Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Seven to One Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 6, 2023

A hunt for a special diamond ring forms the plot of 1973’s “Seven to One,” but such focus on a heavily desired object doesn’t really factor into the movie as much as it should. This is a martial arts actioner from Taiwan, and the production aims to deliver as much foot and fist combat as possible, filling the run time with showdowns between the heroes and villains. This concentration on martial arts intensity is welcome, but “Seven to One” grows repetitive in a hurry, doing little with dramatic potential while choreography gets same-y awfully quickly.

Ting Hisa-Fang is a young woman targeted for violence by the evil Chin, but doesn’t understand what’s going on. She’s trying to maintain a low profile, but baddies keep finding her, on the hunt for a special diamond ring she refuses to surrender. Joining the battle is Yin Chen, who’s a rock singer by day and a defender of the innocent at night, offering protection to the stranger, who already comes prepared with sharp martial arts skills, desperate to find more information about her missing father and his jewel, which is up for grabs.

“Seven to One” doesn’t waste time with introductions, throwing viewers into the middle of Ting Hisa-Fang’s quest to understand what’s happened to her father, attacked by gangs of men controlled by Chin, who’s looking for the diamond, believing the woman has it. The production cuts right to the action, and there’s some initial thrill watching the character take on bad guys, using her physical abilities to knock out attackers as they hound her wherever she goes. “Seven to One” quickly slips into routine, with the daughter receiving word that someone wants to meet with her, she travels to the location, and a fight breaks out. Rinse, slap, repeat.

Yin Chen adds some oddity to “Seven to One,” emerging as a rock singer who’s being seduced by a club owner with ties to Chin. He’s the Batman figure of the movie, emerging to protect the diamond lady from harm, which leads to even more brawling featuring the same four-move routine, and this loses its fun factor soon enough. What’s left is a lukewarm mystery with limited revelations, and some character asides that don’t matter in the end.

Seven to One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "Preserved from the only known 35mm print in existence, featuring an English language dub." The print used here is severely damaged at times, showcasing lengthy and swarmy scratches, discoloration, and jumpy frames, which turns into missing ones at times, including a chunk of the movie that's lost in the climax (a car chase suddenly becomes a boat chase). Fine detail isn't available, but a general sense of facial particulars and bodily activity is present. Exteriors offer some dimension at times. Fade is persistent, diminishing natural color, with periodic costuming and club interiors delivering more defined hues. Delineation isn't consistent.

Seven to One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix shows its age. Sibilance issues are common, but dialogue exchanges remain intelligible. Scoring maintains a passable rock sound with fluctuating volume. Sound effects are blunt but appreciable. Popping is present.

Seven to One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Trailer Reel (33:21, HD) is offered, showcasing various marital art epics and B-movies from the 1970s and '80s. "Seven to One" is not included.

Seven to One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The idea of a fighter, a diamond ring hunt, and a music star martial artist is more entertaining than the actual content of "Seven to One," which doesn't do much with the crazy elements it introduces, which includes a soundtrack of rock instrumentals the producers most certainly didn't clear with the original artists. There's potential here that's unrealized, making "Seven to One" more of a chore to sit through than expected, especially when it locks into repetition to find its way to a sellable run time, and fight scenes could certainly use more advanced choreography.