THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (4K UHD Blu-ray + Blu-ray + Digital HD)
Release Date: December 20, 2016
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Video: 2.39:1 2160p Widescreen
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, English Descriptive Audio 5.1
THE RATINGS
The Movie Itself - ★ ★½ ✰ ✰ ✰
Video Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★½
Audio Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Special Features - ★ ★ ★ ✰ ✰
Overall - ★ ★ ★½ ✰ ✰
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THE FILM ITSELF Our Reviewer's Take
Can 4K improve on a mediocre movie?
Reviewed by Gavin King
How does one take such a whimsical original western and underwhelm with an overabundance of savagery and lack of heart? Antoine Fuqua’s remake of The Magnificent Seven pleads that question. It has it all. A great cast. Gorgeous cinematography. Expert stunt work. It’s just too long, bloated, and drawn-out to fully satisfy. Sure, the action scenes impress. They're big, loud, bombast, and even thrilling to an extent. Here's the biggest problem: the large dullness that makes up the second act is so numb and devoid of the heart that bathed the original classic that we don't bother about the standoff. Worse, that heart and whimsy that made the original so adored and lovable is wasted for full blown barbarity that - while it does work in spurts - lacks both universal appeal and high spirits, which was what the original Mag 7 was all about. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
The old town of Rose Creek is in danger. They're under the leadership of dastardly Bartholomew Rogue (Peter Sarsgaard). Desperately seeking for some help, Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) gets ahold of Sam Chisholm (Denzel Washington), who recruits a gang of outlaws to help: Josh Faraday (Chris Pratt), Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), Billy Rocks (Lee Byung-hun), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), Jack Horne (Vincent D'Onofrio), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmier). Now, with such enemies like Bogue's enforcer McCann (Cam Gidgandet), these seven must battle between Rogue's maniacal schemes - in a battle of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
It's a huge shame to say that, even this far into the life of cinema, even a knockout final act can't overcome the monotonous, practically ancient second act that dooms a potentially wildly fun ride. Yes, the plot does advance in these scenes, but the screenwriters could at least make the events interesting for the audience so that we're still hooked on even without pew-pew-pew guns. Worse, for those who have seen the original classic, all of the whimsy and heart that made the original Mag 7 so fantastic is dampened here for brauva action but dullness that will likely bore non-western fans throughout the second act and frustrate gurus of the old genre. And when the third act comes along, no doubt the stuntwork is terrific, but it lacks a little something that made the '60's Mag 7 so enjoyable. You guessed it: heart. It's mostly exchanged for full-blown savagery which - while I can somewhat see why some will enjoy - can't help put pale in comparison to '60's Mag 7's whimsical appeal.
The movie does pick up a bit in its aformentioned third act, but only by little spurts. First off, the action is sturdy on its general merits. Like I mentioned before, it lacks the true heart and soul of the original film but nevertheless lightly impresses with an encouraging sense of gripping essence and some surprisingly taut and even wonderful stunt work, especially by the film's horses, which play a predictably big part in the movie. The cinematography is quite nice, too. Courtesy of Mauro Fiore, he brings out a likable/appreciable factor that reminisces back to the old days of classic westerns, with all of the sandy terrain and gusto one could possibly ever want from a film of this caliber. Fiore even chooses to shoot on celluloid film rather than pretty much grainless digital to show he has a bit of respect for the genre, and I guess that's worth a shoutout if anything for respecting the, in some measure, dying age that original westerns the John Wayne's The Searchers or High Noon were captured on back in the day.
It's too bad the highly talented cast can't save the film from an overtly boring story, despite them protruding their all. Denzel Washington is predictably the highlight here, although Chris Pratt comes awfully close, ending up with the two sharing their performances very well. The biggest problem, though, is that they're not enough. Not enough to save this slog from overbearing uneventfulness (especially in the second act) that'll never really resonate with the converted (in this case, non-western fans). From the words of Chris Stuckmann, this should have been my movie! I like Deznel, love Pratt, and I would have loved to see them kick some western butt. Instead, while there are a couple positive aspects to the film, the overlong sleeper of a second act is a disappointment. Oh well.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 4K Blu-ray - Video Quality
The Magnificent Seven was, as mentioned in the original Blu-ray review, shot on film, and finished on a 2K digital intermediate, which makes this 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray a upscale from the 2K DI. It represents a fairly sturdy upgrade. Film grain is more prominent, making this iteration looking a bit grittier than the regular Blu-ray, but never to the point of overt distraction. Facial details are noticably a bit finer, particularly on Chris Pratt in a scene toward the 25 minute mark, but facial pores on other Western characters, rough terrain, rocky formations, or the odds and ends of a church in the beginning of the movie likewise impress with a finer attention to detail and a more prominent sense of space, though not too drastically from the 1080p Blu-ray release. The palette here still retains that Western-esque feel that's prominent of older movies of the genre, perhaps just a tad hotter here but nonetheless staying strong and ever-potent without ever gouging too hot or dimming too pasty. Black levels here stun, with some precise shadow detail to praise and perhaps even a decrease in crush that ever-so-mildly plagued the Blu-ray release. Not a single compression artifact to be found, as expected of a 4K release. Maybe not the truly best 4K UHD Blu-ray out there, but definitely worth it for a good upgrade.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Blu-ray - Audio Quality
Well, look at this! Rather than copying and pasting the original DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack from the original 1080p Blu-ray release, Sony has decided to include a new Dolby Atmos mix on the UHD Blu-ray, and it sounds, well, for lack of a better fitting term, magnificent. To be sure, the root components of the 7.1 mix are similar. Music stays firm and heavy, clear and potent, with a glut of surround information and bass to follow. Action scenes wow with all of the cross-channel movement, inventive sound design, and diamond-sharp effects one could ever want in a film like this. Atmospherics dot off to the surrounds to create a believable environement. And it's only improved by the addition of the Atmos mix. Some effects, like music, are a bit tighter in terms of raw clarity and depth. But it's the action scenes where the overhead and hight channels most come into effect. We can hear bullets whiz all throughout the stage. Ricochets. Wood cracks. Every single sound is crisply defined and meticulously detailed in order to create an impressive, satisfying effect. Of course, dialogue remains fully clear in the mix, front and center. Bring this Atmos track home to your home theater. You won't be disappointed one bit.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Blu-ray - Special Features
Please note that all supplements are located on the original 1080p Blu-ray disc and not the 4K UHD Blu-ray disc.
- Vengeance Mode is a fun little feature which showcases the cast and crew intervening between the movie to talk about the movie's themes, characters, action sequences, and more. Fans should enjoy this entertaining supplement. Also this supplement is available in lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1.
- Deleted Scenes include the following (you can choose to play all if you wish): Breakfast Prayer, What Are You Gonna Do About It?, Bravery And Responsibility, and Goodnight Serenade.
- The Seven offers a look at the iconic seven outlaws and the characteristics that make them "The Magnificent Seven".
- Directing the Seven looks at film's director Antoine Fuqua and the cast discussing him and his love for Westerns, as well as practical effects.
- The Taking of Rose Creek The cast/crew discuss Rose Creek, the town the movie takes place in.
- Rogue Bouge peeks at Bartholemew Bogue, played by Peter Sarsgaard, the main villain of the movie, and what makes him such an effective villain in the movie according to the team of Mag 7.
- Gunslingers The cast talks about operating the film's weapons from the film, and the challenges and tricks they learned while on the set.
- Magnificent Seven Rest in peace, James Horner. You will be missed. Takes a look at the film's score.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Blu-ray - Overall Recommendation
The Magnificent Seven boasts an exceptional cast and great cinematography, but they're completely wasted by a dull, wearisome second act that dooms the film's potential as being an instant western classic. Stuntwork is fantastic in the final act, but heart is seriously lacking, even under the performances of its cast. Sony's 4K UHD Blu-ray is surprisingly stellar. The 4K video presentation boasts better details, more refined colors, and fuller shadow details and black levels. The Atmos audio mix is a total blast full of bass and surround activity. Supplements are surprisingly well-done and well-spoken, offering further detail into the making of the movie. A must-buy for 4K UHD and Magnificent Seven fans.
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