The Lone Ranger

[Hashi Lebwohl]

We took the kids to see this today and I think we got our money's worth for the tickets, especially since we usually go to the matinee and thus tickets are only $5 each.

When I saw the first sneak peeks of this about, oh, a year or so ago I remember thinking "man--that movie is going to suck. why are they remaking that?". You know what? This one time I am glad I was wrong.

I was extremely worried how the movie would portray Native Americans but I am glad to say they were shown with compassion and truthfulness--neither presented as having an inherently better moral high ground than everyone else yet not the old stereotypes we got from too many poorly-written TV shows.

My wife was worried that Depp would channel too much of Captain Jack Sparrow but, no, he maintained a completely different accent, tone, and mood consistent with the character--there was nothing of the rogue pirate to be found, thank goodness. I do not recall having seen Mr. Hammer in any role before but he has good screen presence and portrays a boyishly charming character quite well. He reminded me a little of a slightly younger Steve Carrell

The characterization of this Lone Ranger was very similar to Seth Rogen's Green Hornet--a guy trying to do the right thing but not really knowing how to do it. This is not surprising, of course, given that those two characters are, in fact, related to one another. Anyway, we would also find ourselves essentially making it up as we go along if thrust into similar circumstances but this serves to help us identify with the character more completely. Still...he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed--it takes a lot to finally convince him that the men who deserve to face justice will never face justice in the traditional sense. You would think he would have gotten the point when events transpired that left him as the only ranger left (out of that group, of course) but no, it takes more. *shrug*

On the down side, I saw a lot--I mean a *lot*--of plot that mirrored Antonio Banderas's first Zorro film so some originality was lost but that is okay because I liked that film as a decent action film set in a non-standard time using a non-standard character. Also, we know the bad guy is the bad guy because he has a nasty facial scar that gives him a permanent snarl featuring a metallic tooth. Really? We couldn't figure out he is the bad guy because he is a murderer? Plus, once we know he is the bad guy you don't have to keep proving it to us--we understood it 30 minutes ago. Red's gun leg? Nice idea--Cherry Darling from Planet Terror, anyone? In short, their sequel--if the ticket sales of this movie warrant a sequel--will need to have more originality and a deeper plot. Still, we will forgive them because they are essentially having to introduce the characters to people who have probably never seen or heard of him before.

An excellent summer popcorn flick equally as enjoyable as Man of Steel. I recommend seeing both, actually. Don't pay the ridiculous 3D prices, though--not worth it.

Subtle hint: Rebecca Reid, played by Ruth Wilson, does not answer her son's question.

[SoulBiter]

Saw this last night. A really well done movie. Funny, lots of action, not too cheesy. I also noted that Depp played this Character very differently than Jack Sparrow....and the horse...

[Hashi Lebwohl]

...and the horse...

There is something very wrong about that horse.

[Menolly]

Silver?

[dANdeLION]

My wife was worried that Depp would channel too much of Captain Jack Sparrow but, no, he maintained a completely different accent, tone, and mood consistent with the character--there was nothing of the rogue pirate to be found, thank goodness. .

Really? Depp is the one actor I've never have that particular concern about.

[Rau Le Creuset]

Iv heard only bad things about the lone ranger until now.. its been getting horrid reviews everywhere and even a few friends told me it wasn't very good..

me, my eyes, and my friends had the chance to go see it tonight but we chose to see WWZ... I hate zombie movies... but I am surprised to find that I thoroughly enjoyed that movie.

with your opinion now stated I may go see Lone ranger on a later date however, I shall forever be skeptical.

[Menolly]

Iv heard only bad things about the lone ranger until now.. its been getting horrid reviews everywhere and even a few friends told me it wasn't very good.

Being as young as you are, do you know the Lone Ranger t.v. show, or other sources of the legend? Or will this movie be your first exposure to him?

[sgt.null]

I have grown weary of Depp. rather see Monster U or Despicable 2.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

Really? Depp is the one actor I've never have that particular concern about.

That is why I said it was her concern.

Menolly, if we ignore that horrible movie that came out back in 1981 then anyone younger than my parents in their mid-60s will probably not recall The Lone Ranger except as a cultural reference.

I didn't say this was a great movie, only a very good popcorn flick and it is very refreshing to see a hero character who is flawed but not darkly flawed. John Reid is uncertain of himself but does what needs to be done anyway. He believes very firmly in the rule of law and it is only the extreme circumstances of the situation that make him take matters into his own hands (albeit reluctantly). The recent Man of Steel movie had some of these elements, as well--this was that Superman's first adventure so he was uncertain of himself and was also driven to act outside his own nature due to the extreme circumstances. hrm....an interesting idea, that--I must look for more recent examples of this.

My wife heard a rumor that he was going to portray Dr. Anton Phibes in a remake but I find no confirmation of this whatsoever. He is, or will be, working on PotC 5 which causes me to ask "why?" and I probably won't go see it.

[Menolly]

Menolly, if we ignore that horrible movie that came out back in 1981 then anyone younger than my parents in their mid-60s will probably not recall The Lone Ranger except as a cultural reference.

*shakes head*

I disagree. The Lone Ranger was shown enough in syndication for those in to their early 40s/late 30s, maybe even mid-30s, to have seen it fairly regularly. But someone in their teens, like Poliwrath, has most likely had far less exposure.

[Savor Dam]

I am not sure those as young as those Menolly cites will remember, but certainly, those like myself who have not attained the years of Hashi's parents but who are older than our 40s may have seen syndicated repeats of classic episodes starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. I know I did!

[Hashi Lebwohl]

I disagree. The Lone Ranger was shown enough in syndication for those in to their early 40s/late 30s, maybe even mid-30s, to have seen it fairly regularly. But someone in their teens, like Poliwrath, has most likely had far less exposure.

hrm...you could be correct. It is highly likely that Nickelodeon's sub-channel TV Land showed The Lone Ranger in quasi-syndicated reruns (I do not know when television show syndication rights expire).

[Menolly]

I thought of TVLand, but that is a fairly new channel, is it not? I'm thinking of overnight or afternoon syndicated broadcasts of shows like The Lone Ranger, Bonanza, and I Love Lucy, etc., over analog in the 60s and 70s at least. I remember those shows being broadcast when I was home sick from school, or unable to sleep when we still owned black and white t.v.s (my family didn't get a color t.v. until very late though, like mid-80s).

[Wildling]

I am not sure those as young as those Menolly cites will remember, but certainly, those like myself who have not attained the years of Hashi's parents but who are older than our 40s may have seen syndicated repeats of classic episodes starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. I know I did!

I'm quite sure that at least some folks in the ages she cites will remember the old Clayton Moore series. Mostly because I'm one of them (I'm 40).

I used to watch it on tv. For some reason I think it was saturday afternoon but I may be wrong about that.

[Menolly]

<--- had a big time crush on Jay Silverheels as a kid...

Still, I am curious if the younger generations have seen the show, or if they'll be going in to this movie with blank slates. I have not seen the movie yet, but from what I have heard I do think it may make a difference in your enjoyment of it if you have a sense of nostalgia regarding the legend, nu?

[Wildling]

I don't really know for sure. My guess would be that there is little to no knowledge of the Lone Ranger in the under 30 crowd.

And I haven't seen the movie. I was very put off by the trailer.

[High Lord Tolkien]

I love the Lone Ranger and I love westerns (the 3rd Back to the Future was my favorite for this reason) yet I don't have any interest in this one.
Based on the commercial he looks like a buffoon.

I understand the whole "the hero has to learn" thing.
But not always.
Sometimes a movie just needs a hero right from the beginning.
Like most of the early Arnold movies.
He just kicks ass from the beginning and it's great.

I heard it tanked this weekend.

[Rau Le Creuset]

I had heard of the Lone Ranger from my mom and dad before this movie came out.. not much though so I practically know nothing about it xD...

Thinking about it... I guess it should be treated as just a fun adventure not something to be criticized to harshly or taken to seriously because it's just a bit of fun.. a summer movie to watch with ur buds

[Hashi Lebwohl]

The trailers had made me suspicious of this movie, as well, but we decided to watch it anyway and I was glad that we did.

TVLand has been around since...hrm...the mid-80s, if I recall correcty. I concur with Wildling (I would call him "youngster" but I don't think 3 years makes any difference)--I seem to recall Lone Ranger coming on on Saturdays when I was a young child. Those were the days before cable TV, of course.

IMDB gives Lone Ranger's take as $48.9M over the long weekend. Given its estimated production budget of $250M (really? wow) that means that it most definitely tanked and Disney will probably not make a sequel. I think they figured the magic formula of big budget + Gore Verbinski + Johnny Depp would automatically equal success. They were wrong. Of course, I think Lone Ranger just chose the wrong weekend for release--they didn't dare release the same weekend as Man of Steel but this put them up against Despicable Me 2, which killed LR at the box office.

Apparently it still isn't time for Westerns to make a comeback as a movie genre.

[Wildling]

I concur with Wildling

Apparently it still isn't time for Westerns to make a comeback as a movie genre.

This I'm not so sure about. Quite honestly, from everything that I've heard it was the marketing that screwed this movie. People who have seen it said it was ok. But the trailer made it look awful.