• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

First Reviews for "The Magnificent Seven"

Status
Not open for further replies.

Oersted

Member
Fuqua’s Magnificent Seven seems to be happiest when it’s mindless action spectacle, and if you’re looking for an action movie that happens to take place in the Wild West, then this is a movie that exists. But it’s disappointing that Fuqua doesn’t ask for anything more. He doesn’t care about bringing us better characters or giving them interesting relationship so that we’ll care if they live or die. He doesn’t build upon or subvert the Seven Samurai premise. The only question he raises that’s worth considering is why watch this vastly inferior remake when the 1960 version and Akira Kurosawa’s film are easily available?

http://collider.com/the-magnificent-seven-review/

It would be too easy to say “The Magnificent Seven” isn’t magnificent. It’s definitely not, but the film has an even more egregious quality: it’s uninspired. There’s no risk, no real attempts to subvert expectations, and no desire to truly give the audience something, if not entirely new, then at least surprising. “The Magnificent Seven” hires plenty of top level talent, but it turns out they’re all firing blanks.

http://theplaylist.net/magnificent-...-remake-classic-western-tiff-review-20160908/

The sheer talent of the cast here sometimes provides enough depth to get audience members to the climactic shoot-out, and there are a few definite MVPs in terms of ensemble, but it’s hard to envision this film having anywhere near the cinematic legacy of those that inspired it.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-magnificent-seven-2016

There is another addition: An ending in which Bennett’s character talks about the heroes who fought for her town in voiceover, while the camera pans across one of the most laughable CGI landscapes I’ve ever seen. “They were,” she says, before a big dramatic pause, “magnificent.” Yeah, no

http://screencrush.com/magnificent-seven-2016-review/

If remaking westerns is what it takes to get westerns made, then this “The Magnificent Seven” — which thankfully doesn’t forget to tip its 10-gallon to Elmer Bernstein’s famous score — will do for now until somebody else gets in the saddle. There’s certainly enough verve, and love for the genre, to help one get past its trouble spots, but you can’t help feeling the mercenary thinking behind rehashing this mercenary yarn.

http://www.thewrap.com/magnificent-seven-denzel-washington-chris-pratt-review-2016/

If “Seven Samurai” and the first take on “The Magnificent Seven” were about the end of a way of life, this version points to a new beginning, one in which we can build positively on the shared past that we all carry together. As one of the Seven promises in a line typical of the film’s surprisingly pointed vision of the future: “What we lost in the fire we’ll find in the ashes.”

http://www.indiewire.com/2016/09/th...view-denzel-hawke-trump-tiff-2016-1201723815/

An eyebrow-raising and ear-perking moment occurs at the end, when the opening strains of Elmer Bernstein's eternal score for the 1960 version blast from the soundtrack. For some, this will provide an all-too-vivid reminder of a film that's better than the one they've just seen.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/the-magnificent-seven-924855

Lock if old
 

Jarmel

Banned
An ending in which Bennett’s character talks about the heroes who fought for her town in voiceover, while the camera pans across one of the most laughable CGI landscapes I’ve ever seen. “They were,” she says, before a big dramatic pause, “magnificent."

You know Ellie, we really are the Magnificent Seven.
 
Didn't expect it to be as good as the 60s movie tbh but I hope it at least entertains me. Fuqua movies are only once in a while decent

Glad to hear they reuse the old theme at least once
 
The trailers suggested it was going to be pretty mediocre, bland, and safe. There wasn't a memorably funny or memorably gritty thing about it... just generic PG-13 fare.
 

4Tran

Member
If “Seven Samurai” and the first take on “The Magnificent Seven” were about the end of a way of life, this version points to a new beginning, one in which we can build positively on the shared past that we all carry together. As one of the Seven promises in a line typical of the film’s surprisingly pointed vision of the future: “What we lost in the fire we’ll find in the ashes.”
This sounds pretty bad. I expect new takes on older stories to make radical changes, but reversing the main theme of the original seems to be a big misstep.
 

Sanjuro

Member
AKKMI6D.gif
 
I saw it at the TIFF premiere and enjoyed it as a decent action movie, it's generally well shot and the action scenes are exciting, I thought the bullets just felt like they had a good weight to them when people got shot so expect lots of bodies flying through windows. The actors are generally pretty good (although 90% of the time Chris Pratt is just being Chris Pratt, and Ethan Hawke's whiny face is a little annoying). Plot-wise the character's motivations can kinda feel contrived and come out of nowhere and the brief drama for
Ethan Hawke's character
felt pointless. The plot is obvious and generic but I had a good time watching it and would definitely say it's at least worth watching on Netflix.
 

RedSwirl

Junior Member
Watched the original western for the first time and refreshed myself on Samurai. The trailer for this one looked like a surprisingly safe action movie but I'm still interested to see what they do with the plot and character archetypes of the films it's based on.
 

Bronx-Man

Banned
There is another addition: An ending in which Bennett’s character talks about the heroes who fought for her town in voiceover, while the camera pans across one of the most laughable CGI landscapes I’ve ever seen. “They were,” she says, before a big dramatic pause, “magnificent.” Yeah, no
So we're some kind of...Suicide Squad?
 

MattKeil

BIGTIME TV MOGUL #2
This was never going to be as good as Seven Samurai or the 1960 film. I'm curious about it as a standalone project, but the temptation to just watch the 1960 version and call it a day is mighty strong.
 
Damn, I wanted this movie to be good, part of what made the original great was the different personalities of the magnificent 7 and their interactions with each other, if they put those apart to make room for more explosions well, I'll skip this then.
 

Quick

Banned
Saw it a couple of days ago, it was a fun movie. Ending was pure cheese and the editing was a bit off, but I ain't even mad.

Cast was charming and entertaining overall.
 

kmfdmpig

Member
directed by Antoine Fuqua lol

I know that people are typically not impressed by him, but to me the following is a pretty solid list of action films:

Replacement Killers (stylish, and fun)
Training Day (a legitimately great film that most directors would be happy to have made)
Shooter (silly, but fun)
Olympus has Fallen (much better than White House Down and as close to a modern Die Hard as we'll likely get)
Equalizer (a movie overshadowed by John Wick, but a solid action/revenge film)

His films are typically not that deep, but they've always had a good look and pace and have mostly been enjoyable.
 
This looks like a good version of "Gangster Squad" with better action — not at all trying to have much substance.

So be it


The only American director to get a proper action movie-performance out of Chow Yun Fat


Have to disagree on that last part. The Corruptor is his best American film by far. It might also have Marky Mark's best performance after Boogie Nights. It also has one of the best car chases ever put to film. The Replacement Killers is shit in comparison.
 

Tugatrix

Member
I know that people are typically not impressed by him, but to me the following is a pretty solid list of action films:

Replacement Killers (stylish, and fun)
Training Day (a legitimately great film that most directors would be happy to have made)
Shooter (silly, but fun)
Olympus has Fallen (much better than White House Down and as close to a modern Die Hard as we'll likely get)
Equalizer (a movie overshadowed by John Wick, but a solid action/revenge film)

His films are typically not that deep, but they've always had a good look and pace and have mostly been enjoyable.

No love for southpaw, the best movie in terms of boxing portrait itself, it was the first movie where is clear that the fighter improved his technique for a fight
 

Fersis

It is illegal to Tag Fish in Tag Fishing Sanctuaries by law 38.36 of the GAF Wildlife Act
Probably not. Western action plus Denzel and Pratt? Plus the set-up and tropes are so common place that it really doesn't have that "how dare they/sacrosanct" aura IMO, compared to say...a religious chariot-racing epic

Dont forget Ethan friggin' Hawke!
 
I know that people are typically not impressed by him, but to me the following is a pretty solid list of action films:

Replacement Killers (stylish, and fun)
Training Day (a legitimately great film that most directors would be happy to have made)
Shooter (silly, but fun)
Olympus has Fallen (much better than White House Down and as close to a modern Die Hard as we'll likely get)
Equalizer (a movie overshadowed by John Wick, but a solid action/revenge film)

His films are typically not that deep, but they've always had a good look and pace and have mostly been enjoyable.
Fuqua and Denzel is always a good time. Hell, I'll watch Denzel in anything, but badass western hero Denzel is a big draw for me.
 

kmfdmpig

Member
No love for southpaw, the best movie in terms of boxing portrait itself, it was the first movie where is clear that the fighter improved his technique for a fight

I haven't seen it or Tears of the Sun, but have wanted to check out both. I hate boxing, but quite like a lot of boxing movies, so I'm interested in Southpaw.

Fuqua and Denzel is always a good time. Hell, I'll watch Denzel in anything, but badass western hero Denzel is a big draw for me.

Agreed, in both Training Day and Equalizer his role was utterly compelling (although to be fair, Denzel is almost always compelling). Honestly, if they cloned Denzel a few times and he was in 10-15 movies a year I think I'd be OK with that.
 

hwalker84

Member
Saw this last night. Solid movie. Nothing that wow's you or says this is a classic. The motivations for the Seven to join up and do what they do is weak but every single performance is excellent. Denzel is Denzel swag level on 1,000,000 with the black outfit and black horse.
 
I know that people are typically not impressed by him, but to me the following is a pretty solid list of action films:

Replacement Killers (stylish, and fun)
Training Day (a legitimately great film that most directors would be happy to have made)
Shooter (silly, but fun)
Olympus has Fallen (much better than White House Down and as close to a modern Die Hard as we'll likely get)
Equalizer (a movie overshadowed by John Wick, but a solid action/revenge film)

His films are typically not that deep, but they've always had a good look and pace and have mostly been enjoyable.

I agree, he's pretty solid. Watched Shooter again recently and it's an enjoyable romp.
 

Harmen

Member
I will watch it because I love the casting so much and I typically enjoy "superhero" westerns. Still, I feel they could've done more with this film than just the usual action flick.
 

Arkeband

Banned
An ending in which Bennett’s character talks about the heroes who fought for her town in voiceover, while the camera pans across one of the most laughable CGI landscapes I’ve ever seen. “They were,” she says, before a big dramatic pause, “magnificent."

LOL

Jesus Christ. I should have gotten into writing movie scripts.
 

Kinyou

Member
So we're some kind of...Suicide Squad?
I seriously don't get this urge to work the movie title into the script. What exactly is the expectation behind it? That people go "WOAH, SO THAT'S WHY THE MOVIE WAS CALLED THAT! SO SMART!"

Probably the only time it didn't make me cringe was Dark Knight.
 
I seriously don't get this urge to work the movie title into the script. What exactly is the expectation behind it? That people go "WOAH, SO THAT'S WHY THE MOVIE WAS CALLED THAT! SO SMART!"

Probably the only time it didn't make me cringe was Dark Knight.

I don't know that it's always people trying to work the name into the script. I think sometimes they're taking an element, phrase, or naming convention that's already part of the script and naming the film after that. Movies go through working titles, too, before a final name is settled on.
 

hwalker84

Member
I will watch it because I love the casting so much and I typically enjoy "superhero" westerns. Still, I feel they could've done more with this film than just the usual action flick.

100% agree but I'm just going to judge it for what it is not what I hoped it would be with this cast. It's a run of the mill revenge plot that you can see a mile away with great cast performances.
 
So we're some kind of...Suicide Squad?

Watched X-Men Apocalypse the other day. That movie was a piece of shit, but Rose Byrne's line about Apocalypse was hilarious.

"And wherever he ruled, eventually it would end in disaster, cataclysm, some kind of... apocalypse."

I don't know how you write shit like that and don't realize how fucking terrible it's going to read.

And then Xavier does it again with Havok.

"Alex, destroy Cerebro. Wreak havoc!"

Just, terrible.
 

rothgar

Member
An ending in which Bennett’s character talks about the heroes who fought for her town in voiceover, while the camera pans across one of the most laughable CGI landscapes I’ve ever seen. “They were,” she says, before a big dramatic pause, “magnificent."
Better ending : "You know guys, we really are the Magnificent 7"
Gonna go try to see it with my dad. He loves westerns.
 
I know that people are typically not impressed by him, but to me the following is a pretty solid list of action films:

Replacement Killers (stylish, and fun)
Training Day (a legitimately great film that most directors would be happy to have made)
Shooter (silly, but fun)
Olympus has Fallen (much better than White House Down and as close to a modern Die Hard as we'll likely get)
Equalizer (a movie overshadowed by John Wick, but a solid action/revenge film)

His films are typically not that deep, but they've always had a good look and pace and have mostly been enjoyable.

I agree with this. I also really enjoyed Tears in the Sun. Honestly, if Fuqua were directing in the '80s he would probably be a part of Joel Silver's stable which is fine by me.
 
It was pretty entertaining. As a Western, it's nothing you haven't seen before and the characters don't have much character. But the cast is very likable and have good chemistry, so even though you don't care for them because of personality or goals, you do root for them.

The pacing was pretty swift, doesn't waste any time getting into the action and drawing the group together. If you were hoping for some time to get know these guys or the town, so you really feel for their fight, this isn't that movie

But the action was decent and it really doesn't get old seeing the classic unflappable western heroes talking big and taking on an small army.

1)
What kind of voice was D'onofrio going for? It was just weird.

2)
Pratt's plan to take out the Gatling gun was just so stupid. It almost crossed over into satire. "So...wait...he's just going to ride straight at them..."
 
Movie was entertaining. Fun cast and good dialogue for the most part. In particular I found Vincent D'Onofrio's character a little weird at first but he was badass when the action started. Yeah there were a couple of town shots that had really bad CG. other then that the rest of the sets and cast wardrobe were top notch.

One question I had. What was up with the camp/tents outside of town?

"Alex, destroy Cerebro. Wreak havoc!"

Cmon that liken was definitely a hit.
 
Saw it Friday.

Decent flick but it really underutilises its cast and the awesome chemistry they had for the sake of a lot of unnecessary exposition.

Action sequences and the like were dope though.
 
It was fun. We don't get many films in this setting and this was perfectly enjoyable.

Could have done way more with its crazy good cast, but there were still some really great moments.

Cheesy ending, but oh well.
 
Expected this. I don't think Fuqua is a good director. Of course, it'd be hard for any director to remake a film like this without intense scrutiny.
 

shintoki

sparkle this bitch
Saw it, it really wasn't good.

I liked the first 2/3 and thought the cast had a lot of chemistry. They worked well off of each other.

But the last 1/3 is fairly bad. From the action, to story, to acting even. I guess to say, there was very little tension in the finale. The small gunfight before it was far more interesting and tense.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom