The Lone Ranger (2013)

aelynn000 said:

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The the two evils are upsetting people who want the actor of Tonto to be full Native American or having a big budget movie completely flop, the lesser of the two for Hollywood is the latter.

Honestly, everyone complaining, when Halle Berry, who is half African American, was cast as Storm, who is a full African American woman... did you put up the same argument?

If a movie is going to flop because a particular actor isn't in it, then I think you have a much bigger problem with the movie itself rather than the casting. If the only reason to put people in a seat is by who is in the movie, then you clearly have a problem with the concept and script of the movie.

As for Halle Berry and Storm, at least she is clearly not white, though of mixed race. I didn't care for her cast as Storm, nor her acting in the movie, nor the script for her, but at least she wasn't a Nordic looking person playing a black woman. (And Storm is full African, she was found there, born there, lived there, and I doubt she ever got her Visa unless Charles implanted a few suggestions in some border agents)

firesprite said:

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To me, Storm should have been Iman. I didn't like Halle Berry's version of Storm AT ALL!

Seriously, this woman doesn't age!

I could buy her as Storm any day.

firesprite said:

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^Now I think I know why Bowie had a heart attack.

Kerr Avon said:

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If a movie is going to flop because a particular actor isn't in it, then I think you have a much bigger problem with the movie itself rather than the casting. If the only reason to put people in a seat is by who is in the movie, then you clearly have a problem with the concept and script of the movie.

As for Halle Berry and Storm, at least she is clearly not white, though of mixed race. I didn't care for her cast as Storm, nor her acting in the movie, nor the script for her, but at least she wasn't a Nordic looking person playing a black woman. (And Storm is full African, she was found there, born there, lived there, and I doubt she ever got her Visa unless Charles implanted a few suggestions in some border agents)

Oh. I did a quick Google and it said Storm's Mom married an American journalist and had Storm in Manhattan. >_> *shrug*

I agree with the faults of the movie if they need to rely on casting, but before anyone decides to see the movie there are too many factors on the surface. The overall concept and script aren't what get people into seats. They are the biggest parts of what make a good movie, but you can't judge either of those by a trailer or promotional images. What people usually consider in advance...

Do I like this style of movie or its story?
Westerns aren't too hot nowadays.

Am I going to like these characters?
Usually if you don't like the actors, there's a high chance that the answer to this is no.

Do I want to see these actors?
Hardly anyone knows who Armie Hammer is, a random albeit good NA actor for Tonto would be in the same category. And then if they hired a superstar for the Lone Ranger and casted an unknown as Tonto, I'm sure there would be debate on that too, with those considering the casting of his role as minor and unimportant leaving him to be portrayed as 'that Native sidekick', by someone that the masses don't care to see.

I guess I just keep repeating myself. Out of the stars that draw an audience, I think Depp is probably the most suited for the role and they needed something to make this movie marketable to the masses.

In the end, I think having Depp as Tonto will not be a decision they'll regret. I'm presuming that the movie will be moderately entertaining ( I don't like westerns ) and that a lot of its gross is going to be from older Lone Ranger fans or current Depp fans. Take Depp out of that equation and your biggest draw is older Lone Ranger fans and fans of westerns...I can't speak on the size of the Lone Ranger fanbase but from the most recent box office results, westerns don't draw much ( HAHA no pun intended ) unless it has talking animals in it... and even Rango didn't do that well. In fact, I'd say they're almost a gamble to begin with. Rango did 245 ww, Cowboys and Aliens did 100 and Jesse James did 15.

The only downside to the decision of casting him is the handful of people complaining 'but he's not a real Native American'. If that's enough to turn someone away from the movie if they had been a fan in the past, then I guess they weren't much of a fan and that's one less person from the smaller demographic that they're relying on audience from, but overall I don't think the negative thoughts of those people will be enough to hinder what mediocre success ( I REALLY doubt westerns, can you tell? ) the movie may have.

Well, just look at the star trek series', they had an Englishman playing a French captain, a hyspanic playing a Native American 1st officer and a journalist playing a Cardassian tailor!

I just remember how up at arms people were because M. Night Shayamalan didn't cast an Indian kid to portray a cartoon character that is from a pretend universe which has different nationalities from the real world.

wannab said:

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Depp's maternal great-grandmother, Minnie, was a full-blooded Cherokee and Depp also has Cherokee ancestry on his father's side.

More than "just good enough" for Native American status by any Tribal counsel.

So he'd be 1/8th at best? How many 1/8th Cherokee were there during the period this movie is set? If he looked more significantly NA then maybe, but he's still at best only 1/8 and there are plenty of other NA actors who would look the part better.

Move on.

And nope.

Kerr Avon said:

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So he'd be 1/8th at best? How many 1/8th Cherokee were there during the period this movie is set? If he looked more significantly NA then maybe, but he's still at best only 1/8 and there are plenty of other NA actors who would look the part better.



And nope.

Pahhhleeeze!


How would you know how many 1/8th there were in that time period? More than just a few.

Again... move on.



Doug

wannab said:

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Pahhhleeeze!

Just having an avatar of one of my favorite actors won't buy you any mercy.

So Kerr,
Are you going to be in the crowd that is angry about the casting, still goes to see it and then still complains about it afterward? Or are you just not going to see it because the casting bothers you so much? Just curious.

Everyone else,
What do you think about the mention that the movie is more based 'around' Tonto? What I'm thinking is that it's going to follow them but definitely put a spin on things...focusing on both, but giving the prominence to Tonto... seeing his reaction to things the Lone Ranger does. The way he works into the Lone Rangers plans, or changes the plans mid-action in favour of a better result and then the LR feeling all proud over said result and Tonto just smiling and nodding. From what I've read, Tonto ( which apparently actually can be translated to idiot or fool ) was portrayed originally as a comedic relief.

I have no idea how the actual show went and no interest in watching it...but I feel like it would be a pretty fun and funny idea for the film. I've always liked feeling like I could see behind the scenes with what the other characters do to influence certain outcomes.

I have a feeling this concept will just throw more people into a rage, however, but yet would be another reason why they cast a big-shot name for the role.

Kerr Avon said:

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Just having an avatar of one of my favorite actors won't buy you any mercy.

Don't make me send for Wu.




Doug

No, I wont' bother seeing it. I'm not big into Westerns.

As for Tonto, I believe the name he originally gave the Lone Ranger, "Keemosabe" actually means "Horse's Ass" So, he was kind of a dick.

If Native Americans consider Depp as their own (according to their standards) why should anyone else? Non-issue.



Doug

Tonto, jump on it, jump on it! Sorry I couldn't resist

Now if you don't want to see it based on premise, genre, or you think it'll just plain suck -- fine. Not seeing it based on some bogus bloodline casting argument, that is petty.

Personally I'm in the wait and see camp. If reviews are decent and it looks like it has some appeal then I'll see it (eventually). If it is in the "Wild Wild West" range of story and acting, I'm out with extreme prejudice. Don't bore me, or feed me icing with no cake, that is all I ask.




Doug

Looks fine to me. Not everyone in Tombstone is walking around dusty and dirty and it doesn't detract from the quality of the film.

Frankly I'm less offended by the idea of Johnny Depp playing Tonto than I am the rather weedy and effete looking dude sporting the black mask.

"Armie".

Noeland said:

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Good lord. It's one photo and the hater train rolls into town full steam. WOW.

It feels like the Prometheus thread in here.

I don't think Depp has any pirates in his family, does he? How about people who sell books? Or lizards? I don't think he was related to John Dillinger, and I doubt very seriously he has any old english detectives in his lineage. How about killer barbers who liked to sing?

+1 really,really pathetic to be honest.

It's a MOVIE for chrissakes just be happy they got somebody entertaining in it so it might be half way decent

Given Depp's quirky nature I'll go see this,sure it's not the Lone Ranger I saw as a kid but it should be fun,or it could suck I'll have to wait for a trailer

What offends me is that it looks comedic.

I want an olde tyme cowboy movee, not POTC on horses.

I soooo want this to be a good movie, I hate to admit it, but I actually like "The Legend of the Lone Ranger" with Klinton Spillsbury. My dad got me to like the The Lone Ranger as he has been a fan his whole life. I actually want to make a costume based on this image:



I almost attempted this last Halloween.

terryr said:

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What offends me is that it looks comedic.

I want an olde tyme cowboy movee, not POTC on horses.

I'm betting on a Sherlock Holmes type vibe/treatment (shudder). I agree with you wanting that old time vibe for this, but it wouldn't fly with today's demo.




Doug

azheat01 said:

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I soooo want this to be a good movie, I hate to admit it, but I actually like "The Legend of the Lone Ranger" with Klinton Spillsbury.

Yes, I liked that one!

I can't wait not to see this.

I'll wait until the trailer comes out before making final judgement. But honestly...how could this be a good idea? It's just a continuation of the same old trend Hollywood has been following the past couple of years (take a corny TV show from the mid-century and turn it into an "epic" dramatic Blockbuster), and I haven't been impressed by a single example yet.

But like I said, I'll give it a chance and wait for the trailers.


I'd rather not even get started on the Native American thing, I don't have the energy for another one of those debates. The movies are hard on those folks...