Westerns, for a long time they were as profitable as horror movies and just as big a staple in the industry. Though their popularity has waned over the years they are still a viable route to tell stories that couldn't happen in a modern setting. The Magnificent Seven remake knows this and takes advantage by upping the ante of it's predecessor, while still holding true to the genre.
Looking to mine for gold, greedy industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard) seizes control of the town of Rose Creek. With their lives in jeopardy, Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) and other desperate residents turn to bounty hunter Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington) for help. Chisolm recruits an eclectic group of gunslingers to take on Bogue and his ruthless henchmen. With a deadly showdown on the horizon, the seven mercenaries soon find themselves fighting for more than just money once the bullets start to fly.
Antoine Fuqua direction coupled with Mauro Fiore's cinematography creates a western that is paced like a modern day action movie but feels like a classic western at the same time. All the action takes place in-camera and add a level of authenticity that many movies have lacked thanks to the advent of CGI.
The cast is exceptional all the way around. Everyone is given ample time to shine and they do so brightly. Washington, Hawke, D' Onofrio, Hun Lee, Garcia-Rulfo, Sensmeier and Pratt come together like old friends who are just having a good time first and making a 90 million dollar movie second. Hopefully this won't be the last western we see Washington in as he feels very natural in the role.
The only downside to the movie is that its PG-13 rating hinders the dialogue a bit making it feel clunky and a bit forced at times. Also the lack of blood makes a few of the deaths look hokey where the gun goes bang and the guy just falls over (but I guess this could be taken as an homage to the westerns of the past).
Magnificent Seven is a fun, action-packed thrill ride that is rough but a little soft on the grit. Yet it still works beautifully and lives up to the name Magnificent Seven. If you want a fun movie that is visually packed with action and classic stunt work, look no farther.
Rating: 7.5/10 Stars
Rich Stile @TheDevilsEyes1