It seems silly to try and appraise such an established work of art; a presumptuous deed equivalent to some little modern day art snob having a stab at the Mona Lisa. At this stage in the history of film, it would be arrogant to do anything beyond simply accepting The Seventh Seal for what it is. This doesn’t mean one has to like it, but at the very least one can respect it. For the record, I enjoyed it.

If you do feel inclined to measure it using some sort of barometer, I suppose you might do so by gauging its strength in eliciting that gut-wrenching feeling one is doused with in confronting “the abyss.” If you’ve ever done acid or suffered from schizophrenia or gone through some type of existential despair or near death experience, then you’ll know what I’m referring to. As a person who has dealt with at least one of the aforementioned, Bergman’s classic resonated quite intensely with me and I know that many of its images will be forever burned inside my mind (particularly those involving Antonius Block and the Witch). There is of course also the lighter saving grace of the film, represented through the optimistic performer and his family, which struck its own personal chord with me as well.

I won’t bother trying to rate this one, but I take no issue in calling it a masterpiece or at least an important work.

I was expecting a movie that was almost entirely just a man sitting alone with death playing chess and generally being philosophical and what have you. What I got was a mildly amusing trip across the plague-ridden Swedish countryside with some talk about the absence of god kind of thrown on top. Naturally, that doesn't mean it's a bad movie, just that I didn't think much of it. I did like the ending, though. Maybe I'll enjoy it more if I watch it again some months from now.

How a movie about death, turns out to be really beautiful and a true masterpiece? Simply incredibly!

I question myself many times about God's silence and if he truly exists. This movie makes you think very much and that's so good!