Brilliance already praised... some flaws

Rating: Null/10 (9 June 2002)

*A few SPOILERS*
It's been said before: this film is brilliant, unique, etc. but I couldn't get over the fact that such a wonderfully written and directed film has some stupid, obvious flaws in it, that I picked up on during my first viewing AND while half asleep!
The "keep out" sign on the INSIDE of the door? How did it even get there? How did Somerset know to slip his knife through the door at that exact point in the door? I bet the editors were kicking themselves after they missed this one...
The conversation in the bathroom when they are shaving their chests for the wires. I believe Mills said something like "uhh" and then somerset says "huh?" I thought I had dozed off and missed something but the person I was watching this with had the same thought: "What the hell was the point of that?" I was waiting anxiously to find out what Mills was holding back only to be left hanging. Now a big flaw but noticeable.
When Doe dropped his grocery bag and started shooting I was definitely surprised. I believe the only reason for this was to give the detectives a reason to chase him, and thus get Mills in the situation where Doe puts the gun to his head for a few seconds and then leaves, foreshadowing that Doe still has some purpose for him. I could easily conceive of a few better ways to write that part... and I'll have to echo someone else's response that it seemed like they were chasing the phantom of the Opera. This was the only "cheesey" part of the film, and compared to everything else, it just didn't fit.
Other than that, the film was incredible. For me a movie has to be flawed to be good anyway... so it works out. 9/10.