The Lone Ranger

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by Gojira, Jul 2, 2013.

  1. Gaith

    Gaith Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 11, 2008
    Location:
    Oregon
    I think this is really the core problem. At one point, the movie was going to have werewolves in it, and I think that could have gone a long way towards making things more interesting, because the Ranger is really little more than a sword-free Zorro knockoff.

    ... Anyhow, the preliminary box-office info is in: it's a disappointment for sure, but probably not a Speed Racer-level bomb; it'll join Prince of Persia and The Sorceror's Apprentice, and John Carter of M*** in the "failed franchises" category.

    Pirates 5 is due two summers from now. If I were a Disney exec, I'd be re-reading that script super-hard to make sure it's a fine one.
     
  2. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2001
    Location:
    The Wormhole
    Personally, I wonder how Disney execs are going to react if JJ Abrams stays true to form and delays the release date of Star Wars like he did his two Star Treks. Somehow, under these circumstances I don't think Disney is going to be as understanding as Paramount was.
     
  3. DarthTom

    DarthTom Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Location:
    Atlanta, Georgia
    Meh. At least Pirates was a successful theme park ride at all of the Disney parks for decades before they decided to make the film - one especially successful with children.

    The Lone Ranger did not have that much backend support.

    BTW, Ranger cost Disney $250 million to make and made $49 million it's opening weekend.

    Disney execs must be pulling their hair out.

     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2013
  4. Dick Whitman

    Dick Whitman Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2008
    JJ is more of a hired gun on Star Wars. He was given free reign and allowed to take his time by Paramount because they need to start over.

    For Star Wars a storyline and screenwriter was in place before he was even hired. Obviously he will have input but he is not starting from scratch like him and the writers did the 2 Trek films.

    Disney and Lucasfilm are going to be overseeing this. It does not seem he had a particular producer on ST above him. Kathleen Kennedy is a pro. She has respect from everyone in the business. Once it was decided they wanted a 2015 release they would have made it clear that was the expectation. Having real boss was likely one of the reasons JJ was at first reluctant to do this.
     
  5. DarthTom

    DarthTom Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Location:
    Atlanta, Georgia
    Actually as I understand it his biggest reluctance was moving his family to London where it will film and uprooting his children out of school in Los Angeles.
     
  6. Tom

    Tom Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2003
    Location:
    In your Mind!
    LR was originally 250 Million but was whittled down for 215. I think Disney was getting a little scared at the budget getting out of control and they put a hiatus on the production to get the budget straighted out. Westerns are just not blockbuster summer films, it was a bad gamble on Disney's part.
     
  7. Tom

    Tom Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2003
    Location:
    In your Mind!
    I think the trifecta of Lucasfilm (Kennedy), Bad Robot (JJ) and & Disney should be enough to hold each other in check so Star Wars does not get screwed up.
     
  8. DarthTom

    DarthTom Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Location:
    Atlanta, Georgia
    DJango did well, albiet released in December. However, Django was hardly a classic Western film as the subplot was about slavery unlike LR
     
  9. Harvey

    Harvey Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2005
    Given Disney's one film a year strategy, I think the schedule is a bit more rigid. Also, as far as I know, Paramount's decision to move the release of Star Trek from December of 2008 to May of 2009 wasn't Abrams' decision, although it probably benefited the film.
     
  10. DarthTom

    DarthTom Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Location:
    Atlanta, Georgia
    As an aside, Helena Bohman Carter will always and only be Madam Lestrange in my mind. LOL
     
  11. J.T.B.

    J.T.B. Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2005
    Not just a Western hero, but a particularly old-school Western hero. The Ranger has no dark side, no internal conflicts. He tries not to kill anyone. He does have a dramatic and violent origin story, yes, but his response to it is simply to be more lawful, honest, virtuous and honorable than anyone else. Add a mask and subtract the singing, he's not much different from a Gene Autry or Roy Rogers hero. I'm not really surprised the character seems to resist modern (much less post-modern) re-interpretations.
     
  12. Samurai8472

    Samurai8472 Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2007

    Well I guess this puts the nail on 200 million dollar westerns.

    -Cowboys and Aliens
    -Lone Ranger


    Anyone attempting to try a third time would be foolish. It was fun while it lasted
     
  13. Mr. Adventure

    Mr. Adventure Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2001
    Location:
    Mr. Adventure
    ^ Are you talking budget or box office as Django and True Grit did pretty well.
     
  14. Sindatur

    Sindatur The Gray Owl Wizard Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2011
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    True Grit only cost $38M, and Django $100M. That's probably another reason to say goodbye to $200M budgets, because 1/2 or less budget did well
     
  15. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2001
    Location:
    The Wormhole
    I was more making a reference to STID, which had it's original release date of June 2012 postponed because Orci and gang needed more time on the script. Plus there was some talk around the time Abrams was announced as Episode 7's director that he was considering postponing the 2015 date. Details.

    But, due to Disney's desperation for a franchise and their plan to do an SW movie a year, I really can't see Disney indulging Abrams the way Paramount did. Hell, there are already rumours Paramount is looking for a director who can guarantee Trek XIII by 2016.
     
  16. Dream

    Dream Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2001
    Location:
    Derry, Maine
  17. DarthTom

    DarthTom Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Location:
    Atlanta, Georgia
    I'm sure that Paramount is counting their blessings. Despite the fact that STID didn't knock it out of the park nor did World War Z both films are on track to make a profit for the company and create a long term viable franchise.

    After Earth also flopped for Sony, you have to wonder if they are also worried about Elysium in August.
     
  18. Noname Given

    Noname Given Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 22, 2001
    Location:
    Noname Given
    Ironic in a way as:

    Marvel's The Avengers allowed Disney to effectively shrug off John Carter of Mars

    and it appears:

    Iron Man 3 will allow them to absorb The Lone Ranger film's lacklustre BO performance.
     
  19. The Old Mixer

    The Old Mixer Mih ssim, mih ssim, nam, daed si Xim. Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2002
    Location:
    The Old Mixer, Somewhere in Connecticut
    Sound like Disney's new slogan should be:

    Make Mine Marvel!

    ('Nuff Said optional)
     
  20. Dream

    Dream Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2001
    Location:
    Derry, Maine
    Disney needs to learn to not make so many flops!:lol: