Magnificent Seven Remake on the Way in September

[Mule Packer]

I believe it's the Bible that says something along the lines of "there is nothing new under the sun."

Yep. Ecclesiastes 1:19.

I'm usually pretty skeptical about movie remakes. I haven't found one yet that I prefer over the original. Case in point, True Grit. The producers claimed that the remake was "truer to the book than the original." Balderdash! Obviously, they didn't read the book because there were so many things in the remake that were never in the book. A lot of the dialogue in the original John Wayne movie was taken verbatim from Charles Portis' novel.

But, I digress. All that being said, I'll probably still go see the new Magnificent Seven. Why? Because I like watching good ol ' "gunpowders."

Besides, this plot appears to differ considerably from the original, other than the fact that seven guys save a town, so maybe it should be called a sequel instead of a remake.

Of course, I tend to dislike sequels worse than I dislike remakes. For example, there was The Magnificent Seven, then came Return of the Seven, then Guns of the Magnificent Seven, then The Magnificent Seven Ride, Sons of the Magnificent Seven, Daughters of the Magnificent Seven, Magnificent Seven Meet Godzilla, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. All of them leaving much to be desired.

I've often said that there are two things that make a good movie: guns and horses. This new one has both, so there maybe is hope.

 

[the ringo kid]

The original Magnificent Seven film of 1960 is generally regarded as one of the best and most enduring Westerns ever. Even its soundtrack, by Elmer Bernstein, was quite remarkable. I loved it.

That film is now being remade. It will star Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Byung-hun Lee. I confess that I have never heard of some of those guys.

I don't know how Hollywood could possibly improve on the original but I always want to encourage new Western motion pictures. When this hits the theaters in September you will find me in line at the ticket counter.

Here is a link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deSRpSn8Pyk

Thanks for the warning. Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner and the rest, will be spinning in their graves. I will NOT watch this version.

 

[the ringo kid]

What a ridiculous concept. I wonder whose bright idea this was? I reckon next will be a remake of Stagecoach, or some horrible nausea-inducing attempt to clone The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly.

Sadly, Stagecoach has been remade 5 or 6 times. Ill REALLY be irked if they try to remake Winchester 73, Arrowhead, Fort Apache etc.

 

[the ringo kid]

There has already been a horrible remake of Stagecoach. It came out in the sixties and I saw it at the Delano Theater as a kid with my dad. I remember Slim Pickens and Bing Crosby were in it along with some handsome guy who was supposed to be the Ringo Kid. The near tragedy was that the studio went about destroying all of the prints of the original so as not to have it compete or be compared to the new one. When it came time for UCLA to locate and preserve the original film, the only one still intact was on reels packed away in John Wayne's garage. It was Wayne's copy that UCLA restored and what we are able to enjoy today.

I just remembered another awful remake of Stagecoach. It was I suppose, created to capitalize on the popularity of "The Highwaymen." This gem starred Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristopherson. I saw it again a month or so back and it was still awful.

I saw Seven Samurai in one of my film classes in college. I enjoyed it and would like to see it again. The Magnificent Seven is one I watch fairly often and like enough to own an original poster from (I also collect film posters and lobby cards). Great film and in my humble opinion, most of it still holds well. McQueen was great in the film. Charlie, thanks for starting this topic. I don't know who most of the actors are, probably will not go see it, but am always glad to see a western made.

Regards.

Bob

Im a collector as will including Actors Prints, Chicago Tribune press photos for movies original release, TV stills etc.

On a serious note, I still need an original lobby card for Vera Cruz--card Nr 7. If you know where one is? id be much obliged if you would tell me.

 

[flyerdoc]

This thread is timely, just watched the remake True Grit movie last night with mixed feelings. There is just something about the original that cannot be improved upon. Still, an interesting remake, but you can't beat John Wayne in the original...

 

[Marvin Gardens]

Im a collector as will including Actors Prints, Chicago Tribune press photos for movies original release, TV stills etc.

On a serious note, I still need an original lobby card for Vera Cruz--card Nr 7. If you know where one is? id be much obliged if you would tell me.[/QUOTE

Not offhand, but I can put it on my list and put out feelers with my sources.

I have an interesting poster. In the film "The Last Picture Show" the poster on display at the theater was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". I own that copy of the Valance poster that was rented to the "The Last Picture Show" production company.

Not to change the subject but I guess I am. I am a John Wayne fan, have always been. I've read "True Grit" several times and have watched both film versions. I am not saying that the version with Wayne wasn't good, but I found the film with Jeff Bridges to be more true to the novel.

Regards.

Bob

 

[Mule Packer]

I've read "True Grit" several times and have watched both film versions. I am not saying that the version with Wayne wasn't good, but I found the film with Jeff Bridges to be more true to the novel.

Hmmm. Interesting, because I kinda got the opposite impression. Here are a few reasons for my thinking...

For example, the guy in the bearskin coat was never in the book. LaBoeuf never surprised Matty in her bedroom (in those days, that would be unthinkable). The guy hanging thirty feet high in the tree was never in the book. LaBoeuf never left Matty and Rooster in the book. LaBoeuf never bit his tongue off in the book. Lucky Ned and his boys never captured LaBoeuf in the book. Also, the second version had some guy called "Doc" as part of the Ned Pepper gang. There was no "Doc" in the book or the original movie. The book listed "The original Mexican Bob," as did the John Wayne version...but no "Doc." I'm just guessing this was an effort on the Coen brothers' part to be politically correct. There are a few others, but you get the idea.

About the only thing that was "spot on" in the second True Grit that wasn't in the first was that 1) Matty lost her arm, and 2) she went to the Wild West show and found out that Rooster had died.

I think the second one had the edge with Matty narrating the story, as she did in the book, and I think the young lady portraying Matty in the second was much superior to Kim Darby.

Anyway, just my view from the saddle.

 

[soFlaNative]

Mom said I was simple, she's usually right. I can hear a remade song or see a remade movie and enjoy the moment and figure whether I liked it or not when it ends. Like the poster who said it has horses and guns so give it a look is right... I got a kick out of Cowboys vs. Aliens.

Denzel has a lot of range, D'Onofrio's pretty good although he'll always be Edgar to me getting snatched of the edge of the crater by the giant roach. Some of the others ring a bell from I don't know where.

Magnificent Seven is right there with The Great Escape as one of those classic ensemble movies that I will never pass a chance to see. Nothing will ever surpass the original but far be it from me to shout down anyone willing to try.

 

[chud333]

This is a remake that begged for the Coen Brothers.

Maybe they will remake The Wild Bunch !!

Chuck

 

[the ringo kid]

Im a collector as will including Actors Prints, Chicago Tribune press photos for movies original release, TV stills etc.

On a serious note, I still need an original lobby card for Vera Cruz--card Nr 7. If you know where one is? id be much obliged if you would tell me.[/QUOTE

Not offhand, but I can put it on my list and put out feelers with my sources.

I have an interesting poster. In the film "The Last Picture Show" the poster on display at the theater was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". I own that copy of the Valance poster that was rented to the "The Last Picture Show" production company.

Not to change the subject but I guess I am. I am a John Wayne fan, have always been. I've read "True Grit" several times and have watched both film versions. I am not saying that the version with Wayne wasn't good, but I found the film with Jeff Bridges to be more true to the novel.

Regards.

Bob

Thank you BOB, that will be mighty generous of you.

Its been decades since I last read the book. Id like to just to see how well followed the original movie was?

 

[bobcat]

I like Denzel, I like westerns, I'll see it, and maybe will even like it, but it will not be the "Magnificent Seven." I'm old, that movie will always be James Coburn, Steve McQueen, Yul Brenner, well you know with that magnificent soundtrack. As much as I like "The House of the Rising Sun" I don't associate it with the Magnificent Seven. A western for a new generation, that's good, but it will not be the Magnificent Seven. Man I feel my age...

 

[vito]

I understand that the seventh is a woman. I don't expect much from this remake but will go to see it. Being politically correct the main characters will carry flashlights instead of guns.

FWIW, I liked the "True Grit" remake better than the original.

 

[Hapworth]

Low hopes. Antoine Fuqua is a decent filmmaker but leans too heavily on flash and music video type razzle-dazzle; little substance involved, and this looks to be no different.

It's noteworthy that Nic Pizzolatto is co-credited on the screenplay; he gave us both seasons of True Detective, so he really runs the gamut from high to low.

The trailer looks awful.

Meh...I'll stick with Kurosawa.

 

[NYlakesider]

Over the course of time I have found that most remakes & part 2s are just a waste of money. Doubt I will waste my money or for that matter watch it when it comes out on HBO

 

[johngalt]

It needs a good villain. Eli Wallach was excellent as Calvera.

 

[NYlakesider]

It needs a good villain. Eli Wallach was excellent as Calvera.

Eli Wallach is very good at being bad!

 

[M1A]

A number of Akira Kurosawa's movies were remade in English, and some of his stories came from William Shakespeare.
I'll give this a look on the little screen. Looks like a PC type movie.

 

[rog8732]

I saw Denzel on Letterman about 2 years ago discuss the fact he was going to do a remake of "Seven".
Dave asked if he could ride a horse, and the reply was no, and had never handled a "western type" firearm either; but did say he was headed out west for a good long time and begin training in those skills.

I expect he is one of our more dedicated actors of today, but I bet his horse training didn't involve any "stall mucking".

As mentioned earlier, "House of the rising sun" as part of the sound-trac is a good start.

 

[kraynky]

I doubt that I watch it at a theater, but I will eventually watch it at home. Let's hope they have enough sense to not use any of those 12-15 shot sixguns. I know, John Wayne had a couple of them himself way back when. My wifes thinks I'm nuts for counting their shots during a gun battle, but it just comes natural.

 

[CCantu357]

Not a huge fan of remakes of classic films, but Denzel Washington tends to make quality films so I will give it a chance. If he were not in it I probably would ignore it. Though I am a fan of keeping Western movies alive in modern cinema. I still love to watch Open Range!