Party 7

The Japanese company that owns the film has apparently declded to put it on the shelf, so the inevitable DVD (probably without subs, and definitely with Region coding) may be your only chance unless you act quickly. If Cult Cinema is your groove, Party 7 is likely o be your party. In the bowels of a tacky Japanese hotel, Mr Banana -- dressed in a yellow and black hero suit -- is trying to anoint a multiple-convicted peeper into his special world, which has direct view into promising rooms. As the hotel room drama plays out, there's a hood in a pink leather suit who has a suitcase filled with money, a former girlfriend who wants the same money, her trendy camera expert boyfriend out to keep his girlfriend, and a tough but gullible yakuza. Vinyl-suited Mr Banana and his assistant Mr Yellow peep as its all happening. There are flashbacks, extreme humor, and enough bizarre twists to keep anyone guessing. The cast is first-rate, composed mostly of great genre actors. The filmmakers probably weren't making it up as they went along, but Party 7 has that feeling, and it makes for a refreshing change of pace.

This gets compared to "Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl" which is Director Katsuhito Ishii's previous film but it shouldn't.

This had an interesting story and a few good laughs which makes this watchable. The problem is some scenes go on way too long. Most of the scenes in this film are really just conversations. Each a piece of the plotline usually with a gag attached. But they can go on to where I start to lose interest.

The cast is good. No one stands out. It's the direction and how everything & everyone fits together along the way. That's what makes this movie good and interesting.

The poster for this film is misleading to those unfamiliar. The girl never is dressed so skimpy. This is not a Pinku Eiga.

There is animation during the opening credits and while the rest of this movie is good, the animation that played is excellent.

The reason I pulled this DVD out today was I needed something with creative filmmaking. It is not really original but still creative.

Scattershot and hyperactive in a way only Japanese cinema can get away with, Party 7 is an enjoyable frantic mess. After a speedy animated introduction to 7 different characters, we are suddenly thrust into a narrative about some stolen money. As the man hides in a hotel room, he has no idea he is being watched by some professional peepers (one dressed in super-hero garb and calling himself Captain Banana). As people come looking for the money, the hotel room gets crowded, and twists are revealed. It's very claustrophobic, being set in just two rooms, which is painfully awkward given the over-the-top style. The humour is broad and weird. Funny and fun, even though I was disappointed that the image on the DVD case is nowhere to be found in the film :(

When it comes to boundary-pushing off the wall cinema, Japan is the world's undisputed leader. Party 7 is one of the most bizarre, creative and hilarious films I've seen in a very long time. Set almost entirely in a hotel room with adjoining peep-suite, the film thrusts together an ensemble of quirky characters and feeds them a non-stop supply of bizarre, perverse and highly amusing dialogue. The plot is almost non-existent, yet manages to be clever and surprising, and the delivery is perfect. You haven't seen anything like it, and you're either going to love it or hate it... it's as simple as that.

Me, I loved every little bit of it!

(And yes, Sharkskin Man and Peach Hip Girl is a great film as well)

This is the funniest film I have ever seen. I will say no more, really- preposterous, brilliant, and hilarious. Great work.

The actors dive into the script head first, with absolutely no let up, ever, turning in the best ensemble comedy work I have seen in years. Laugh out loud excellence, Captain Banana is worth the price of admission.

Craig