# The Lone Ranger **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 9, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223 "2012-03-09T02:56:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/1 "2012-03-09T02:56:56Z")
I didn’t even know they were making a new Lone Ranger movie. > **[The Lone Ranger (2013) ⭐ 6.4 | Action, Adventure, Western](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210819/)** > > 2h 30m | PG-13 I loved this show as a kid and I think it could use a new story. I really think, however, that they have to keep it ernest. They proved that they could make an ernest movie in a cynical age with Captain America, so I think they can do it here. Gore Verbinski is directing and I did like Rango. Johnny Depp is Tanto, which sounds odd, but I think he’s a good enough actor to pull it off. I’m guessing these two will will work well together. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/2 "2012-03-09T03:03:51Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I loved this show as a kid and I think it could use a new story. I really think, however, that they have to keep it ernest. They proved that they could make an ernest movie in a cynical age with Captain America, so I think they can do it here. Sorry, but alas, Jim Varney is no longer with us. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/3 "2012-03-09T03:10:16Z")
It is ludicrous in the year 2012 to have a Hollywood film portraying an iconic native american character using a white actor. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/4 "2012-03-09T03:10:32Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Sorry, but alas, Jim Varney is no longer with us. I can’t see Jim Varney as the Lone Ranger. As Uncle Jed, sure, but as the Lone Ranger? No way. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/5 "2012-03-09T03:26:26Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I can’t see Jim Varney as the Lone Ranger. As Uncle Jed, sure, but as the Lone Ranger? No way. That whooshing sound you hear is _not_ a silver bullet going overhead. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/6 "2012-03-09T03:28:19Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > That whooshing sound you hear is _not_ a silver bullet going overhead. I suppose it would have helped if I used the proper spelling to begin with… ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/7 "2012-03-09T03:37:06Z")
I’m surprised they’d use a white guy for Tonto as well. But, knowing Depp, he’ll pull it off fantastically. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/8 "2012-03-09T03:40:33Z")
I’ve seen the advance photo and the whole thing looks ludicrous to me. For starters, The Lone Ranger would never have stubble on his face, and I’d prefer that he wore a gray shirt instead of a black one. Secondly, what’s with the stupid bird on Tonto’s head? To my knowledge, Amerindians did not employ taxidermy on their headgear. Further, I don’t understand why Tonto is in warpaint He looks like an outtake from a Tim Burton movie. Which is probably why Depp feels so comfortable in the costume. Depp claims to be part Cherokee, which I guess is justification for having a white man portraying an Indian. I don’t accept that logic. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/9 "2012-03-09T04:19:55Z")
I trust Gore Verbinski. However, this sure does look weird. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/10 "2012-03-09T04:25:14Z")
I hope we get a Klinton Spilsbury cameo. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/11 "2012-03-09T08:43:32Z")
As a kid, I enjoyed watching the Lone Ranger on Saturday afternoons. I like Depp, but I’m afraid they’ll make him the hero and the Lone Ranger will be the sidekick, but hopefully not the goofy sidekick. There is a chance it could be done right and make an enjoyable movie, but frankly, I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/12 "2012-03-09T11:07:00Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Secondly, what’s with the stupid bird on Tonto’s head? To my knowledge, Amerindians did not employ taxidermy on their headgear. Further, I don’t understand why Tonto is in warpaint Yeah, but cowboys didn’t run around in those kind of masks or shoot silver bullets either. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/13 "2012-03-09T11:46:32Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > I’ve seen the advance photo and the whole thing looks ludicrous to me. > > For starters, The Lone Ranger would never have stubble on his face, and I’d prefer that he wore a gray shirt instead of a black one. Secondly, what’s with the stupid bird on Tonto’s head? To my knowledge, Amerindians did not employ taxidermy on their headgear. Further, I don’t understand why Tonto is in warpaint He looks like an outtake from a Tim Burton movie. Which is probably why Depp feels so comfortable in the costume. > > Depp claims to be part Cherokee, which I guess is justification for having a white man portraying an Indian. I don’t accept that logic. In the pic, it looks like LR is wearing a white shirt with a vest and coat over it. I would like to see him in the classic Lone Ranger garb, but this is the first photo – it’s possible he’ll change his shirt at some point. As for the crow on Depp’s head: [Crow Indian, The Eagle Medicine-Man - Free Historical Stock Photography by JVPD at ClipartOf](http://www.clipartof.com/portfolio/jvpd/photo/crow-indian-the-eagle-medicine-man-1085648.html) > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I hope we get a Klinton Spilsbury cameo. Only if James Keach overdubs his dialog. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/14 "2012-03-09T11:54:03Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > It is ludicrous in the year 2012 to have a Hollywood film portraying an iconic native american character using a white actor. When I heard _“Johnny Depp as Tonto,”_ my first thought was _“they must be casting a Native American actor as the Lone Ranger.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/15 "2012-03-09T11:58:40Z")
I once read that Depp claims to have native american blood, he even portrayed one in a [movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118768/)directed by himself. In any case, there’s a fantastic recent comic book [series](http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=29407) revisiting the myth as a gritty crepuscular western. If they follow a similar style, it could be excellent. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/16 "2012-03-09T12:09:39Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > I once read that Depp claims to have native american blood, he even portrayed one in a [movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118768/)directed by himself. > > In any case, there’s a fantastic recent comic book [series](http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=29407) revisiting the myth as a gritty crepuscular western. If they follow a similar style, it could be excellent. He claims to be 1/8 Cherokee. I just wonder how well that argument would’ve been accepted if the Lone Ranger’s actor was 7/8 Black. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/17 "2012-03-09T12:25:57Z")
> [@planetcory](#): > > He claims to be 1/8 Cherokee. > > I just wonder how well that argument would’ve been accepted if the Lone Ranger’s actor was 7/8 Black. They could get Wenthworth Miller to play the Lone Ranger. Really, is it that important? Depp’s features are similar enough to those of actual pure blooded Native Americans, after all. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/18 "2012-03-09T12:32:59Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Really, is it that important? Yes. There are Native American and other non-white actors desperately trying to find work. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/19 "2012-03-09T12:41:33Z")
> [@planetcory](#): > > Yes. There are Native American and other non-white actors desperately trying to find work. Sure. And one of them, apparently, was Johnny Depp. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223/20 "2012-03-09T13:49:41Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > It is ludicrous in the year 2012 to have a Hollywood film portraying an iconic native american character using a white actor. > [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Sure. And one of them, apparently, was Johnny Depp. And none of the others are Johnny Depp. When you can get a big box office draw like Depp you use him. I like Adam Beach but he is not going to put asses in the seats. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lone-ranger/615223.md?page=2)