Someone smart once said that only mediocre movies ought to ever be remade, and no doubt they will be more than a few naysayers laying in wait for Antonie Fuqua's version of The Magnificent Seven when it opens this week. For after all, the principal source is the 1960 film of the same title that starred Yul Brenner, Steve McQueen and James Coburn (and featured Eli Wallach as a memorable — if quite politically incorrect by today's standards — Mexican bandit). And compounding the situation, that film was a barely disguised remake of Akira Kurosawa’s classic Seven Samurai from 1954.
So, how is it? Our Dan Lybarger has the answer in this Friday's Style section in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. (Oh, and if you go, keep a sharp eye out for Little Rock actor Ed Lowry, who has a short, but crucial, role in the movie.) Also this week, Dan looks at the animated film Storks, Philip Martin reviews the indie comedy The Hollars and Piers Marchant gives up his best and worst from the just-concluded Toronto International Film Festival.
And, as always, Karen Martin checks in on the latest in home video in her Home Movies column.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.