Magnificent Seven

​Hey, guys! I'm glad to be back. This post is going to be a movie review for the remake of Magnificent Seven. As usual, I'm going to point out the strengths and weaknesses of the film. Let's take a look at the details.​

​First of all, I read several negative reviews for this movie. Don't listen to them. I found quite a few positive elements. Basically, Magnificent Seven caters to people who appreciate westerns with a lot of action. I would say that's the target audience. It has a diverse cast of characters and breaks away from the white washed model of western films. The plot isn't very complex. A corrupt land baron and industrialist named Bartholomew Bogue wants to take over a small town and steal their resources. His thugs kill several members of the community and establish tyrannical control. This event leads to a quest for vengeance and justice.

​The remake has multiple ethnic groups and I was fine with that element because it's still realistic. Believe it or not, quite a few ethnic groups lived in the Wild West. I thought Denzel Washington was very strong as the warrant officer named Sam Chisolm. Granted, Denzel Washington usually has good performances. He played the role as a hard boiled hero who feels conflicted about his past and duties. Ultimately, Chisolm is the type of guy who wants to do the right thing. Chris Pratt as the gambler Joshua Faraday was entertaining and brought a more humorous element to the movie.

​Actually, parts of the film are very serious and show a town in dire straights. Some of the action is more dramatic than fun. I have a small spoiler here. A lot of people die in this film, but that makes the situation more realistic. Seven roguish heroes and a small group of townspeople are going to struggle against a wealthy industrialist and his army of mercenaries. I was glad it wasn't a fluffy western that doesn't kill any of the major characters. These townspeople need to earn their happy ending. Despite the drama, the film is very fun and entertaining with gun slinging, explosions, and quite a few actions scenes. The story's pacing is quick and there's plenty of humor. It certainly prompts you to root for the underdog.  The film reminds us that determination can help us achieve great things.  

​I definitely can't ignore the negative elements. Fans of the original movie or television series will probably be disappointed. The remake might not stack up against its predecessors. It largely relies on action and humor instead of substance. If you enjoy serious westerns and Clint Eastwood, this probably isn't the right film for you. Some viewers might think the remake has too many action scenes. The trailers looked fun and the film has a PG-13 rating, so I thought it would be appropriate for kids. Not really. I'm pretty sure a lot of kids will think Magnificent Seven is too serious, violent, and depressing. It has humor, but kids probably won't understand the joke. Also, it's just not original. Practically everything in the remake has already been done in several westerns. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of viewers believe this movie is just another disappointing remake.

​What about the steampunk fans? Quite a few movies blend steampunk elements with the Wild West. Magnificent Seven isn't a steampunk film at all, but fans of the subgenre might like this movie. It has a lot of action and rebellion, which usually appeals to steampunk enthusiasts. Personally, I thought the film was a lot of fun, but lacking some quality. It was still worth the movie ticket.

​That's all for now. Leave a comment if you want to address more details about the film. I'll be back next week with a brand new post. Best of wishes and enjoy your night at the movies.