Rating: 
Summary: Take a break from Hollywood.
Review: Ok, let's get one thing straight. It's no disqualification for anybody, but this certainly is not the movie for those brought up on classic Hollywood fare. Camera work and music is great but it's not something every viewer might discover virtues in. After all like all great European cinema, the technique is extremely undersated and at no point does it ever overwhelm the content. Now, if you are a serious student of Cinema (and that doesn't necessarily mean you ought to understand the lens of Arriflex) and if your mind is all the time pre-occupied about the larger issues of our existence, it doesn't get better than this movie. Before you know it, it will invade your sytem and make you identify with the issues of the protagonist in a way that will surprise you even. I felt like I always wanted to mouth those lines except I am probably not that good a scriptwriter even for my own thoughts. The DVD quality is outstanding. Watch the sub-titled version if it's not much strain on your eyes. It's more true to the soul of the film. Part of the world's lack of patience with Cinema such as this is because we have forgotten what intelligent cinema is all about. Can't serve a gourmet meal to an audience that is hell-bent on appreciating the virtues of a McDonald's burger, right?
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Film - But Forget The Dubbing
Review: I'll spare you the synopsis and theological opinion and just say that I thought this was a very good film (though not for everyone). The cimematography was great, especially the beach scenes. One comment on this edition (Criterion): Do NOT watch the dubbed version first. I made this mistake. The voices are SO BAD that you lose the entire feel of the characters. They almost become parodies of themselves and the power of the movie is lost. Stick with the subtitles and enjoy the film.
Rating:
Summary: A must for all Bergman fans
Review: [...] Death is inevitable and one of the question is how we get confronted to a natural death or how much we've to fear it. I's watching this movie eagerly and came to the conclusion it's one of the most impressive and meaningful films I ever saw. Poeple might look at it in a different way but I'm convinced there is an answer ... A knight name Antonius Block (Max v. Sydow) returns from the battles of the Crusades. Sweden, his home, is frightened out by the plague and the shadow of death.Suddenly Antonius is not only tormented by his religious doubts but also by the personified "Death". He suggests a fair game of chess and wants to do good before leaving. During the chess journey he gets to meet a witch, a false priest, and find himself amongst countrymen who get to face the terror of the plague. I think the answer for truth is in the scene of the rural meal. I even think it's the hidden key to any question. Anyway an entertainer family, Mia, Jof, and Mikael show the knight the earthly bliss. Mia & Jof express hope, love, and the continued existence of life after death. They don't survive by chance of an act of divine mercy but because of the only importance in mankind what we call "love". Love means having a blessed life and joy and is the only thing that even escapes from nothingness and void. For what I found out loved ones don't be so afraid of the Death and leave more safely... incredible film and a must for all filmlovers!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films ever...without question
Review: I'll keep this very short and let the film speak for itself. I watched this film for the first time the other day, without seeing any other Ingar Bergmen movies before it. Instantly, I realized this was one of the best movies I had ever seen.Most films from fifty years ago seem to become less thrilling or powerful in a time like now where we can have any special effect that is thought up in our movies. Old horror films or thrillers tend to make people laugh, rather than be shaken. "The Seventh Seal" is a blend of horror, adventure, drama, and comedy that is completely unique- after 50 years! The images are totally mind blowing, the darkness of the 14th century is so apparant, and the overall feeling of dread hangs over every character and moment. There is never a dull moment or point that seems faded with age, everything just...works. "The Seventh Seal" is acted perfectly, the characters and images are as memorable as they get. Who could possibly forget the pale, hooded face of death? The march of men beating themselves for sins over the terrifying chants of their leaders? The conversations betweeen Antonoious Block and Death? And of course, the final dance of death (one of the most amazing conclusions to any film...ever)?
Rating: 
Summary: cartoon masquerading as adolescent philosophy
Review: This film could only have been made in the mid-twentienth century. The idea that life has no meaning without a god may have amused the likes of Bergman, Sartre and et al, who were raised on Christianity and still very much under its influence (their espoused agnosticism/atheism notwithstanding). But to any clear minded thinking man of the early 21st century, the idea is childish. If meaning can only be found in something outside of one's self (ie, in God), then this begs the question: where does God find HIS meaning? In Super God, some entity that stands outside of Him? Then where does this Super God find Its meaning? In Super Duper God?! So where does it all end? But if God is meaningful and completely sufficient in and of Himself, then why can't the universe be meaningful and completely sufficient in and of itself -- sans God? Obviously, it can. If there is meaning in life, either it exists in THIS world, or, it resides in some Super Being infinitely removed from this world AND from God (the first one). Since the latter possibility is logically equivalent to there being no god whatsoever (since there is no "end" in an infinite sequence in which to reside an ultimate meaning), the only conclusion is that life is either meaningful in and of itself, or, it's meaningless. Either way, God has nothing to do with it. And anyone, or any film, that presumes it does is taking the first fatal step down the path of philosophical futility. The only truth in this film is that men seek gods when they feel weak. But this only shows that gods were invented to give men strength. The great contribution of this film is that it inspired some pretty funny Woody Allen parodies. Otherwise, it's a cartoon masquerading as adolescent philosophy. (It's also the worst of the so-called "great" films.)
Rating:
Summary: Welllll....
Review: I have to say I did not enjoy this film at all. I wanted to like it, knew some about it beforehand, but still could not get into it. It seemed to be something to be endured rather than appreciated. 95% my collection is foreign language, so that wasn't a factor. Even if you favor odd, eclectic, avant-garde films, I urge you to rent before buying "The Seventh Seal."
Kudos as usual to Criterion for their fine treatment of this film; I just wish I had cared.
Rating:
Summary: The Seventh Seal
Review: First, I'd like to thank Criterion Company for their fantastic efforts of restoring these films to DVD. The subtitling is very poor - esp. when you notice an actors mouth moving for 15 seconds of dialog and one sentence is subtitled on the screen as translation.
In one dialog, near the end of the film, I can't recall which Scene number, an actor speaks for 10-15 seconds and NO TRANSLATION subtitling appears at all until AFTER the NEXT actor speaks! You will most likely want to view this film with the "Optional English Dubbing" because you get MUCH more of the actual conversation between Death and Antonious Bloch. Visually, the black and white is at home in the hands of cinematographer, Gunnar Fisher and director, Bergman. It is DEFINITELY worth viewing and even, purchasing.
Rating:
Summary: Groundbreaking, haunting
Review: So full of symbolism that has been copied for decades since, Bergman's seminal "Seventh Seal" may strike new viewers as cliched, but when you realize that the movie is more than 40 years old and was an originator of many of these symbols, the importance of this film really comes to light. A knight returning from the Crusades meets Death on the beach, who comes to claim him. The knight (played by Max Von Sydow) suggests a game of chess in order to buy some time. During the ensuing game, the knight embarks on a journey of death and reflection. The performances are amazing. The cinematography is brilliant and set a new standard in film. Criterion, as always, pulled out all the stops in making this a keeper. There's an insightful commentary by Bergman expert Peter Cowie that is one of the most entertaining, useful commentaires I've heard on a DVD. It's informative and can be easily listened to while watching the film -- it doesn't distract at all. It's like having your own personal Bergman fan sitting right next to you. Some of the scenes require a lot of elaboration, which Cowie provides in abundance. There's also a restoration demonstration (this is probably the best DVD restoration of an old B&W movie, with the exception of "Citizen Kane") and a stills presentation of Bergman's career featuring narration by Cowie and some nice video clips. A must for film fans.
Rating:
Summary: A true landmark in cinema
Review: Possibly Ingmar Bergman's finest moment. A harrowing film probing the depths of nihilism and despair. Although the film is very bleak and depressing, it eloquently articulates the mid 20th century's existential concerns with the poignant lyrical beauty only seen in the works of Albert Camus.
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: Yes, this film is very good, yada,yada,yada, that's all been said already. I just wanted to point out a few things. First of all, the review is wrong, it is not based on the Book of Genesis but Revelation, and anyone at all familiar with the bible and or this film should understand why. Secondly, the dubbing really is bad -- but i'm not blaming anyone, that's really foreign-language films in general. I suppose you can't blame anyone for older films like this, but what about modern flims? I mean, the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon dubbing was really bad too, and it really can't be that hard to do right. People should realize that quality of the original film really suffers when bad actors dub in for good ones. Until that time I'll stick to the subtitles, but I know a good number of people who don't, and just laugh at how stupid this can make films sound that were really good bo begin with.
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