The Magnificent Seven

The Magnificent Seven, frustratingly, keeps up 2016's record of delivering Blockbusters with a distinct 'meh' factor.

Perhaps not daring to dishonour the 1960 original it's based on (or Kurosawa's Seven Samurai which, in turn, that was based on) Antoine Fuqua's film just feels a little behind the times when compared with this year's stellar Western quota (The Revenant and The Hateful Eight being the two most prevalent examples.)

As such, expect a breezy plot line about a ragtag crew of gunslingers joining forces with some 1800's townsfolk to win back their town from a rich tycoon hoping to harvest the land for mining purposes.

The titular seven (plus two of the aforementioned townsfolk who go along for the ride) are all expertly cast: Denzel Washington is the master at these types of roles, Chris Pratt is pretty much the same character in every film but his Han Solo-esque rogueishness is still gloriously watchable and Ethan Hawke continues to be vastly underrated. I would go on but you get the gist.

The mixture of characters work together and each is distinct enough and rounded-off as the film progresses (you do care when the bullets start flying) but their disparity and mix of backgrounds are not at all a topic of debate. This jars slightly when you consider the more modern type of Western being delivered in recent times (the earlier two films mentioned and Django Unchained immediately spring to mind) and how these ethical and moral debates are introduced to chime and comment on our current society. It smacks of Fuqua feeling he doesn't want to deliver a message or any sort of political insight to the film.

It's entertaining enough (with a spectacular final battle) but everything feels a little convenient and 'seen it all before' (ignore the fact that this is a remake for a second.) It's a simple enough watch but not one to reward repeat viewings.

3 stars ***