As the years go on, it's becoming to look more and more like Hollywood are relying on remakes and reboots of old franchises to make money. This isn't always the case, but for some it's seen as ridiculous. So, when a remake of "The Magnificent Seven" was announced, it was met with a fair amount of scepticism. What was the need to remake this classic movie which has become an icon of pop culture since it's release in 1960? Two movies released last year even had titles which were pretty similar to this (Quentin Tarantino's successful Hateful Eight and Adam Sandler rightfully panned Ridiculous Six). Westerns, however, have been on the decline for a few years now, so perhaps MGM saw a chance to bring the genre back by remaking one of the most popular Westerns ever made, while making quite a bit of money on the side if it's successful. The first trailer has just been released, and it looks pretty encouraging for this reboot. Check it out below.
Overall, this movie looks quite gritty but also a lot of fun. The one thing that the trailer has sold me on is the dynamic between Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt's characters. It looks like they should have some fun banter, with Washington playing the tough bounty hunter while Pratt is the relaxed, explosion-loving scoundrel. Hopefully, that was not just the one scene we're seeing here. However, my main worry from this trailer is that the remaining 5 members of the group will not be developed as well as these two, partly because of their star power. In a movie about a group of criminals, bounty hunters and killers banding together, there has to be some interesting conflicts and team dynamic throughout the movie. Wouldn't it be boring to see these characters, who are used to being on their own and against the law, immediately work together as a flawless unit? Just look at Suicide Squad. This is something that the movie needs to achieve, and will hopefully be a main focus in some of the later trailers.
That said, as a Western, the movie is not just about fun character interactions and drama, but also some lengthy action set pieces throughout. From what we see here, the movie seems to have given us everything we wanted in that regards. Bows and arrows, gatling guns, mini cannons, revolvers, and horses are all on display here, which will hopefully be spread throughout the movie. A lot of the action looks like it will be very claustrophobic and close combat despite the use of ranged weapons. Just look at the scene with Denzel Washington in the bar scene, where glass is exploding all around him and he is fighting some gang members in close proximity. If all of the action is as detailed and as well filmed as this scene, then action lovers have got something to look forward to.
Not only the cast and the action looks great though, but also the production value of the movie. All of the sets and costume design look pretty typical of a Western movie but it all still looks incredible. I'm also going to praise the trailer for it's editing work, with the clips being put together in such a way that it doesn't give away all of the story and set pieces but still gives enough to set the tone and give audiences an idea of what to expect. This, of course, does not always reflect the outcome of the movie itself, but trailer editors need to be recognised nonetheless for their incredible contribution to the final profits of the movie. Great marketing can make or break a production.
Look, reboots are a part of the modern film industry nowadays, whether we like it or not. There's no point in complaining about it, so we might as well accept it and try to enjoy it. That said, this version of the Magnificent Seven looks like a fun remake of the classic. As long as it doesn't discard drama and characterisation, this movie looks like it should have a great team dynamic, a stellar cast and some big action sequences, all of which should make it well worth a watch come September.
The Magnificent Seven is releasing on the 23rd of September, 2016
Starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lee Byung-hun, Manuel Garcia Rulfo, Martin Sensmeier, Peter Sarsgaard, Haley Bennett
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