I have never seen the original Magnificent Seven. I do know that it is a remake of Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” (which I have also not seen) and that Elmer Bernstein wrote an insanely catchy and iconic theme for it.

So it goes without saying that I have no idea if this remake of a remake will live up to any of its predecessors.

There have been many dramatic Westerns in recent history but the genre has been targeted largely for its trope of expected and rampant violence used as a background for serious and bloody stories. This “Magnificent Seven” will have bullets and gunpowder in ample amounts but the well-placed winks and smirks of its cast will prevent this from being a joyless affair.

Chris Pratt has not worn out his welcome and I look forward to seeing his brand of cavalier charm applied to an Old-West action flick. Denzel looks like he should’ve been making westerns for all of his career. He looks so perfect on a horse twirling a six-shooter that I had to double check and confirm that this is his first Western. (I triple checked, it is his first Western.)

We don’t get to see too much of the other Seven but I’m glad anytime Vincent D’Onofrio shows up and Ethan Hawke is so dependable of an actor that he’s sort of a non-factor for me. The others are relatively unknown, at least in these parts, but what little we do see of them has me already looking up their credits on IMDB.

Ultimately, it’s nice to be reminded that I can be excited for a film outside of the summer blockbuster season.

Check out the video below to see my reaction and review of the trailer. Thanks!