Magnificent 7

The over hyped western of the year, Magnificent 7, left me utterly cold from the constantly playing previews on the Seattle area TV.  I liked the original series from the 1960's and I highly doubted that any modern remake could recapture the charm of those films.  So, not going to go.  Quite simple.

But, my son called up and invited me to go with him!  Wow!  So, in the name of 'bonding' I went.  And then he showed up with his girlfriend ... so much for a bonding activity.

The worse negative for this movie was that the body count was so high that I am fairly sure that all deaths in the Lincoln County Wars - paled by comparison - perhaps in the history of the entire "wild west".  They stated that a mercenary army of 200 was coming against the town.  However, I may have to watch this movie five times to actually count how many "died" in the movie!  I am guessing that those 200 were closer to 800 deaths, or each mercenary died four times!

The abject violence and complete disregard for human life was really only exhibited by a few in the old west and fortunately their lives were short and ended violently.  Even unwashed heathen did not tolerate deviation from their norm!

The date range for the setting of this movie is a bit of an enigma, so firearms could be reasonable or not.  I would vote not, unless the 1880's (at the earliest) was the target.  Of course, clothing and leather were virtually all wrong - even for the 1880's.

On the positive side, women were treated fairly well - which would be correct on the frontier.  Lots of cleavage showing, which would not have been flaunted about, but that is about it concerning the women.  Apparently having cleavage is now considered acting.

The story is similar to the original but the male acting roles are far superior.  The original had far better female roles, but then - they actually used some very famous actresses in Mexico.

In the original I was appalled by Robert Vaughn's role.  Years later I learned that he had been cast, then earned an Academy Award.  So, the producers rushed to come up with something dramatic he could do - the net result - one of the worst portrayals of PTSD ever thought up!

Over all, I gave this one an owner status when it hits the stores, probably by Christmas if they are smart.  Even though it looks like a Tarantino film, thankfully it is nowhere as disjointed nor as in bad taste as what he cranks out ...  But it is still a peace that glorifies violence, unfortunately.

Unlike the original, I actually saw myself in one of the characters in this  remake.  I was a bit taken back by that.  But, yeah, one of those troubled 7 would easily have been me yesterday and still today.  Sigh ...