Finally saw the Lone Ranger....

[Hector]

I didn't like it, it's a movie that couldn't decide whether to be a serious epic Western, or a screwball comedy.

Take the ambush and killing of the rangers for example...it was pretty brutal...yet when it's all said and done, you have Depp's Tonto doing his court-jester bit, which I found in bad taste.

Speaking of Depp, I just found his Tonto incredibly annoying.

Also, I almost walked away when Tonto slaps Hammer's Lone Ranger, who also plays a buffoon in this film.

I also didn't like the back and forth scenes of the main story with old Tonto and kid in San Francisco's 30s.

Very disappointed...I think I'm gonna take out my old Eastwood's Unforgiven to watch a real Western, and take this bloated and overblown production outta my head.

[Wise4671]

My Family and I watched it last night and we all enjoyed it for what it was.

You could not go into this movie expecting Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels if you did I am sure you were highly disappointed. I thought Johnny Depp played his part very well and Silver made me laugh a few times.

Bottom line if you went into seeing this movie with an open mind then I'm pretty sure you enjoyed it.

[raycastile]

I saw it at the theater and came away trying to convince myself that I liked it. In the end, I just couldn't fall for my own con. I had an open mind. I was willing to embrace a different take on the material. But I finally had to admit this movie was a failure. It was a Lone Ranger movie made by people who didn't really want to make a Lone Ranger movie. They felt the need to apologize for the source material, and tried to put it in a different context to make it palatable.

The thing that really stuck in my side was the idea that the filmmakers felt that what the ideals the original Lone Ranger stood for were no longer legitimate. As with the new Superman, I get the feeling that Hollywood looks down on the concept of a pure, good, honest, fair, strong hero. Such a character is no longer relevant in today's world, no longer rings true, seems naive, and might even be somehow immoral, or racist, or imperialist, or whatever. Bah, humbug.

I'm a guy who uses Coffin Joe as his avatar. I love dark, twisted, conflicted antiheroes. But the Lone Ranger and Superman are not antiheroes. I love Chris Nolan's Batman trilogy, probably my favorite live-action take on the character. But that's Batman. Every fantasy hero can't be Batman. And I love Doctor Who, a hero who can be downright buffoonish. But that's Doctor Who, not the Lone Ranger.

We've never had a really good, definitive Lone Ranger movie, one that can go in the time capsule as the ultimate summation of what that character represents. The Clayton Moore TV version is still the definitive one. But on the big screen, there has never been a definitive Ranger. Before we have a revisionist Lone Ranger film, I'd like to have a definitive one.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Very well said Ray, and I agree. I actually saw the film with my father and kids in the theater. I knew going in the take would be quirky and warned my dad about it. He'd seen enough of the Pirates films on TV to get an idea of what we may be in for. That being said, they went beyond quirky in to "what the...?". We were both entertained, but felt like we'd been somewhat swindled by the promise of a Lone Ranger film. My father was quicker to come around to saying he just didn't like it as a Ranger film, while I was still trying to convince myself otherwise.

If it was it's own animal, I'd probably really like it, but as a Lone Ranger film it doesn't work. I agree with Hector that some of it is way to gruesome and violent, and then just slapstick silly 2 minutes later.

The William Tell overture scene at the end had the older folks in our audience cheering...finally. Obviously, THIS was the type of movie they wanted to see. But Hollywood won't give it to them, for some of the reasons Ray mentions above.

I'm an apologist for the 1980s movie. The sincerity and scope were right on. The cast was good...except for the Lone Ranger. You definitely feel that they were shooting for the vibe of Superman: The Movie with that film, and to their credit, didn't even get into some of the campier elements that Superman did in the 2nd half of the film. But they missed the boat on that all important ingredient...the casting.

For some great Lone Ranger films, check out Moore and Silverheels' two forays onto the big screen. Both "The Lone Ranger" and "The Lone Ranger and the City of Gold" are really good westerns for that period, and the increased budget and color really make them shine. The Ranger and a rival Indian get into one of the best screen fights I've seen in the first movie, and the origin is recapped in the beginning of the second. If you want true, non-ironic, uncynical Lone Ranger, go there.

Chris

[Hector]

If it was it's own animal, I'd probably really like it, but as a Lone Ranger film it doesn't work. I agree with Hector that some of it is way to gruesome and violent, and then just slapstick silly 2 minutes later.

That's why I disliked the film...it couldn't make up its mind whether it wanted to be The Wild Bunch or Blazing Saddles.

The other scene that bothered me...just after Captain Jay Fuller (Barry Pepper) and his men shoot down all the warriors down with Gatling guns...then you see Tonto reflecting the massacre...you see for one moment, sadness...but then a second later...you see Silver wearing a hat...and Tonto commenting what a strange horse he is...drum roll please. One scene massive deaths, the next scene belly laughs. I mean seriously??? Scenes like that just infuriated the heck outta me, argh.

[Hector]

By the time the Lone Ranger got slapped a second time...I wanted him to blast Tonto right between the eyes...that's how annoying Johnny Depp's portrayal of Tonto was to me.

[Hector]

Arnie Hammer at times was very good as the Lone Ranger...especially when the famous music starts in the climatic scene...and he's elegantly galloping along with Silver atop of the train...that was by far the BEST scene in the movie...the entire movie should've been like that...majestic and heroic...but noooooooooo...it was all about slapstick pirate/indian hybrid Depp/Tonto...his character just ruined the movie for me.

[Hedji]

Thanks for the recommendations Earth2Chris. I just ordered the double feature off Amazon for $5. Can't beat that.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I have that double feature! I think you'll enjoy those films.

Chris

[Hedji]

Excellent! He's a character I've never had proper exposure to. Never saw the 1981 film, or watched much of it on TV, but there's a real appeal. I have the playing Mantis figure sets, and I really dig them.

[Boywonder0]

The Walt Disney Lone Ranger movie was pure crap! Big time!

[Nostalgiabuff]

I still like it for what it was, a fun popcorn movie. just not as a LR movie.

[Figuremod73]

Growing up The Lone Ranger came on every weekend (The Family Channel?) and is probably the only western I've ever cared about along with The Cisco Kid and Wild, Wild, West. I'm afraid to even TRY and watch it.

[Operation:Mego]

By the time the Lone Ranger got slapped a second time...I wanted him to blast Tonto right between the eyes...that's how annoying Johnny Depp's portrayal of Tonto was to me.

Geez, tell us how you really feel Hec.

[jimsmegos]

I've been trying to watch it the past few days. Going in I accepted it as being completely detached from the original TV series or radio series. No problem. Still haven't made it to the end and while I'm sure I will eventually, it's just not grabbing me.