The Seventh Seal (1957)

[tim1970]

Just wondering if anyone had any opinions on The Seventh Seal. I hate to admit, but I have never heard of it, but after reading the Blu-ray.com review, I am definately interested. Has anyone else seen it, that could comment on it?


Thanks

[ThereWillBeBud]

I've heard of it either, but I also read the review and it was pretty intriguing. I'm going for a blind-buy.

[FIDDYPOP]

I had never heard of it either, but the review sounds awesome. I may have to pick this up. I mean a game of chess against death. Bill and Ted style sounds awesome.

[Beta Man]

I have the DVD, and have the Blu-ray Pre-ordered (have had it pre-ordered for quite some time!) If you haven't had a taste of Ingmar Bergman, then now is the time. This is a FANTASTIC film.... I can't really improve upon the great job Pro-B did with the review..... so I'll just confirm that the Review is very accurate in terms of the importance of this film, and it's place in cinema.....

[ccfixx]

That is terrible news, people! Not seeing "The Seventh Seal" is one thing, but not even ever hearing of it just isn't right. You know there's something wrong with the film industry when they just seem to let these classics slip by. It's a great thing that a company like The Criterion Collection exists so that we may enjoy this film and so many other classics.

Seriously, if you're into any kind of film, especially foreign film, then "The Seventh Seal" is necessary viewing. While you're at it, be sure to check out some of Ingmar Bergman's other films like "The Virgin Spring," which Wes Craven pretty much re-made into "Last House On The Left."

CC

[fronn]

I wonder how this will compare to the Tartan version from UK (OOP now, I think). The Tartan version looks really good - I expect the Criterion looks same or better.

Wasn't expecting the Seventh Seal for a while in the states when I got the Tartan version, but the different special features will make it worth it for me.

[JJJ225]

Chances are if you've never heard of it, you won't like it.

But it's totally worth taking a chance on!

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by fronn

I wonder how this will compare to the Tartan version from UK (OOP now, I think). The Tartan version looks really good - I expect the Criterion looks same or better.

DVDBeaver has their comparison up of the 2-disc Criterion DVD, Tartan blu-ray, and Criteron blu-ray if you wanna head over there to check it out.

CC

[fronn]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

DVDBeaver has their comparison up of the 2-disc Criterion DVD, Tartan blu-ray, and Criteron blu-ray if you wanna head over there to check it out.

CC

Seems it's a hair sharper. I thought the Tartan version was about as good as it could get... seems not.

[EricJ]

One more step towards film literacy on Blu-ray.com!

But frankly, beyond the Bill & Ted refs and the iconic B/W cinematography, it's not much:
Ingmar's childhood came out of a harsh repressive-Protestant Swedish upbringing--they were famous for it back then--and he spent the rest of his film career whining about it (qv. "Fanny & Alexander") and blaming any church he could find for it...
If you didn't like Bill Maher's dopey schoolyard-pokes in "Religulous", Bergman's personal-demon tantrums aren't any particularly more enlightened.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by EricJ

One more step towards film literacy on Blu-ray.com!

But frankly, beyond the Bill & Ted refs and the iconic B/W cinematography, it's not much:
Ingmar's childhood came out of a harsh repressive-Protestant Swedish upbringing--they were famous for it back then--and he spent the rest of his film career whining about it (qv. "Fanny & Alexander") and blaming any church he could find for it...
If you didn't like Bill Maher's dopey schoolyard-pokes in "Religulous", Bergman's personal-demon tantrums aren't any particularly more enlightened.

I feel like if you honestly believe that, you aren't really engaging with his work very much at all. Whining and blaming the church is hardly what Bergman's doing.

Thematically, his films deal MUCH more with spirituality and faith than the church or religion concretely.

[Yankees0222]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

That is terrible news, people! Not seeing "The Seventh Seal" is one thing, but not even ever hearing of it just isn't right. You know there's something wrong with the film industry when they just seem to let these classics slip by. It's a great thing that a company like The Criterion Collection exists so that we may enjoy this film and so many other classics.

Seriously, if you're into any kind of film, especially foreign film, then "The Seventh Seal" is necessary viewing. While you're at it, be sure to check out some of Ingmar Bergman's other films like "The Virgin Spring," which Wes Craven pretty much re-made into "Last House On The Left."

CC

I havn't seen "The Seventh Seal" yet but "The Virgin Spring" is one of my favorite movies. I was just wondering how you would rate "Seal" against "Spring"...... Is it better? equal?

[Nutbunnies]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Chances are if you've never heard of it, you won't like it.

That isn't very true, now is it? We've all had a time in our lives where we've never heard of The Seventh Seal, and whose to say they won't like it? It might be the first step to a new world of movies beyond the mainstream.

[retablo]

"The Seventh Seal" is Bergman's most (in many ways) commercial, since its one of his most well-known films, and most iconic -- his imagery of Death is often copied (and perhaps he copied it himself from past paintings or drawings?). My fav Bergman films though are "Through a Glass Darkly," "Persona" and "Fanny & Alexander"... with "Seal," "Wild Strawberries," and "The Silence following close behind.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

I feel like if you honestly believe that, you aren't really engaging with his work very much at all. Whining and blaming the church is hardly what Bergman's doing.
Thematically, his films deal MUCH more with spirituality and faith than the church or religion concretely.

Let's see, in this one we get, "Why does God doom us to death and disease?", with "Why does the church scare us to death trying to be the opiate of the masses?" as the minor issue to reflect it.

Yyyep--If it's the "Hitman-God" and "Medieval Uber-church" complaints, that's the Type C Athie, with the psycho Baptist parents or the years of Catholic-school, straight out of the Audubon guide.
We sense from F&A that Bergman's own childhood autobiography was pretty Dickensian, and even us stateside Lutherans and Presbyterians get a bit embarrassed about what our more dogmatic Swedish cousins could get up to around the early part of the century.
And once he grew up and directed films, Seventh may have beautiful cliff-swept cinematography, but once the characters open their mouths, it's still Penn & Teller.

[kefrank]

I would not recommend a blind buy, unless you like other classic and foreign films. As much as I love this movie and consider it a bonified classic, Bergman doesn't exactly have what I would call universal appeal. If the review intrigued you, I recommend renting it first.

[Russell_L]

Here's another great review, this time from DVD Talk, to tantalize the uninitiated:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/37492/seventh-seal-the/

[demoni]

Just buy it, and be prepared to see a piece of cinematic perfection! This is Bergman at his best, and Pro-B's review is spot on!!

[BaronVH]

I really like this film, but I must second the statements of those cautioning against a blind buy. If this is at a place where you can rent it first, you should.

[Kartoon]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Chances are if you've never heard of it, you won't like it.

But it's totally worth taking a chance on!

You do understand that every single movie you're ever seen, heard of, or like was once one you haven't heard of right? That's possibly the worst logic I've ever seen in my life.