The Lone Ranger

Movie:  The Lone Ranger
Major Actor: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Tom Wilkinson, Helena Bonham Carter
Rating: PG13
Best Audience: Older children, teenagers, adults

Review:

This movie is getting some bad reviews and I can kind of see why.

I liked a lot of parts of this movie, but I agree that overall, it was not very good.

I did not like the bumbling action sequences.  The first train sequence in the movie was simply John Reid--The Lone Ranger (played by Armie Hammer) and Tonto (played by Johnny Depp) stumbling into these coincidental escapes from danger.  Their characters put forth minimal effort in trying to escape danger.  They just kept encountering easy-outs. 

Helena Bonham Carter's character was completely unnecessary to the whole movie.  I don't know why she was even in there. 

John Reid's love interest was his brother's widow.  I don't care if your late husband's brother is Armie Hammer....women do not move on THAT quickly after their husbands die!

I absolutely love Johnny Depp.  I'm a huge fan and always have been.  However, I did not like his character.  His character was a terrible depiction and ignorant stereotype of Native Americans.  And while we are on the subject, I DID feel this movie would be terribly offensive to Native Americans.  They actually used the term "Noble Savage" in the film!  The villains in the movie even paint their faces red to dress up like Natives.  How is that not like "black face?"   I know the original show "The Lone Ranger" was very offensive to Native communities.  Instead of correcting that in the modern adaptation, they would rather have Johnny Depp paint his face than cast an actual Native American.  They would rather portray Native Americans in a stereotypical fashion than actually learn how enduring Western tribes actually live. 

Historical inaccuracies always make me think less of any film.  In this one, the Lone Ranger asserts that he is with the Health Department making sure a building is up to "code" in one scene.  There had been some attempts at building codes by the time this film is set, but it was more in larger cities for industrial purposes and not very rampant...certainly not properly enforced. 

Good things about this film:  I loved the whole last 15 minutes.  The last train sequence was excellent in true Verbinski fashion.  I loved the casting of Armie Hammer as the Lone Ranger.  He did a great job, and because of this movie, I do want to see more of him as an actor.  I hope this role opens more doors for him and I look forward to any of his future work.  This movie did also have some funny moments (i.e. Tonto's reaction to John Reid's classic line "Hi-O Silver!"). 

Overall, not great. 

Dark Shadows

Movie:  Dark Shadows
Major Actors:  Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter
Rating:  PG-13
Best Audience: I agree with the rating here.  Most people over 13 would enjoy this movie.  I wouldn't take young children to see it, but if you want to take young children, it really doesn't have very many bad things in it, it's just up to you as a parent.

Review:
I love Tim Burton, but I feel as though it has been a while since he's done something great (Sorry, Alice in Wonderland).  But Dark Shadows is definitely worth seeing.  I was a fan of the soap opera when I was three years old (according to my parents).  I don't remember much about the soap opera, but I do know the movie is more of an homage to the soap opera, rather than trying to be just like it.  It definitely has elements of the original show, such as campiness, twists, and random outrageous supernatural occurences.  However, I think this movie can definitely stand on its own as a great movie.  It is a good story, funny, the characters are interesting and well-developed. 

My main criticism of this movie would be casting.  And its actually not because the casting is bad...it's completely wonderful.  However, Tim Burton has used Johnny Depp and his own wife Helena Bonham Carter in so many of his movies.  I love both Johnny and Helena, but I'm sure there are plenty of other actors that I would love too.  They are not the only ones on the planet, Tim.  I would like to see Tim Burton do future films with actors you wouldn't expect him to work with.  Challenges are fun.  I hope he does it.