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When it was first announced that the classic 1960 Western The Magnificent Seven was getting a remake, fans were quick to choose sides in a rather spirited debate about whether it was a smart choice or an absolute travesty. But it turns out that it’s neither—just an entertaining adventure that fails to live up to the original.
The Magnificent Seven tells the story of the small Western town of Rose Creek, where the local farmers are losing their land—and their lives—to Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard) and his mining company. Desperate to take their town back, they reach out to bounty hunter Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), who puts together a team of seven outlaws, troublemakers, and hired guns. But after they ride into Rose Creek and declare war on Bogue, they have just a week to turn a town full of farmers into an army.
Antoine Fuqua’s take on the classic Western (which was already a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai) may have new characters and a slightly different story, but it still features plenty of Wild West action and gun-slinging—and a likable cast, too. Washington is strong and no-nonsense as the leader of the pack, while Chris Pratt balances him out as wise-cracking, gun-toting, card-trick-loving Faraday. At times, his silliness goes too far—and it feels rather out of place. But those moments of humor also make the film lighter than the typical slow, serious Western. And while that may frustrate true Western fans, it will come as a relief to viewers who typically shy away from Westerns because of their often deliberate and drawn-out pacing.
This ensemble of tough guys offers plenty of personalities, relationships, and rivalries. They’re a motley group of men with different stories and differing views. But a big part of what made the original Magnificent Seven so magnificent was its development. It took the time to introduce the characters—their histories, their weaknesses, and their motivations. It made the audience truly care about the characters and their fate. Here, however, the characters are minimally developed; their back stories come in hints and asides, and their relationships are loose. They may have signed on to go into battle together, but they don’t seem especially passionate about it. And that makes the build-up to their final battle less gripping.
Still, as far as remakes go, The Magnificent Seven isn’t terrible. It’s an entertaining film with some interesting characters and a striking Wild West setting. But it simply isn’t as powerful—nor will it be as memorable—as the original.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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