I was on vacation earlier this month and missed the news that Johnny Depp has signed on to return as the Mad Hatter in the Alice in Wonderland Sequel. That the sequel would be made was in little doubt after the original brought in more… Read More »Johnny Depp to Return as Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland Sequel
Disney’s The Lone Ranger rides into cinemas everywhere this weekend bringing a updated take on the classic TV show masked avenger to modern audiences. The film is a success and a failure to varying degrees. How much you feel of one or the other probably depends on your ability to just let go and have a good time. Although dark at times, the film isn’t meant to be taken too seriously and certainly pokes fun at some of the conventions we expect in a Lone Ranger story. Once you figure out who the villain is, and he reveals himself fairly early on, the pieces fall into place and the rest of the film is a can be enjoyed for what it is – well produced Hollywood fun.
Like Johnny Depp, I grew up watching reruns of the classic TV show edition of The Lone Ranger. The villains were inevitably corrupt businessmen and politicians or the standard mustache twirling dreamer up of evil plots. Tonto did his best to keep the outlaw lawman John Reid out of trouble and often swooped in for a well timed attack to save the masked avenger’s life. It was inspiring stuff to an 8 year old.
Sadly, I can’t recommend today’s 8-year olds watch this new edition of The Lone Ranger. The PG-13 rating is to be taken seriously for both violent scenes and fairly heavy subject matter.
Frankly, I don’t get why Disney is marketing The Lone Ranger to young kids with Halloween costumes, action figures, and the like. Was the part about cutting out and eating the still beating heart of one of the heroes not in the script when merchandise got their hands on it?
On the other hand, I recent sat through World War Z, a fairly graphic and bloody zombie attack movie, with a young kid right in front of me. He suffered no ill effect and was even suggesting dinner options on the way out of the theater (he must have had an iron stomach to go with his tolerance for horror and gore). But I digress.
Ostensibly about the journey John Reid takes to become The Lone Ranger, the movie actually dedicates more pages of the script to Tonto’s backstory. It makes sense since a large portion of the plot is driven by elements in Tonto’s life. The two start off as adversaries, but by the end of the film are ready to work together as a team to right the wrongs and bring the bad guys to justice.Read More »The Lone Ranger Rides Into Cinemas With Fun on its Mind
Mega Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who has been behind many of Disney’s most successful films of the last decade, received a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star in a special ceremony today. The ceremony took place outside the El Capitan Theater and featured a nice speech… Read More »Mega Hollywood Producer Jerry Bruckheimer Gets Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Disney’s The Lone Ranger promises a new sort of old western. Clearly a return to the classic genre, but with a twist that will keep audiences focused on the screen waiting for what comes next. Here are three recent behind the scenes looks at how the movie was made:
The Craft
Johnny Depp and producer Jerry Bruckheimer are frequent film collaborators, including the hugely successful “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise which stars Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. Bruckheimer had been intrigued with the idea of relaunching the classic TV show The Lone Ranger as their next franchise, but the project was languishing in development until Depp stepped in.
Depp figured that the best way to get the ball rolling would be to get into character as Tonto. He rounded up two close friends—makeup artist Joel Harlow and photographer Peter Mountain—and set about creating his distinctive version of how Tonto would look in the hope that it would convince Bruckheimer and the studio, Disney, to give The Lone Ranger the green light.
He based his ‘look’ for Tonto on a painting he’d seen of a Native American warrior and added his own, unique, flourishes. The result was spectacular and it convinced Bruckheimer—and indeed Disney Studios— that it was time for “The Lone Ranger” and Tonto to ride back onto the screen.
“I was doing ‘The Rum Diary’ with Bruce (Robinson) in Puerto Rico, and I had already found a painting of a Native American warrior with these stripes down his face,” Depp explained.Read More »Johnny Depp on his role as Tonto in The Lone Ranger
In a classy move, Walt Disney Studios Chairman, Alan Horn, has announced that ticket sales from the highly anticipated World Premiere of Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger” will benefit the American Indian College Fund. The event will take place on Saturday, June 22, at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California.
As you might expect, a red carpet will grace the Park’s iconic Hollywood Boulevard enabling the thousands of park guests to cheer for the film’s stars, filmmakers, and the many Hollywood celebrities expected to attend. The Lone Ranger’s horse Silver will even make an appearance and an actual train engine built for the film will be on display.
“We’ve had a terrific collaboration with the Native American community throughout the production of Disney’s ‘The Lone Ranger,’” said Alan Horn, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. “With the world premiere of this exciting film at hand, we are pleased to commemorate the occasion by supporting the American Indian College Fund.”Read More »The Lone Ranger Will Premiere at Disney California Adventure In Benefit For American Indian College Fund
A new TV spot for The Lone Ranger plays on the Masked Man story. From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, comes Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with… Read More »New TV Spot for The Lone Ranger – The Masked Man
There are some new posters in town, and fortunately this Internet is big enough for the all of them. That’s cowboy talk.
I think it’s great that they are featuring some of the other cast besides the two main heroes.