Review of The Magnificent Seven (2016) by Chris W — 16 Sep 2017

A valiant attempt at reviving the Western, that is well produced easy to watch cinema. The pace rattled along and the required gunslinging action was suitably tense, exciting and at times shocking (the film's opening sequence unequivocally setting a credible not comic tone).

For me what Magnificent 7 lacked was much to make it magnificent. Character backstory was light with fairly thin context to motivate our heroes and drive the plot. I suspect this is simply a symptom of the genre, but in 2017 the average filmgoer expects a bit more than enigmatic saviours who both metaphorically and in this case literally ride off into the sunset.

Fuqua does balance some of the script's inadequacies with a superb cast with Washington and Pratt in particular naturally deepening their roles with their trademark gravitas and charisma. Enjoyable but I won't be jumping back in the saddle for another Western anytime soon.