*LIGHT SPOILERS BELOW* Everyone besides Denzel Washington has no motivation. And that is one of the over arching issues with this movie, it doesn't know what it wants to be. And it isn't quite an action movie instead it is this kind of middle ground that just makes the movie feel lost and out of place. This movie of the three has weakest storytelling but some of the best action, but it doesn't feel like a western. It has a great deal of the same issues but they are exacerbated in this third iteration. The third American remake of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. In summary, has its strengths but not so magnificent and one does question the point of it. The illogical and anaemic ending underwhelms drastically as well. Won't carp about the political correctness like some have but it doesn't add anything. The story suffers from an overlong length, a sluggish pace, a lack of tension or suspense and heavy-handed and pointless political elements. The dialogue is awkward, particularly the humour which falls flat and often feels misplaced. While there's a lot of blood and violence, there is little soul or heart underneath and some of it is gratuitous. Faring the worst is Peter Sarsgaard, who just isn't sinister or intense enough, even in a severely underwritten role he looks like he's sleepwalking. Didn't think either Chris Pratt or Vincent D'Onofrio, both decent and more in other things, fitted particularly well, Pratt especially jarred and his humorous lines lack wit and don't gel. Others don't fare so well, not helped by that most of the characters are not that interesting and sketchily developed. The most interesting character relationship is between Washington and Hawke and gives the film the few glimpses of realism and substance. The best performances come from Denzel Washington, charismatic as ever, Ethan Hawke excelling in an atypical role and Haley Bennett mixing toughness and vulnerability adeptly. Casting is very variable, some of the acting is very good, some of it doesn't work. While it is nowhere near as unforgettable or as iconic as one of film's all time great scores, James Horner's score here is demonstrative of what a great talent he was and how his tragic far too early death is still a sad loss. Some of the action excites and the direction has a dark grit that is typical of Antoine Fuqua. It is well made visually, with an atmospherically gritty look and an evocative setting. 'The Magnificent Seven' has its strengths but fails to live up to its title and one does question the point of it. Primarily 'Psycho', 'The Wicker Man', 'Rollerball', 'Ghostbusters' and 'Stepford Wives'. A remake of a great film that is a remake of an even greater film (Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai'), there are worse remakes out there than 2016's 'The Magnificent Seven'.
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