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Summary: One of the greatest films on the meaning of life.
Review: This is the film that transformed me from a fan of movies to a lover of cinema. I have probably seen this film more than any other single one - certainly over a dozen times over the years. Some of the Amazon customer reviewers felt the film moved too slowly, or was not stimulating enough in black and white. For such moviegoers this film is definitely not for you. However, for those who enjoy films that speak on many different levels and provoke thoughts that linger with the viewer, this is a masterpiece.The action takes place in Europe after the crusades. A knight, Antonius Bloch, is returning to his home in Denmark. He is accompanied by his squire. Block is an idealist who joined the crusades because he wanted to do something significant in his life. However the crusades turned out to be completely disillusioning. On his journey he notes that the plague is sweeping across the land. Superstition reigns, along with a severe version of religion. His squire is not as bothered by what he has seen, having been much more cynical all along. Still, the squire has a strong sense of justice that is demonstrated when he saves a girl from an attack. Along the way a number of people join with the knight for protection. These include a troupe of actors, a blacksmith and his faithless wife, and the woman the squire rescued. Death is lurking, and confronts the knight, informing him that his time has expired. The knight protests that he cannot die before having accomplished something significant. Death says, "They all say that," but the knight insists, and successfully challenges Death to a chess match. This gives the knight additional time to make his life worthwhile. The knight has tried to accomplish the BIG act based on a profound sense of life and of God. The juggler and his wife have a much simpler idea of life, God, and goodness. As Death is on the verge of winning the chess match and taking everyone in the knight's party, the juggler wakes his wife and child to flee. The knight recognizes that the juggler has seen Death, and upsets the chessboard to distract his opponent. This gives the juggler just enough time to escape. Death asks the knight whether the delay was worth it, and the knight gives an enigmatic smile. He has accomplished his worthy act, not by saving the world, but by saving just one family. Everything about this fine film is outstanding, from the acting to the cinematography to the direction. The Criterion transfer restores the film to the best possible condition. The commentary tracks are very informative. Many movies have parodied The Seventh Seal, including Woody Allen and Bill and Ted's Adventure series. None of that has taken away from its greatness. I give this film the highest recommendation.
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Summary: Bergman in tip-top form
Review: Bergman is not a happy man. He spent much of his childhood plotting ways to kill his brother. But his art, though often heavy and emotionally onerous, is to me beyond reproach. His reputation is well served in this film about a knight searhing for a meaningful reference point in plague-torn Europe. There is death everywhere. Death and fear--because of the plague, the bloody Crusades, the scare tactics of a gothic, intimidating, and imposing Church. To add to this, Death, the entity, is chasing him. Of course this is going to be a movie that speaks to the larger issues of life--the meaning of existence, whether or not God exists, what happens when we die. But the film only asks, and never answers. The closest we get to an answer is in the form of the little acting troupe/family of Jof, Maria, and their baby, Michael. Jof is an actor who has visions of the Virgin Mary, and continuously strives to do THE impossible trick--suspend a ball in air. Maria is his wife, chaste, blonde, and matronly. Michael is a very active, happy toddler who is nurtured by his parents. This family is pure, non-intellectual, primitive, and has an archaic, unsophisticated optimism towards life. It's almost as if Bergman is saying that in order to have faith in something beyond the physical realm you must be LIKE THESE PEOPLE. But in the end of it all, only the naive, ingenuous, and primitive are able to escape the unmistakable hand of Death. And in the end, we see that even Death dances, and maybe the end of life ain't so bad for the slightly spoiled.
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Summary: yawn!
Review: If you have trouble sleeping at night in bed, see this movie! Man it is boring! The only thing that Bergman seems to say is that chess is boring! I hate chess! And black and white movies are and have always been dumb. If you wanna see a GOOD movie (with no chess!) see Raw Deal with Arnold Schwaerensegger. Nobody gives him a raw deal! Not even an ugly bald guy in a black robe!
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Summary: Not enough stars in the universe...
Review: There aren't enough stars in the universe to rate this film's accomplishments and craft. Truly one of Bergman's best (if not THE BEST). For those who are not used to and/or impatient with black and white films and subtitles, this one just might save you yet. It may take some getting used to and God forbid, you might have to use your brain (!) to see the poetic, tragi-comic moments experienced by all. I think everyone and anyone can relate to at least one of the film's characters- whether it be the performers/ artists who seem to have no valued place in the world or the errant knight who has come home. Austin Powers and the like can serve as sugared snacks, but The Seventh Seal is a feast to satiate the mind.
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Summary: ONE OF BERGMAN'S MOST POPULAR FILMS.
Review: Bergman to me is a genius! His films show the human condition in a way I could only dream of doing. I'm a wanna be film maker. At face value his work might give off the idea that we are living in bleak and hopeless times. Unfortunately WE ARE! People have seemed to lost their morals and turn away from GOD. Just like the knight(Sydow)has turned away from GOD,and now after seeing the hell of war wants to know what is life really all about. That question is unanswerable. But Bergman tries or maybe I should say SUCCEEDS in offering his opinion on the subject. The story which is quite simple is about a knight who returns from the crusades. When he arrives he sees that maybe things were better when he was fighting in the war! He's not even sure if his wife was killed by the plague! Soon he meets DEATH. Death informs him his time is up! And you thought getting sent for jury duty was bad..huh! The knight is not willing to follow death..who would be? He suggest that they play a game of chess. The reason this is brought upon is because legend has it that Death was a master player. If the knight wins...he may go free...but and there's always a but...if he shall lose he must go with death. The knight now must find answers to these's unsolveable questions...Is there a GOD? What is our purpose on earth? The knight talks about how he wants to believe in GOD..but can't. Only if GOD would show himself and offer his hand to him,or speak to him,he would be satisfied. Not finding these's answers he must procrastinate his game with Death. But the inevitable must happen..the end of the game. As for what happens next I shall leave that up to you to buy or rent this film and see for yourself. A MASTERPIECE BY BERGMAN!
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Summary: A Chess Game - Black and White move simultaneously !
Review: <It is not a date movie>, <It lacks color>, it is just "black and white" ... No, Ingmar Bergmann, whom I believe to be one the greatest film creators of all times, did not make "The Seventh Seal "to "entertain" us. It happened years ago when I was introduced to Bergman by my girlfriend while we were dating. We were together when we watched Wild Strawberries, The Seventh Seal, The Virgin Spring, The Magician, The Silence, and a few others of Bergmann's earlier black and white films. "The Seventh Seal" is compeling evidence of how much an artist can communicate with image, black and white image ! Universal ! The essence of all time philosophical questions and pursuits: the quest to understand the meaning of life, to find and join with the ultimate essence, its creator, the one responsible for giving and taking away. The knight who escaped death while fighting the crusades may very well represent our own consciousness. Even as our daily pursuits are more "down-to-earth" and deal with "the tangible",. aware or not, we ask questions, we seek answers, we feel compelled to want to know what life is, and, as it happens with so many things, we start to appreciate them even more so when we are about to lose them. We value life when we face death. It is a film rich in symbols, with beautiful and compeling visuals. Each and every image means something. Each and every word said means something. Visually, The Virgin Spring may be even more impressive, but The Seventh Seal truly is a "black and white" masterpiece. Yes, color can add to the artistic expression - consider Kurosawa's Dodes 'ka-den and Kagemusha, Antonioni's Blow-Up, Ridley Scott's Blade Runner and The Duelists, Tarkowski's Solaris and The Sacrifice. with its stunning cinematography by famous Sven Nykvist who was behind the camera when Bergman shot The Seventh Seal. Of course, it is enticing to know what Bergmann might have done had color been available to him in 1956 when he made the film., but does The Seventh Seal really "lacks" color ? Life as a Game of Chess - a metaphor ! White (life) against Black (death - the very negation of life). Who won ? A child is born - life triumphs over death, as the film ends on a cheerful note: life (God's investment in Humanity) is everlasting - as one dies, another one is born ! VHS or DVD - Bergmann's The Seventh Seal is one of the greatest artistic achievements of all times.
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Summary: BLACK AND WHITE YAWN-FEST
Review: This is what I hate about bad films; the people who instantly see anything that is slow as a snail and black and white as "ART". Make no doubt about it, THE SEVENTH SEAL is a bad, slow, colorless movie. A knight from who knows where plays chess against death. That's it, the whole movie, and it takes 2 hours to get there. Do yourself a favor and rent a good movie like GO or AUSTIN POWERS 2 instead. At least they were in color...
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Summary: not a date movie..
Review: a classic which has aged well. still has more than a few moments of stunning cinematography. make sure to see it subtitled.
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Summary: Great Film, no matter which book(s).
Review: An absolutly wonderfull film though I could see how it could be trying on those not used to Black and White or Subtitles. As to the question about books raised earlier, the movie draws from many different parts of the bible. It is quite possible that most, and sure that some, is drawn from Genesis, so Amazon is well within it's right to quote that in the review. The only thing obviously drawn from Revelation is the seventh seal and more inportantly, the silence it represents. "When the Lamb opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven" (Revelation 8:1)
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Summary: I Am Death
Review: Bergman's classic masterpiece and the film that propelled him into the international spotlight. The symbolic film of a knight just coming back from the end of the Crusades finds himself face to face with Death. Antonius Bloc, played by Max Von Sydow, decides to try and outwit Death by playing a game of chess; who shall win determines the fate of Antonius Bloc. This film, however great, is not for the Hollywood types. Its Swedish and black and white (which looks wonderful in this transfer). The Criterion Edition features commentary by film historian Peter Cowie, a Bergman specialist. An annotated and illustrated filmography. Original Theatrical trailer abd options for sound and language. My motto is always get the Criterion cause you will get the highest quality available, and most likely more extras. However, Seventh Seal remains as one of the pinnacles in the history of cinema that one can hardly be faulted for lack of extras, for the film stands so tall on its own.
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