Probably one of the most iconic characters from the 1930s radio-show era, The Lone Ranger is, to many people, remembered as from the 1950s TV show to be the classic hero and cowboy. This summer, the newest film adaptation of the story was released, starring Armie Hammer as the Ranger, and Johnny Depp as Tonto, his Indian companion. The film follows the story of John Reid, a young lawyer determined to bring justice to the unsettled south, and the journey that transformed him into a being of legend, The Lone Ranger, as recounted from an aging Tonto.
The movie, directed by Gore Verbinski, was the perfect blend of action and adventure while also including comedic elements. The Lone Ranger at times was portrayed as a cheesy and heroic star, much like as he would have been during the character’s time on radio shows and on TV, which lightened up the movie’s mood in comparison to darker, more serious scenes in the movie. The storyline was engaging, and the movie developed many of the major
characters’ motives and backgrounds in-depthly, which really drew the audience into the story, and helped the characters to appear less “2D,” making their personalities seem more realistic. The atmosphere was also developed quite effectively; rather than only glamorizing the wild west and life as a ranger, the fear, hardship and uncertainty faced by many townspeople on a daily basis was established extensively through the events and ongoings many of the characters had to face. The soundtrack suited the movie, and kept to the traditional Lone Ranger feel. I liked the soundtrack, and was not surprised that it had been done by Hanz Zimmer, who also did soundtracks for the likes of Gladiator, Inception, and my all time favourite, The Dark Knight.
However, at just under 150 minutes the Lone Ranger is not a short film, and in certain parts in the plot development seemed a little long. Also, for most of us who are familiar with Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, Tonto looked quite familiar to the pirate we all know and love, with the most significant differences being Tonto’s warpaint and the bird which the Indian wears atop his head. Lastly, as I mentioned earlier, the story is recollected by a wizened Tonto looking back on his adventures with the man who became The Lone Ranger. While I can see why this was done for effect, rather then adding to the movie I felt this detracted from the power of the story, and watered down the punch the final scene of The Lone Ranger could have delivered as the conclusion. Throughout the movie the story was interrupted by scenes with the present day Tonto, and the audience was intermittently yanked back and forth from past to present, which gave scenes bordering these a disjointed feel.
Overall I thought The Lone Ranger was an excellent modern rendition of a classic tale and an entertaining action adventure fit to put outlaws and rangers back on my summer movie radar.