The Seventh Seal
2/3/2023:
I liked everything about this movie except for the role of the acrobat, but that might be because I wanted to see more of the chess game. That being said, I was surprised there was a lot of focus on The Black Death and I really like the outfits and set designs. I think there were some minor issues with the audio choices but I don't think they really impact the movie in a negative way.
7/7/2026:
As I said in my first review, I didn't really like the acrobat plotline, but I loved almost everything else. I adore how bleak this portrays religion, and I interpreted it as suggesting that it's better to have faith in yourself than in God, while also acknowledging that it all could still be meaningless. I loved Death, Jöns, Antonius Block, and the young woman accused of being a "witch." Their performances were all excellent and haunting. I also loved the sets, the costumes, and how the story is centered around the Black Death.
My only other real complaint is that I wish there had been more of Death and the chess game, though I suppose that makes his appearances all the sweeter. I also didn't have any issues with the audio this time, so maybe The Criterion Collection fixed the film's audio balancing. This will likely end up being my favorite Bergman film, though I still have a couple more that could end up surpassing it.
I liked everything about this movie except for the role of the acrobat, but that might be because I wanted to see more of the chess game. That being said, I was surprised there was a lot of focus on The Black Death and I really like the outfits and set designs. I think there were some minor issues with the audio choices but I don't think they really impact the movie in a negative way.
7/7/2026:
As I said in my first review, I didn't really like the acrobat plotline, but I loved almost everything else. I adore how bleak this portrays religion, and I interpreted it as suggesting that it's better to have faith in yourself than in God, while also acknowledging that it all could still be meaningless. I loved Death, Jöns, Antonius Block, and the young woman accused of being a "witch." Their performances were all excellent and haunting. I also loved the sets, the costumes, and how the story is centered around the Black Death.
My only other real complaint is that I wish there had been more of Death and the chess game, though I suppose that makes his appearances all the sweeter. I also didn't have any issues with the audio this time, so maybe The Criterion Collection fixed the film's audio balancing. This will likely end up being my favorite Bergman film, though I still have a couple more that could end up surpassing it.
Mini Review: I liked everything about this movie except for the role of the acrobat, but that might be because I wanted to see more of the chess game. That being said, I was surprised there was a lot of focus on The Black Death and I really like the outfits and set designs. I think there were some minor issues with the audio choices but I don't think they really impact the movie in a negative way.
More Reviews of The Seventh Seal
hexort
When a hooded Death turned around in the final act, I saw where they pulled Emperor Palpatine’s whole look from.
Antonius and Jöns were a complemented each other throughout....
hezarkhani
The theatrical nature of it makes it impossible for me to watch without skipping it. However, the dialogue and the themes explored are very imported and worth discussing. They q...
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