MovieChat Forums > The Serpent's Egg (1978) Discussion > not as bad most people say

not as bad most people say


it is disappointing if you compare it to other of bergman's movies but it was OK

6/10




I Worship The Goddess Amber Tamblyn


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I don't think it's dissapointing at all. As Marc Gervais (critic specialized on Ingmar Bergman films) pointed out, if you comes to see this movie expecting to watch a typical "Bergman Film" you might be dissapointed.
But if you leave the prejudices behind and watch it for what it is, you may enjoy it!

Actually Liv Ullman said in the DVD featurette that she and Ingmar saw this movie together many years after, and Bergamn thought it was a very good movie, same Liv Ullman.

Certainly it's not your classic Bergman but it's quite interesting.

8/10

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I was expecting something dreadful but I was actually very much impressed. Great film in my book.

[ Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. ]

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I agree. I wonder why it was so attacked when it came out. It must be the behavioral psychology worshippers who made sure it was attacked.

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Well it definitely does have its share of problems - it´s very unsteadily paced, has generally a somewhat uncertain tone, going occasionally overboard with the hysterics and Bergman also can´t, of course, keep himself from writing his characters long, exposition-heavy philosophizing monologues (some of which, typically and tiresomely, bring the vanished god into the equation once more). The acting´s a far cry from his best films as well... and I must say the action scenes were ´really´ clumsily orchestrated & executed. Overall, however, it´s such a fascinating, intriguing picture dealing with the place and time period rarely touched upon in film, that also manages to be fairly unpredictable - at least until the Mengele´an eugenics shenanigans take the center stage. Sure, the film never really comes together as some coherent vision, but at least it´s never dull or lacking in sort of adventurous, freewheeling spirit quite uncommon to Bergman´s films otherwise. Overall I´d rate it about 6,5-7/10.



"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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[deleted]

Agree with the OP!

Prostitute: What the *beep* are you doing?
Johnny: I'm gonna kill a bunch of people.

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It's a very flawed movie. Some stuff really works like the set pieces but its hamper by the fact Bergman can't seem to make up his mind what type of movie he wants to make and yeah David Carradines performance is fairly weak. Still this movie for all it's flaws is still better then the painfully dull "The Touch".

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