The Lone Ranger (2013) User Reviews (827)

Tonto...er...The Lone Ranger is not great, but reasonably entertaining

[kcalbertina59 · 7/10 · 5 July 2013]

Is The Lone Ranger a great movie? Not really, but it is relatively entertaining.

Is the movie slow in the middle? A little, but not as bad as most critics would have you believe.

The Lone Ranger is a bit long and does ask you to be patient at times, something that seems to be lost in the modern video-game world we live in.

The strength of the movie lies squarely with Johnny Depp and his portrayal of Tonto. I seriously doubt that any other actor could have pulled it off. Depp deadpans through several one-liners, which gives us much of the movie's humor. In Depp's capable hands, the character of Tonto is both admirable and witty, with a charm all his own.

The first part of the movie definitely gets us started with a bang. It does jump around quite a bit in the first few scenes, which seemed a little disjointed at times, but things are tied together well enough as the movie progresses.

The middle of the movie is slower, but we are provided with many of the answers as to the back history of the characters, especially with Tonto and the villains. I will agree that the movie could have accomplished the same with five to ten less minutes, but that is certainly not an adequate reason, in itself, to skewer the film.

And the last few scenes are the non-stop action sequences that most modern audiences love, although they do almost come off as cartoonish at times.

As stated, Depp's performance is the single biggest selling point for this movie. I thought William Fichtner was very good as Butch Cavendish, the film's main villain. Tom Wilkinson, James Badge Dale, Ruth Wilson, and Helena Bonham Carter all lend excellent support.

Of the movie's title character, I'm not sure that someone else other than Armie Hammer wouldn't have made a better Lone Ranger. That being said, the interactions and dialog between him and Depp's Tonto are enjoyable and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny. In many ways, this is a buddy movie, albeit with a bit of a twist.

Perhaps, one of the main reasons critics dislike the movie is its title. For all intents and purposes, this is really a Tonto movie. It is more his story and told from his point of view. It probably should have properly been called Tonto. But I don't see that as being a bad thing at all.

If you take it for what it is, The Lone Ranger is a reasonably entertaining film, with a very strong performance by Depp. And that was enough for me to give it a 7 out of 10.

Depp shines, The Lone Ranger entertains!

[janmejay-vyas · 7/10 · 25 June 2013]

Quite frankly, I was highly skeptical on attending the screening of the hugely anticipated Johnny Depp, Arnie Hammer starrer The Lone Ranger, primarily because I am not such a huge fan of western movies plus a runtime clocking almost 150 minutes seemed to long to handle. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try owing to the Depp factor and the director, Gore Verbinsky who has a pretty neat track record as a director.I haven't actually seen The Lone Ranger T.V series which aired from 1949-1957, so I pretty much knew nothing about the characters as such and went in with a clean slate, which in my opinion is a good thing as it removed unwarranted comparisons and biasness.

Settling down in my seat and 10 minutes into the movie, I was hooked on. A spectacular opening scene, where the outlaws make away with their chief held captive and being transported on a train. The scene introduces us to the principal characters of the movie namely Tonto (Johnny Depp), John Reid (Arnie Hammer) and Butch Cavendish (William Fichtner). Verbinsky establishes his characters smoothly and seamlessly throughout the narrative which is definitely one of the high points of the movie. The entire story unfolds as Tonto, recounts the tales of his journey and how John Reid becomes The Lone Ranger. The two form an uncanny team to bring Cavendish to justice, each in his own manner. John believes in non-violence and the court of law and Tonto is just the opposite. The two share an electrifying chemistry and Depp gets his comic timing spot on as the quirky Tonto. Tonto, belongs to a native American warrior tribe, who feels responsible for the death of his fellow men and his family owing to a trade he made with two white Americans he saved from certain death when he was a child. John seeks revenge from Cavendish as he is responsible for the death of his ill-fated brother Dan Reid.(James Badge Dale).

Inspite of its length, the movie never drags or feels lethargic at any point of time, instead it provides a good dose of laughter at regular intervals and Depp shines in those scenes. The scenes where the Native American, trades a feather or grains for everything he steals from dead people or the scene where the white stallion chooses John over his brother, and Tonton repeatedly tries to force the stallion to switch the selection, Depp is just fantastic.

Depp rises above his co-stars with his impeccable comic timing and one liners. The best facet to his character is the fact that he is so unpredictable. You never know what is he going to do next. Arnie Hammer pitches in an earnest performance and nicely complements Depp. Despite, all its triumphs it does have a couple of blemishes. It's understandable that the entire writing revolved around the two principal characters, John and Tonto and I'm guessing due to the focus on these two characters some other supporting characters got sidelined. The sub plot involving Rebecca (Ruth Wilson) and her relationship with John is half baked and is not well developed. Similarly, Helena Bonham Carter as Red Harrington is unconvincing as the deadly leggie and neither does her character get enough screen time leave a mark.

Barring the two minor hiccups, The Lone Ranger overall is a fine movie which is high on entertainment value. I would definitely recommend this movie to everyone who seeks a good time at the movies. Fun guaranteed!

HI YO SILVER we are back!

[Thekeybaldemasterrises · 6/10 · 25 June 2013]

I recently attended an early screening for the film at Disney's California Adventure and wow it was great. The story is well told and gives you a good idea of how a man named John Reid becomes the Lone Ranger who is brilliantly played by Armie Hammer. Johnny Depp obviously stole the show for his portrayal of Tonto; I thought it was one of his best characters he's ever played. The highlight here is the two's chemistry throughout the film, these are two very different people who both have different perspectives on life and they were just hilarious together. My only problem with the film was the supporting cast, I thought some characters were a little under developed and not as enjoyable as the leads. I wished the villain were just as enjoyable like how Geoffrey Rush was for Curse of the Black Pearl. So in other terms the film is not as good as Curse of the Black Pearl but more superior then the Prate sequels. Go see this movie you'll have a great time, and people can learn from this movie it's got some good messages.

Wish there were more movies like this

[kalibeans · 7/10 · 4 July 2013]

Johnny Depp has utterly redeemed himself in my mind from the disastrous "Dark Shadows". A great family film!! Excellent story and character build up - the way a GOOD story should be told. Somewhat in the fashion of Little Big Man in that it is told as a reminiscence. Armie Hammer was excellent as The Lone Ranger - the seemingly only bastion of decency and honesty in the Old West. Filmed in magnificent John Ford country - no totally indoor sets for this movie!! Which this story really could not have been told well without it being on location. The little spoiler comes next so stop reading if you don't want to read it. Excellent decision by Verbinski to really racket the action up at the exact point the audience hears "The Lone Ranger" song for the first time in the movie. From there on out it's a wild ride!! Johnny Depp at his deadpan best. This one I will spend to see again while it is still on the big screen!!

Is that a Jack Sparrow? No it's a crow on Tonto's head.

[Quietb-1 · 7/10 · 4 July 2013]

OK it is way too long. There is a level of dark violence which you don't expect from the Disney brand. And it just plain drags at times. Maybe they didn't need to go back to the diorama as often.

Forget the problems and enjoy the movie. Johnny Depp is great as always. Silver, who often looks like a different horse, steals every scene. The cinematography is award worthy as is the sound. The movie has a fresh look to it.

There are moments of greatness hidden in the two and a half hours. "Return with us to those thrilling days of yesteryear. The Lone Ranger rides again." It's a big production that should be seen on a big theater screen.

Good money well spent

[ghostchaser8 · 7/10 · 4 July 2013]

OK, I went to see Lone Ranger on July 4th due to the un-ending rain that was hitting Northern Georgia at the time. I normally don't go to see movies and pay full price (we have a dollar theater not far from here), because usually movies produced today don't warrant paying $8 - $12 or more for a ticket. Anyway, my wife gave me a choice of either the new Sandra Bullock movie or The Lone Ranger, and I told her that many movies don't translate well to a smaller television screen - my way of getting out of seeing another stupid Bullock pic. I must say that the $21 spent on a few tickets the day after opening, was well spent. Depp stole the show. His portrayal of Tonto was very well done. I don't believe it was "over the top", as many might say, he played it well, and I feel that the part was written for him. William Fichtner who plays Butch Cavendish, does an excellent job, and the make-up throughout the film was extraordinary. The action was well balanced, and the CGI Effects complimented the action well. Overall, I would say the hard earned money I forked over for tickets was well spent, and I firmly believe that this will be a top money grosser for the 2013 Summer season. Do yourself a favor and see The Lone Ranger on the big screen - don't wait for the DVD version to see it first. Buy the DVD for the behind the scenes footage - that would be most interesting indeed.

A fun ride and a great trip back to the good old West...

[paul_haakonsen · 7/10 · 3 October 2013]

Somewhat dreading this movie after having heard nothing but negative things about it, I was almost about to pass up on watching it. But still, I decided to give it a go, as Johnny Depp usually manages to make anything watchable.

And now having seen "The Lone Ranger", I must admit that I am glad that I did sit down to watch it. This was indeed like taking a trip back to being a little boy, running about outside while playing cowboys and Indians. There was just something very nostalgic to this movie, and it worked out so well.

I just have a very vague memory of the Lone Ranger character from when I was a kid, so I really have no particular connection to the story, the characters or the background story for this.

Watch the movie for what it is, a wonderful western adventure, mixed up with just the right amount of action and comedy. And the story told in the movie was enjoyable and there was a good, continuous flow to it.

Ignore all the bad reviews and the critics on this one, and do yourself a favor and sit down to watch this. If you grew up playing cowboys and Indians, then you definitely don't want to miss out on this one.

The cast in "The Lone Ranger" was actually quite good, lots of great names. Johnny Depp really carried the movie here with his performance as Tonto. Much can be said about the eccentricity of the character and any possible resemblances to the Jack Sparrow character, but who cares? He did a great job here. And also a big tip of the cowboy hat to William Fichtner, playing Butch Cavendish. He was so well-cast for this particular role.

With a feature length of 149 minutes, it might seem somewhat long. But time flies by while watching "The Lone Ranger", because you get so caught up in the storyline and there is a good fast pace to the movie.

Real film, real stunts, real actors and real fun

[centralbeerangi-307-394889 · 8/10 · 4 July 2013]

You know the plot; you also know who is in this movie so lets get to it. Gore Verbinski has delivered a film that moves leisurely along peppered with rousing action sequences, comedy, villainy and pathos. It is solid entertainment. I would place this movie alongside Waterworld, The Last Action Hero, and John Carter as unfairly panned films which deserves to succeed in the cinema halls.

It is too bad that there appears to be a hate on for this movie simply because it seems that a lot of money was spent in its making. But look at it this way, when you hire real stunt persons, construct and destroy real trains and stage many stunts for real, it is not going to be cheap. I would rather support this type of movie-making any day instead of the tired CGI based effects laden yawners. Every penny of the budget is on screen in a beautiful shot and staged movie. I found it to be an enjoyable 159 minutes of entertainment.

Critics got this one wrong - Marvelous Film!!!

[thomson6-40-770760 · 7/10 · 5 July 2013]

I don't know what the critics' problem is with this film. They call it unimaginative, lacking of plot, and hard to follow...when the truth is, the film is amazingly entertaining, HILARIOUS, and easy to follow. The cast gets better throughout the film as incredible actors/actresses continue to step onto the screen (e.g. Barry Pepper).

The action sequences leave you breathless, on the edge of your seat and begging for more. Hans Zimmer did an incredible job with the score! I went into the film a little skeptical, given all the negative reviews, and perhaps that is what made this film such a pleasant surprise. I loved every minute, though at times it did feel a little long. In the end, however, I didn't want it to end! I haven't seen a film with this combination of comedy, whit, action, plot, did I mention comedy? and enthusiasm.

Is it exactly like the old "Lone Ranger" radio/TV show? NO! If you want that, then go watch it! THIS Lone Ranger is up-to-date and gives Tonto an actual personality and background that plays well into the story.

Great movie to see on the 4th of July weekend. Be sure to check it out, and never mind what the lame critics have said about it, for their own reasoning that is just NOT in accordance with what this film is really like.

The Mad, The Bad and the Tedium

[southdavid · 4/10 · 11 April 2018]

Little late to the party on this one, I accept, but maybe the TV experience will be slightly kinder than the harsh glare of the cinema screen on this notorious flop from a few years back. The answer.... not really. It's still an overlong, vaguely racist, horribly predictable, second rate action-adventure.

Armie Hammer plays John Reid a pacifist district attorney who joins his brother's posse to help track down notorious murdered Butch Cavendish (William Fichtner) and his gang. When the posse is betrayed, Reid's brother is killed and he is left for dead. He's restored by Silver, a Native American spirit horse and Tonto (Johnny Depp) who then forms a reluctant partnership with Reid and in going after Cavendish, they discover a larger conspiracy.

There are a couple of reasons why "The Lone Ranger" doesn't really work. Much of the blame was landed at Johnny Depp's feet, as this was right around the time opinion turned on him and to be fair, much of that here is justified. Though spending some of the running time in awful "old man" make up doesn't help, the film never really settles on who "Tonto" is. At times he's possessing "native" insight and wisdom, at others he blunders around taking pratfalls and "feeding" the dead crow on his head, sadly, most of the time, he's just irritating.

But those tonal problems roll out to the rest of the film too. It veers wildly between high farce and mild horror. Various scenes of slaughtered Indian Villages, and of Cavendish removing and eating Reid's brother's heart don't mesh well with the ladder riding pratfalls of the films climactic scenes. There are odd character choices too, such as the decision to make Reid in love with his brother's wife. . as if somehow he wouldn't be as motivated to save his brothers widow and his nephew if he wasn't also in in love with her. The reveal of the extra villain at the end was very underwhelming, if you can't work it out from the names on the poster, then you really haven't seen enough movies.

The final action scene is a really good one, with a train split into several carriages that then traverses numerous crossing tracks that are (inexplicably) all going in the same direction, but unfortunately it's too little, too late, to justify the horrendous running time.

Wrong Brother.

[hitchcockthelegend · 9/10 · 6 May 2014]

The early signs were not good, tales of production problems galore and early critical notices wading in to kick the film before it had even had a run at the theatres. The Lone Ranger seemed destined to be a blockbuster stinker. Yet in spite of it noticeably alienating original Lone Ranger purists, and some Western lovers as well, for a rollicking action fun packed time then Gore Verbinski's movie delivers in spades.

It's awash with the serial silliness of adventure films and TV shows of yore, pitching good guys against bad guys with buddy buddy shenanigans pulsing away at the core. The stunts are outrageously enjoyable, the landscape photography as beautiful as it is respectful in homage to past masters of the Western genre, while in Depp's Tonto there's a bona fide hero to root for just as much as he makes you laugh out loud.

This is an origin story, a tale of how John Reid (Armie Hammer) became The Lone Ranger, and of course how the noble steed Silver and Indian side-kick Tonto became integral to his villain fighting ways. Tom Wilkinson and William Fitchner file in for polar opposite villain duties, the former is the weasel business man trying to mould the West in is own image, the latter a repugnant psychopath with a penchant for eating human hearts! Then Helena Bonham Carter wanders in from some Grindhouse movie for a couple of cameos that are resplendent with sexual energy.

It's all very wacky and wild, and rightly so, but this is not at the expense of very good story telling. Some parts of the narrative could have been trimmed, but as the bromance builds between our two heroes, and Silver gets up to all sorts of comedy horse escapades, there's nary a dull moment here. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Verbinski throw all the action staples into the pot. Chases, fights, swinging from ropes, shoot-outs, people dangling from speeding train (pic is bookended by awesome train sequences), grisly deaths and on it goes from start to end.

There's caustic asides to the machinations of organisations of the time, from railroad magnates to the cavalry, while the catchphrases and legends of The Lone Ranger TV series are deftly inserted into the tale. It was interesting to see Depp come out and defend the movie against those damning early critic reviews, it's not something he does, being as he is very much a guy who sees acting as just a job. Bruckheimer, Hammer and Verbinski backed Depp up, stating that some reviews were written before the film had even been released, the big budget and production problems clearly making this a big stinker…

Not so, it's certainly not flawless, and those seriously into anachronisms are likely to have kittens. But if you haven't seen it yet, if you was put off by the venomous early reviews, then give it a chance, you may just be surprised at just how entertaining it is. It also looks and sounds brilliant on Blu-ray, where repeat viewings even show Hammer to be better than first thought as that masked man. 8.5/10

The West side of Depp

[Tripmoh · 13 July 2013]

I must say i don't watch western films well except for Django Unchained but this is a must see movie

i watched a lot Johnny Depp movies i loved his characters and the way he makes them funny,entertaining,he did the same with Tonto plus i liked the chemistry between both characters how they fight together and make the audience laugh they killed it

for the massive destruction scenes it was amazing for the special effects it was realistic not fake like F&F 6

for the story it was well written i enjoyed it,for the acting i give it a 10/10 for sure,for the effects and sound mixing also 10/10

Overall:fun action movie for the whole family or friends

Tonto is a Heyoka or sacred clown who takes John Reid on a spiritual journey to become the Lone Ranger

[gbcagle · 7/10 · 8 July 2013]

Johnny Depp sometimes hams it up as Tonto, who he plays as a Native American sacred clown or trickster figure. While the movie is a little long and Depp over acts at time, I enjoyed the great scenery of Monument Valley and seeing Armie Hammer become the Long Ranger. His sacred journey to becoming a spirit walker is full of magical realism which is so over the top that it can be distracting. However I finally took this movie as a live action Disney cartoon, full of improbable events and yet very entertaining. Perhaps there is no way a movie that cost this much but satirizes American capitalism, can satisfy critics, but I found it fun and serious at the same time. Armie Hammer's transformation from tender foot to avenging spirit was believable to me but I am an over sixty year old who still fondly remembers meeting Clayton Moore when he was no longer allowed to wear the mask. But in today's world a Robin Hood type is still a good ideal to have. To all of us who long for more social justice in the world sometimes you have to put on the mask.

Frustratingly Stupid, Cliché, and Disappointing

[ClaytonRCRyan · 1/10 · 7 July 2013]

Where to start.

I am a 17 and therefore have no right to compare this to the old Lone Ranger radio and TV show. However, I have enough knowledge to gather that this was an utter failure of a movie when compared.

From the beginning, I was certainly intrigued. The framed storyline told by the leathery-skinned, and broken English-speaking Tonto seemed like a great way to introduce the story. Soon, after John's brother dies, my attention span derailed, much like the steam engine in the beginning. The tone seemed like it would be serious.

And the director's couldn't decide if it would be.

There were many intense, almost dark scenes that could have made a great film about scandal and morality, and the soundtrack did its job highlighting important moments. The betrayal of Tonto to his people, the heart eating brutality by Cavendish, the corrupt greed of the railroad, and the horrifying conflict between "Civilization" and the Indians (including a devastating massacre by Gatling gun), all could have made a fantastic film with the same dramatic caliber as "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," but instead found themselves among ill-placed jokes, a painfully cowardly "hero," and so much CGI, that I found myself trying to find what was actually real scenery.

An hour could have been cut from this as well, between a useless hint of a love interest between the "hero" and his sister-in-law, the captivity of the main actress (whose escape is never explained), and dry, uninteresting humor that ruins any form of being a serious storyline. Did we really have to see CGI cannibalistic rabbits, or Depp and Hammer buried long enough to joke and be licked by a horse?

And even in its length, the Lone Ranger still doesn't become the legendary hero, or anything more than a over-honored weakling who shows up just in time to save the day.

I do admit, the classic train chase at the end did take on that feeling of a Wild West show, but could have used a healthy dose of realism to make it not so outlandish.

The Lone Ranger was a disastrous flop, full of pointless scenes and plot changes, weak and stereotyped leading characters, and a despairing glimpse of what could have been a fantastic film. With its storyline balancing tediously between a "Rescue/Revenge" flick and a "Moral Justice" drama, the script could not have possibly fulfilled both ideas to match the status of the legendary hero.

Anatomy of a Flop

[m-trzcinski · 25 July 2013]

Disney's The Lone Ranger has been in theaters for about three weeks. In that time, it's managed to take in $141 million on a $250 million budget. Hollywood analysts agree that, at this point, it's unlikely that the film will break even, much less turn a profit. So, rather than talk about the film itself (which gets a measly two stars in my book), let's discuss why the film failed and why Disney thought it would succeed. Who cares about the Lone Ranger? I mean that. He's not a hot new character like Harry Potter or Bella Swan. He's not an icon like James Bond or Superman. Nor is he a classic figure like Macbeth or Dracula. He's a has been. Sure, he had a hit TV show, but that was 50 years ago! The last movie to star the character (1981's The Legend of the Lone Ranger) was also a box-office bomb, and a 2003 pilot for a new TV series wasn't picked up.

If anyone's interested in the fella, they're probably older. There's nothing wrong with that, but Hollywood generally caters to the under 25 demographic, as they go to the movies most often. If you're going to make a movie for senior citizens, it probably shouldn't cost a quarter of a billion dollars.

And The Lone Ranger doesn't even do that right. It may be rated PG-13, but it's a hard PG-13. The film includes a scene where a man's finger is nailed to the floor, a scene where a man is stabbed in the heart as blood oozes out of his mouth, and an extended sequence in a brothel where Helena Bonham Carter plays a prostitute with an ivory shotgun for a leg. I don't know how many grandparents out there want to see that. Plus, I don't know if anyone, regardless of age, wants to see Johnny Depp play a Native American.

So, why did The Lone Ranger get made? Ten years ago, producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop) made a little movie called Pirates of the Caribbean. Like The Lone Ranger, the film featured Johnny Depp as a wacky side character and was directed by Gore Verbinski. Also like The Lone Ranger, it was a PG-13 Disney movie based on something that was once popular (in this case a theme-park ride). And also like The Lone Ranger, every analyst in Hollywood predicted it would fail. However, it went on to gross $654 million and spawn four sequels.

When it comes to movies, the public can only take so much of the same thing. Sometimes you should fix it even if it ain't broken. As William Goldman once said about Hollywood, "Nobody knows anything. Nobody learns anything."

What kind of movie was it?

[daviddaphneredding · 7/10 · 3 July 2013]

Ever since growing up with "The Lone Ranger" in the 50's and having been an avid western fan, I've always liked the story, seeing it on TV every Saturday (and sometimes Sundays)in, again, my boyhood days. And this movie was exciting. But I will have to be frank and say that there were times when the corny one-liners simply did get on my nerves. There was plenty of exciting action, and I liked it, but after hearing the script after the first few minutes, I did wonder what kind of movie it was supposed to be. Was it supposed to be a western comedy or a comedic western? If there was to be present the ancient characteristic of drama known as comic relief, they overdid that. The corny lines caused me to wonder, again, what type of movie it was intended to be. I've read some of the critics' reviews, and I thought they were maybe too hard in places. But the critics were right to be harsh about the allegedly funny lines; they were untimely groaners. In all fairness I will have to say that Johnny Depp was good as Tonto, and Armie Hammer was good as the Lone Ranger; Ruth Wilson was an attractive addition to the cast. And too, I liked the rustic Old West beauty of the sets of New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. Also, I liked the music, especially the William Tell Overture. And, Depp and Gore Verbinski showed good capability. But, to reiterate, don't overdo the comic relief. Though the movie was one I liked, keep a western a western and a comedy a comedy.

Quirky But Interesting

[stevendbeard · 7/10 · 3 July 2013]

I saw "The Lone Ranger" , starring Johnny Depp-The Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Donnie Brasco; Armie Hammer-Mirror Mirror, The Social Network and he has also signed up to be in the upcoming 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' movie as Illya Kuryakin; William Fichtner-Entourage-t.v., Prison Break-t.v.; Helena Bonham Carter-Dark Shadows-2012, the Harry Potter movies and Tom Wilkinson-Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol, The Green Hornet-2011.

This is a retelling of the classic Lone Ranger story by director Gore Verbinski-Rango & The Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The last Lone Ranger movie-The Legend of the Lone Ranger-was in 1981 and also starred a relatively unknown actor in the lead role-Klinton Spilsbury. This is also the first time that the actor playing Tonto-Johnny- has gotten top billing over the Lone Ranger-Armie-but let's face it, Johnny Depp's name will draw more ticket buyers than Armie Hammer's will. The movie starts in 1933, where a little boy meets Johnny in a side show carnival. Johnny tells the boy-in flashback-about how Armie became the masked man. William plays Butch Cavendish, the infamous outlaw that massacred the Rangers that were in hot pursuit, leaving only one survivor, Armie. Johnny finds and nurses Armie back to health and they proceed to right justice by bringing in William, for trial. Helena-and wait until you see what her leg can do-plays a lady that runs a house of ill repute and Tom is in charge of building a railroad through Indian territories. There is a lot of humor in the movie, which can be expected with Johnny and of course, some pretty good action scenes-near the end, is a good one involving 2 trains. There are times in the flashbacks that things are a little exaggerated in Johnny's retelling-which is probably a little confusing to some people- but the more you understand Johnny's character, then you realize what is going on. Johnny wears a dead crow on his head-even other Indians think he is a little eccentric-but it is explained why he does it. Armie plays a little too much like an idiot at times but this is an origin story and it can be expected. Even though this is a Disney movie-like the Pirates movies-there are a few scenes that might be a little too violent for small children; The Rangers being massacred, the Indians being massacred and Oh yeah, one scene where a man cuts another man's heart out and then eats it. As far as the iconic symbols of The Lone Ranger myth; They do use the Lone Ranger theme, he does use silver bullets, Johnny calls Armie 'Kemosabe'-although he has a different meaning for it than the original 'Friend', which is hilarious- and Armie does utter the phrase 'Hi Yo Silver!' FYI: In the original radio shows and books, The Lone Ranger is the great, great uncle of The Green Hornet. It's rated "PG-13" for violence and action sequences and has a running time of 2 hours & 29 minutes. Some people may not like this new version but I really enjoyed it and I would buy it on Blu-Ray-One thing that doesn't make much sense to me is that people will say that they want something different but then they end up wanting the same thing, over & over, again.

A fun day or night at the Movie👍

[edjwal-41252 · 7/10 · 22 November 2021]

This is worth your time, I don't know if it's follows the original story of the Lone Ranger however it's cast has many fine actors we know today to be great both star and supporting, the film is a good traditional American Western yet modernized with comedy big brilliant colorful sets with tricks and funny lines. I'm sure it's not what the public expected that remember the Lone Ranger from yesteryear, I however found it to be a fun surprise when I switched on my TV one morning to to see the news and I couldn't change the channel. The makeup, photography great acting, and a script filled with action scene after scene with really good editing that's keeps the viewer watching, altogether makes it happen. Tonto is a RIOT! I'm a Depp fan anyway. If you have good imagination where reality meets fantasy and an open mind you will enjoy this film.

Why The Lone Ranger was good

[famoussscam · 7/10 · 18 October 2021]

Although the Lone ranger was seen as a box office flop, I felt that it was a great overall movie. We deeply got to know the characters of Johnny and Tonto. Early in the movie we were introduced to who they were and their significance to us. We were provided a back story on Johnny, and how he was "The other brother" the fancy lawyer that wouldn't get is hands dirty. Whereas his brother is the rough and tough Ranger that fights crooks and indians for a living. Then we get the backstory on Tonto and where he comes from, we learn why he dresses the way he does and his past traumas.

A Worthy Trip to Theaters

[Hollywood_Yoda · 7/10 · 13 July 2013]

I hear people saying this movie did poorly. Well, let me tell you why it did poorly: first of all, its rated PG-13, which means parents are afraid to take their children to see it; secondly, it was up against a franchise from Dream Works Pictures (Despicable Me 2).

Other than those reasons, the film is a success in the age range 18-39. If the film had been a PG rating, you could have seen the numbers soar closer to that of "Despicable Me 2". However, I am glad to see that Disney films have become edgier since the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise was released a decade ago.

Johnny Depp is okay in this film, not the greatest, not the worst (his voice is like Nicolas Cage's, it never changes no matter what movie or setting he's in). The real star of the film is Armie Hammer ("J. Edgar" fame) as The Lone Ranger, and doing his own stunts was amazing. Honestly, I think he will go far after this.

Hollywood Destroys Another Cinema Icon

[stevepat100 · 1/10 · 22 July 2013]

Reasons to vote thumbs up for this film: (1) You are in the age group that knows nothing about the LR icon, story and/or cinema-TV history (2) You like a mindless drivel script the kind of script that has the lone ranger pulled by a rope along the ground with his bare head dragged through horse s- - t. (3) You are related to the movie (4) You have a skewed cinema value system (5) You enjoy seeing the LR slam Tonto in the head with a heavy metal shovel and then ride off and leave him (to die???)and this after Tonto saved his life (I did say senseless) (6) Script writers have the LR tell us he believes the saloon prostitutes are all 'dancers' (7) You are forced to watch scene after scene with a kid and come-to- life museum exhibit Tonto that has nothing to do with the story except to interrupt it (8) See the LR make a mocking joke about his brothers death as he says in joking fashion " I guess I'm the wrong brother".

Okay you get the picture. I did like the train wreck scenes since they truly represented the film which itself was a major train wreck. Very often when you see multiple screen writers, in this case THREE, you know a cinema train wreck may be heading your way. Horse Silver was mocked, the endearing term Hi Oh Silver was mocked, the LR is portrayed as a brainless air head, the LR was so emotionless he shed not a tear when he watches, from inches away, as his brother was butchered in a much worse fashion then an effort by Dexter. A love interest was created and followed for hours even though we all know the LRs only real 'love' interest is his horse Silver.

Johnny Depp has a strange sense of humor which often works. His close efforts and involvement in making this movie destroyed every premise of this cinema icon. Since Depp played Tonto as an emotional cripple that may explain what we are forced to view. Wow, watching the LR accuse Tonto of being complicate in the deaths of 100's of his tribe's men, women and kids when Tonto was shown as nothing worse then an innocent 10-12 year old was again nonsensical.

So long as some like nonsense (hey look at the Adam Sandler following) and have no 'feel' for the LR icon and history you will see many thumbs up. That does not turn a awful piece of cinema garbage into a deserving presentation.

Pros: Some awful nice scenery and special affects.

Great Film, ignore the critics on this one

[jvg37 · 9/10 · 3 July 2013]

Just got back from seeing it and we were thoroughly entertained. Depp and Hammer were fantastic in their roles and the action was over the top, as expected. Be advised, this film is told from Tonto's point of view based on his recollections of what transpired. This is not an Oscar contender, nor was it ever intended to be, but it is a great popcorn flick. It is violent in certain scenes and may not be suitable for smaller children, but for adults and tweens, it is about right. I did think that the first 10-15 mins or so were a little too slap-sticky for me, but once it gets going, it gets good. To all of the naysayers out there, what did you think you were going to see? It is essentially a western Pirates of the Caribbean, and Depp portrayed his character with the usual humorous persona he always does.

Hollywood Remakes Another Hero by Deflating Him

[holyspiritdriven · 7/10 · 5 July 2013]

I have to separate myself from my tiny little involvement as an extra in this film to write a fair review. Let's start with the bad: After having been a part of the Moab, Utah shoot I decided I had better brush up on my Lone Ranger knowledge and so I bought a DVD of the first few black & white episodes and watched them all. The Lone Ranger was an epic character. He was a courageous, fearless good guy who, with his horse silver and his signature silver bullets, became a legend in the old west. In this 2013 rendition, he is reduced to a cowardly wimp who is scared of guns. When you cut away all the action sequences, he really didn't bring anyone to justice, little lone Cavendish. I am so tired of our modern cinema's reliance on special effects rather than plot lines to tell stories. There were plenty of my pet peeve moments when I'm left rolling my eyes going "yeah right!", like when Tonto jumps from one train 40 or 50 feet down to another movie train & it doesn't break both of his legs. Though I think Johnny Depp is great actor, I think his personality & his version of Tonto made this into a huge Depp-fest whereas they could have given the role to a full-blooded Native American to give them honor & stay true to the story. Another bone I have to pick is the senseless deprecation of Christians or, I guess, "church folk" in this movie. They are made to look like a bunch of backwoods, nerdy, half brained dogmatists preaching hellfire & brimstone. What was the point in that? Also John Reid makes it a point to show that his "Bible" is a law book, rather than the Bible. The original Lone Ranger could actual be seen quoting the Bible in the old black & white episodes! OK, now for the good: This movie is a high-budget non-stop adventure. It's fun to watch & is has a good amount of humor dispersed throughout. I enjoyed the aspects where they stayed true to the original story. The look & feel of the film seems authentic and is overall visually exciting, not to mention filmed in beautiful locations. If you really liked movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, then you will probably like The Lone Ranger.

Terrible Drivel

[tsh85 · 1/10 · 7 July 2013]

The Bruckheimer/Verbinski team is at it once again, and once again they have completely failed. This is so typical of the Disney Franchise....to take a legendary show, write a mediocre script (that has nothing to do with the actual Lone Ranger), and get a big name like Johnny Depp to star in it. Let's face it, with Johnny Depp starring, people are going to see the movie no matter how terrible it is, simply because he is in it. This is something that Disney does very well. They take a show that's more than 30 years old (1957 in this case) and they remake it into a movie because the majority of their fan base is under 30 years old, so they have no idea how accurate the movie actually is.

First of all, the real Lone Ranger was one of the bravest men alive, not a sniveling little wimp (as depicted in this movie). The characters (including Tonto) looked nothing like the actual characters in the original Lone Ranger. What's up with the thick crumbling face paint, and the dead bird on his head? He looks more like a pygmy that just got off the first plane from the Congo in Africa. This movie is nothing but another 2 1/2 hour 'Pirates of the Caribbean' with characters dressed as cowboys and Indians. This is because Bruckheimer and Verbinski have one style and one style only. They are not talented enough to expand, so all of their movies have the exact same recipe (good guys, fighting the bad guys, for a damsel in distress). Let's face it, we all know that Disney has completely lowered the criteria for talent in this country with all of these "so-called" new Disney stars such as: Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Ashley Tisdale, Hillary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, and Vanessa Hudgens. They can't sing, act, or dance their way out of a box if they wanted to.

This movie is such a flop in the hugest way, it saddens me that they spent 250 million dollars to make it. I'm guessing most of this money went to pay the salaries of the actors. This is definitely one of those movies that you will spend the last hour looking at your watch every five minutes waiting for it to end. Don't get me wrong, I think Johnny Depp is a wonderful actor, but the fact that he keeps accepting roles in these mediocre Disney films simply says that he is a complete sell out. It's hard for me to discern exactly what stereotype he's tackling with this oddball incarnation of Tonto, which has all the eccentricity of Captain Jack Sparrow, but only half of the wit. Depp has become another sellout who will take any movie role for X amount of money; there is no artistic integrity involved. Armie Hammer, who I also enjoy, does not have the acting ability to pull off a lead role such as this. He is much better used in co-starring roles such as his role in J Edgar.

The most important aspect of the original Lone Ranger was that it always had a lesson that each episode taught us, something of ethics and morality. This movie does nothing of the kind, it is simply a western with people blowing stuff up. If you're a typical Disney sheep, who will pay good money to see any movie that Disney throws at you, you will probably love this movie. This is what they count on, and is the reason they keep making these awful films. If you are a preteen, you will probably love this movie. If you're one of those people who worship Johnny Depp and will pay to see anything that he is in, you will probably love this movie. If you want to see a movie that has any artistic integrity, or a movie that has a great story and plot, you will hate this movie. If you grew up watching the original Lone Ranger, you will be sadly disappointed (once again) at the mockery that Disney has made of a pure classic. I can understand why Depp is in disguise and Hammer wears a mask...I would be embarrassed to be in this film as well. Hi Ho Silver Away!

Not as bad as I had heard

[walsh-22 · 7/10 · 4 May 2014]

The Lone Ranger is about an idealistic lawyer John Reid played by Armie Hammer who with his brother, a ranger and posse of men are ambushed while trying to bring in notorious Butch Cavendish.

John is left for dead but Tonto, a renegade Comanche played by Johnny Depp saves him and offers to help him get justice for his dead brother.

I had heard reviews from the film critics who really slagged this film off so with trepidation I watched the film but to be honest, I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would.

I will admit that I found the film too long that is why I didn't score it 10 out of 10. The John Reid character is very annoying at the beginning but when it comes to the end of the film and he's riding his horse on top of a train while shooting and the Lone Ranger theme song playing you can't help cheering him on.

There are some amazing action sequences and very funny scenes particularly concerning the spirit horse. I enjoyed the interaction between Reid and Tonto and liked that there was the side story to what makes Tonto the man he is.

On the whole, not a bad film at all.