Currently in theaters, The Magnificent Seven, directed by Todd Black and Roger Birnbaum, stars Chris Pratt, Denzel Washington, and Ethan Hawke.

The movie contained small nods towards the original film which was released in the 1960’s. These musical compositions will please the fans of the previous movie; however, they do not over shine the recreation.

Much like the female version of Ghostbusters, Seven’s story is different than that of the 1960’s edition. The main theme of the film — good vs. evil — is still there, however the film does not take place in Mexico, and comes from a slightly different time period than that of its 1960’s counterpart. The movie’s villain is not a hostile tax collector, but gun-slinging outlaws that overrun the town. Yet, the film still continues an old western aesthetic and the notion that villains can also be heroes.

The story focuses on the members of a small town called Rose Creek who recruit seven men to retaliate against a corrupt industrialist and his outlaw forces. The seven are an eclectic group and provide some much needed comic relief amongst the violent aspects of the film.  

The movie was good, but not great. There were moments that the film could have gone without, and at times I found myself zoning out. The film was quirky, yet basic as it followed the typical setup found in western films.

With a lot of violence and humor the movie didn’t focus too much on the background of its characters, leaving a lot of them unnoticed and unexplained. However the characters whose backstories were told were interesting and incredibly dynamic.

The Magnificent Seven is recommended for anyone looking for a simple, fun, action-packed movie. But it doesn’t quite live up to its namesake of magnificence.