Take 21: The Lone Ranger

Tuesday: Take - My "take" on a film

The Lone Ranger

I watched The Lone Ranger (2013) in spite of the reviews because, well, to put it in two words: Johnny Depp. Oh, okay, I also wanted to see the cinematography. 

When the film was still in production, I read that the filmmakers wanted to avoid using CGI as much as possible. (Wish I could find that article now, for reference.) I don't know how much CGI was used, but the film contains magnificent shots. I regret not seeing it in the theater; it's big screen worthy.

The opening scene, set in 1933, surprised me. What? I thought this was a western! Turns out the story comes from a very elderly Tonto (Johnny Depp) as he tells a young boy about The Lone Ranger (Armie Hammer), adding a bit of mystery. Is this the rambling of a carnival-employed Native American? Is this legend? Or real?

If you expect a completely serious western in The Lone Ranger, you will be disappointed. The film contains numerous comedic elements, even hokey humor at times, but I got a kick out of it. Even Silver has comedic scenes, leading Tonto to say, "Something is very wrong with that horse."

According to IMDb trivia, the original plot of the film included "supernatural elements and Native American mysticism" but was later revamped. Still, a few supernatural elements remain.

Tonto describes Butch Cavendish (William Fitchner) as "an evil spirit born in the empty spaces of the desert with a hunger that cannot be satisfied and the power to throw nature out of balance." This explains some creepy rabbits. And the horse.

Glad I didn't allow nay-sayers to keep me from watching The Lone Ranger. Entertaining and fun, with stunning visuals.


Notes on content:

• Some mild profanity, and some religious exclamations.
• A brothel scene reveals abundant cleavage, but no sex or nudity. (Little more risqué than you might expect in a Disney film, though.)
• The violence, for the most part, resembles older westerns where it's obvious someone is shot, maimed, or killed, but without gore. The camera rarely focusses on blood or wounds.