This weekend, The Magnificent 7, the modern reimagining of the classic sixties western, hits the big screens in the UK.
Starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke, The Magnificent Seven tells the story of the town of Rose Creek, which is under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue. With the townsfolk living in fear, seven outlaws are recruited to protect the village from Bogue, culminating in a deadly showdown.
To get you in the mood for The Magnificent Seven, we’ve compiled our three favourite modern westerns available on Blu-ray.
Django Unchained
Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson and Kerry Washington all star in Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 spaghetti western, Django Unchained.
The film tells the epic story of a slave who’s fighting for freedom for both himself and his wife. After having his freedom bought for him by a former dentist – Dr. King Schultz – he is trained as a deputy bounty hunter. However, Schultz inadvertently leads him to a plantation where his wife is enslaved by its ruthless owner.
The Blu-ray comes with a number of special features, including a look at the horses and stunts of the movie, a dive into the costume design, and a special making-of documentary.
Cowboys & Aliens
Jon Favreau’s Cowboys & Aliens brings a unique sci-fi twist to the western genre.
Daniel Craig stars as Jake Lonergan, a stranger with no memory of his past, with the only clue being a mysterious shackle on his wrist. When he stumbles into the town of Absolution, he is greeted with disdain, until a terrifying otherworldly bombardment from above lands on the town. It soon becomes clear that this stranger holds the key to their salvation, as Lonergan begins to remember who he is, and why he’s there.
A number of special features are included, such as audio commentary with Jon Favreau, an extended version of the film, and a 40-minute making-of documentary.
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Seth MacFarlane brings some light relief to the wild west with the hilarious A Million Ways to Die in the West.
MacFarlane stars alongside Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Sarah Silverman, Liam Neeson and Neil Patrick Harris in this slapstick western about a lowly farmer – Albert – who spends his days trying not to accidentally get himself killed. When the mysterious Anna rides into town, she instantly captures Albert’s heart. Smitten, Albert decides to shape up and become the gun-slinging hero he never was.
The Blu-ray comes with some hysterical special features, including an alternate opening and ending, deleted and extended scenes, behind the scenes footage and audio commentary by MacFarlane.
