“The Magnificent Seven” remake entertaining, yet culturally inappropriate

“The Magnificent Seven” may not be an extraordinary cinematic triumph but it sure is entertaining.
The remake of the 1960 film differs from the original plot. But, it shares the same premise,centering its story on a group of misfit cowboys saving a village from bandits.
The film is carried by its heavy-weight actors, namely Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke, who make the best out of the cliched script. All the actors shine, although the limited writing holds them back.
The movie is directed by Antoine Fuqua, who is best known for the Oscar winning film “Training Day.” Fuqua does a great job with the film; his directing talents are apparent throughout.
Aesthetically, the film is beautifully lensed. The lush and bright western backdrop is a huge stand out. The cinematography, along with the landscape, carries the film to the very end.
The cast hosts a range of diversity, yet the film still falls back into old tropes and stereotypes. One character that came across offensive was, in particular, Billy Rocks, who is played by Byung-Hung Lee. The Asian assassin, who coincidentally happens to be good with knives is a blatant riff off of Asian ninja stereotypes.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, who plays a Mexican outlaw, is reduced mostly to swearing in Spanish and making fun of the white man: another insulting stereotype.
I was expecting to see more representation from the Asian, Mexican and black actors among the extras; sadly, this didn’t happen. The protagonists were the only people of color in the film, a historical inaccuracy.
California, during this time, was thriving with people from all ethnic backgrounds, and for the director to not include this damns the credibility of the film. This film is another example of Hollywood whitewashing history. “The Magnificent Seven” had the potential to be a great film. Visually it is breathtaking, and uses the Western setting to the film’s advantage. The score enhances the visual aesthetic and accompanies the scenes perfectly.
Unfortunately, the script is the movie’s ultimate downfall. The dialogue falls flat at parts and the actors struggle to deliver their lines. The characters felt one dimensional. Had they taken the time to flesh out the characters and their backstory, the movie would have been a knockout.
This modern day “Magnificent Seven” is yet another unnecessary remake. This is not to say the remake is a bad film, but by no means is it a good one; it rests in the heart of mediocrity. As an entertaining time killer, there’s no rush to go watch it at the theater. I would recommend waiting for the rental or for it to it appear on Netflix. For those who truly seek a magnificent film experience, watch the original.