I have been looking forward to the debut of The Lone Ranger with much anticipation ever since it was first announced, and the reality of it was that there was nothing else that was really going to matter about this movie… it had Johnny Depp in it… that’s enough for me.
Forget the fact that it was a bit like Pirates of the Caribbean in Indian dress. Forget the fact that Tonto had traded Captain Sparrow’s compass for a lighter weight, even less reliable compass, and forget the fact that instead of sailing the seven seas he was now traversing the Texan desert. Just remember this important fact; that it doesn’t seem to matter how splattered with paint his face, how dishevelled his hair or how ridiculous his outfit and manner… Johnny Depp still manages to look hot.
Set in the great American Old West, the story begins with an elderly Comanche spirit warrior (Tonto) recounting his illustrious tale to a young boy at a country fair, who is, for a reason that is not explained, posing as a ‘noble savage’ in one of the displays.
The story goes… John Reid (aka The Lone Ranger, or Kemo Sabi – apparently Comanche for ‘wrong brother’ and played by Armie Hammer, who incidentally, is really quite cute) returns as a lawyer to help uphold the peace in his little Texan hometown, Colby where his brother (Dan Reid) upholds the law as a Texas Ranger. En route he encounters outlaw Butch Cavendish (destined for execution) and a shackled Tonto, who are making their way, by Transcontinental Railroad in the making, to the same destination, that is until Cavendish escapes.
Next thing you know John is recruited as a Texas Ranger, part of a possie, ambushed, dead, not dead, wishing he was dead, and whilst trying to make all the right decisions, predictably, makes all of the wrong ones, in between a collection of fantastical stunts, comic storylines and spectacular scenery. All this and more under the direction of Gore Verbinski, who, surprise, surprise, was also the director of the super successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise from which The Lone Ranger has very obviously taken much of its inspiration. But that’s okay, if you have a winning recipe, why not.
Speaking of winners… I would love a horse just like the exceptionally talented Silver… possessed with both beauty and grace… he can climb trees, navigate rooftops, jump (or possibly even fly) from extraordinary heights (under pressure)… alongside a number of other exceptional feats, and when the hard day of heroic work is done… he can join you at the bar for a drink… straight from the bottle… yes… I think I may have a ’horse crush’. And while I have no desire to lose my leg, Red Harrington’s (Helena Bonham Carter) scrimshaw / shotgun leg was pretty cool too…
There are lots of flaws in the plot, but the movie makes no secret of this, often asking the same questions that the audience does, and then still not answering them – I mean how did Tonto get out of gaol?? Does it matter?
The Lone Ranger was in the least, entertaining, at it’s best, eccentric and funny, and while Tonto was not in any way the ‘eye candy’ I would have hoped, Johnny Depp was at his quirky best delivering a Tonto, while reminiscent of Captain Sparrow, that stole the show.
I loved this movie. For pure entertainment value it rates highly and isn’t that what we are looking for in a movie anyway?
This story was written by Petra Frieser – Pebbles + Pomegranate Seeds
