SYNOPSIS: “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice—taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.

REVIEW:  

John Reid: If we ride together, we ride for justice. 
Tonto: Justice is what I seek, Kemosabe. 

Back in Texas right around the year 1869, a legend that defined America was born. The stuff of heroes, the pursuit of justice, and a timeless musical composition is what it’s all about. It’s the old, Wild West complete with cowboys and Indians, and the developing railroad system connecting East to West. Starting with an interesting and somewhat surprising intro, the movie is mystic, dramatic, and plenty adventurous with a solid chuckle here and there. It is a well made quality movie that entertains and inspires. It is a new look at a classic tale appropriately tackled by the same team that gave us the incomparable Pirates of the Caribbean series, Disney Studios and Gore Verbinski. Comparing Ranger to Pirates would be unfair, but of course you know I’m going to do it anyway. I find Pirates to have the lead in entertainment and story quality, not that Ranger is bad, just that Pirates is better. You could also compare this to Mask of Zorro. While watching this film it kept reminding me of Zorro and you might know why when you see it. I don’t really want to give too much away so I’ll just leave it at that. Other aspects of a film that always help set the mood and transport you to another place are good cinematography and good film locations. In this case we have both. We are treated to stunning backdrops in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico for example. And then there’s the music, specifically and officially known as the William Tell Overture, more popularly known as the Lone Ranger tune. Originally composed by Gioachino Rossini, there aren’t too many works that inspire and motivate as much as this piece. In the movie it is used at just the right time to do exactly that and it is easily the best part of the movie.

Some were reluctant or skeptical of Johnny Depp playing Tonto in this film. So I kept a critical eye on him but all for nothing. Johnny Depp is a quality actor, no doubt, so I’m surprised at the doubt about his ability to pull this off. He does so quite well without a hitch, and without incorporating Jack Sparrowisms . . . sorry, Captain Jack Sparrowisms. For the most part, he is the focal point of the movie and he carries it well. Armie Hammer in the title role fits the bill nicely. He delivers the total Boy Scout package with just the right look for the part. The supporting cast is really beefed up with talent. One that stood out the most is an underrated actor who has given so many memorable performances in his career. Here, William Fichtner is barely recognizable but his performance is spot on. Another fantastic actor who gives yet another strong performance is Tom Wilkinson. This guy just knocks it out of the park every time. Ruth Wilson was pretty solid too. In actuality, however, the entire cast is almost shadowed by the best performance of the show given by the white horse that plays Silver. I mean wow! Awesome! The comradery between the Lone Ranger, Tonto, and Silver is something special to watch. Although the movie is not perfect, it drags a little and it seems to take forever for the Lone Ranger to establish himself and get going, it is a work that Gore should be proud of. I would think this is not an easy story to retell, but who better to do it than Gore and Disney. So Kemosabe, if you’re ready for something other than sci-fi, and you’re looking for a different brand of superhero for a change, this one’s for you.

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