The Roller Blade Seven
Encyclopedia
The Roller Blade Seven is a 1991 cult
martial arts film
directed
by Donald G. Jackson
and starring Scott Shaw
.
), who is sent on a mission by Reverend Donald (Donald G. Jackson
), to rescue Sister Sparrow from the clutches of the evil overlord Pharaoh (William Smith
), in the apocalyptic world of the future. The film takes place in a region known as the Wheelzone, whose populace travels solely by the means of roller skates
or skateboard
s. Shaw, however, arrives riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Sister Sparrow has been abducted from the Master of Light Institute by the evil Saint Offender (Joe Estevez
). Before Hawk can complete his task, he must take psychedelic mushroom
s with cult movie actress Karen Black
and learn to rollerblade
. Armed only with his samurai sword, Hawk does battle with the Black Knight (Frank Stallone
), rollerblading ninjas and other gangs that inhabit the Wheelzone. Joining him on this mission are a Kabuki
mime
with a wiffle bat, a rollerblading banjo
player entirely swathed in bandages and a pacifist named Stella Speed.
Once Pharaoh is located, it is explained that he uses a wheelchair
due to an old skateboarding accident.
, Australia
, and Europe
. It found a more willing audience, however, on Cable Television and in Video and DVD release.
, in 1992 and a second, Return of the Roller Blade Seven
, in 1993. In the documentary film Interview: The Documentary
the two filmmakers, Donald G. Jackson and Scott Shaw discuss the process they followed in creating this film.
, director Oliver Stone
stated that The Roller Blade Seven was one of the most inspirational films he had ever seen.
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
martial arts film
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Donald G. Jackson
Donald G. Jackson
Donald G. Jackson was an American filmmaker who is often referred to in the media as the Ed Wood of the video age...
and starring Scott Shaw
Scott Shaw
Scott Shaw is an American actor, author, journalist, film director, film producer, musician, professor and martial artist.-Early life:...
.
Plot
The Roller Blade Seven follows Hawk Goodman (Scott ShawScott Shaw
Scott Shaw is an American actor, author, journalist, film director, film producer, musician, professor and martial artist.-Early life:...
), who is sent on a mission by Reverend Donald (Donald G. Jackson
Donald G. Jackson
Donald G. Jackson was an American filmmaker who is often referred to in the media as the Ed Wood of the video age...
), to rescue Sister Sparrow from the clutches of the evil overlord Pharaoh (William Smith
William Smith (actor)
William Smith is an American actor who has appeared in almost 300 feature films and television productions.Smith began his acting career at the age of 8 in 1942...
), in the apocalyptic world of the future. The film takes place in a region known as the Wheelzone, whose populace travels solely by the means of roller skates
Roller skates
Roller skates are devices worn on the feet to enable the wearer to roll along on wheels. A first basic type of roller skate consists of a boot with four wheels with ball bearings, arranged in the same configuration as the wheels of a typical car.-History:...
or skateboard
Skateboard
A skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
s. Shaw, however, arrives riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Sister Sparrow has been abducted from the Master of Light Institute by the evil Saint Offender (Joe Estevez
Joe Estevez
Joseph "Joe" Estevez is an American actor, director, and producer.He is the younger brother of actor Martin Sheen and the uncle of Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Renée Estevez, and Ramon Estevez.-Early life:...
). Before Hawk can complete his task, he must take psychedelic mushroom
Psychedelic mushroom
Psilocybin mushrooms are fungi that contain the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin. There are multiple colloquial terms for psilocybin mushrooms, the most common being shrooms or magic mushrooms....
s with cult movie actress Karen Black
Karen Black
Karen Black is an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She is noted for appearing in such films as Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Great Gatsby, Rhinoceros, The Day of the Locust, Nashville, Airport 1975, and Alfred Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot...
and learn to rollerblade
Rollerblade
Rollerblade is a brand of inline skates owned by Nordica, part of the Tecnica Group of Trevignano, Treviso, Italy.The company was started by Scott Olsen and Brennan Olson in Minneapolis as Ole's Innovative Sports; when they sold the company, it became Rollerblade, Inc...
. Armed only with his samurai sword, Hawk does battle with the Black Knight (Frank Stallone
Frank Stallone
Frank P. Stallone, Jr. is an American actor, singer/guitarist and Golden Globe and Grammy Award-nominated songwriter. He has appeared in many Hollywood films and television. He is the younger brother of Sylvester Stallone.-Early life:...
), rollerblading ninjas and other gangs that inhabit the Wheelzone. Joining him on this mission are a Kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
mime
Mime
The word mime is used to refer to a mime artist who uses a theatrical medium or performance art involving the acting out of a story through body motions without use of speech.Mime may also refer to:* Mime, an alternative word for lip sync...
with a wiffle bat, a rollerblading banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
player entirely swathed in bandages and a pacifist named Stella Speed.
Once Pharaoh is located, it is explained that he uses a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
due to an old skateboarding accident.
Distribution
This film experienced a short theatrical release in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It found a more willing audience, however, on Cable Television and in Video and DVD release.
Production
Shaw and Jackson described the film as the first example of "Zen filmmaking", in which no scripts are used.Sequels
The Roller Blade Seven was followed by its first sequel, The Legend of the Roller Blade SevenThe Legend of the Roller Blade Seven
The Legend of the Roller Blade Seven is a 1992 martial arts cult film that was directed by Donald G. Jackson, and was produced by and stars Scott Shaw.-Background:...
, in 1992 and a second, Return of the Roller Blade Seven
Return of the Roller Blade Seven
The Return of the Roller Blade Seven is a martial arts based film, released in 1993. The film is the second of two sequels to the film The Roller Blade Seven...
, in 1993. In the documentary film Interview: The Documentary
Interview: The Documentary
Interview: The Documentary is a documentary film, directed by Scott Shaw, that details the creation of the first two films that were created in the distinct style of filmmaking known as Zen Filmmaking....
the two filmmakers, Donald G. Jackson and Scott Shaw discuss the process they followed in creating this film.
Critique
In an interview in Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, director Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
stated that The Roller Blade Seven was one of the most inspirational films he had ever seen.