The Magnificent Seven (2016), PG-13, ★★★

Did you know that the 1960 version of The Magnificent Seven is a remake of Seven Samurai, a masterpiece from Akira Kurosawa? Well, even if you thought it is irrelevant to the review, it is not. Again, this is the year of pointless remakes or sequels and a few of them are in consideration for that list of trashy concoctions that I compile at the end of the year that people or executives would define it as entertainment. This movie is a disguise for a fun summer western movie and even though the movie does not deliver comparably to its two preceded films, the movie aims exactly for what it aspires to be. I understood, after the film was over, that director Antoine Fuqua, wanted to make a fun western with not much poetry and he did it.

Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard) and his henchmen are terrorizing a town called Rose Creek because of low profits. When the townspeople congregate in the church, Bogue and his men come in to say that there is little profit in the town and even though the people want to protect their land and family, he instructs them that the will return in three weeks to see if their profit has vastly improved. But before he leaves, Matthew Cullen (Matt Bomer) calls him out and Bogue kills him in front of his wife, Emma (Haley Bennett) and also kills other people in the townspeople leaving them for dead for days to have the townspeople know what they are up against.

Warrant officer Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington) is riding away after killing some bandits as Emma and her associate, Teddy Q (Luke Grimes) approach him. She explain's the town's situation with Bogue and she gives him all the money she has to offer. When she mentions Bogue's name, Sam accepts the offer. Chisolm, Emma and Teddy ride by Faraday (Chris Pratt) as Chisolm exchanges to pay for Faraday's horse for him to join the cause.

Faraday and Chisolm arrive at Volcano Springs to find Billy Rocks (Byung Hun-Lee) in a duel with someone, resulting in Billy killing him with a knife being thrown in the chest. They also find Goodnight Robichaeux (Ethan Hawke) who has a reputation of being a great sharpshooter. Faraday and Chisolm approach the two men as Robicheaux is getting a shave and they agree after learning it is a paid job. They ask Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), a Mexican outlaw, Jack Horne (Vincent D'Onofrio), a tracker and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier), a Comanche warrior in which Chisolm speaks to him in his language in exchange for an organ taste. So, there it is: The Magnificent Seven has been grouped together. Watch out, Bogue.

The movie is fun to watch as we witness so much enthusiasm and testosterone on-screen. If you think about it's a Western version of The Avengers. What Antoine Fuqua is able to accomplish is a fun vibe of the West, seeing a diverse group taking on a ruthless thug who wants to see the town running in great shape and getting more money. Now, again, it is not as good as the 1960 version and certainly, not the Akira Kurosawa film, but it is a modern take of what this generation would view as a group of people who are willing to potentially sacrifice themselves for a town. I appreciate they never address race or colorization as a factor because they view themselves people with certain backstories and some personalities, especially when they get along.

The cast is solid with Denzel Washington taking the lead as he is a sharp-shooting bad-ass who upholds the law by helping the town to defeat the renegade thugs. Chris Pratt is charismatic but at times, he felt off place with his charm but other than that, he has chemistry with Washington. Ethan Hawke portrayed the most interesting character and I wish that we learned a little more about him. Vincent D'Onofrio was funny and the rest of the cast is interesting especially Byung Hun-Lee as the knife-throwing person that can get people be more careful to what they say otherwise, a knife-throw will get you into your grave. Peter Sarsgaard was one-note as he is tonally cruel and soulless whereas in comparison to Eli Wallach in the 1960 version, Wallach's character is more human than Sarsgaard's character.

The movie soars when it comes to magnificently staged action sequences in which the Magnificent Seven is having a showdown against the villains. There is no shaky-cam action going on. I believe the action is done real well and you can sense that you do not want to be a part of the action. The cinematography is breathtaking with some poetic shots as the villains ride into the town to take down the seven. What was lacking was some character development and the movie ends with an unnecessary voiceover that felt hackneyed. But, again, Fuqua aimed for a modern and fun take on a western film and he did it. If you are a fan of westerns and Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt, the price of admission will be worth it. Giddy-up onto the theater!

***