Film Review: "The Lone Ranger" (2013).

"It was a ranger... A lone ranger." This what you should expect in The Lone Ranger. This Superhero Action-Adventure Western film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films and directed by Gore Verbinski. Based on the radio series of the same name, the film explores the Native American warrior Tonto recounting the untold tale of how the transformed John Reid, a man of the law, became a legend, and the duo's efforts to subdue the immoral actions of the corrupt and bring justice in the American Old West.

The ownership of The Lone Ranger property was shifted ambiguously from The Weinstein Company to producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Entertainment Rights. By May 2007, they had set the film up at Walt Disney Pictures under the leadership of then studio chairman Dick Cook. Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, who had worked with Bruckheimer and Disney on the Pirates of the Caribbean film series (2003-Present), were being considered to write the script, and entered final negotiation in March 2008. Disney then announced in September 2008 that Johnny Depp would be portraying Tonto. The script was subsequently rewritten by Justin Haythe. In September of 2010, Gore Verbinski was hired to direct. Actor Armie Hammer was selected to play the Lone Ranger, a role that Bruckheimer described as being written for "a young Jimmy Stewart character". On August 12, 2011, Disney announced that production on The Lone Ranger would be delayed due to budget concerns accosted by CEO Bob Iger and then studio chairman Rich Ross. On October 2011, Disney confirmed that the film was back on track after the budget was reworked to give the studio a chance to recoup its costs. Filming was initially reported to begin on February 6, 2012, for a projected release date of May 31, 2013, which was subsequently moved to 4th of July weekend of that same year. Principal photography began on March 8, 2012. The shoot was met with several problems including inclement weather, wildfires, a chickenpox outbreak and the death of crew member.

The film stars Armie Hammer in the title role and Johnny Depp as Tonto. With William Fichtner, Tom Wilkinson, Barry Pepper and Helena Bonham Carter. The performances in this film were poorly portrayed. Depp was terribly portrayed because due to the fact that, quite simply, he is not a First Nation. Which he did get a lot of controversy for, even though the filmmakers did have the presence of an advisor from Nation. In addition, his portrayal was nothing but a combination of cheap laughs and dull seriousness. Hammer's performance was terrible due to his lack of leading role experience as an actor. I felt he was not the one and was not ready for this kind of role with the amount of weight that the character had to carry throughout the film.

While The Lone Ranger looks terrific and delivers its share of western adventure thrills, however, it also suffers from uneven pacing and occasionally incomprehensible plotting and characterization. The film is intended to foster a franchise for Disney and will probably fail. Does it get the job done for the weekend action audience? No, it does not. Not at all. This is worse than the last Disney effort John Carter (2012). 


Simon says The Lone Ranger receives: