This week's Guilty Pleasure movie was The Magnificent Seven. Director John Sturges remade Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai as a western, transporting the themes of change and lost ways of life from feudal Japan to the American west. It was my turn to pick the movie this week and in the wake of True Grit a western seemed like a good choice. I have had a great love of the western genre ever since I took an entire class devoted to it. In that film studies class we watched many classics like Shane and Once Upon a Time in the West (I would have picked the latter if it wasn't 175 minutes long!). We also watched lesser known films like the surrealist Latin American western El Topo, directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky (I would have picked this one if it wasn't so weird!).
Hosting at our new apartment, the food theme of the evening was "miniature" and "eat with your hands". There was excellent food, as usual, provided by all attendees: mini veggie sliders, quiche, satsumas, spinach pies, and cupcakes! It was a great night and a great movie!
-Jeff
Thank you, Jeff! Don't write the Western off, they are actually pretty engaging when you give them a chance. True Grit is incredible, it you haven't seen it yet I urge you to go check it out. Take a look at the awesome trailer for The Magnificent Seven and the montage below. It will give you an idea of the intensity of both the acting and the score:
i've actually never really liked any westerns (although i always had to watch them with grandpa), but several months ago while flipping through the channels, i stopped on retro tv and started watching this 1950's western show called the rifleman and now i'm hooked!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you've watched some westerns. At first Jeff had to make me watch them, but now I kinda like them! As long as they aren't three hours long.
ReplyDeleteTrue Grit is something my husband and I are really anxious to see next and from your reviews as well as others, it's a must watch. Thanks for sharing this. I actually loved that trailer and maybe would like the movie. Overall, the thing that gets me most is the old retro feel of it and usually that feeling in old movies can holds me throughout. I'm surprisingly interested in watching an old western now!
ReplyDeleteI forgot one thing...
ReplyDeleteDo you have Guilty Pleasure Movie night every week?? If so, that is just such a fun idea! I loved that you had a food theme too- and your past theme was brilliant! Next theme you should have is "childhood meals" or "grammar school lunch" hehe. Maybe have some mac-n-cheese, pb&j sandwiches, grilled cheese, tomato soup..etc.