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MOVIE REVIEWS [In Brief] . Party 7, Dragon Head, Running On Karma

A bit more catchup. And, really, what better time than the holidays? Since my “capsules” are rather lenghty, this column now has a new title. Please enjoy these Reviews In Brief.

Party 7 . Initially I wasn’t going to review this, but seeing as Party 7 will be released by Synapse in 2007, I know some of you will be interested. Straight off, Party 7 is definitely the least of Katsuhito Ishii’s films. The tale of seven people, and a suitcase of cash, converging in a seedy hotel (thoughtfully equipped with a peeping room), has a lot of comedic potential, but somehow turns a lengthy misfire. It’s unfortunate too, since the base material is quite funny. First, you have Captain Banana, a costumed super peeper (whose hideout is the aforementioned room), and Dreamlogic fave, Tadanobu Asano, as a pervert just released from prison, and Banana’s new best friend. Then there’s Masatoshi Nagase (Stereo Future) as a rockabilly thief, and the afro sporting assassin and stone cold gangster on his tail. You also have a grossly mismatched odd couple: a tragically un-hip uber nerd and his sexy girlfriend (Akemi Kobayashi, Antena), whose interests may or may not be entirely of the gold-digging kind. Oh yah, and then there’s the tale of the shit from the sky (most certainly not a tossed shit, as the trajectory was not a parabolic arc) that bookends the whole piece. The whole thing is technically and artistically sound, with excellent camera work, lighting, direction, and acting, but, like a tale told by a class clown that loves his own jokes, everything is a little too drawn out for its own good. We’ve seen Party 7 twice now, in the past three years, and I will admit it was far better with its second viewing, but when compared to A Taste of Tea and Sharkskin Man And Peach Hip Girl it really falls short (Note: we’ve yet to see Funky Forest).

Dragon Head . It’s the end of the world as we know it, and Joji Iida has me digging what I see. A sudden and violent tectonic disaster wipes out almost all life on the planet. Those that do survive find themselves on an extremely hostile landscape, prone to showers of ash and magma, and facing madness, as the earth’s newly aligned magnetic field wreaks havoc with the human cerebral cortex. Dragon Head’s tale follows two such survivors, high school students whose school trip was cut short buy the disaster. Awakening underground following a massive train wreck (directly caused by the seismic activity), the two embark on a journey to find civilization, facing everything from bloodthirsty humans to environmental terrors. Being an adaptation of the manga series by Minetaro Mochizuki, Dragon Head’s narrative has its share of awkward pacing issues. For example, the first forty minutes are spent on a lengthy episode underground, but once topside the plot goes into overdrive (however, one must keep in mind how hard it is to cram so many manga issues into a mere two hours). That said, when the film does find its groove, the episodes are pretty chilling. Pacing issues aside, it is the realization of the apocalyptic landscape that is the real star of the picture. Making heavy use of matte paintings, fine CG detailing, and practical set design, Dragon Head’s special effects are some of the most impressive of any recent works of Japanese cinema. Many times I found myself with mouth agape, ooh-ing and aah-ing at the visuals on screen. Dragon Head may not be the best of tales, but it certainly is impressive.

Running On Karma . Johnny To gives you seven films in one! Running on Karma is a martial arts actioner, a romantic drama, a police procedural, a missing persons drama, a gonzo comedy, and an Andy Lau muscle/strip-fest. The film’s “plot”, if it can be called a plot, is quite loose. Andy Lau is an ex martial artist monk turned stripper, who can see people’s Karma. Cecilia Chung (The Promise) is a Hong Kong police woman who happens to be the reincarnation of a Japanese soldier who participated in the Rape of Nanking. The initial setup has Chung busting Lau for indecent exposure. After a bit of comedic and violent confusion, the two team up to capture an Indian baddie and hopefully clear Chung’s Karma. Then the genre, and plot flip flopping begins. The film may not make that much sense, but it is fun. The comedy bits are quite funny (Lau is hilarious in his muscle suit), and the action is pretty entertaining. I’ve stated before that I don’t really care for Cecilia Chung, but somehow here I found her endearing (and no, for those who have seen it, not because of the ending). Running on Karma may not be the most focused of films, but I’d recommend it for anyone seeking something fun and different.

About the Author

Chris Nelson has been a film fanatic since age six. A former film and English major, he is now a Software Engineer and contract Technical Writer living in the Silicon Valley.