THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 4K Blu-ray Review

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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MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE Blu-ray Review

MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD)

Release Date: January 3, 2016

Studio: Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Video: 2.39:1 1080p Widescreen

Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1

THE RATINGS

The Movie Itself - ★ ★ ★ ★ ✰

Video Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Audio Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★½

Special Features - ★ ★½ ✰ ✰

Overall - ★ ★ ★ ★ ✰

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THE FILM ITSELF Our Reviewer's Take
The hallways are overcrowded, the teachers are rude, and the rules are completely overbearing. What's a middle school cartoonist to do?

Reviewed by Gavin King

Nobody likes school. Well, at least kids don't. Seven long, dull, boring hours of this, this, this, that, that, that, yadda, yadda, yadda. Plus, nobody likes the revolting cafeteria food. Yuck! Go ahead, cook the so-called "tater-tots" under a 60 watt light bulb. Barf. It's what "Wimpy Kid" Greg Heffley had to deal with in 2010's book-to-screen adaptation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, pushing his frustrated self through bullies, the boys' restroom, and his English class' claustrophobic The Wizard of Oz play. Now, Heffley is getting a facelift for a new generation of middle schoolers with cartoonist Rafe Khatchadorian in the film of James Patterson's popular book, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, and he's going through similar issues that poor Greg had to stomach. Much like Diary of a Wimpy Kid's movie adaptation, Middle School is tons of fun throughout, certainly a bit overemphasized for effect but taking us viewers on a wildly amusing ride through Rafe's middle school life and what it's like to live that life in his shoes and his general point of view. 

Rafe Khatchadorian (Griffin Gluck) is a plucky transfer student who loves to spend most of his time drawing monsters, aliens, UFO's, or other geeky concoctions in his notebook full of unique sketches. After just being suspended from one middle school, his mother (Lauren Graham) then moves him to another local educational institution: Hills Village Middle School. He seems confident enough but then runs into the authority-savvy principal of the school, Principal Dwight (Andy Daly). He tells Rafe that now he's under his school's roof, Rafe must follow all of his rules, including (but not limited to) no talking, no bathroom breaks, no outside food, and no lotiering. He's immediately angered at Dwight for his strictness on the rules and lack of abundant creativity. One day, while the school has a student council assembly, Rafe gets caught doodling in his notebook. He ends up in Principal Dwight's office soon after and gets his notebook confiscated and destroyed by Dwight and the school custodian, Gus. Now completely fed up with Dwight's nonsense, Rafe hatches a plan to get revenge on Dwight by breaking every single rule in the school's heavily-enfored code of conduct, with a little help from his friend Leo (Thomas Barbusca) and his new crush, Jeanne (Isabela Moner) and release what's called Operation: Rules Aren't For Everyone. 

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life benefits largely from the performances of its great cast. Griffin Gluck plays Rafe Khatchadorian with a likable facade as well as an appreciable anarchic wit that sets a great caliber for the movie's overall tone that it's intentionally going for. Thomas Barbusca and Isabela Moner play Rafe's companions fairly well too, as do his mom played by Lauren Graham and her snobbish boyfriend Carl played by The Lorax's Rob Riggle. However, the real standout is Andy Daly as Principal Dwight. He's predictably overreactive in his role but he compliments that overreactive nature in such a hilarious and enjoyable way that's completely cinchy to overlook his (possibly intentional?) flaws in storytelling. "I'm a hip cat from wayback, you better believe it," Dwight claims. "But it does not belong in this school!" Such subtle yet effective overestimations in his performance make him a memorably hysterical - if menacingly villainous - character in the movie.

Exaggeration is the game of Middle School, and it's handled surprisingly well under the roof of its otherworldly proportions. The film takes a number of middle school-esque situations and intentionally stretches them to what many students in a nutshell believe they really are; for example, Principal Dwight. He's portrayed as a bit of stereotype in the film not in a bad way but rather as a hyperbole of the exact thoughts of kids who go to middle school generally think about their principals. He even possesses a Hills Village Middle School rule book that contains all of the school's heavily-enforced regulations, full of rules of all kind, such as the ones mentioned earlier in the film's synopsis as well as the rule Rafe's caught in trouble with involving his sketchbook which reads "Any material deemed inappropiate will be destroyed". Such rules are appreciably enforced in the film for exaggerated effect such as when the vice principal Stricker (played by Retta, by the way) asks a standing-still-in-the-hallway Rafe "Is your name David? Were you carved by Michaelangelo?" Rafe responds with a no, with Stricker responding that he's violating the No Loitering rule and that he should be on his way.

Despite all of this intentionally appreciable exaggeration, there's a likable anarchic wit and even heart to Middle School. Even behind all of his anarchic personaily, Rafe's noticably got a heart in the film, one who has a soft spot for creativity and thinking outside the box when it comes to the way schools across the country - particularly his - should teach their students. There's a great message in the film that tells kids to color outside the lines and expand their imagination to their greatest abilities that - while it may not leap off as intended - is patently obvious in terms of execution and the way younger viewers in the audience will percieve it. The film has a number of animation sequences in which Rafe's unique drawn creations come to life, and those scenes are wonderfully inventive with animation styles that are reminiscent of even more modern Cartoon Network-like shows such as Teen Titans GO! or perhaps even Regular Show in a sense.


MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE Blu-ray - Video Quality

In a word? Gorgeous. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life features a wonderful 1080p, 2.39:1-framed video presentation that's bursting with fabulous colors and impressive details. Simply put, I have no complaints. Colors impress right from the get-go. Bright greens outside the Hills Village school, the blues and oranges of a crowded Dave and Buster's, and the multicolored splashes of water that take place during Rafe's prank are just a few examples of what makes Middle School a showcase for lively, buoyant hues in its finest form. The digitally-shot source allows for a great deal of details to come into play. The usual face pores (especially on Rob Riggle and Andy Daly), a bubbly vat of acid, or the fur on the Khatchadorian's pug... I could ramble on and on about the standout details here, but it would get boring. Black levels are nicely deep and inky, and whites stun as well. The image sees a few extremely mild bouts of very lightly hazy shots but they're so infrequent and the rest of the image so stunning that it's not worth bouncing down a point in score. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life won't win awards for best cinematography or anything of that matter, but the film's original soruce photography translates incredibly well to Blu-ray, resulting in an image that shines in high-defintion all the way.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE Blu-ray - Audio Quality

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack doesn't disappoint, either. The track is fully capable of taking whatever it throws its way and presenting it with strong immersion and phenomenal clarity. The film implements a number of popular modern songs that are firmly presented in the front channels as well as a gentle but positive occasional surround element that gives the film's soundtrack that extra pizzazz effect. There's a surprising amount of sound effects in the movie that offer some peculiar heft, such as the sound when the "Countdown to BLAAR" text appears on screen, and at the beginning of the film when Rafe's come-to-life cartoon creature blasts its laser gun onto Rafe's side table. Bass also shines a bit on this track too, most notably when Principal Dwight parks his car blasting "You Can't Touch This" on BLAAR day. Ambience envelops the viewer from the couch to the film's environments, particularly the middle school's hallways where we can hear footsteps, lockers opening and closing, and student chatter in the fronts and the surrounds. Finally, general dialogue is predictably clear and always intelligible with slick prioritization and master crispness. Middle School may not scream "exceptional sound design", but it handles its somewhat subtle sound roots surprisngly well.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE Blu-ray - Special Features

- That Middle School Life looks at Rafe and the characters of Middle School and the actors/actresses that play them, as well as the middle school itself and Rafe's unique drawings coming to life in animations.

- Middle School = The Worst / Making Movies = The Best takes a look at the fun on the set of Middle School and what the actors/actresses did in their free time.

- The Wedgie Wheel The film's cast talks about the kind of wedgies they would invent.

- YOLO: Behind Operation Rafe peeks at the main pranks Rafe pulls on Hills Village Middle School, such as the Post-it and Ball Pit pranks.

- Gag Reel "I've got to take a sh*t."

- Deleted Scenes include the following (you can play all if you wish): Stricker Hallway, Lunchroom, Bear Refrigerator, and Rafe Thanks Gus.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE Blu-ray - Overall Recommendation

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is a lot of fun. Sure it may not boast the best storytelling or originality, but the film is so appreciative of its hyperbole and exaggeration that it's easy to overcome the film for its zany antics, inspired cast performances, and surprisingly sweet heart. It's a proud adaptation of James Patterson's beloved books and one that I'm not too surprised to hear it could be starting a trilogy (Mr. Patterson himself announced back in October that a sequel to the film was in process). Youngsters who have read the books will love it, soon-to-be-middle-schoolers will thoroughly enjoy it as a sort-of guide to the middle grades, and it won't hurt adults to stick along for the ride, either. Lionsgate's Blu-ray delivers excellent video and audio. Fair amount of supplements are included. Recommended.

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THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Blu-ray Review

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (Blu-ray + Digital HD)

Release Date: December 20, 2016

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Video: 2.39:1 1080p 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
Talk about a disappointment. 

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 Blu-ray - Video Quality

The Magnificent Seven was shot on film, and Sony's 1080p Blu-ray does it justice. The film's cinematography is very well-represented on Blu-ray, bursting with some exceptional detail on faces, western attire, weaponry, dusty terrain, and other little odds and ends that make up the old-timey town of Rose Creek. The high-definition presenation is also excellent at showcasing background details like trees, grass, the aformentioned terrain, and light blue skies which bring Mag 7's locations to beautiful life. The color palette is alive with all sorts of colors, such as vegetation green, blood red, and horse browns, but what really makes the hues in this film is a dominant orange; one that's reminiscent of older films of the western genre and also one that fits the film's overall tone extremely well. Facial skintones are nicely realistic and well-presented. The only real complaint here comes with darker scenes, which score great black levels but leaves a handful of shots looking mildly pasty. Nevertheless, banding and aliasing and other digital artifcats are gone, and this is a faithful, rich, and very, very pretty video presentation from Sony.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Blu-ray - Audio Quality

You'll want to crank this one up to eleven. The Magnificent Seven features a pulse-pounding, yet nicely nuanced DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack that makes the best use of the film's wonderful sound design and practically transports the listener to Rose Creek and its big battles. Music is big, weighty, and sometimes bassy, enjoying that extra low end to give it a very appreciably western-themed feel, all while retaining standout stage presence, especially the film's iconic theme during the end credits. No doubt action scenes sound fantastic. Gunshots zip and "pew-pew-pew" all throughout the soundscape. Bullets whiz and ricochet, dynamite pounds, debris flies, and horses and bodies thud as the loud cacophony of effects, particularly near the third act, play around from front channel to surround channel to back channel to subwoofer in robust appearance and dynamic satisfaction. Atmospherics impress, too, bringing the somewhat seedy town of Rose Creek to life and its bars, too. Dialogue, even under the hodgepodge of big-budget action sound effects, stays clear, crisp, and detailed, with strong cross-channel prioritization and natural front-center positioning. This is a fabulously entertaining soundtrack that makes the movie a tad more enjoyable.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Blu-ray - Special Features

- 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 Blu-ray is generally very good. Video quality is terrific and faithful. 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. Fans can no doubt eat this one up, but those who have yet to watch the movie should rent first before coming to a single conclusion on whether to buy the Blu-ray or not.

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