The Magnificent Seven Collection (2010)

Hi Folks,

Amazon.com is lumping all reviews together so I thought I'd clarify that I am reviewing the BLU RAY set!

It wasn't clear if there were any NEW bonus features from the lovely 2 disc version of the first classic film or the follow ups on this set..there are not. My recommendation is that fans WAIT for a release of the first classic instead of making the expensive mistake I did by purchasing this set. I think I was convincing myself that in hi-def I'd like the follow up films more...I don't and in fact the final installment still looks washed out and almost tv movie of the week quality. The first three do look improved in Blu-Ray but on the first classic film some flaws and grain are magnified by this format. The bonus features look nice in Blu-ray HD but there isn't anything new here.

Unless you are one of the few who liked the follow up movies , a lot, I'd wait for a single disc Blue Ray version of the classic film and save $40. This is a ploy to get suckers like me to jump at a package and price and I'm sure the first film will ultimately be available on its own. You do not gain much by blu ray so keep your DVDs and enjoy them until that day.

Elmer Bernstein's appropriately magnificent score remains a highlight of THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, a John Sturges film that turned Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" into an American western classic spawning three sequels, a belated CBS television series, and countless imitators.

The original, resurrected on Blu-Ray from MGM and Fox as part of a multi-disc series anthology, stars Yul Brynner as a gunslinger who recruits a band of six others (Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, and James Coburn among them) to help defend a small Mexican town against villain Eli Wallach and his gang of mercenaries. A bona-fide film classic, MGM's Blu-Ray edition basically offers an HD reprise of the label's 2006 Special Edition DVD, which was issued during that brief window when Sony was distributing the studio's home video product. The AVC encoded transfer looks great, offering crisp detail and strong colors, while the occasionally brittle DTS Master Audio sound offers a re-channeled mix of the film's original mono soundtrack (which is also on-hand).

Extras include the initial DVD's commentary track featuring Eli Wallach, James Coburn, and producer Walter Mirisch, plus featurettes on Elmer Bernstein's score (courtesy of comments from sage Jon Burlingame), a 45-minute retrospective documentary, trailers, and "Lost Images" from the movie. Curiously, neither Christopher Frayling's commentary from the 2006 DVD nor an interview with the film historian have been retained from that release, though everything else has.

The movie's three sequels are also included herein: RETURN OF THE SEVEN (the movie's actual on-screen title, even though the film is commonly known as RETURN OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN) was the mediocre, belated 1966 sequel with Brynner back as Chris, here defending yet another small town with a gaggle of new pals. Larry Cohen (!) scripted this follow-up, with western vet Burt Kennedy handling the action, shot on-location in Spain. Elmer's music once again graces the film, here featured in an understandably more ragged looking transfer (particularly compared to the full restoration its predecessor received) that's nevertheless satisfying in its AVC encode. The DTS Master Audio sound offers sparse stereo separation and seems to be little more than a tiny embellishment on the movie's original mono mix. The trailer is also on tap.

George Kennedy replaced Yul in 1969's GUNS OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, a superior western than its immediate predecessor, with veteran gunslinger Chris Adams called in to break a Mexican revolutionary out of prison. Decent action and another stirring Elmer score mark this 1969 sagebrush saga, which looks mighty fine on Blu-Ray with its pleasing AVC encoded transfer and mono-sounding DTS Master Audio soundtrack.

The series concluded with 1972's THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN RIDE!, a weak B-grade programmer that looks more like an episode of "Bonanza" than a big-screen western thanks to its obviously diminished budget, Hollywood backlot sets and lack of widescreen lensing. With Lee Van Cleef now in the lead, the movie feels like a "Seven" movie in name (and theme music) only, with only another Elmer score (performed by a notably reduced orchestra) and attractive female leads (Stefanie Powers, Mariette Hartley) making it palatable.

Predictably the AVC encoded transfer is the weakest of the lot here, the 1.85 frame lacking in high-def detail and color. The DTS Master Audio sound is a bit punchier than its immediate predecessors, and the trailer completes the release, one which ought to be essential for all western fans.

Buy The Magnificent Seven Collection (2010) Now

The Magnificent Seven finds its way into every serious discussion about the best classic westerns. It is easily my favorite. Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Charles Bronson and Eli Wallach, in one of his juiciest roles ever this is the western that you watch again and again. True, it is a remake of "The Seven Samurai," but it takes a backseat to no other film in its genre. Seven American gunfighters a Dream Team, of sorts are hired to guard a Mexican village from Banditos that return every season to take whatever crops the villagers have grown. Stellar cast, but just as magnificent is the musical score by Elmer Bernstein, who was nominated for an Academy Award.

It is unfortunate that the studio has chosen to issue an entire set of Mag 7 films as a package. The other three films Return of the Seven, Magnificent Seven Ride! and Guns of the Magnificent Seven don't belong in the sentence, let alone the same box. Do yourself a favor buy the original Magnificent Seven (Blu-Ray) as a single. It deserves 5 stars by itself.

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I just paid $9.99 for the single disk Blu Ray at Target so don't waste extra $$ for this package @ Amazon. It has extras including the making of the film with interviews. Not the best transfer but still a good buy.

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First I want to clear up a missprint, on the Collection Box it states The Magnificent Seven as being 88min this is a missprint, the movie is 128min

As others have stated this is adaptation of The Seven Samurai, in fact quite a few American westerns are based on Japanese Samurai movies called Chambara, Fistfull of Dollars is another well known western based on Yojimbo, another Japanese movie by Akira Kurosawa. I bought the four disk collection as I have never seen the other three movies, they are decent, but still fall short of the origional. Although the origional is still the best, dont let that waiver you if your considering the collection, the other movies are still great fun to watch, and have plenty of six gun action.

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