‘Magnificent’ Movie Back in Theaters
In theaters this weekend, a classic western gets revived with a new approach in “The Magnificent Seven.”
Originally released in 1960 the film shares the story about a band of misfit mercenaries that come together to protect the small Mexican village from an evil outlaw.
While the essence of the film is there, the casting and the antagonist have been given a major facelift.
“The big difference between the new version of ‘The Magnificent Seven’ and the revered 1960 feature is the ethnic background of the main characters. The titular seven in director Antoine Fuqua’s take (2016) are a diverse bunch, while the ruthless villain of the piece is no longer a Mexican bandito but, instead, a cutthroat white capitalist,” wrote Todd McCarthy for The Hollywood Reporter.
The characters in the remake are named different than the original and include Chisolm (Denzel Washington, “Training Day” and “American Gangster”), Josh Faraday (Chris Pratt “Parks and Recreation” and “Jurassic World”), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke, “Gattaca” and “Before Sunset”), Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio, “Full Metal Jacket” and “Men in Black”), Billy Rocks (Byung-hun Lee, “I Saw the Devil” and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation”), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, “Cake” and “Bless Me, Ultima”) and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier, “Lilin’s Brood” and “False Memory Syndrome”).
In this update the villain, Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard, “Jarhead” and “Orphan”) is trying to take over the small village so he can have the property that has gold buried underneath.
While some may be looking for a deeper reason as to why Fuqua choose a diverse cast, Washington wants people to just go to the film to have a good time.
“The average person who’s paying to see it is just looking for a good time. When I did ‘Cry Freedom,’ a doctor friend told me: ‘Denzel, I have life and death in my hands every single day. I go to the movies to escape.’ What I got from that was that just because it’s important to me doesn’t mean it’s important to the everyday person. We just try to give them enough to get the monkey off their back so they can feel like: ‘Hey, I’m Chris Pratt up there,’ or ‘I’m Denzel.’ It ain’t that deep,” he told Ryan Gilbey in an interview for The Guardian.
The film is rated PG-13 for extended and intense sequences of Western violence, and for historical smoking, some language and suggestive material.
Other films coming to theaters this weekend include:
n “Storks” starring the voices of Andy Samberg, Jennifer Aniston and Ty Burrell and directed by Nicholas Stoller and Dough Sweetland in this animated, family film about a stork who must figure out how to deliver a baby after they have stopped offering this service years ago.
The film is rated PG for mild action and some thematic elements.
n “The Dressmaker” starring Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth and Hugo Weaving and directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse about a glamorous woman who must go back to her rural, Australian hometown, where she makes over the women of the town to extract revenge.
The film is rated R for brief language and a scene of violence.
n “Queen of Katwe” starring Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong’o and directed by Mira Nair in this biographical drama about a girl from Uganda who sees her life change after she discovers chess.
The film is rated PG for thematic elements, an accident scene and some suggestive material.