Seven [DVD]

Good film

I don't like Seven. All who recommend it say it's a good film and that it is well made. But did they like it? Oh, no. This is not a remake of Frank Capra's "It's a wonderful Life" but a film that is designed to depress. The first time you see it is the worse. You are subjected to events of nastiness that go far beyond gritty realism and just as you begin to hope there will be something resembling a happy ending it delivers the ultimate slap in the face. This film is about sin, about how it corrupts the world around us and about how inescapable it is. Brad Pitt has never been better and is well suited to the character of Mills. Morgan Freeman is great as always and Kevin Spacey also makes a brief but memorable appearance. It is a film that also has a unique visual quality to it but it is the sound that really makes the atmosphere. Using the sound to generate an atmosphere is a shrewd move because many won't notice it unless it's pointed out. Barking dogs, car sirens, continual rain, there is no peace in this film and at times the ambient sounds drown out the dialogue. (It's okay; the DVD has subtitles). Compare Seven with most other films and you'll notice that sound is rarely used in such an artistic way. The DVD itself is very nice indeed. The first disk has the film itself and four commentaries. Everyone featured on the commentaries is honest about their experiences and when listening to them you begin to learn all kinds of things about the person speaking and the movie process. David Fincher's contributions are the real price for me as Alien3 is one of favourite films and I found out a great deal more about him. On the first commentary you'll find out more about Brad Pitt here than a years subscription to any gossip magazine. Perhaps maybe two. Morgan Freeman is also a pleasure to listen too. It is remarkable to learn about what makes these people tick and what makes them laugh. The commentaries also feature Richard Dyer; author of the BFI critique of Seven, and most of the material featured in his book is in the various commentaries. Of course, four commentaries means watching the film four times. A summary documentary would have been nice. The second disc disappoints. There isn't a great deal of material on it, only a few detailed scenes and other stuff. This is an excellent DVD for an excellent film.

A great 4k transfer with a crisp presentation and deep black levels putting it on par with a modern release. This version actually looks better than the original cinema release (I've seen this version in the cinema too). Sound is also enhanced with the score especially benefitting from this providing more tension and menace at key moments and reveals. One of Finchers best gets the transfer it deserves.

I opted for this more expensive US import version because i liked the cover photo and the fact that it opens up like a little booklet to reveal the disc and a few quality print pages on the cast and the director, John Doe's diary etc. The improvement in picture quality (laser sharp) and sound over the DVD version are evident and for me just about worth the £15 asking price considering the age of the release. I haven't had a look at the extras yet but there are some on the disc. A quality movie worthy of a quality upgrade and its place in any movie buff's library. Its region free.

Good

I'm taking a star off for the horrible digipak this film comes in. It's impossible to get the disc out of it's packaging without getting it covered in smudges. Why can't we just have 4k bluray come in basic packaging anymore? The 4k blu ray looks beautiful. It's really very very good visually. A brilliant film. Make sure you've got a micro fibre cloth on hand when you watch this film. You'll need it to clean the disc.

The January 2025 release of this classic movie in 4K UHD is perfection.

Look, come on now.....surely everyone has seen this great film by now ??? If by chance you haven't...get it now. I'd seen it 3 or 4 times and I had to buy it to own it. It's spooky, serious, worrying, suspenseful, sad, gory in a matter of fact way so its not gory for the sake of it. The 2 main characters interact brilliantly....look , just watch it. You'll be gripped by it !!