A remake of the 1960 classic, itself an update of the massively influential Japanese hit Seven Samurai, Antoine Fuqua’s slick and efficient western is violent, exciting and entertaining. It’s clearly never as good either of its predecessors, but Fuqua has done well to modernize a familiar story with an impressively diverse cast and a couple of excellently staged set pieces. It all falls apart without Denzel Washington though. Amongst the occasional cliché and standard action movie heroics Denzel stands out like a beacon – the strong, imposing centrepiece the film survives on. As enjoyable as it is, The Magnificent Seven loses all creditability without him.