The Legend of the Lone Ranger

[Earth 2 Chris]

I have a soft spot for this film, despite it's bad reputation. It has all the right ingredients for an epic interpretation, ala Superman The Movie, but it just doesn't quite gel. The fact that the lead isn't the greatest actor and is dubbed doesn't help.

But I still say it's a fun film, and does the character justice. Too bad the rights holders went out of their way to sue Clayton Moore, and bar him from making appearances as the character, which created even more bad will for the film.

My pal Rob Kelly had me on his Film and Water Podcast to discuss it. I had a good time defending it!

http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/film-water-144-the-legend-of-the-lone-ranger/

Tomorrow, he and I podcast again about Gabriel's Lone Ranger toys!

Chris

[EmergencyIan]

I actually like it, as well. It's much better than the recent Lone Ranger movie. And, it brought the Gabriel 9 inch figures to your and my attention, Chris. They also did that terrific 3 3/4 inch figure and horse line.

When I saw the movie at the theater, some kid stood up during the climax of the movie and said "Shoot the sucker!" I remember that because my grandfather, who took me to see the movie, got a real kick out of that.

I've seen the film, in recent years and, still, thought it was good.

- Ian

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I got the Blu-Ray a month or so ago. I watched it twice, with both of my kids, and they liked it too. I think it holds up pretty well. And they sat through the hell that was the Depp movie.

Chris

[EmergencyIan]

Then Depp movie turned out to be a complete turn-off, for me. But, then again, I’m the guy who’d prefer only to see superheroes in their traditional/classic costumes.

You know, I was a big fan of the Clayton Moore series and of him in general. I recall that lawsuit and the entire mess, but I did not know or recall the that it was the filmmakers who were behind the whole thing. What a misstep and cruel thing to have done. Clayton Moore wasn’t going to harm their movie.

After all that, it’s a good movie. At this point, the only thing that taints it for me is that lawsuit. Otherwise, I think the served the story and legacy well. It was traditional and fun! The beauty of Westerns is that they’re were already period pieces when made...so, they hold up well decades later, if they were well done in the first place.

- Ian

[Hector]

I love Westerns, but that’s not one of them...

[Makernaut]

Tomorrow, he and I podcast again about Gabriel's Lone Ranger toys!

Chris

Right on!

[PNGwynne]

I admire the 9" toys and I enjoyed this film. It was one, like Clash of the Titans, that I saw often in HBO rotation. The related 4" toyline was fun and I had several.

I recall the bad press about Moore and the bad reviews, but to me as a kid it seemed an acceptable updating of the Moore/Silverheels films I had seen.

I need to revisit it, I like the Lone Ranger and had hopes for Disney's version, but it didn't gel, either. It really suffers in comparison to a reboot like Bandaras' Zorro.

[Nostalgiabuff]

i always liked this one too. could have done without the narrating though.

also have to admit I like the Depp version. it's not really lone ranger but I enjoy it nonetheless

[Hedji]

For some reason, I remember studying the painting advertising the film on the back of a box of Cheerios. I revisited the movie about 2 years ago. The rhyming narration was a little weird, but the film was definitely a product of its time... sort of like the Superman the Movie of this character.

[Falstaff13]

Tomorrow, he and I podcast again about Gabriel's Lone Ranger toys!

I definitely want to hear that--I love both the 9" line and the 3 3/4" ones for the film.

I agree it's underrated as a film, and I need to get it on disc and see it again.

[MEMEGO]

I have always loved this movie and the sound track. its a highly underrated movie.

[melstapler]

The 2003 Lone Ranger isn't terrible by any means, but having LR and Tonto face these major life experiences at such a young age means the timeline of the story seems to be altered to fit this formula. In that respect, the comparison to Smallville seems quite accurate.

Obviously the stories from the classic tv series will be very different today, but I'd like to see a tough, masculine actor in the vein of a Clayton Moore or John Hart cast as LR/Reid. The Johnny Depp portrayal of Tonto was deemed disrespectful by some viewers and whether intentional or not, gave the suggested appearance that it was a mockery of Native American customs and practices.

[Nostalgiabuff]

the biggest issue with the Depp movie, if they tried to make it a comedy. casting Reid as a buffoon and Tonto as a mad man. I like the movie for what it is, but it is not a Lone Ranger movie