A new, fully diversified, re-imagining of the Technicolor classic featuring a good cast, a good script, and all the action you could want in one helping.
The opening sequence has the assembled townsfolk in church discussing their plight caused by "Bogue" (Sargaard) who gives an excellent indictment of both God and capitalism in a most self-serving way. Once he has them terrified he empties the church and the mayhem begins. Bogue wants the town for his own to compliment his gold mining company within earshot.
Now comes "Sam Chisolm" (Denzel) into a saloon looking for a desperado. After brief conversation with the bar tender (the perp) violence ensues and we learn that he is the most awesome shot in all of the Golden West. Soon, after hooking up with Emma Cullen (Bennett) he recruits six other men to fight Bogue's army of thugs. Not only is Denzel a super shot his six recruits are equally astonishing. Some gimmicks never die but at least they stopped to reload every once in a while.
This is really an up-to-date Western with the overall story and characters. We develop just a tiny bit of each character by learning their sins against society and, in some cases, their weirdness (D'Onfrio).
The action sequences were lengthy and satisfying (for you savages) and were the principal character in the film. Good news.
This was not an actors movie although Denzel and Sarsgaard did well for what they were given. This was a stuntman's movie with all the dying and falling and rolling about. Nothing really disappointing at all...in fact, it was far better than I expected. This was not a "personality" movie but a good action-drama film with light moments (Pratt and D'Onfrio).
Go ahead and saddle up with the ball and chain and gallop on down to the local picture show. You will enjoy it and never think about a black man slinging around a gun in 1879 in the Old West.
This is a new, universally acceptable kind of Western. Enjoy.
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Topic - 'The Magnificent Seven': Between the goal posts . . . - Billy Wonka 17:22:17 09/23/16 (11)
- I'm guessing the Korean dude reprises Coburn's role using throwing stars. Nt - geoffkait 09:41:37 09/25/16 (2)
- I knew one who was deadly with chopsticks... - genungo 09:46:54 09/25/16 (1)
- That's Wednesday nights 5-7 @ Ming's all you can eat buffet... - musetap 11:03:31 09/25/16 (0)
- it is a godawful bloodbath, 63/77 on RT is generous imo - PhilJ 14:57:52 09/24/16 (5)
- RE: it is a godawful bloodbath, 63/77 on RT is generous imo - Steve O 23:01:14 09/24/16 (0)
- RE: it is a godawful bloodbath, 63/77 on RT is generous imo - mark.korda@myfairpoint.net 15:31:59 09/24/16 (3)
- Why? - mkuller 00:08:35 09/25/16 (0)
- I think their agents push them to stay in the public eye (and the money) - PhilJ 16:56:32 09/24/16 (1)
- I think you've hit the nail on the head. - genungo 05:31:00 09/25/16 (0)
- RE: 'The Magnificent Seven': Between the goal posts . . . - mkuller 11:01:24 09/24/16 (1)
- I will have to revisit the original. Although I'm a modern film guy. * - Billy Wonka 09:22:24 09/25/16 (0)