The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Although I have seen the original, it was so long, long ago (Over 25 years I think) that I do not remember anything about it. The Magnificent Seven is a 2016 American Western action film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Nic Pizzolatto and Richard Wenk. It is a remake of the 1960 western film of the same name, which in turn was a reimagination of the Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 Japanese film Seven Samurai. The film stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lee Byung-hun, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Martin Sensmeier, Haley Bennett and Peter Sarsgaard.

The film pretty much follows the script of the original and the Hollywood remake classic (which makes you wonder why they bothered in the first place). A small mining town named Rose Creek, is looted by robber baron Bartholomew Bogue and his horde of criminals and when the good folk try to stand up to him, some of the men are killed on the street. Emma Cullen, who’se husband Matthew was one of those murdered, goes to the next town with her friend Teddy to get help and runs into warrant officer Sam Chisolm who was there on legal business. Along with gambler and Joshua Faraday, who is impressed with Sam’s skills, Sam agrees to defend the town on hearing that Bogue is the one who is harrassing the townsfolk. They are later joined by sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux, knife-wielding Billy Rocks, notorious Mexican outlaw Vasquez, skilled tracker Jack Horne, and Comanche warrior Red Harvest.

After they arrive in Rose Creek they confront and shoot dead enforcer McCann and his men, shoot dead 22 of them, and drive the corrupt sheriff away with a warning to leave Rose Creek alone. Surmising that Bogue and his forces will return in a week, the seven train the townspeople to defend their home and grow fond of them. Robicheaux, haunted by the horrors of the Civil War and fearing the killing he will be a part of, abandons the group and is replaced by Cullen. Bogue and his huge army of men arrive and attack the town but find that the people have rigged traps and bombs all over. A massive shootout ensues, during which Robicheaux rejoins the group. Bogue then unveils his secret weapon, a Gatling gun, with which he decimates the town and kills many of both sides. Realizing they’re outgunned, the seven evacuate the townspeople and mount their last stand. Horne is killed by Bogue’s Comanche assassin Denali, who is later killed by Red Harvest.

Robicheaux and Rocks are killed by a second round of gunfire. Faraday then rides up to the remainder of Bogue’s men and the Gatling gun. After he is riddled with bullets he makes a final attempt to destroy the Gatling gun, by detonating a stick of dynamite destroying the Gatling gun, the rest of Bogue’s men, and himself. Bogue flees into town, where he is confronted by Chisolm, who disarms and wounds Bogue. As Chisolm is strangling Bogue, he reveals that Bogue and his men raped and murdered his mother and sisters during a raid several years earlier, in which he himself survived being hanged. Bogue is then fatally shot by Cullen while attempting to shoot Chisolm with a hidden gun in his boot. Faraday, Robicheaux, Rocks and Horne are buried in town and honoured by the people of Rose Creek as heroes, while Chisolm, Vasquez and Red Harvest ride off. The film ends with Cullen remarking that their heroism made them legends and that it was “magnificent”.

I found the film boring in several places and then it picks up towards the final 3rd. The cast do a pretty good job but you won’t find the film memorable at all. I give it a…..7 outta 10!

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