The Lone Ranger

One thing I can say for summer is we get so many films to really escape into, so if one is going through some tough times, and who isn't, just name the film in the summer, and most likely one will be able to let themselves be transported to a different time, world, situation, with many different characters to escape for that two hour time slot. If you want escape, "The Lone Ranger" will certainly fit the bill.

Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice known as the Lone Ranger.
As John Reid, his brother, sheriff Dan Reid (James Badge Dale) and their posse is attacked by the very outlaw that they were looking for, Butch Cavendish (William Fichtner), they are all left for dead. As Tonto happens to come along later, he notices that John isn't dead at all. They forge this unlikely alliance to find Cavendish and bring him to justice.
This story takes the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.

Others to round out the cast are Tom Wilkinson as Cole, Ruth Wilson as Rebecca Reid, Dan's wife, Helena Bonham Carter as Red Harrington, Bryant Prince as Danny, Dan's son, Barry Pepper as Fuller, Mason Elston Cook as Will, JD Cullum as Wendell, Saginaw Grant as Chief Big Bear, Harry Treadaway as Frank, Stephen Root as Habberman, James Frain as Barret, Joaquin Cosio as Jesus, and Leon Rippy as Collins.

This was directed with great familiarity by Gore Verbinski ("Mousehunt" '97, "The Mexican" '01, "The Ring" '02, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" '03, "The Weatherman" '05, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" '06, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" '07, "Rango" '11). Can you see what I mean by the word familiarity? Look at the resume. There is a definite pattern established. But it's OK, because the different work are all fun projects. It was written by Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott, and Terry Rossio based on the screen story by Elliott, Rossio, and Haythe. If you find there are elements here that are way too familiar, you're not imagining things. You see both this film and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise share the same director, Verbinski, two of the same writers, one of the same editors, Craig Wood,ace, the same producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, the same releasing company, Disney, even the same costume designer, Penny Rose. ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) was also used on both which were seamless on both. And, of course, Johnny Depp starred in both, but hey, it's Depp, and that's OK by me.

But at the end of the day, you will be incredibly entertained with lots of laughs, action, adventure, explosives, a great train scene all to get you out of your troubled life for 2.5 hours. And isn't this the reason we all go to those fun summer flicks anyway?

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                      Rated: PG-13                       149mins.