KG: I think it enriches it a lot if it feels like it’s something that’s very today. We might have gone too far with “Saw VI” by having the healthcare angle… (Laughs) …but it’s the God’s honest truth that, when Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton came up with that idea, it was long before it was a political issue in a big way. And, frankly, Obama wasn’t talking about it…wisely…in the lead-up to the election, which was just a few days after the movie came out. And then as soon as the movie came out, bang, health care was all over the news, and it made it seem like we were kind of whoring with it. But, really, it just suited the character to be a crooked insurance dude, so…that was more a coincidence that us trying to make some kind of policy statement, which we absolutely were not.

Bullz-Eye: Costas, was the 3D process any different for you as an actor?

CM: Uh, yeah, I made the mistake of using one term loosely and saying it was a tedious process… (Laughs) …and somebody made it sound really bad. The bottom line is that it took a little longer, and the one that suffered more than anybody was (Kevin) and the camera guy, because they have to get it right. You know, calibration and being specific with lights and all that stuff. For me, it was a good excuse to go play with the crew that wasn’t on set and crack a couple of jokes. So I got to socialize a little bit more. But the only frustrating thing was sometimes you’re ready to do a scene and then, like, it’s another 40 minutes, so you’d go off and…we got used to that. But, you know, the payoff’s big, so in the end…

KG: I think you flexed your muscles more.

CM: Yeah, I was bulging more. I’d go to the bathroom and warm up a little bit, just check myself out. (Laughs) But it was very…the thing that was interesting, it took a little longer, but…the world’s changing, and it’s nice to be a part of that change, you know?

KG: I don’t think that it necessarily affects actor performance, per se, the fact that it’s in 3D, but I think the actors’ experience is a little bit different. 3D looks best, in my opinion, with wide-angle lenses, but in “Saw,” we love our close-ups, and the camera has this huge apparatus on the front of it that means that, in order to get a close-up, you’re banging against the actor. That can’t be fun, you know?

CM: But, you know, if the actor’s thinking about the camera…and some actors are really conscious of the camera, because it has to be your buddy and you have to stand in front of it…but, you know, you’ve got to do your job, and the camera can help you if you’re doing the right thing.

Journalist: Kevin, you directed…it’s only a small role, but the winner of the “Scream Queens II” contest in this one.

KG: (Laughs) That’s right!

Journalist: Was there security involved in keeping…how does she film this before it’s revealed that she’s won the thing?

KG: Somehow they were able to keep it secret, both with Gabby (West) and then with Tanedra (Howard) last year. They shot the “Scream Queens” episodes long, long before we made the movie, but somehow they kept it under wraps, so it wasn’t revealed until they wanted it to.

CM: It’s kind of surprising that one of the girls who lost early didn’t say, you know?

KG: What, you think there’s cattiness involved? (Laughs) Is that what you’re trying to say?

CM: (Laughs) I wouldn’t know.

Journalist: Are you a big horror movie fan?

KG: Of course. Yeah, absolutely.

Journalist: What are your favorites?

KG: Well, most recently, I was just talking to Cary Elwes about “Martyrs.” I really loved “Martyrs.” It’s just a fantastic movie. Brutal, hard to watch at times, but…it felt very elevated, with this odd reveal of what was really going on in that film. I think in terms of the “Saw” series, the Argento and Bava films were very influential, and I’m a big “Suspiria” fan. I don’t know if it’s horror, but I love the Herzog “Nosferatu.” I’ve seen that film countless times.

CM: Which one?

KG: “Nosferatu,” with Klaus Kinski.

CM: Ah, yeah. It’s weird, but wonderful.

Journalist: You went from editor of the series to director. How was that transition?

KG: Well, I always did want to direct. I didn’t think “Saw” would be my ticket to that when I cut the first one, but soon after that, I started positioning myself to get promoted. And it took awhile, but by the time it did happen, I was in pretty good shape in terms of it not being that difficult of an experience, because I knew and had rapport with the actors already, just from having edited the films, and knew the crew well and had worked with them as a second-unit director on “Saw V.” So it really wasn’t as kind of a giant change as you would think…even though physically it was, to come out of the cave and be in the bigger cave with lots of people demanding things.

Journalist: Would you not say, to play devil’s advocate, that these sort of films lend themselves to that sort of filmmaking, that being an editor makes you more successful in putting together a film that’s almost like a jigsaw, no pun intended?

KG: Yeah, for sure. The films have always been very editing-intensive, you know. James had kind of a graphic design sense of cutting the film, and I think by knowing the films inside and out it helped a lot when I was on the stage, you would be surprised how many countless little micro-decisions have to be made on the spot. Is someone wearing a wedding ring? Would there be blood on this side of their face? And I would literally have to think back, “Well, in ‘Saw II,’ that’s what happened, and it must have been about three weeks…” I mean, that sort of stuff, those sort of issues are very common on the set, and, yeah, it helped a lot having cut the films.

Journalist: Can you talk about bringing Cary back and what it’s like to have his character bookend the series?

KG: Well, it was a very pleasant surprise to find out that we finally got Cary Elwes back into the franchise. It was something that we wanted to do and needed to do for a really long time. I’m just very glad that it happened. It was…well, I don’t want to… (Hesitates, then laughs) Everything I want to say is laden with spoilers, so let’s just say that it was very fun to hear his voice booming across the set.

In a moment of perfect timing, this proved to be the last question, at which point Greunert and Mandylor were escorted to their next stop. Within a few moments, we were introduced to Cary Elwes and Betsy Russell, who took a seat and began their turn at answering our questions.

Journalist: Cary, when we were doing our last roundtable, we ended it by talking about what enticed you to come back to the franchise. Can you talk about that a little bit?

Cary Elwes: Well, the reason that I’m here, really, is because of the fans. They’re the ones that campaigned heavily to bring Dr. Gordon back. They got involved in writing to the studio and E-mailing and in the blogosphere and chat rooms, so I really have them to thank. So the producers came to me, and when they showed me the script, I thought it was very clever the way they brought me back, and I thought…seeing as this was the last one, I thought it would be a nice way to bookend the series and answer a lot of unanswered questions about what happened to him.

Journalist: When you first started this role, “Saw” was just an independent horror movie that was coming out of nowhere, and now, when you come back to this being a huge franchise that’s coming out every year, how does that feel?

CE: It’s incredibly, really. I mean, I never expected it. I think I can speak for the original filmmakers, James (Wan) and Lee (Whannell), that none of us had any idea that it would turn into this huge thing. So we’re thrilled, obviously, and…it’s the fans. It’s the fans that keep coming back, and they’re really involved and really passionate about it. So we have them to think.

Journalist: I’ve seen a number of people say it baffles them how your surgeon character didn’t think to saw off just his heel instead of his whole foot.

CE: (Laughs) That’s a good question. That’s funny. Yeah, I don’t think he was thinking too hard at the time, being a professional surgeon. Good question. I know Shaq sawed off the wrong foot, right? (Laughs) Yeah, uh…

Betsy Russell: You’re not the writer.

CE: I’m not the writer. Exactly.

BR: We’re only actors.

CE: I only take direction.

Journalist: Well, how much do you bring your own sense of developing your internal back story to the characters, or do you just leave it whatever the writers give you?

CE: For me, I…I went and met some neurosurgeons over at UCLA, just to get a sense for what it was like to play one, and I was privileged enough to do the rounds with them. But, you know, James and Lee had written such a full character for me, and a lot of it was really on the page, so a lot of the hard work was really done for me.

Journalist: When you walked off the set at the end of the first “Saw,” did you think that there was any hope for Dr. Gordon to come back, or was he dying in that hallway somewhere?

CE: I thought he was dead. (Laughs) I thought anyone who sawed his leg off with a rusty hacksaw was not going to get very far. But, you know, this is filmmaking, and these guys are very inventive in the way that they’ve brought characters to life that seemingly were not going to see the light of day.

Journalist: And I guess a similar question regarding Jill, at what point in the filming process, going all the way back to “Saw IV, did you know what was in the box and where that was going to take the character?

BR: I didn’t know there was a box. (Laughs) And I don’t think any of us did ‘til “V.” So you never know ‘til you read the script, and there it is, and I’m, like, “Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe this is happening! I’m so excited!” So it’s sort of, like, every time it’s a new experience. Every time we open those scripts. A lot of cast members don’t get the last 20 pages, so most of the cast members don’t even know. I mean, I’ve been privileged, thank God, I’ve read the end every time, but a lot of them haven’t, so…it’s been quite mysterious.

Journalist: So, Cary, I have to add personally that I grew up loving “Princess Bride” and “The Crush,” and I definitely had a crush on you.

CE: (Laughs) Thank you.

Journalist: Do you think that the “Saw” franchise has brought a new audience to explore your older work?

CE: I hope so. I’m not sure. I don’t know how many fans of “Princess Bride” will come see “Saw” or vice versa. (Laughs) I hope so!

BR: If they’re real fans, they will!

Journalist: It was a logical progression!

CE: (Laughs) Thank you. That’s the right answer, yeah. But, you know, I’m very blessed. You’re lucky as an actor that you’re remembered for anything or be a part of anything that ends up being successful, like those films have been, and this one. So I’m very blessed, and I feel very grateful for that.

Journalist: Can I just ask if you’re looking to do anything in comedy again?

CE: Well, I’m doing “Yellow Submarine,” which is kind of fun. We start shooting that next year, and that’s going to be a lot of fun. I like to mix it up a bit, you know? I try not to do too much of the same thing, although this is a return for me in this film. But it was such an interesting script, and I love the director, Kevin Greutert, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. And, like I said, the fans really demanded that I come back.

Journalist: Are you guys big horror fans?

CE: Yeah, I am.

BR: I’m not.

Journalist: What are some of your favorites?

CE: I grew up on Hammer horror films as a kid, you know, ‘cause I grew up in England, so those were very heavily part of my childhood, and they were obviously very popular and successful when I was growing up in England. So I grew up on those, and then I naturally progressed to films like “The Shining” and “The Exorcist.” Now, I’m a big fan of Guillermo Del Toro. He’s brilliant. But Kevin…this guy outdid himself with this film. I saw it a couple of weeks ago, and…it’s without a doubt the most graphically violent movie I have ever seen in my life. I mean, hands down. It’s relentless. It really is. I mean, at one point, I was just laughing hysterically, it was just so unbelievably intense…and it’s not a film I want to sit through a second time. (Laughs)

Journalist: (Betsy) looks like the laugh was a bit of a surprise.

BR: I haven’t seen any yet.

CE: Well, you’re laughing out of fear. You can’t believe this kind of thing is taking place in front of your eyes.

Journalist: Yeah, sometimes you either laugh or throw up, so…

CE: You have to, right? It’s relentless. It’s…it’s unbelievable.

Journalist: How do you project that fear as an actor? Because you’re in such an intense, emotional state for the entire run? How do you do that? How do you deal with that? Do you bring that home?

BR: I’ve had a lot of drama in my life… (Laughs) …and I’ve used it well, I think. I’ve had a lot of pain and a lot of break-ups and miscarriages, and, you know, when I was 20, I didn’t have all of that to pull from, so I’m grateful that my life has been topsy-turvy. (Laughs) And, yeah, I really use that a lot in my character study, sure.

CE: I have been fortunate. I don’t have a lot of drama in my life…

BR: You’re not a girl!

CE: (Laughs) …so I just act. That’s what I do.

Journalist: So pretty much, like, on the page, you read it and there it is, and that’s it.

CE: Yeah.

Journalist: Is there any sense of a responsibility on set, knowing this is the final chapter, since, you know, next Halloween there’s not going to be another “Saw”?

BR: (Breaks into mock sobbing)

CE: Well, I think there’s a responsibility to the fans that we do a good job, and I really feel that we have. They’re not going to be disappointed. There’s no way.

BR: Yeah, I was definitely feeling the pressure with this one. I mean, just to do a good job and end on a high note, in a way. Just to be the best Jill I could possibly be. (Laughs)

Journalist: Who are the fans of “Saw,” if you had to describe them?

BR: These fans get it. They get that “Saw” has a heart and a soul and a life of its own. I mean, seriously, I read these things, and my tears are falling down my face, and, truthfully, I do spiritual psychology, and these people are very spiritual, and they are getting the message behind “Saw,” which is, “Appreciate your life, be grateful in every moment, make the best choices that you can.” And forgiveness. If you really read between the lines and listen, that’s, to me, what I take away from Jigsaw and his plan and putting these people in traps that are doing things the way that he doesn’t believe is the way it should be done. He has an opportunity, having cancer and everything, to say, “Okay, I know the end of my life is coming. These people don’t necessarily know when it’s going to happen, but if they did, and the time is now, what choices would they make differently?”

Journalist: So you’re saying Jigsaw is a force of good?

BR: I think behind everything that he’s doing, in the end, his message is gratitude and making the right choices. Yeah, for sure.

Bullz-Eye: What was the experience of filming in 3D like for you guys?

CE: I found it very enjoyable. It’s the first 3D movie I’ve made, and I think it was a very wise choice on the filmmakers’ part because, as I say, I saw the film, and it lends itself particularly well to 3D. There’s a lot of… (Clears throat) …limbs flying at you.

BR: (Bursts out laughing) He still can’t get over it. He saw the movie a couple of weeks ago, and he’s still in shock.

CE: It’s really intense. But the filmmaking process really wasn’t that much different. Kevin gave us some notes here and there to change your movement or a line or…just very slight variations in terms of movement to help with exploiting the 3D process. But the most part, we didn’t want to do anything gimmicky.

BR: Yeah, we weren’t, like, “Okay, this is 3D now, we’re going to have look this way or that way.”

Journalist: So there’s no yo-yo scene.

CE: That’s right. We cut the yo-yo scene.

BR: And it was just…I mean, every scene took hours to set up. Everything took forever, and the cameras were huge, and…

CE: It was the first time the crew were using them. It was the first 3D equipment ever in Toronto.

BR: Ever.

CE: So these cameras were arriving, and this crew, who are incredible, really had to hit the grown running.

BR: They went to seminars and everything.

CE: It was a real learning curve for them. They had very little prep time. The first week or so was a little slow, but after that, we hit our stride.

BR: It was still slow, though. The whole process was very slow. And it was cool. Like, they’d say, “Oh, do you want to see some cut footage? We just have a little bit of stuff cut together. You want to come check it out?” And I’m, like, “Am I in it?” And they’re, like, “Yeah, you’re in it.” “Okay, fine, I’ll look.” (Laughs) So then I would go to a corner, there’s a big screen TV, we’d put the cool little glasses on…some glasses had people’s names on them, usually producers only…and we’d watch the scenes cut together. And it was, like, “Whoa, this is so cool! It’s like you’re actually in the room!” I mean, I haven’t seen that many movies 3D…you guys probably have…but it’s actually like being in the scene. It’s really awesome. So I’m excited for it.

Journalist: Have you ever thought about the legacy of “Saw,” in terms of how people view “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Friday the 13th” series so many years later?

BR: All the time. I think about it all the time. I think that my grandkids are going to be, hopefully, in love with Jill Tuck. You know, going, “Oh, my God, that’s my grandmother up there!” Or, “That’s my great-grandmother!” I’m hoping that my kids are going to be studying “Saw” at college. I’m hoping they go to college, but…yeah, I mean, it’s incredible to be an actress, anyway, to leave something with the world, hopefully, and just to leave a legacy like this for fans that are our fans…? It’s a great feeling. I’m happy about it. I’m grateful.

CE: Yeah, uh…what was the question again?

BR: (Laughs) Sorry!

Journalist: Just, uh, have you considered the legacy of the films?

CE: Oh, uh, yeah, I’m proud of the fact that the films are a little bit more of morality tales, and I’m glad that they’re not just films that are violent for violence’s sake. I wouldn’t want to be part of that. And, so, at least they have something redeeming about them.

BR: Totally. Yeah, you can take away from “Saw” whatever you want to take away from it, but subconsciously I think people are getting the message. That there is a message. Like, think about it before you make that choice to go steal that, or rip these people off, or run over this person and then be a hit-and-run driver. I mean, think about it. Jigsaw could be after you!

Journalist: Do you have any good Tobin (Bell) stories?

CE: Yeah, Tobin’s great. It was nice to see him again after so long and to work with him again. He’s wonderful. He’s very…it’s funny, for a guy that’s playing serial killers, he’s actually a really big softie. And I’m sad he’s not here today, because I know he would’ve been a part of all this, but he’s shooting right now, so…

BR: He has a son a year younger than my kid’s age, and we live in the same neighborhood, and my son recently said, “Mom, isn’t it weird that you guys both live in this little community? I mean, if there are ‘Saw’ fans out there, don’t you think they should come to this neighborhood?” I was, like, “Uh, yeah…” (Laughs) But, anyway, his son plays baseball, and so he’s the coach to his little 8th grade or 9th grade son’s baseball team, and he says he gets in the huddle and he starts doing the Jigsaw voice, and they start screaming. (Laughs) So he’s really into it. You see him out throwing balls to his kid, and…you know, as an actor, to be working with someone like him, it’s a dream. It really is. I’ll be, like, “Tobin, what are you doing here, sitting next me having lunch?” He’s, like, “Well, I didn’t really come down to have lunch. I just think we should really talk about our scene and how we’re going to approach the producers about getting a little more time with this or rewriting that…” I mean, he’s engrossed and obsessed and wants to make it the best movie it can possibly be. And that’s why they’ve kept him around for so long: because he’s so great at what he does, and he gives 1000%.

Journalist: Can these films be difficult for the both of you as actors because they’re so technical? Because I can’t help thinking that you could do, like, the performance of a lifetime, and then they go, “You know ,that one was off because the 3D registration wasn’t quite right.” So in some ways, the acting almost can become secondary to the technical demands.

CE: You know…

BR: That’s life.

CE: Look, it’s no different than…I mean, cameras go bad whether they’re 3D or just regular digital cameras, you know. Digital cameras, I’ve worked with the red cameras a couple of times, and if you’re in a hot room, that thing can overheat and just shut down, like any computer. Your Apple shuts down sometimes. So, yeah, I mean, like I said, it was a new process for a lot of the crew with these cameras. We did have one breakdown that actually could not be fixed, so we had to go and send out for another one, but…like, back in the old days, before digital, you had the hair in the gate.

BR: I was just thinking that!

CE: So, you know, it’s really no different.

BR: And you’ve always just got to believe that if that one didn’t work, you’ve got a better one inside. If you go, “Oh, my God, that was, I think, the best I can do.” They’re going to say, “No! You can do one better! It wasn’t our fault. You can do better!” (Laughs)

CE: Actors are hams. They like more takes.

BR: We beg for it. We always think we can do better. Even if it was pretty good, it’s, like, “You can do better…”

10. Spider-Man

The web-slinger would probably make a list of best characters in any decade-end review of comic books, but this is the first time he can even be considered for a movie list. Thank Bryan Singer’s “X-Men” for that, because without its success, there’s a good chance we may have never seen Spider-Man jump to the big screen. Sam Raimi definitely deserves credit for adapting the character without all the cheese of the 60s TV series, but it’s Tobey Maguire’s strong performance that really brings the character to life. Although many claim the second film to be the best in the series, we think that all three have their own strengths and weaknesses. Sure, Peter Parker may lose some of his appeal when he goes all emo in “Spider-Man 3,” but seeing Spidey rock the black symbiote suit was just as cool as anything he did in the first two films.

Memorable Quote: “You know who I am. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.”

9. Jigsaw

Say what you will about the deteriorating quality of the “Saw” films: Jigsaw is right up there with Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and Freddy Kruger as one of the ultimate horror icons. What makes him so different from the others, though, is that he’s a fairly regular guy (when he dies, he really dies) who isn’t so much a villain as he is someone who goes to radical extremes to get his point across. Though his argument that he doesn’t ever kill anyone could be debated for eternity, Jigsaw is still a pretty badass dude. Not only is he one of the most inventive baddies to ever grace the silver screen, but the fact that he’s doing all of this while dying from cancer is beyond impressive. Tobin Bell may never be remembered for anything other than his work in these films, but his limited appearances are so memorable that we wouldn’t really mind.

Memorable Quote: “I want to play a game.”

8. Wolverine

Though it’s difficult to think of anyone other than Hugh Jackman playing Wolverine, it certainly could have ended up that way. You can go ahead and thank the comic book gods for interfering, because if Dougray Scott hadn’t gotten hurt while shooting “Mission: Impossible 2,” “X-Men” fans might have seen a decidedly different take on their beloved adamantium-laced berserker. And since Wolverine has since become the mascot for those films (even earning a mediocre spin-off of his own) that also would have affected the movie as a whole, which might have stopped the whole comic book movie revolution before it even began. Just think about that the next time you see Jackman in his role as the wise-cracking, cigar-chomping mutant, because without his charismatic, star-making performance, this list would look a lot different.

Memorable Quote: “I’m gonna cut your goddamned head off. See if that works.”

7. Napoleon Dynamite

Undoubtedly the most controversial of my choices, I still stand by it for the simple fact that when “Napoleon Dynamite” fever caught in the summer of 2004, there wasn’t a single person who didn’t know about this curly-haired social reject from Idaho. That alone earns him a spot as one of the greatest characters of the decade, but it’s ultimately Jon Heder’s fantastically awkward performance that makes it official. Heder certainly made the most of his 15 minutes of fame by booking as many gigs as possible, but he never even came close to replicating the success he found as Napoleon Dynamite. Love him or hate him, Napoleon helped lead a geek chic film movement that has continued to grow to this day. Plus, you have to admit: even if you didn’t like the movie, you probably still laughed at Heder in that ridiculous getup.

Memorable Quote: “You know, like nunchuku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills… Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.”

6. Capt. Jack Sparrow

They made three “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies for a reason, and while money was certainly a big factor, Disney never would have made a dime if they hadn’t trusted Johnny Depp’s risky portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow. Though you can understand why a studio would be hesitant about their lead actor parading around like a gay pirate doing a Keith Richards impression, it turned out to be the right call. Depp’s hilarious performance as the boozy Capt. Jack not only earned him his very first Oscar nomination, but it convinced Disney execs to completely redesign the classic “Pirates of the Caribbean” theme park attraction around the character. Many people in the industry thought it meant a pirate renaissance was just around the corner, but thankfully, no one followed through. And wisely so, because there’s no way you can top Jack Sparrow.

Memorable Quote: “Me? I’m dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It’s the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they’re going to do something incredibly… stupid.”

5. Frodo Baggins

UK movie magazine Empire recently ran a similar feature on the best characters of the decade, and while I agree that Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” deserves to be represented in some form, I was surprised to see Aragorn selected instead of Frodo Baggins. Not only is Frodo the heart of the story, but he’s the reason there’s even a story to begin with. Anyone that accepted the role had to know they would forever be associated with the famous hobbit no matter what they did before or after, but Elijah Wood embraced the situation completely, and in doing so embodied everything that Frodo is supposed to stand for. He may not have any of the great lines or partake in many battle sequences, but Frodo will always be the face of “LOTR.”

Memorable Quote: “I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.”

4. Jason Bourne

You could probably swap Jason Bourne for James Bond with little argument, but while Bond is certainly the more iconic of the two characters, Bourne had a much bigger influence on the decade, including Bond himself. Plus, it’s not like we don’t know what to expect with Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, but Matt Damon surprised moviegoers everywhere with his performance as Robert Ludlum’s title character. The actor had never even thrown a punch in a movie, much less carried an entire action film, and yet Bourne quickly rose to popularity as this generation’s action hero of choice. That’s not to discount the appeal of 007 (Bourne is neither charming nor has any of the fancy gadgets), but when you’re constantly on the run from trained assassins, there’s really no need for the former. As for the latter? Well, everyday household items seem to work just fine.

Memorable Quote: “Who has a safety deposit box full of money and six passports and a gun? Who has a bank account number in their hip? I come in here, and the first thing I’m doing is I’m catching the sightlines and looking for an exit.”

3. Harry Potter

The Boy Who Lived was already a pop culture icon by the time the first movie was released, but in these past nine years, Harry Potter has become one of the most popular movie characters of all time. One of the reasons the character has continued to thrive is because J.K. Rowling did such a great job of giving the character room to develop throughout the course of all seven novels. That same approach has been taken with the movies as well, and while it certainly helps to have different directors offering their varied interpretations of the character, Harry Potter’s success has always hinged on the performance of the actor playing him. Though director Christopher Columbus could have never known that Daniel Radcliffe would grow into such a promising young actor, it certainly helps that he’s been able to handle the material. The same can be said of Harry’s partners in crime, but although Ron and Hermoine are just as deserving to be on this list, leaving off Harry would be like choosing Han Solo over Luke Skywalker. It might make sense, but it just wouldn’t feel right.

Memorable Quote: “But I am the Chosen One.”

2. The Bride

After a six-year break from the film scene, Quentin Tarantino returned to the director’s chair in 2003 with a character so awesome and shrouded in mystery that she was simply referred to as The Bride. The brainchild of Tarantino and Uma Thurman during their time together making “Pulp Fiction,” The Bride was the kind of empowered female role that Joss Whedon only wishes he would’ve created. No offense to Buffy, but The Bride has better weapons (a Hatori Hanzo sword and a steeled determination) and better outfits (that “Game of Death”-inspired jumpsuit is practically an icon all its own) – not to mention Thurman’s unique blend of physical masculinity and sensual femininity that made her both a menacing threat and an alluring piece of eye candy.

Memorable Quote: “Those of you lucky enough to have your lives, take them with you. However, leave the limbs you’ve lost. They belong to me now.”

1. Shaun

Edgar Wright’s 2004 film, “Shaun of the Dead,” is a lot like Sam Raimi’s “Evil Dead” trilogy in that the movie doesn’t work without someone they can relate to cheer on. And although Shaun isn’t as big of a dimwit as Ash, he’s also not the brave leader that he tries so hard to become. Simon Pegg’s hilarious performance as the record-throwing, cricket bat-wielding hero might not compare to more mainstream icons like Harry Potter and Spider-Man, but it’s that Everyman quality that makes him so appealing. After all, who would have thought that hiding out at the local pub might actually work? And if he can take on an army of the undead with an unhelpful best friend at his side, then so can just about any slacker.

Memorable Quote: “Would anyone like a peanut?”