Seven (1979) Poster

(1979)

User Reviews

Review this title
13 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
7/10
A good start for Andy
BrianG25 March 2000
This was Andy Sidaris' second film, and it follows the formula for all the ones that followed: spectacular scenery, even more spectacular women in various and frequent stages of nudity, good action scenes, goofy humor. The plot is about seven mobsters who get together and decide to take over Hawaii, and the government agent assigned to stop them. It's good to see big William Smith playing a good guy, and he seems to be enjoying himself (there's one scene, apparently unscripted but which Sidaris left in, where Smith is sitting, clothed, in a shower room and a gorgeous naked woman appears out of nowhere, sits down next to him and stares at him; Smith obviously wasn't expecting it and bursts out laughing, then looks offstage and shakes his head, as if to say, "Okay, you got me"). The cast is stocked with veteran character actors--Nick Georgiade, Art Metrano, Reggie Nalder--and everyone seems to be having a good time. So will you. It's a fun movie to watch. Pick it up if you can.
19 out of 21 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Vintage Sidaris
ramsfan23 March 2015
Watching some of Andy Sidaris' cheesy flicks of the late 70's and early 80's, you'd never know the man was a visionary in the sports television medium and a 7-time Emmy winner who directed the Olympics, Wide World of Sports and some of the early NFL telecasts. That said, "Seven" represents one of his better contributions to the B-movie genre. It boasts great scenery and the obligatory bevy of scantily-clad women that characterize a Sidaris film. And it's a treat for fans of William Smith, one of the most accomplished character actors of all time, who receives top billing and features him in the unfamiliar but welcome role of good guy.

Freelance mercenary Drew Savano (Smith) is called in by a government agent to wipe out mobsters bent on taking over the state of Hawaii. For a fee of $7 million dollars, Savano assembles seven specialists (hence the title), each with a different talent, to take on the mission. Though it takes a bit long for us to be introduced to each character and assigned their individual targets, it's worth the wait to watch just how these specialists- The Dragster, The Professor, The Indian, The Playmate, The Cowboy, The Comic, The Black Belt- will take out their quarry.

This movie won't remind anyone of Hamlet. Laughable dialog and various unconvincing characters (looking at Ed Parker with his bad hair and pot belly you'd never know the guy was a martial arts legend) make this more tongue-in-cheek than anything else, but it's just this approach- it's a "B" movie after all- that makes "Seven" an enjoyable watch. Lenny Montana, Art Medrano and Reggie Nalder are among the notable character actors lending their talents to "Seven". There's gorgeous former Playmate Susan Kiger and actress Barbara Leigh in bikinis for most of the movie. And Kwan Hi Lim, who seemingly appeared in every Hawaiian/Polynesian/Asian themed show covering two decades, skillfully portrays his usual oily villain.

Fun stuff from Andy Sidaris. Seven stars for "Seven"!
8 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Lucky number....
Mister-618 November 1999
Good old Andy Sidaris.

You can always count on his movies for a little action, a little intrigue and...say it with me...a little skin.

Flicks like "Seven", for example. This one features a covert team led by William "Big Bill" Smith who is out to kill off the baddies threatening the peace-loving government of Hawaii. Of course, there's always plenty of time to show some dynamic women in all their glory along with the maiming and killing.

But if your movie diet consists of films of this ilk, you could do a lot worse than "Seven". In fact, a lot worse.

TIDBIT - This movie features the famous gag seen a couple of years later in "Raiders of the Lost Ark", where a guy is beset by a swordsman and simply draws a gun and shoots the blade-wielding baddie dead. Not bad.

Seven stars. Who woulda guessed?
9 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Sidaris moves closer to his formula
BandSAboutMovies12 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Andy Sidaris' second non-documentary movie is all about what happens when seven gangsters take over Hawaii, leading the FBI to bring ex-agent turned killer Drew Savano (William Smith, Invasion of the Bee Girls, Maniac Cop), who has hired seven of the best killers in the world to take out the trash. They become Sevano's Seven - the Playmate, the Black Belt, the Dragster, the Cowboy, the Comic, the Professor and the Indian. And death is their way of life!

PS - It's essentially Hard Ticket to Hawaii, made eight years before Andy would make that movie and then essentially make it better over and then make it better again and again.

Lenny Montana (the former pro wrestler and legitimate mobster who played Luca Brasi in The Godfather) is The Big Kahuna, the mob boss who has taken over the island. He also has Martin Kove, the evil karate instructor from The Karate Kid on board as his bodyguard.

These are amongst the prettiest women that Sidaris ever had one of his casts - original Vampirella model Barbara Leigh and three-time Playboy covergirl Susan Kiger (she's also in H.O.T.S.) - yet it's also the least sex he's ever had in one of his films. Plus, bellydancer Little Egypt shows up. I realize the incongruity of a burlesque dancer showing up in a movie that's not as sexy as his other films. If you're a Sidaris fan, you'll understand.

It's also one of the last movies that American International Pictures would release before being rebranded as Filways Pictures before they put out Brian DePalma's Dressed to Kill.

As stated before, this movie forms the basis for nearly every one of Sidaris' later films. The character of The Professor would reappear again in Picasso Trigger, but that time, he wouldn't try to bring a blow-up doll into an airport.

There are plenty of great deaths here. Mob bosses get thrown out windows, blown up real good with bombs in their crotches, via hand-glider hand grenade, covered with gasoline and shot with a flare gun, as well as at least two deaths by rocket launcher. For me, it ranks really high on my list of Andy's films.

This movie was unreleased on home video until 2018, when Kino Lorber finally put it out on blu ray.
3 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Extremely entertaining
bitbucketchip3 March 2022
This is the guy movie of guy movies. Lots of unnecessarily topless women, tough guys, dad jokes, and bang bang you're dead action.

The plot is a group of bad guys of the type who have BAD GUY stamped on their drivers license facing off against a one man army and his buddy Cowboy who rides in on a pony.

There's a persistent voice over who tells a complex, intricate plot. It has nothing to do with the onscreen action, but it would probably make for an interesting movie if acted out. The plot onscreen is very simple and easy to follow.

Many of the scenes feel spliced in from another movie, with different actors delivering action or comedic beats unrelated to our story. They're kind of like commercials except they're fun.

Everything looks and sounds seventies and at times sixties, which adds to the amusement.

Seven stars for seven.
2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
These seven are less than magnificent
gridoon20247 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Seven" is less polished than Andy Sidaris' later girls-with-guns movies from 1985 to 1998, but it has some of his trademarks: exotic locales, topless women, helicopters, and things/people blowing up. It's disjointedly scripted and crudely directed (with more than one guest appearance by the boom mike), but if you survive the unexciting first hour, the remaining 30 minutes do have some action - and some Peckinpah-style bloodletting. ** out of 4.
2 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Andy Sidaris Keeps You Engaged On So Many Levels.
mikecanmaybee10 May 2020
The movie is a lot of fun with plenty of over the top and almost comical death scenes combined with wonderful scenery of almost every variety. William Smith, as good guy assassin team leader Drew Savano, was very likable with his ability of conveying a natural charismatic leadership presence. A quiet confidence, if you will. As more or less the leading lady Barbara Leigh was also good as the hot Alexa who has a pretty weird scene with the creepy "Hermit" played well by Veteran Reggie Nalder. Barbara by this time no longer possesses the transcendent beauty that she enjoyed in the Junior Bonner days, but is still a foxy lady in this one. The rest of the cast and story is also terrific which ads up to a fine "B' movie for Mr. Sidaris.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Partly original, partly predictable ending
Skragg14 October 2004
Warning: Spoilers
This has a partial "Spoiler", or several in a way, since it's about a whole movie SERIES (at least, in a loose sense of the word). This might be the only adventure film ever to have, of all things, a villainous hula dancer (played by the belly dancer Little Egypt - the later one of that name, not the turn-of-the-century one, of course - I don't know why she isn't in the listings here). As for the famous "Indiana Jones" scene being inspired by this movie, there's only one problem convincing people of that - almost everyone believes that "little" movies steal from "big" ones, but try making people believe that the OPPOSITE thing happens. There's one complaint I have about these Andy Sidaris movies, at least, the handful I've seen. Each one has a pretty entertaining "villainess" (like the one I just mentioned), along with the male villains. But each one ends with a sort of showdown between her and the "heroine" (or one of the heroines), as opposed to any other kind of end for her. (I've noticed this in many other action stories too.) And since it happens very quickly, with guns or explosives, it doesn't seem to be an excuse for a "girl fight" kind of scene (at least, not the hand-to-hand kind). Instead (if I'm not exaggerating), it seems to be some kind of overworked "feminist" message - the EVIL woman has to be stopped by the GOOD one, that kind of thing. I don't know if that's really the reason, and I know there's a place for that kind of scene in adventure stories, but it does seem to be overdone. Anyway, that part of the ending is the most predictable part of these Sidaris movies, more so than the "gratuitous" sex, and more so than OTHER kinds of violence. To me, at least.
2 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
A light, enjoyable action romp
I_Ailurophile7 November 2023
It's kind of daring, making an action flick that's defined by quirky personality over action or plot. Each killing that opens the film is performed in a unique and unusual manner; each antagonist to whom we're introduced has some special trait or style; each hand-picked "good guy" to whom we're introduced is larger than life and has some particular defining characteristic. All this, and the assemblage of the party, fills a bit more than the first third, but the "personality forward" ethos of the picture persists. The villains' scheme, as described by "kind of sort of" protagonist Drew, is indistinguishable from the modus operandi of modern political conservatives; we're assured within that first third or so the approach will continue through to the end, as our heroes apparently have a single half-hour window in which to neutralize each of their selected targets; and the reconnaissance and preparation that fills the second act is filled just as much with the same lighthearted soft focus of charismatic self-realization first, plot and action second.

And so it goes on down the line: women's bodies, gratuitous female nudity, cinematography, editing, acting, writing, direction, music, costume design, hair and makeup, stunts and effects, and more. If Steven Soderbergh's 'Ocean's eleven' series were about assassinations rather than heists, and if it leaned even more heavily into unabashed frivolity, it would look like Andy Sidaris' 'Seven.' For what it's worth, all this is actually is well done and entertaining, including those stunts, effects, and action sequences first and foremost, and even some of the music is a blast. The feature wants only to be a ridiculous romp, and it is most certainly that. Some facets are definitely a smidgen tiresome (would-be comedy never lands as well as it wants to), and others break with the general mirthful tone; it also never achieves any peak of humor or thrills. Still, overall it really is light, rather cheesy fun all of its own accord. As if filming in Hawaii and showing off the islands weren't indication enough, in every last contribution both behind the scenes and in front of the camera it's readily evident all involved were having a great time, and those feelings are ably passed on to the audience.

No one is ever going to confuse this movie for a must-see classic, but then, it also doesn't try to be. 'Seven' knows what it is, and it's happy to play in the space it has carved for itself. Within the last act we do get the promised action, and it looks terrific; the proceedings might never earn the laugh they want, but it's solidly amusing - and despite the cheeky attitude the title adopts from the very start, no one could ever accuse the participants of slouching with the work they turned in. Truth be told my expectations were mixed to low when I sat to watch, and I'm actually rather pleased with how good it turned out to be. Rounded out with unconventional stylization for the credits and any text to appear on the screen, this is even a tad clever in its own right. There's no need to go out of your way for 'Seven,' but if you do have the chance to watch and are looking for something fairly uninvolved, this is an enjoyable little lark that holds up reasonably well - and sometimes that's all a film needs to be.
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
A grand diversion.
Hey_Sweden28 May 2018
The almighty William Smith stars in this ingratiating action flick from cult filmmaker Andy Sidaris, known to his fans for following an exploitation film formula to the letter. Bill Smith plays Drew Savano, a loose-cannon government agent who recruits a seven-person team for the purpose of eliminating the criminal element that are poised to take over the state of Hawaii. His team includes Alexa (Barbara Leigh, "Junior Bonner"), the Cowboy (Guich Koock, "North Dallas Forty"), T.K. (Christopher Joy, "Sheba, Baby"), Kincella (Art Metrano, "Police Academy" 2 and 3), martial artist Ed Parker ("Curse of the Pink Panther"), playing a man named Ed Parker, and the "Professor" (Richard LePore, 'Switch'). Each team member is assigned to a different criminal figure.

Since we're discussing Andy Sidaris here, it hardly needs be said that among the assets involved are beautiful island scenery, equally gorgeous women who sometimes take off their tops, lots of action, and a generous dose of humour to let us know that this is all in fun, and that none of this is ever meant to be taken that seriously.

This viewer personally loves stories of the "assembling characters for a mission" variety, and Drew is there to narrate and therefore talk our way through the plot, giving us essential information. It's quite an engaging example of this sort of story, with excellent pacing and a fair amount of hard-hitting violence. Plus, it's not entirely unrealistic in the way that the mission won't go 100% smoothly.

Bright, sunny photography by a D.P. identified only as "Quito", and a vibrant music score (which may be stock music since there's no composer credited) help to make this superior entertainment. The aforementioned sense of humour extends to the movies' most memorable gag, when a hero eliminates a sword-wielding villain by simply shooting him, the same gag later made famous in "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

A rich assortment of familiar faces - Reggie Nalder ('Salem's Lot' '79), Seth Sakai ('Hawaii Five-O'), Lenny Montana ("The Godfather"), Martin Kove ("The Karate Kid"), Terry Kiser ("Weekend at Bernie's"), John Alderman ("New Year's Evil"), and Tadashi Yamashita ("American Ninja") - further adds to the good vibes.

Classic exploitation entertainment, and one of Sidaris' best efforts.

Eight out of 10.
11 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
FANTASTIC
vrink8 January 2001
I just want to say that since 1979 when I first saw this movie I have been searching for it to buy. I loved everything about it at the time and still think the campy feel to it was what made me remember it so easily. I remembered the stars, the director, and the plot line. Very cheesy but if you love that in an older movie you will really like this. So if I ever find this movie be sure I will add it to my collection.
13 out of 16 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Can't go wrong with Andy Sidaris
Woodyanders6 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Government agent Drew Savano (legendary tough guy William Smith in peak rugged form) gets assigned to take out seven criminal kingpins who plan on taking over Hawaii's crime racket. Savano rounds up a team of top operatives to kills all these baddies before it's too late.

Director Andy Sidaris keeps the enjoyable story moving along at a quick pace, makes nice use of various breathtaking sunny Hawaiian locations, maintains a fairly gritty and serious tone throughout, adds a few inspired wacky touches (for example, there's a crossbow-wielding goon on a skateboard), stages a bunch of exciting and explosive last reel action with skill and flair, and presents a bevy of beautiful babes in bikinis or less (of course). The fine cast of familiar faces helps a lot: Barbara Leigh as the sultry Alexa, Guich Koock as jolly redneck Cowboy, Christopher Joy as the easygoing T.K., Art Metrano as wisecracking smartaleck Kincella, ace martial artist Ed Parker as himself, Martin Kove as lethal henchman Skip, Lenny Montana as fearsome head honcho the Kahuna, Reggie Nalder as mean loan shark the Hermit, and Terry Kiser as a wishy-washy senator. Foxy blonde Playboy Playmate Susan Kiger provides a tasty eyeful in a variety of skimpy outfits (and bares her lovely breasts a few times as well!). Quito's bright cinematography gives this picture a pleasing slick and sparkling look. The funky-throbbing score hits the get-down groovy spot. A fun B-grade flick.
5 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
seven + one equals dynamite entertainment
PeterMitchell-506-56436419 December 2012
Has this movie got everything. God awful sexy women in bikinis, explosions, violence, stunts, and humor. It also has some of the baddest dudes you'll ever see. They're an elite cartel, and they're not idiots. The people, remorseless, if anyone is, know their work. But so do the seven agents out to stop them where in no less thirty minutes, their objectives must die. Clearly the best actor here is golden oldie, William Smith, as most of the others suck. Smith plays Drew Savanno. Just see how this guy lives, and you'll understand, why so many other people feel so angered, the way they have it. Drew, the head of this group, is the one that picks the others, and they're really an odd kettle of fish, hot, funny, smart, and deadly. We have the blackbelt, the cowboy and his lovely assistant, who looks so hot in a bikini, the drag racer, the other hottie, who's a real tease, again deadly. We have the musician, who's style of comedy sucks. And my favorite, the professor, a playboy type and a genius. Who else could design a rocket when fired miles away, could take out the baddie in a the car park of one of his favorite coffee houses. The prof scores with a hot waitress who works there, who has a tube of candy paste on hand, if ever caught in lovemaking. Seven never dulls. It's a smart thriller, as in the way the baddies are taken out, the limo explosion at the gas station, out yonder where the whole place goes up in flames, just proving horse shoes have other uses. I like the baddie on the skateboard, known as skater, who's like comic amusement for this cartel, deadly with a spear gun. You can't fault the plot, as in the ways things happen. It's tighter than a fishes bum. The blow up doll that emerges out of a doctors bag when opened at customs, the professor telling the customs guy to put her on the next plane, is one of my favorite parts. A young customs woman looks outways after him, as says, "Too much", as if stoned. But these words could almost describe this movie, it's encouraging cover with Smith holding a spear gun, and those hotties flanking him, is enough to suck you in. Seven is a cool action movie, but on a smart scale, and one movie that shouldn't be overlooked.
7 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed