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Its been just about ten years since director Gore Verbinski got his breakthrough into the Hollywood blockbuster club with “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” which launched the director’s career from Bad Religion music videos (a fine accomplishment for any aspiring director if I may say) and poor spring time vault films that use big names to sell themselves (2001′s “The Mexican” starring Bead Pitt and Julia Roberts). But oddly enough, Verbinski had even managed to create a few surprises right before his ”Pirates” success. In 2002, he scared the shit out of audiences with his remake of the Japanese horror hit “Ringu,” titled “The Ring.” Its box office intake and critical notoriety gave Verbinski the jump to try his hand at a summer Blockbuster under the funding of box office golden boy Jerry Bruckheimer. “Pirates” was more than anything a cross over for Bruckheimer into big budget tentpole pictures that were both universally marketable and a goldmine for box office riches. After years of Adult-oriented, R-rated action film at Paramount and later Disney through their Touchstone Pctures subsidiary, Bruckheimer had found his big house with the mouse (Disney big dogs that is). So what has Gore done since the “Pirates” trilogy? He passed up a fourth Jack Sparrow adventure in exchange for a hand at animated filmmaking with 2011′s massive hit “Rango” which turned out to be a great career move since its brought him his first Oscar in the “Animated Film” category. So with more credentials under his belt, it seems Bruckheimer has reunited with one of his most trusty employees.
So, what can I say about the trailer that hasn’t really been defined by the headline of this article? This production has had an odd existence. A year and a half ago its was greenlit and pre-production was under way. Ryan Gosling was said to be the chosen cowboy who would done the mask and Johnny Depp was attached as Tonto (big surprise?). Soon enough, it seems things were brought to a halt due to budgetary concerns on Disney’s behalf (After all they were in the process of jumping into the marketing phase of “John Carter,” which soon proved to be a major risk and a massive disaster for the studio financial gains). Fast forward to last spring, when after a short period of deliberation, Disney went on with the project after settling on minor budget cuts. Gosling has now been replaced by “Social Network” and “J. Edgar” face Armie Hammer. It was also revealed that the film would focus a lot more on telling Tonto’s story than the Ranger’s. From this more detailed trailer I can see what they are doing. Tonto’s personal conflicts seem to be the drive for the plot and the reason for the film’s primary objective. It’s trying to use the same blend of action and humor that made “Pirates” so desirable to mass market audiences and it surely looks like the loud and visually bright spectacle that is a Bruckheimer baby. The yellow-ish lens and big budget destruction is ever present. I’m not too impressed with Depp’s run as Tonto thus far. It seems bland and basic. but of course, not too much of the script’s quality is really highlighted in this promotion. I just don’t expect much from the writing department. Where as the “Pirates” films dwindled as they progressed, I feel The Lone Ranger may do the same if it becomes the success that its creators are obviously looking for it to be. This trailer just doesn’t show much promise as it tries to place itself into the category of a “Wild West POTC,” using the same formula as that trilogy and taking Verbinski’s latest genre venture he has succeeded on with the western film aesthetic. “Lone Ranger” hits theaters July 3rd, 2013, marking it this summer’s big 4th of July weekend movie. Will it make its mark? We will find out then. For now, here is the trailer…
-ADAM KEITH.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
