Cheap The Magnificent Seven (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (DVD) (John Sturges) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Magnificent Seven (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Really...it's like a magnificent DOZEN or so...
I'm doing this backwards. <
>I'm the guy who knows that this film is based on Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai", yet saw "A Bug's Life" first, which is a take on THIS. <
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>You know the story. You know the score. You know it's got Yul and McQueen, and five other guys you need to know for trivia contests. <
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>But actually sitting down and seeing for the first time was such an unadulterated joy, I had a dumb little smile on my face for nearly two whole hours. <
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>Here's some things I didn't know or realize: <
>1) All seven gunmen are terrific in their own way, but Eli Wallach is their equal as Calvera, the head bad guy. <
>2) The score was one of those things "older people" always said was "classic" or "one of the greats." It was the film score your father loved. Hearing it in it's unfettered glory showed me one thing: no matter how much I hate to admit it, Dad was right. From frame one, Elmer Bernstein's music alone straightens your spine and lifts you up. It's cliche, but it really is a separate character element in the telling of this particular tale. <
>3) Steve McQueen does more in a scene when he's not the focus of it. I didn't realize that until I watched the excellent documentary, but he's an absolute riot. He's ALWAYS trying to detract from somebody else's scene, fidgeting about, looking off at something. And somehow he does it in character. <
>4) Yul Brynner walks like some regal prince, yet clad in cowboy black. And still has a strong accent. And yes, still makes it work. <
>5) The screenplay is a jewel of understatement, pithy humor and curious (for a western) insight into the life of a gunman. <
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>Being Simon Cowell honest, it's not perfect. Horst Buchholz does "James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause" in a few too many scenes, but he's kinda cool in most others. There are a few clunky lines here and there. Some of the Mexican actors sound like they've never acted before in their lives. The relationship between the kids and Charles Bronson is forced and hokey. <
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>All that pales in comparison to the epic success of everything else in the film. There are dozens of classic lines and scenes, genuinely thrilling action sequences and the whole thing packs an honestly earned emotional wallop by the time the final credits run. <
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>This is a film for people who love film.

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A Case Study of Civilization
This is a parable about people who are oppressed and seek their liberation from an organized gang. They consult an older bearded man, who tells them to get arms from across the border (where people were free to keep and bear arms). The three ambassadors wind up hiring a team of experienced gunmen to defend their town against the recurring raiders. These seven free lancers work to educate and train the townsmen in the use of firearms and fortifications. Si vis pacem parabellum. <
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>When the raiders return these gunmen and the villagers are able to drive them away. But the raiders don't give up easily, and return for a sneak attack. The film shows the characters of the gunmen and the villagers during the lull between attacks. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. But what of the gunmen? They live a lonely life and have a dim future; they can't settle down. The gang of raiders won't go away because they are desperate for food; they are worse off but even more dangerous. There is a surprise when the raiders capture the town and turn the tables. The message seems to be that the enemies of yesterday can become the allies of today. <
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>One gunman says true bravery is working and raising a family, not roaming for adventure. [A rebuke of military forces?] After being forced to leave, the free lancers decide to return to avenge their loss.At first their surprise attack succeeds, but the greater force against them begins to tell. The mass uprising of the people, with clubs, shovels, and machetes, puts an end to most of the raiders. When the fighting is over, the survivors ride away. The farmers continue to work the land in an endless cycle of planting, weeding, and harvesting. There is a lot of philosophy in this action film, even if the audience doesn't recognize it. Biologically, this is a case where mammals fight over their food supply and territory. <
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Less than Magnificent a Disappointment
This 2 disc Collector's Edition DVD is a disappointment. When I first opened it, it looked very impressive. The packing and graphics are first rate and artistically done. But I must stop with the superlatives at this point. There is hardly any more material here than on the single special edition single disc of this same title. The feature on Elmer Bernstein's score is cursory at best. This 2 disc DVD does not even contain any trailers for the film. The section on production materials only has 3 posters to step through. That's it. The transfer does look good and this is one of my favorite movies of all time. However, I was expecting much more. This is a 5 star movie but this DVD edition is assembled in a perfunctory manner and I can only give it 3 stars. <
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