The full-length theatrical trailer for Disney and Gore Verbinski’s The Lone Ranger has hit the airwaves, and it’s an action-packed doozy that strongly represents the crash-boom ideals of producer Jerry Bruckheimer. This honestly looks like quite the entertaining, popcorn-crunching movie, and I’m sure it will make at least a few million in excess of the the $215 million budget, right? Sure it will.
I agree with Kaiser that the film’s teaser trailer came off as a Disney-ified parody as far as Tonto and the Native American experience are concerned. I say that as a (nearly) lifelong resident of Oklahoma, where I have been exposed to a fair amount of Native American culture. However, it’s also worth mentioning that I don’t have a drop of tribal blood within me, and several tribes have indeed supported Depp’s portrayal of Tonto. Even though Johnny has a bit of (assumed) Cherokee blood, both the Comanche and Navajo nations have given Johnny their blessing. Of course, I don’t think that this film has actually screened for anyone as of yet, so (and I’ll probably get called out for this) perhaps a lot of this “approval” is actually starstruck flattery because it’s kind of a big deal when an A-list movie star like Johnny Depp signs on for Tonto. Does that sound too cynical? Well, that’s Hollywood. Here’s the trailer (which provides a little more backstory and a lot more action), and we’ll discuss below.
“There come a time when good man must wear mask.” Is this a case of “chopped grammar signifies ‘injun’” or merely a case of not racism but cultural insensitivity? I still am slightly suspicious that Depp has only recently gone out of his way to make nice with the Comanche tribe by appearing as their parade grand marshal when, previously, he never really did anything to embrace his Native American heritage.
Movie stills and poster courtesy of Collider
Looks like fun
Ack, I find this so highly offensive! Him playing Tonto is like a white man doing blackface, it just doesn’t…aaaarrgh. I mean, its like Jack Sparrow playing Tonto! Has anyone seen “The Brotherhood of the Wolf”? Now look at that movie for someone doing a believable portrayal of a similar character…miles better than this…charade!
I would probably pay to watch Armie Hammer just read from the phone book, so I’ll probably go see this.
I really want him to become a big deal. I think he is adorable and seems fun as well.
Plus, he fulfills OBella’s “this tall to ride” rule.
Hmm. The combo of Verbinski, Bruckheimer and Zimmer makes me hopeful.
However I have to say that I’m woefully ignorant about Native American culture so I haven’t a clue what would or would not be counted as offensive.
Jury’s out on this one.
I never know, either Amelia, and I grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada where we actually had mandatory courses on native heritage and things of that nature from grade primary until about 10th grade.
I feel like it probably is somewhat subjective on an offensive level whether or not it should be subjective. But this is coming from a white girl with very very minimal traceable native heritage if any at all. Half of my family came directly from Scotland and Ireland only a couple generations back (great grandparents), so my knowledge on the subject is quite limited.
This does seem a little like Johnny Depp playing Jack Sparrow playing Tonto. And what was with the Jolly Roger shot mid-clip??
Am a little surprised that they stuck with the broken English patois of the 1950s TV series. Surely, at some point, someone must have raised a red flag? Particularly after the uproar when the first stills came out.
Cultural sensitivity aside, looks like a fun movie.
That’s the Pirates of the Caribbean logo that’s been attached to every POTC film. It’s there to advertise that TLR is from the same group (Disney, Gore, Jerry, Hans, Johnny) that gave you the POTC films.
The train wreck at the end of the trailer pretty much sums up the whole thing.
HA!
I can’t stop giggling now. Cheers!
I don’t get the appeal of Johnny Depp. Never have.
I get that they maybe wanted some star power for the movie, but it would be so much better to me to have say Graham Green or Lou Diamond Philips any real Native American play Tonto. Guess they just couldn’t give up star power (such as it is for Johnny Depp. I think his star is fading a bit) for authenticity. It would have come with the added bonus that its a lot less likely the offended the NA people. Might even bring a little more awareness of what actual Native Americans think about stereotypes and Hollywood’s portrayal of their culture. I’d be much more interested in seeing if they’d gone with authenticity.
Johnny did “The Brave” and “Dead Man” long before than “Lone Ranger” and he has been a known supporter of native’s causes (that was one of the strongest bonds between him and Marlon Brando) also his “indian chief” was his first tattoo, and talked several times since “21 jumpstreet” about his native heritage so how can you say “when, previously, he never really did anything to embrace his Native American heritage.”?
You DON’T KNOW WHAT HE DID!! that’s different!
Yes, but Deadman was so wonderful because he played the ignorant white guy and Gary Farmer (an actual Native actor) played the Indian character, Nobody. Also, I give Jim Jarmusch credit for that movie, not Johnnie Depp.
Not all Native Americans are down with this, believe me. Check out the blog Native Appropriations, she is pretty peeved about the whole Johnny Depp as Tonto thing.
The trailer looks fun
But Silver will be the real “star” of the movie 🙂
Look at this post on IMDB about his heritage (with the scans and links)
“I’m part Cherokee–that’s why I’ve got the head of an Indian chief tattooed on my arm.”
– Johnny Depp, 1987
“My heritage is American Indian. Cherokee. I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can. It’s an amazing heritage, and amazing culture, what they had going. I think they’re far more advanced than we are.”
– Johnny Depp, 1988
“…When I was at high school, other kids started to give me a hard time and calling me a dirty indian…”
– Johnny Depp, 1998
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210819/board/thread/206642383?d=206642383&p=1#206642383
An extra one:
“15. HE HAS INDIAN BLOOD IN HIS VEINS
I adore that. And with half Indian and half Irish. What a combination! And what a temper! If it doesn’t pass, something gets broken. That can make things a little difficult. But there is nothing better…”
– Vanessa Paradis “20 reasons to love Johnny”
(July 2005 edition of the French PREMIERE magazine)
http://www.inadepptrance.com/Quotes-AA-Vanessa.htm
I must admit there’s something about Johnny Depp I don’t like, I hadn’t noticed it until his split with Vanessa, although I had an inkling.
He *always* does something for the press to promote a film in advance, where everyone is expected to say how nice he is. He did it for Pirates of the Caribbean too etc Always contrived, to me not a true act of kindness.
If he did similar kindnesses that got into the media between films and not in relation to them, I’d give him the benefit of the doubt. But he doesn’t!
This film looks for young children. Dumbed down crap.
And it always irks me these days that Helen Bonham Carter is in everything, looks the same speaks the same, she’s got so stale for me. And why is she constantly joined at Johnny Depp’s hip? Tiresome woman, can’t stand her. Something very dodgy about her and she fails to hide it in her demeanour.
I totally understand what your saying!!! He’s like a used car salesman to me. Says whatever sounds good so the soccer moms (and I mean no offense) will “oohh and awww” and then does another depending on his current situation. His personality changes depending on who his closest group of friends are or his geographic location is at the time. A lot of his contradictions, both professional and personal, are starting to come to light and he’s been getting on a lot of peoples nerves as of late. It’s disappointing that he’s sold out to this extent. Seems like what used to be authentic about him had been lost.
So you don’t like him because he split with Vanessa. Just be honest. The man has 30 years of career and he always has acted in the same weird way.
And saying the truth, he doesn’t go for the life informing to the press every time he donates a dollar as other celebrities does!
Argh. Now when I see Johnny all I can think of is that “Amber” chick who looks like a recycled Playboy bunny with an attitude–especially the photos where she’s looking all haughty like she knows something we don’t. This movie is more of the same–he still hasn’t recreated himself, though it will surely be a blockbuster. And yes, he has sold out. His moves with the Native Americans, the stories about how he bought Vanessa a house, and now is buying Amber a house in Nashville, are all scripted to play to the “big puppy with teeth.” He was more intriguing when he lived in France and was with a woman who was a lot more of an artist than he was.
One of the more likable things about Johnny is he doesn’t donate for publicity like so many others, I agree.
Is it just me that feels that he Johnny is copying Nobody from Deadman quite shamelessly, in fact?
Yes, and it’s making me quite unhappy.
I loved Dead Man and I loved Nobody. This isn’t an homage. It’s theft.
It would be great if it were in that way!
Because almost “nobody” saw “Dead Man” and Mr. Nobody is one greatest native characters on cinema.
Also Depp is great friend with Gary Farmer (he is one the main defenders of Johnny as Tonto in this movie (there is an article were he “defends” him) and with Jim Jarmusch
Looks like a good movie. I’ll see it for sure. Armie Hammer looks awesome.
Great, now kids will want to dress up like an “Indian” for Halloween. Instead of pirates being all the rage it will be Native Americans. Ugh.
Johnny Depp’s performance as a pirate really brought on this obsession with pirates. I don’t want to see that obsession transferred to Native Americans in a way that doesn’t portray the truth as to who they were/are and the U.S.’s role in their destruction.
Great costumes. Great cinematography. Great soundtrack. Sh*tty everything else.
This is going to be a bomb! What age are they trying to target? Kids don’t care about this stuff anymore. Adults old enough to remember The Lone Ranger probably won’t go see this. And that leave those of us in the middle…
Is “kimosabe” a real word?
I guess we will see how JD and HBC do without uncle Timmy.