Film: Magnificent Seven

There are different types of people when it comes to seeing a movie: people who strictly pirate, those who go just for date night, the occasional goers, or even those who get their mothers to drive them there. Then there are attendants who go weekly, if not more often. Then there are the brave few who count down the days until they can drown themselves in the smell of the fresh popcorn, who get an endorphin rush when the theater lights dim, and who almost singlehandedly put their new favorite movie to the top of the box-office.

These people know movies. They know the characters before they’re introduced, they know who dies at the end, when the plot is going to twist, and can quote the entire screenplay. They might not be great to see a movie with, but if you’re ever on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” you know which friend to phone when the film category comes up.

I am one of these people.

First off, calm down. Movies aren’t that expensive if you’re a true film addict. Every Tuesday (and Sundays in Medina), tickets are on sale for $5 at all Regal Cinemas. Also, if you join their rewards program, you’re always getting free popcorn and drinks. Another movie hotspot that I and every hipster in the Akron area love is the Highland Square Theatre. It’s the mom and pop shop of movie theaters. The tickets are $5, it’s in a great location, it has a very cool and vintage look, and, did I mention, a full bar? They do only run one movie at time, but beggars can’t be choosers.

The Highland Square Theatre is now showing “Magnificent Seven,” one of the best movies I’ve seen in a couple of months. This movie put all the wild back into the West with a crazy diverse cast of characters, all of whom have their own motivations for being brazen. I know I’ll be quoting the witty one-liners of Ethan Hawke’s character, Goodnight Robicheaux, for the rest of the week.

The movie, in my opinion, is a fun and updated version of the 1960 original that keeps the thrill and traditional sense of a good Western movie, but adds the hilarious Chris Pratt and other modern, satirical moments to it. For the most part it’s the same story: seven outlaws brought together by Bob Chisolm, played by Denzel Washington, to help a desperate town take back its land from a nasty industrialist. The director, Antoine Fuqua, who also directed “Training Day” and “Olympus Has Fallen,” surprised me with his ability to breathe new life into this movie.

If you like old Western movies, then mosey on down to Highland Square.