The Magnificent Seven – Season Two (1999 – 2000/DVD-Video)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: D Episodes: C
There is
no doubt that the original 1960 Magnificent
Seven is a classic of the genre, despite being derivative and having one
too many sequels. In 1998, MGM very
belatedly launched a TV series version that had more to do with the low-end
success of the Young Guns films than
the classic name it bears. Even though
they were lucky enough to land Michael Biehn and Ron Pearlman, the show did not
last and MGM has issued Season Two
for completists.
Having
somehow survived low ratings for the first season, 13 more shows were produced,
but that did not change their luck and this would be the end of the line for
the hour-long series that always felt like a package deal. Robert Vaughn, Bruce McGill, Michele Phillips
and Brion James had also shown up along the way, but the scripts were
oversimple, sometimes pandering and nothing new we had not seen before. Except for some ambitious action and some money
on the screen, it never added up. Now
you can see for yourself.
The 1.33
X 1 image is poor with softness throughout despite being shot on film, with the
credits and other aspects being finished in NTSC analog video the culprit as it
is for so many shows starting in the early 1980s. Not that the shoot is that engaging. All we get are standard Western shots that
always look as phony as the sets. The
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no surrounds and is the highlight of the disc by
default. The combination will be
passable only for those who like the show and there are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
