Seven

Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: Only a handful of films of truly scared me in my life and this is one of them. Pitt and Freeman are excellent together. There is never a dull moment in this taught psychological thriller.Despite what others think, the ending makes a great film even better.

Rating:
Summary: incredible acting, highly disturbing story
Review: I was in angst how to rate this film... my knee-jerk reaction was to give it 5 stars because of the realistic portrayal of a sick serial killer and the incredible acting by every member of the cast. The film was finely filmed and put together and the acting was flawless, but on the overall star meter I have to ask myself, "Would I ever recommend this film to anybody, anywhere, under any circumstances?" And the resounding answer is "No!"

I saw it a few years ago when so many people made such a big deal on how good it was. And good it was indeed, but it has to be one of the most sick, disturbing films I have ever seen. I continued to ask myself, "Why?" Why would anyone feel compelled to make a movie like this? It offers no solutions, no social redeeming values, it doesn't educate, it just reviles and sickens and brings out the worst in humanity. I've seen some sick & twisted films before, but never have I felt so covered with mind filth as when I finished watching this horrific nightmare of a tale that is too real in light of today's violent society.

Kevin Spacey is bone-chilling as he portrays the sick serial killer who is out to dispense judgement to those who commit the seven deadly sins. His twisted, perverted mind is very like that of a real serial killer who has their own perception of right and wrong, not realizing how deceived they've become.

The search to find the killer keeps you on your toes, but the ending is very predictable and the movie itself is a disgusting heap of violence, blood, sinew and twisted sexual perversion. I have got images dancing around in my head since seeing this film that I can not remove. If I had known how awful this experience would have been, I would have avoided the film altogether.

Film students and horror & mystery buffs may still enjoy it (especially if they have cast iron stomachs) and fans of Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey will not be let down by their masterful performances -- BUT I feel compelled to warn anyone who has yet to see this film... THINK, think very long and hard if this is a film you feel like you can not live without seeing. Frankly, I would have been better off as a human being had I not seen it, and I certainly could never watch this again. To say the least, this is not a film for kids... but in my opinion, it's not a film for people of any age.

Rating:
Summary: intelligent
Review: "Seven" is a mature and intelligent thriller that does not give much value to graphically violent content unlike movies like "The Exorcist". It is a dark-edged, gloomy, "rainy"( it rains throughout the movie), mentally disturbing, psychologically horrific thriller about two differing detectives who are trying to get hold of a psychopath who is utilizing the seven deadly sins as his means of ugly insanity. According to researchers, people who watch violent films do tend to be violent in some way. There are concrete reasons for people to sway towards violence after watching violent films. Too much of film violence might make the viewer desensitized to it. Another theory is that, as violence in films sometimes is portrayed as the best solution to people's problems, we might think of violence as the only way out. Violence can also be the means of revenge. Or it could be a way of identifying with heroes who use violence. Whatever may be the reason, the fact is, rate of violence in society is increasing with respect to time and scientists, educators, and psychiatrists are labeling film as one of the key factors. Their greatest fear however is not the effect of violence but the perception of violence that has changed over the years. People try to justify violence nowadays more than ever before and unfortunately religion has become the most common scapegoat. "Seven" is a true and explicit example of that change in attitude towards violence.

The interesting aspect of the movie is the clever manner in which the director dealt with suspense as well as intelligence. The director did not bother to include the acts of crimes. Instead he emphasized on the aftermath of crimes. The director's motive is clearly an attempt to define the "most intelligent criminal" in John Doe and to plunge the viewer into a complicated position of denial, reasoning and confusion.

Camera angles, lighting, soundtracks and frame play big roles in "Seven". The dark edge and the gloom of the movie is emphasized by using minimum light. Flashlights used by the detectives in the shadowy, dark, rainy city makes the movie mysterious and suspenseful. The small frame of the camera makes the atmosphere seriously spooky. The camera varies from high angles to low angles. The pounding soundtracks by Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie and Howard Shore are immensely effective because of their electrifying tempo.

"Seven" is rated R for language, violence and a lot of hostile visual images. It is surely not for under-aged and sensitive viewers. It is nerve-breaking and can have a disturbing effect on the viewer, but if the violent content was removed "Seven" would lose it's value as a thriller. Violence is a must for a movie of this category. But the question is: How much violence? and, What kind of violence? "Seven" deals with violence very intelligently with the emphasis on the mental aspect of violence more than anything else. But that edgy violent attitude can sometimes be more disturbing than violence itself. "Seven" plays with that attitude and plays it well.

Rating:
Summary: overrated?
Review: Okay...I really admire Fincher's works (yes, even Alien3), but I'm sick and tired of hearing about how scary and amazing this film was. Yes, it was dark and yes there were moments of giddy anxiety where I was wondering what would happen next... But it just doesn't do much for me. This film is a disappointment. Don't even get me started on the ending which, in my humble opinion, just ruined the movie. Forget messages, forget moviemaking techniques and forget what superstars are playing what roles...this film has little entertainment value for me. To me, Silence of the Lambs had much more going for it...not to mention that it was basically one of the first truly creepy films not of a supernatural bent. Think what you want of this review, I just think this film was a big miss.

Rating:
Summary: The format ruined it
Review: While the movie itself is a mind-bending experience not to be missed, stay away from this DVD.

Considering how long I waited for Seven to be released in this format, you would think they could have done a better job with the extraordinary features of DVD. Not only is the opening menu bland and unoriginal, there are no special features of merit, and they didn't even fit the entire film on one side of the DVD! This is the *ONLY* film in my DVD collection that I have to flip over to see the second half. Compare this to "The Usual Suspects" which has such great features as a commentary soundtrack by the director, and your choice of full screen or widescreen depending on the side of the disc you play.

Lets just say it's fortunate I don't often show my "wrath" because I'll admit this disc may be headed for a grusome demise.

Rating:
Summary: Not worth the money
Review: I don't want to comment on the movie as such, because there are enough reviews out there - just a short comment : this film is fantastic.

The DVD on the other hand is awful. There are 2 things which I noticed once I popped open the case and threw it into the player:

first: the movie plays over 2 sides of the DVD. You actually have to pop the DVD out at about 60 minutes into the movie, turn it over, and then you get to watch the second half. I find this annoying considering that a dual layered DVD can store 2 and more hours of video on one side...

second: the video image is non-anamorphic widescreen. that's not really a bad thing altogether, but in this case it kills all the fun you could have watching the movie. the black letterbox bars at the top and the bottom of the image "flicker" throughout the entire movie - since the format of the visible image is 2.35:1, the black bars are rather large. The consequence is really that the entire image seems to "flicker", because the black widescreen bars are colored different shades of black 4 times a second. basically, the only way you'll get rid of this flickering effect is to turn the brightness of your TV or computer monitor down. however, considering that "Seven" is already a rather dark picture, turning down the brightness results in seeing only pitch-black. the visible image (i.e. the image "between" the letterbox bars) is really great. if the picture had been mastered anamorphic, then this would be an excellent video transfer.

another disappointing thing is the lack of extra features. having seen the laserdisc "criterion" edition of "Seven", I find this DVD release rather insulting. The background information on the stars does not at all compensate the lack of, say, a commentary audio track, or some behind-the-scenes vignettes, or other extras (the laserdisc "criterion" edition featured hundreds of still images - like the pictures that Mills and Sommerset find along with one of the tortured victims, and other pictures from the set).

I sincerely hope that New Line will decide to release a decent DVD some time in the future. Untill then, I suggest to keep away from this DVD - the most important argument being the poor video mastering (i.e. the flickering of the widescreen bars).

Rating:
Summary: For the kind of movie it is, it's what the doctor ordered.
Review: This films was better than I expected it to be, then the second time I viewed it I even liked it more.

The first time I really liked the movie but I didn't think the ending was as good as all the reviews said it was,but I didn't find it as dark and gory as many reviews said, so I was mostly satisfied. The second time I viewed it the ending was much more clear, so now I do need to say that the ending truly was as good as people said it was, after paying even closer attention.

I recommend this movie to fans of serial-killing psychological films, or devoted Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey fans.

Rating:
Summary: The preeminent serial killer movie
Review: We plummet the depths of depravity here. Arrogance never got such a cinematic comeuppance (not to mention gluttony, pride, greed and the rest of the seven deadly sins), nor was innocence ever made such an alien as in this masterpiece of monstrous intent. Morgan Freeman stars as William Somerset, a wise and modest big city homicide detective ready to retire who finds himself partnered with David Mills, an arrogant young detective effortlessly depicted by Brad Pitt. As they try to find the killer there develops between them a nice chemistry that helps to make this an engrossing movie. Kevin Spacey arrives after a bit as "John Doe," a 20th century version of a medieval scribe obsessed with sin morphed into a monster from hell. He sees himself as the personal judge, executioner and torturer extraordinaire of a vengeful god gone amuck.

Momma, lock the doors and bar the windows. Don't let this video into your home. You'll watch it, every last minute, and your kids will watch it, several times, their eyes between their fingers, and the end result will be a cynicism about humanity so deep that it'll take the blood of the lamb to wash it clean.

Well, that, or the realization that this is just Hollywood up to its old tricks. After all it's only a movie-or is there something more to this extraordinary commercialization of evil? One of the penetrating things about Seven is the implication that, through the Christian concept of sin and by our very nature, we ourselves create the serial killer and give him a justification to turn upon us and do his wretched deeds. The ending slyly suggests the triumph of evil; and indeed this cagey movie would be depressing beyond redemption were it not for the three things: One, the modest wisdom projected by Morgan Freeman; two, the essential innocence of Brad Pitt's character; and three, the fact that the horrible deeds are the work of only one man. Whether he is just an insane "nut-bag" as Pitt's character exclaims, or part of our nature as the film implies, is an interesting question.

Serial killer film makers of the future will try to top this one, but I doubt if it will happen any time soon. This is already a classic. Incidentally, I do wonder about these guys (Walker and Fincher) who lie awake nights dreaming up this stuff. I hope they're only doing it for the money.

By the way, perfect font for the credits.

Rating:
Summary: There are some movies, boy, you just have to grovel!...
Review: SEVEN is absolutely great in all points. You will actually be very surprised you're not mentally tired after having watched it... Seven times!... Let's face it, once for each deadly scene, all right.

SEVEN is terrific, because it's so new, so refreshing, so violent, but still so profound. There IS a message, a very clear message in that movie. But, hey, you have to watch it to get it. Good to the last minute.

You got to urge to buy this one. You'll quiver, simply quiver in front of the majesty of that movie. Absolutely perfect, just nothing to argue about.

Oh... by the way... you should practice your courtesy...

Rating:
Summary: Great Film - Lackluster DVD
Review: It goes without saying that the movie is awesome, you can read the other reviews here to find that out. But this DVD edition of Seven is pretty lackluster. You get a trailer, and worst of all - you get to get up and flip the disc half-way through the movie. My advice: hold off and wait for the 2-disc special edition that New Line and director David Fincher are currently working on for release somewhere down the line...