THE LONE RANGER AND THE PROJECT THAT REFUSES TO DIE

Tonto versus Werewolves still sounds like some bullshit.  Everyone knows that an Enhancement Shaman can't do shit against a Feral Druid.

I was sorta hoping that casting Depp as the nominal "sidekick" meant we were in for a Western "Big Trouble in Little China," and I think Hammer might have done Russell proud. God knows, that one was done on the cheap.

Guess not so much, though.

Whatever. Its hard to get worked up about this. At least its not Prince of Persia 2.

I was under the impression the werewolf thing was from very very early drafts of the script, and the budget on this one was so high because of the absurdly expensive train crash shenanigans.

Whatever the case, I've been casually asking people if they would see a Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp as Tonto. All of them have said, "No" without a second thought. Granted, things change on a busy Saturday night at the multiplex when Lone Ranger is playing every fifty minutes against a weak slate of other releases, but I feel like this project is going to have to overcome a helluva stigma.

I have no guilt in saying that I'd love to watch a Verbinski-directed Lone Ranger flick starring Depp & Hammer that is chock full of werewolves and Native American mysticism.

All that aside, the fact that this is even costing $200 million (let alone 50 more than that at one point) is absolutely ridiculous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.D. Bob Plissken 

I have no guilt in saying that I'd love to watch a Verbinski-directed Lone Ranger flick starring Depp & Hammer 

Agreed.

Not agreed.

99.999% certain the "lowered budget" has to do with the talent deferring in exchange for massive backend deals. In other words, the budget is SUPERFICIALLY lower, but the movie has a harder uphill climb to get profit for Disney. Because Hollywood is run by morons.

Got a weird sense of deja vu writing this post.

I'm 99.999% certain that you are right, Gabe T.  It's pretty much guaranteed that all three of them are getting nice backend percentages in exchange for lowered salaries.

Thats the smart play if they believe in the content.

I like the talent here. My questions remain a script by Rossio and Elliot? These guys haven't really blown anything out of the park since the first pirates.

Then the western setting. I like westerns but most people don't period. Rango didn't exactly light the box office on fire.

This better have big action and big laughs and a really great trailer. It has absolutely no chance if it doesn't.

Let me get this straight; the plot is Tonto and The Lone Ranger fighting werewolves. That sounds like something I would have watched on USA Up All Night back in the day.  At least I could have gawked at Ronda Shear if that was the case.

Which is probably the EXACT reason I'm actually looking forward to this, Chaz.

This is not going to produce a good movie. No matter the talent involved. No matter their intentions. At least not a movie that can justify 250mil.  I'm not able to rationalize this but I can't imagine this ever being good. Just let it die, please.