Is Magnificent Seven fantastic? #movie_review

Fall for a typical western storyline with amazing characters. I’m giving The Magnificent Seven an A.

When a money hungry mine owner, Bartholomew Bogue, takes over the town of Rose Creek, he kills those people who stand in his way, enslaves men to work in his mine and burns down the church. A widow seeks revenge when she hires bounty hunter, Chisholm, played by Denzel Washington to destroy the man who murdered her husband.

​Chisholm recruits a band of outlaws, gamblers, bandits and friends to take on Bogue. Each man has his own reason for going after the dangerous mine owner. In addition, each of the seven has his own secrets he’s hiding, most especially Chisholm. This violent standoff is the town’s last stand, and maybe each outlaws.

​Chris Pratt is hilarious as gambler, Faraday. His snarky wisecracks provide many of the laugh-out-loud moments, while Vincent D'Onofrio’s, Jack Horn is eerie with his Bible verses juxtaposed with violence. The characters are three dimensional, with realistic Native American and Mexican representations unlike many of the earlier westerns. No funky sombreros nor ‘me-talk-white-man’ speak.

​A remake of a remake. The original movie was a Japanese movie about seven samurai who fought against large numbers to protect their village. The 1960’s Magnificent Seven was directed by and starring Yule Brenner in the Chisholm role. There were differences in the storylines and characters from the 1960 movie and this one. 

​For people who enjoyed the original, this movie does have some of the same lines but has an updated feel. For those who haven’t seen the original, this movie will keep you wondering what will happen next. The ending shocks you, as we learn more and more about each of the characters’ motivations. Other than the typical western storyline of one man or a small group against the larger evil, this movie entertains.