The Magnificent Seven

The residents of a small town in the old west are being bullied by the menacing Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard) into selling their precious land for pittance. However, Matthew Cullen (Matt Bomer) bravely stood up for the town, refusing to accept Mr. Bogue's unfair offer. To show the town he means business, Mr. Bogue kills Matthew in front of the whole town. Now a widow, Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) seeks revenge. For this purpose and to save her town, she hires the formidable Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington) who hand picks a team of 6 other talented outlaws. Among them is the sharp shooting Josh Faraday (Chris Pratt), Chisholm's friend Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawk) and the deadly Jack Horne (Vincent D'Onofrio). Together the 7 of them must fight off Bogue's army and save the town.

The all star cast The Magnificent Seven boasts proves that a whole can indeed be greater than the sum of its parts. Flawless performances from Chris Pratt and Denzel Washington are almost overshadowed by the beauty of the onscreen chemistry between the seven, who, despite not all living moral or lawful lives, the audience come to love. Beyond the seven, Hayley Bennett produces a feisty performance as the film's female lead, as does Peter Sarsgaard as the power hungry villain.

This remake seizes its chance to update a classic while being respectable to the original (the 1960 The Magnificent Seven itself being a remake of Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurais) using the advances in technology and special effects to the full. The film adds a suave style to large action pieces that mix explosions and gun fights in a fast paced, edge of your seat thrill ride. If you're looking for heart, laughs and an all out action masterpiece, this is the film for you.

Siddhant Walia