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

Discussion in 'TV & Media' started by Temis the Vorta, Oct 13, 2011.

  1. Tora Ziyal

    Tora Ziyal Vice Admiral Admiral

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    ^ 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.
     
  2. Mister Fandango

    Mister Fandango Fleet Captain

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    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.
     
  3. Alidar Jarok

    Alidar Jarok Everything in moderation but moderation Moderator

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    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.
     
  4. J.T.B.

    J.T.B. Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    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
     
  5. Mister Fandango

    Mister Fandango Fleet Captain

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    [​IMG]

    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.
     
  6. Temis the Vorta

    Temis the Vorta Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    How many people in Jakarta or Shanghai would know that a Native American character dropping his prepositions is racist?

    As movies get more global, cultural niceties like that get lost. Only the broad strokes remain. For much of the world, all they know about Native Americans is what Hollywood has told them. There's your scary thought for the day. :)
     
  7. the G-man

    the G-man Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    "Native American" is a tricky designation, however. There are in all likelihood enrolled members of various tribes at least "white" as Depp.

    There's also the question that, if we're going to require only Native Americans to play Native Americans, why not do the same with other cultures. Should, for example, Jewish actors be prohibited from portraying Christians or Muslims? Or vice versa?
     
  8. stj

    stj Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Judging from the preview showed before The Hobbit, Depp delivers Silver's lines, in an effort to keep the movie grounded I suppose. The preview also showed Silver wearing a hat, whereupon Tonto announced there was something wrong with that horse. Conflict amongst the heroes is an infallible sign of Serious Drama. All God' children should watch this movie.

    That lets the rest of us off the hook!;)
     
  9. Samurai8472

    Samurai8472 Admiral Admiral

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    [​IMG]

    Poor Armie. Can't even get equal space on the poster. They should be upfront and say the movie is about Tonto.
     
  10. Shazam!

    Shazam! Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    The more I see of this movie the less I want to see it.
     
  11. JarodRussell

    JarodRussell Vice Admiral Admiral

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    This is one of the films were the billing thing gets pretty silly. Armie Hammer is The Lone Ranger, not Johnny Depp.
     
  12. Temis the Vorta

    Temis the Vorta Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Now The Lone Ranger knows how Alice feels.
     
  13. Professor Zoom

    Professor Zoom Admiral Admiral

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    They couldn't show his ARM? Ridiculous poster.
     
  14. Temis the Vorta

    Temis the Vorta Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Maybe he's wearing something really really stupid on his arm. Like a crow.
     
  15. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

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    I don't know, the hat looks more "country farmer" than "intimidating gunslinger" in that poster, maybe they should have cut off the top of his head instead of the arm.
     
  16. RJDiogenes

    RJDiogenes Idealistic Cynic and Canon Champion Premium Member

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    This is 2013. He actually loses his arm in battle, just to show us that this is not your daddy's Lone Ranger.
     
  17. Captaindemotion

    Captaindemotion Admiral Admiral

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    Christopher Reeve didn't have top billing in Superman or Michael Keaton in Batman, IIRC, so it's not unprecedented for the lesser-known actor playing the lead character to get lower billing to a better known actor playing what is nominally a supporting character.
     
  18. Beagleman

    Beagleman Commodore Commodore

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    I like the overall style of the poster, but the lack of symmetry is somewhat grating...
     
  19. Dream

    Dream Admiral Admiral

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    Wow, I can't believe this movie is really happening! :eek:
     
  20. Shazam!

    Shazam! Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Yes, and it wasn't okay then and it isn't okay now.