The Lone Ranger - Movie Review

The Lone Ranger

My feelings about The Lone Ranger are decidedly mixed, but I can tell you if you’ll like it or not–that part’s easy. Just answer two questions for me: did you enjoy the Pirates of the Caribbean movies? Was Captain Jack Sparrow your favorite character?

If the answer to both questions is yes, then chances are pretty good that you’ll love watching a strangely made-up and costumed Captain Jack with a dead bird on his head, doing his shtick for two-and-a-half hours.

Everyone else will likely have some fun, but may get tired of it partway through, or have trouble with the slower bits. Too, what you bring to the party will effect your enjoyment of the movie.

Set within a framing story in 1933, the main action takes place seventy-four years earlier, centered in Colby, Texas in 1869, as the first Intercontinental railroad is being finished, an exciting time in American history.

This is a Disney movie (albeit a very violent one), so there are good guys (the Texas Rangers, yeah!) and bad guys (outlaws like Butch Cavendish). Character motivations are simple and include love, jealousy, revenge, justice, and plain old greed.

John Reid is a District Attorney, returning to his hometown of Colby to work as part of the justice system, where his brother Dan is a Texas Ranger. Dan is everything a lawman should be, rough and tough, straight-talking, good with a gun, and devoted to his family and the people he’s sworn to protect. John left Texas for law school in the East, and looks for answers in books and learning.

The addition of railroads to the landscape has, by necessity, increased tension with the local Indian population. Their way of life is threatened. The viewpoint of the Comanches is brought to the watcher by Tonto, with his odd proverbial expressions and stoic approach to problems.

Through it all, trains play a crucial role in the movie, and a number of the set pieces take place on, atop, aboard, in, and around trains.

Like the recent film version of The Green Hornet (a descendant of John Reid), The Lone Ranger took a more humorous approach than previous versions of the legend. Unlike the Green Hornet movie, though, there seemed to be a lack of respect for the source material, going instead for the cheap laughs. It was better in the moments when it took things a little more seriously, and used humor with a lighter touch. The straight adventure section where they showcased the William Tell Overture was the best example of that.

Generally good performances playing uncomplicated characters. Great action sequences (although some ran a tad long) and lots of things go boom! Plenty (too much?) comic relief.

So, to summarize, for Johnny Depp fans, and those new to the Lone Ranger legend who aren’t afraid of some graphic violence. All others need not apply.

Too, I can’t help wondering, with all the trains in the movie, was there a Lone Ranger train ride of some kind planned for the Disney theme parks? And are they going to nix those plans if the movie tanks . . . .
 
 
 
 
 
 

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