hi ho Silver, The Lone Ranger rides on....

[Professor Zoom]

Tora Noel wrote:

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I read only partway through the thread, so forgive me if this has already been said, but... If Depp sincerely wants to salute Native Americans, maybe he should cast a Native actor as Tonto, instead of playing the role himself.

He's part Native American. But, yeah. Perhaps an actor who is MORE full blooded than he...

That said, how Tonto speaks in the trailer, is that really a salute to Native Americans? Not so sure.

[Temis the Vorta]

The movie wouldn't have been made with Depp hadn't had a major role in it, so he'd have to be playing The Lone Ranger if he wanted a real Native American to play Tonto. I like this setup better, with The Lone Ranger being much younger than Tonto, who can be more of a mentor figure now. Depp's too old to play the greenhorn.

And yeah, the way he talks is a bit cringeworthy isn't it? Youch. But the majority of moviegoers for this movie, or any big Hollywood movie nowadays, aren't Americans and many will be reading subtitles and wouldn't get that there's something wrong with the way Depp is speaking, so they'll happily watch this thing without knowing or caring about any PC issues.

[Gaith]

Vorta Claus wrote:

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Betcha the resurrection stuff is no metaphor.

Well, who in their right mind wouldn't want a piece of Jonah Hex's massive success?

[Harvey]

Professor Zoom wrote:

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That said, how Tonto speaks in the trailer, is that really a salute to Native Americans? Not so sure.

Maybe there's more to it, but his matter of his speech and his look in the trailer (based on a white man's fantasy paintings of American Indians, rather than the way any actually dressed) seem a little regressive to me.

I'm not sure how subtitles are going to make a difference, Temis. One assumes they'll replicate Tonto's dialogue, including his matter of speech.

[Alidar Jarok]

Vorta Claus wrote:

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Betcha the resurrection stuff is no metaphor. Metaphors are for artsy fartsy movies, a big summer franchise film will be more literal and use it as the last minute plot twist that changes everything.

I hope they keep it vague rather than make it explicit that he died. Although the story is similar to the origin story with the exception of that detail.

[Gaith]

Harvey wrote:

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his look in the trailer (based on a white man's fantasy paintings of American Indians, rather than the way any actually dressed)

Huh, I didn't realize that, but you're right - the painter isn't native at all. I'd assumed he was. That of course makes it even worse.

Having seen this full trailer, with that damn bird all over the place, I'm starting to think this could just be a Catwoman-level bomb, with Berry's costume and the bird playing analogous roles. I guess that, if even crap like On Stranger Tides can become a billion-dollar movie, and Alice in Wonderland making a killing, no one at Disney's got the stones to tell Depp not to do that.

[Mister Fandango]

There's always the chance that he actually is just posing as a Native American, too.

[Harvey]

^^
That...seems pretty unlikely.

[Tora Ziyal]

Professor Zoom wrote:

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He's part Native American.

Oh, okay. I looked online, but apparently not thoroughly enough, 'cause I didn't find anything about his being part Native.

Mister Fandango wrote:

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There's always the chance that he actually is just posing as a Native American, too.

I sure hope not. But he wouldn't be the first.

[Mister Fandango]

I'm confused then. You'd instead prefer him to be a genuine Native American but giving a horribly inaccurate and borderline racist portrayal as one, rather than him being a white guy pretending to be what he thought a Native American should be for some unknown reason? Why is the former more preferred than the latter? At least the latter explains why the character is horribly inaccurate and borderline racist. The former just is.

[Tora Ziyal]

^ No, the only thing I've said is that it would be better for a Native character to be played by a Native actor. I haven't seen the trailer, don't know what the portrayal of said character is like, therefore haven't commented on it.

[Mister Fandango]

Well, that's not an option at all. Johnny Depp is playing Tonto. I'm just trying to be optimistic about why he's playing Tonto. If he's just a guy posing as a Native American, be it intentionally or because of some trauma (like being caught in an explosion) that screwed up his head, that'll be a lot easier to accept than actually being a Native American.

[Alidar Jarok]

I think it's unlikely that he'll be a guy pretending to be a Native American. I hope, for your sake, that there will be enough room for you to pretend that he is, though

The way Tonto talks is pretty much a staple of his character. You might as well not do a Lone Ranger adaptation if you think the portrayal is offensive.

[J.T.B.]

Alidar Jarok wrote:

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The way Tonto talks is pretty much a staple of his character. You might as well not do a Lone Ranger adaptation if you think the portrayal is offensive.

Indeed, Depp's dialogue first struck me more as a homage to Jay Silverheels than anything else.

The other person I was reminded of was Klinton Spilsbury, not a good sign. As someone who grew up never missing a Lone Ranger rerun if I could, the trailer does not grab me. And since when does the Ranger wear a badge? Also, Monument Valley looks great as always but how the hell would someone -- without a helicopter, anyway -- construct a tall scaffold on a high pinnacle like that?

Justin

[Mister Fandango]

J.T.B. wrote:

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Also, Monument Valley looks great as always but how the hell would someone -- without a helicopter, anyway -- construct a tall scaffold on a high pinnacle like that?

Anyway, I think I'm just not making my point clear. I'm personally fine with Depp playing the character. I just think the aforementioned idea is a great way of explaining the homage. In fact, there's absolutely no evidence that he actually is Native American aside from the way he's dressed and acting, as opposed to showing him amongst other natives and whatnot. He's just a crazy guy in the middle of the desert pretending to talk to horses and hooking up with some white guy. Rather than, you know, actually returning to his own tribe or... whatever it was he was doing.