vincentlynch-moonoi
This is not a perfect movie, but I think it is better than many reviewers -- either professionals or our amateur colleagues here -- give it credit for.Let's start with the cast. Demi Moore has had a career that has been somewhat up and down, and maybe a little more down than up. But in a few films I thought she did quite well, and this is one of them. I was not impressed at all with Michael Biehn as Moore's husband. I'm not familiar enough with him as an actor to make an overall judgement, but this was not a very convincing job. Jürgen Prochnow does alright here as three different characters, but not well enough that I want to see him in other films. I feel the same was about Peter Friedman, here in a double role. I thought Manny Jacobs did rather well in a small, but key role, but I don't see where he has remained very active as an actor. So let's summarize the cast -- it's "okay". Nothing stand out good or stand out bad.Special effects. There are some, and none are impressive...well, the earthquake scenes are handled fairly well...but everything else is marginal. For example, snow in the desert...looked really fake. The hail storm...obviously ice from an ice machine.The story line. I think it's a fairly decent version of the old apocalypse tale -- the end is near -- and here, only Demi Moore can stave it off. What I do think is clever is the way they tie the apocalypse in with a death sentence for a retarded man; that was pretty clever. Should you watch it. Well, as I said, it's better than it's given credit for, but at best an average film. I can take it or leave it. I've given it a weak "7".
Claudio Carvalho
In Haiti, the sea and the life-form die; in the Middle East, a town is frozen. These are signs of the Apocalypse and the Vatican is investigating, but Father Lucci (Peter Friedman) advises that these omens are hoax or technologically explained. In California, the housewife Abby Quinn (Demi Moore) is pregnant and the delivery is scheduled to February, 29 in a leap year. Her husband, the lawyer Russell Quinn (Michael Biehn), is defending a weird case of the teenager Jimmy Szaragosa (John Taylor) that killed his parents telling that he was following the Word of God. Meanwhile Abby rents a garage apartment to the mysterious David Bannon (Jürgen Prochnow). The hopeless Abby has strange nightmares and soon she finds that around the world there are signs of the Apocalypse in accordance with the Book of Revelation. She learns also that David Bannon is Jesus that has returned; Father Lucci is the Pilate's porter Cartaphilus that was doomed to wander on Earth for the eternity; and she is a woman that tried to help Jesus. Further, she is the Seventh Sign and the Apocalypse will happen when her baby is stillborn. What can she do to save her unborn son and mankind?"The Seventh Sign" is an original film about Apocalypse, with a complex story. There are flaws that should have been explained, such as Abby let a stranger in her house when she was alone, but it seems that she has already discussed with him the rental. Invinting him for dinner is part of etiquette and politeness with the tenant. Curiosity killed the cat and explains her behavior snooping around his apartment. There are many other criticism to this film, but if the viewer do not pay attention to the flaws, he or she will find an enjoyable supernatural movie. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "A Sétima Profecia" ("The Seventh Prophecy")
Leofwine_draca
THE SEVENTH SIGN is one in a string of "end of the world" style apocalyptic thrillers that plough the Bible for their inspiration. Unfortunately, this is one of the more insipid entries in that particular sub-genre, and it's a film that fails to make much of its premise; it's very much "weak sauce" throughout, and it pretty much fails both as a horror and a thriller.As a horror film, this is anything but. There are a couple of would-be supernatural situations but it's routine for the most part and there is no sense of menace or foreboding at any stage. As a thriller, it's routine and dull, lacking the kind of tension that a decent suspense flick calls for.The problems with this one are myriad, but the writing is the worst offender; it has an interesting background, but the diverse plot elements feel jumbled and uncertain. Demi Moore doesn't help, giving a wishy-washy and unsympathetic turn in the lead role, and the one genuinely interesting actor in the cast - Michael Biehn - is wasted in a boring part. In all respects, THE SEVENTH SIGN is a forgettable little movie, perhaps not the worst I've seen but lacking any elements to make it the least bit memorable.
nodaktoaz
Other than perhaps "Ghost," Demi Moore at her best. The underrated Michail Biehn plays her husband, and is equally on top of his game. Jurgen Prochnow appears to be creepy at the outset, but proves to be anything but. This is a great flick for an evening of no interruptions, as it starts a bit vague but quickly picks up speed, and must be followed closely to get the full effect. The ending is one of the finest that the motion picture industry has ever had to offer, but again, close attention must be paid in order to fully appreciate. Next time your plans get cancelled or the weather is going to turn nasty, rent this one and pull up a couch.
AD
