The Magnificent Seven

LANDON ***1/2
It is so rare to see an action movie that hits all the right notes.  So imagine my shock to discover that "The Magnificent Seven" nails just about all of them.  A remake of the 1960s classic of the same name, Antoine Fuqua has managed to make this iteration feel so totally fresh.  First and foremost, it's a lot of fun.  It's the most fun I've had at the movies all year.  It's filled with action sequences that are all insanely exhilarating and intense.  The cast of actors chosen to play our seven heroes is spot on, especially the always spectacular Denzel Washington.  Each character is unique, funny, edgy and most importantly, loveable.  And it contains a high standard of technicality we should expect from action films, such as expert camerawork, a great score and plot progression that doesn't miss a beat.  "The Magnificent Seven" does indeed live up to its title.  It is magnificent.

BRYCE **1/2
I hate to be the Russian judge here, but I didn't enjoy "The Magnificent Seven" nearly as much as these fellas.  The cast is indeed fantastic and the action sequences are undeniably impressive, but I thought the overall tone was uneven.  It was an odd blend of light-hearted action movie shenanigans and ultra-violent (though not gory) dramatic grit.  There's an unbelievably high body count in this film and it really started to grind on me after awhile.  Throw in a collection of characters too shallow to be fully invested in and you have an admirable attempt at an old-fashion Hollywood western that ultimately misses the mark.

CHASE ***
LOGAN ***1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: ***