The Roller Blade Seven

Infobox Film
name = The Roller Blade Seven


image_size = 150px
caption = The Roller Blade Seven Poster and Video Box


image_size = 150px
director = Donald G. Jackson
producer = Donald G. Jackson
Scott Shaw
writer = Donald G. Jackson
Scott Shaw
narrator =
starring = Scott Shaw
Karen Black
Don Stroud
Frank Stallone
Joe Estevez
William Smith
Rhonda Shear
Jill Kelly
music = Scott Shaw
cinematography = Donald G. Jackson
editing = Scott Shaw
distributor =
released = 1991 (premiere)
runtime = 90 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget = $300,000.00
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by = Return of the Roller Blade Seven
The Legend of the Roller Blade Seven
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0102804

"The Roller Blade Seven" is a 1991 martial arts, cult film directed by Donald G. Jackson and starring Scott Shaw.

Plot

"The Roller Blade Seven" follows the lead character, "Hawk Goodman", who is played by Scott Shaw. Hawk is sent on a mission by "Reverend Donald", played by Donald G. Jackson, to rescue "Sister Sparrow" from the clutches of the evil overlord "Pharaoh", played by William Smith, in the apocalyptic world of the future.

"Sister Sparrow" was abducted from the "Master of Light Institute" by the evil "Saint Offender" Joe Estevez and taken into the Wheelzone from whence Hawk must rescue her. But before "Hawk" can complete his task, he must take pyschedelic mushrooms with cult movie actress Karen Black and learn to rollerblade. Armed only with his samurai sword, "Hawk" does battle with the "Black Knight" (played by Frank Stallone), some rollerblading ninjas and other gangs that inhabit the Wheelzone. Joining him on this mission are such oddities as a Kabuki mime with a wiffle bat, a rollerblading banjo player, swathed in bandages, a la The Invisible Man, and a pacifist named "Stella Speed."

This film takes place in a region known as "The Wheelzone." In this place, everyone travels solely by the means of roller skates or skate boards, with the exception of Shaw who arrives riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Once the "Pharaoh" character, William Smith, is located, it is explained that he is bound to a wheelchair due to a skateboarding accident he encountered many years in the past.

Editing

This film follows a non-linear storyline and is riddled with strange and unexpected edits and dialogue. Several scenes, for example, are repeated over ten times in a row, seemingly without rhyme or reason.

One of the nontraditional aspects of this film is that whenever one of the stars of the film appears on the screen for the first time, their name precedes them in a full-card white on black listing. Also, large title cards appear hailing the fact that a new scene is about to begin several times throughout the feature.

Distribution

This film experienced a short theatrical release in the United States, Australia, and Europe. It found a more willing audience, however, on Cable Television and in Video and DVD release.

Zen Filmmaking

"The Roller Blade Seven" is defined as the first "Zen film." Zen Filmmaking is a specific style of filmmaking developed by Scott Shaw and Donald G. Jackson in which no scripts are used.

equels

"The Roller Blade Seven" was followed by two sequels: "The Legend of the Roller Blade Seven" in 1992 and "Return of the Roller Blade Seven" in 1993.

In the documentary film "" the two filmmakers, Donald G. Jackson and Scott Shaw discuss the process they followed in creating this film.

Critique

Reviewers have been both very critical and have praised this film. [ "IMDb user comments for The Roller Blade Seven" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102804/usercomments] ]

In an interview in "Entertainment Weekly", director Oliver Stone stated that "The Roller Blade Seven" was one of the most inspirational films he had ever seen. [ "Entertainment Weekly Interview, November 1993"]

References

External links

*imdb title|0102804
* [http://www.scottshaw.com/rollerbladeseven.html The Making of The Roller Blade Seven]