The Magnificent Seven (DVD)

I know what a Western is, believe me, I´ve seen approximately five during my not so short lifetime. Heehee, of course I know that you expected to see a bigger number, but there you are. As if this weren´t enough to disqualify me, I´ve never written a film review so far - do I see your fingertip moving down to click yourself away from this site? Wait, ciao is all about opinions, isn´t it? An opinion I have, and I´d burst if I couldn´t share it with you. Isn´t it fascinating how our brains work? I´m not a fan of Westerns as you know now, not even a film freak, yet I´ve stored away images, info ... more

I expect everyone has a few memories from their childhood that stay with them, and can be dragged up from the depths now and then, dusted off and given a bit of a polish. Maybe a first pantomime, or a favourite food. I was brought up in Edinburgh in the 60’s, playing endless games of ‘headers’ out in the street behind our house, or ‘three and in’…another footie game. And going to the cinema. Walking the mile or so to the Dominion to watch whatever was on. Sometimes with my parents, but more often than not with my two elder brothers. In those days, the Dom had but one screen, and loads of seats ... more

It's funny how things change (actually it isn't, but bear with me as I've spent 10 minutes trying to come up with this intro and it seems to be working this time). Style and fashion runs throughout everything and Hollywood is no different. The western may once have been the preserve of Alan Ladd and Gary Cooper but their time had passed and even John Wayne was looking stilted. The spaghetti western with it's ultra violence was still in the future and Hollywood's love affair with the dusty trail was starting to wane. Cinema audiences demanded realism and the western had kind of lost it's way ... more

The more recent infatuation with remaking Japanese films is not an original concept. Akira Kurosawa's 1954 film, Seven Samurai, is not such a well known film, but the chances are you'll be somewhat more familiar with John Sturges' 1960 film The Magnificent Seven, a Western remake of the Japanese classic. It made stars of some of the cast while cementing the reputation of others, and is one of those films where the build up is as entertaining as the action. In the Wild West, Mexican bandit Calvera (Eli Wallach) terrorises a little town, and three inhabitants go seeking weapons with which to ... more

The Magnificent Seven Why am I writing a review on the Magnificent Seven? The answer is I don’t really know. I watched the Last Samurai last night and it made me think of the Seven Samurai, which made me think of the Magnificent Seven. Also, I watched the 100 best actors screened on channel four recently that featured most of the actors from the film. Also when I looked there had been no reviews written on the film, which surprised me. So . . . . . Dedications To Yul Brynner who died 10th October 1985, Steve McQueen who died on 7th November, 1980, Charles Bronson who died 1st September 2003 ... more