kwhite-53010 Some may disagree with me but for my money this is the best western ever made. The dialogue, the music, the scenery and the outstanding cast and direction all come together in perfect alignment. It is a movie I have watched many many times since first seeing it at a very early age. Needless to say, I am a huge, huge Yul Brynner fan.

Richie-67-485852 This is the classic Western with a good story, acting, music and Directing that all adds up to the name given i.e. magnificent. To further make the point, compare this to the recent remake and you will learn to appreciate this even more. Same goes with Charleton Heston's Ben-Hur and the remake. There is no remaking certain movies and this be one of them. The only exception is if it is an exception or a superb movie retold expertly. Where can you get this line-up of stars? Furthermore, every once in a while the music in a movie is as good as the movie itself (think Star Wars, Godfather) and include this movie too. This movie has been compared to the Seven Samurai which I highly recommend because it is just as entertaining using the same theme. Bunch of hardened seasoned pros are hired to save a village against all odds. I have the Magnificent Seven DVD which also has a "Behind the Scenes of the making of this movie which is entertaining in itself. You can pick-up all three of the sequels in a special package for next to nothing (under $10) so get to it. The sequels are not as good as the original but for ten bucks how can you lose? Highly recommend beef jerky or popcorn or better yet, some tortillas and beans if you want to get into the movie. Include a tasty drink too. Please enjoy this gem. I did.

Uriah43 Having to endure the continuous pillaging of their village by a gang of bandits led by a notorious outlaw named "Calvera" (Eli Wallach), three Mexican peasants go north to a town on the American side of the border to obtain some weapons to defend their village against him. However, upon talking to a gunman named "Chris Adams" (Yul Brynner) they are convinced to hire gunmen instead. Although they cannot afford to pay much Chris accepts the job and offers to recruit others as well. Soon he winds up with 6 good men and together they all toward the Mexican village and a confrontation with Calvera and his men. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film was a fine Westernized adaptation of "The Seven Samurai" produced back in 1954. Although all of the actors were highly competent, I especially liked the casting of Eli Wallach who used a good sense of humor to highlight a masterful performance. Be that as it may, I enjoyed this movie and have rated it accordingly. Above average.

billsekerak The movie was ruined by changing the premise of the original which was as take off of Kurasowa's Seven Samurai. A small country village suffers annually from a cruel leader of a bandit gang and his men that plunders the village at harvest time. Eventually with trepidation the village elders decide enough is enough so they scrape together what little money they have hidden away and go to a large town seeking to hire ronin ( leaderless Samurai for hire ) . Although they have little money they find one brave samurai who decides he will fight for them and he seeks out other skilled ronin willing to help. He finally finds seven and they all go to the village and prepare to fight the bandits and their evil leader. The story progresses from there. The Original Wextern version is exactly the same just substitute Japan to the Amercan West and the Japanese bandits become Mexican banditos preying on a small Mexican farming village and substitute gunfighter so for ronin ( samurai ) and that's it.The remake becomes politically correct by substituting an evil developer polluting the town of hapless and helpless gringos.Then throw in a large dash of diversity by having the seven represent every race except Aunui ( Japanese aboriginal people ) .Now I really don't care about that too much , I love Denzels work normally, but it was too much after the big change I mentioned first. The straw so to speak.This could have been, should have been, a great movie especially because of a great cast. That's what's so sad, so disappointing. They just had to make it a political statement instead of allowing it to be the morality play as it was first done by Kurosawa and again with Yul Brenner, Steve McQeueen etc.The director did it with The Equalizer why not with this film ? Was the producer that great anti-Capitalists and ecologist expert Leonardo DiCaprio ? Or what ? Somebody please make a decent Western again ! Because this crap sure isn't any good at all.