Mousey Movie Review - The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger must be horrible!  Seriously, it was a box office bomb so it must be really really bad.  Estimates say that for Disney it was a loss of anywhere between $160-190 Million (capital M). But box office success does not mean good.  And I can thing of plenty of movies that were not good that were huge successes financially.  And others that the box office was a disappointment but a personal hit for me.  As many of you can guess, John Carter for me is a movie that I loved despite receipts.

So I was not out to get The Lone Ranger.  And I was willing and wanted to go see this western starring Armie Hammer as the masked lawman and Disney golden boy Johnny Depp as the Native American warrior Tonto.  But the summer schedule kept me out of the theater and by the time the summer was over we decided financially it made more sense to buy the movie instead of rushing into the theater while the film was on its way out (very quickly). 

• Mrs Banks: Someone at Central Casting must really like English actress Ruth Wilson.  I first saw her in a theatrical release in Saving Mr. Banks as Margaret Goff.  And though I thought her character was very understated, I did feel sympathy for her as we experienced the Goff family troubles through her oldest daughters eyes.  What I did not realize is that Wilson had made her Disney debut earlier in the year as Rebecca Reid, wife of Texas Ranger Dan Reid, in The Lone Ranger and served as the primary romantic interest in the movie.  As both characters, Wilson in effect plays pioneer women who work on the edges of modern society.  And Wilson brings to both roles brings the air of someone who longs for a more civilized life.  

• The Disneyland Railroad:  One of the reasons I did not see The Lone Ranger in the theater was because I was traveling to Disneyland for my summer vacation while Depp's newest film was released. When we arrived at Disneyland we entered the park for the first time on the Sunday after and sitting in front of the park right after the bus loading area was The Constitution the train from the film.  Two cast members dutifully guarded the train.  And it was really impressive to see the size difference between this train and the ones in the park.  Now I really had not listened to box office reports, because I was too busy with my family.  And I took some pictures in front of the train with my kids. But I have no family free pictures to share with you. Because on Wednesday the train was gone.  The way I remember it was we went into the park and the train was there.  And then we came out after lunch for a nap and the entire train was gone.  Seriously, it was a huge engine.  But it was gone.  It was like it never existed!  Then I knew it had not gone well for Mr. Depp and I figured The Lone Ranger was getting the John Carter treatment!   

• Family Friendly: I do not want to sound like I am a grumpy guy, but I really do wonder if Walt Disney would have released The Long Ranger under the Walt Disney name.  I did enjoy the action adventure that the movie provided.  And I thought the moral compass was true to a Disney family film with the Lone Ranger being a champion for justice.  But, it has a huge body count!  It has to have more deaths that any of the Pirates films, maybe more than the four combined.  And this is not the A-Team where shooting happens but bullets only hit non-living things.  No, this is a movie that I would question before showing a youngster.  A day before I watched The Lone Ranger I received a text asking if it was kid approved.  I said it was Disney so how bad could it be!  I may have been wrong.  And Disney may have done their core audience a favor be releasing this film under Touchstone instead.  

• The Old Mill:  The William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini has been used in a number of media pieces.  These include the Disney classic short The Old Mill which uses the "Ranz des Vaches" or "Call to the Cows" segment to open the morning.  But probably the most famous use is in the classic television show The Lone Ranger, which used the "Finale" as its theme song.  As a kid who grew up with four television stations, I saw a ton of the Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels program despite the fact it entered production nearly 30 years before I was born!  The Hammer and Depp collaboration pays homage to the classic show by using the Overture throughout the final big action segment (maybe it should be BIG ACTION).  And because of the use of this musical tribute it makes the ending sequence even more enjoyable.  Honestly, it really does show how a piece of music can set a mood.  For someone like me, I knew something exciting was happening.  For the Between Kids who have no idea who Clayton Moore is, they knew something fast paced was breaking out in front of them.  

• Infinity: Okay, it is not part of the movie, but the Disney Infinity Lone Ranger Play Set is really really fun.  The Between Kid and I crushed it over our holiday break.  And even for me as a fairly mature adult I enjoyed playing cowboys and robbers, occasionally going out on our own two man posse on missions.  You may have overlooked this Play Set if you play Disney Infinity.  If you have I recommend grabbing it since it may be my favorite Play Set to date.  

• John Carter: Everyone is going to compare The Lone Ranger to John Carter.  I will admit they did get the same post-release treatment.  Disney quickly washed their hands of both.  And I do not expect Disney to try a Western again soon.  But let us remember they did not get the same treatment before their releases.  John Carter was marginalized.  The Lone Ranger was included with the release of Disney Infinity!  John Carter did not have a big name actor.  The Lone Ranger had the Disney golden boy Johnny Depp.  Yes, Disney wanted this film to succeed, so its failure is even more disappointing than the film Disney wanted to forget! 

Like John Carter I enjoyed the escapist adventure in The Lone Ranger.  I still prefer  Andrew Stanton's sci-fi film on a critical level.  Which did not lose quite as much for Disney as Depp did in this adventure.  But like Stanton, Depp has a good Disney track record so he is allowed a Disney stumble, though the relationship with producer Jerry Bruckheimer is effectually at an end for new intellectual property.  I would say if you have not seen The Lone Ranger, grab some pop and popcorn and give it a chance some Friday night.  It might just be fun. 

Mousey Movie Review - Oz the Great and Poweful

Sometimes I worry that I might get labeled a Disney apologist. Maybe some of you might think I like everything with a Disney label on it. It’s not true. Sometimes if I don’t like it I simply do not waste words on it. But with Oz the Great and Powerful, I feel since I have posted a few trailers I have to share my thoughts.

Part of me thinks my thoughts do not matter on this issue. First, it is not like everyone agreed with my thoughts on last March’s movie John Carter. It’s not like I could save it. Second, since Oz the Great and Powerful has now dominated two weekend box offices I know my words will fall on deaf ears. But nonetheless just let me lay out my Mousey Movie Review of the latest visit to Oz.

It’s really not very good! Everyone that I have talked to except for one friend seems to agree, and I cannot believe those of you who saw it did not tell your friends (or me) so they could avoid it during weekend number two. You are mean America:

• Leading Men: John Franco playing Oz has a tough mountain to climb. Let us be honest, two men currently define the Disney leading man. First you have Johnny Depp who crushed two Marches ago with Alice in Wonderland. Second, you have Robert Downey Jr., who could bring emotion and character to paint drying. Franco simply does not match up to these high standards. At times I felt like I could tell that he was delivering lines in stale green screen sets. I just never fully bought him as Oz. Additionally, the writing behind the magician turned Wizard does not help. The writers never provide Oz with the true turn around in his character. He is just as flawed when the movie is over then when it begins.  

• Strange Looks: The CGI also does not help the movie. Yes there are plenty of breathtaking backgrounds. But some of those seem blurry and fake at times. Additionally the matching of live action to computer-animated images is poor. In one scene as the Wizard was holding China Girl you can see a gap between the fragile youngster and Oz’s hand. It simply does not always look right.

• Flying Monkeys: The best part of Oz the Great and Powerful is Finley the flying monkey voiced by Zach Braff. Finley amongst all of the characters is the most “real” and dare I say human. He is loyal, compassionate, funny, faithful, realistic, and warm. The fact that Finley has the best showing makes me sad since he is a CGI character with a voice over. Yet Braff seems to do a better job conveying emotion with just his voice where many of those around him fail with their entire selves.

• Fantasy Faire: In many ways I felt like Oz was a secondary character. To me the interesting characters were the witches Theodora played by Mila Kunis, Evanora played by Rachel Wiesz and Glenda played by Michelle Williams. Despite the fact that Oz is the one they state will bring the prophecy to free Oz from evil about, it really feels like the women are driving the action. Honestly, the battle for Oz feels like it could have been waged without the male lead. 

• Dark Ride: Oz’s arrival in Oz may have been one of the best moments to me. His journey through the river in his balloon feels like it could be a dark ride. Imagineers could easily craft an attraction that is part Alice in Wonderland at Disneyland and part Peter Pan’s Flight to offer us something really wonderful. Sadly, a 4-minute ride may do a better job depicting this story to its audience! I am not the only one that saw this as the Between Kid yelled out, “I would ride this”.

• White Elephant Gifts: The Between Wife changed her status after the movie to “The Wizard gives the worst gifts ever.” In the original MGM Wizard of Oz we have a gift scene in which objects represent something bigger like brains, heart, and courage. Here we have a similar gift scene, but the gifts really do not have a label that indentifies a bigger idea. For example, one gift could be labeled joy or happiness. Instead, the Wizard just basically says it is something that everybody could use sometimes and gives it to a grumpy character. Please Wizard, try harder when you shop!

• Bookends: This offering clearly pays tribute to the MGM classic The Wizard of Oz. Like this classic film, Oz the Great and Powerful opens in black and white and in Kansas. We see Oz’s problems in our world and he makes some mistakes in his relationships. In the original, we return to Kansas and we get those storylines wrapped up in a little bow. Here, not at all. In my mind, we got 3/4ths of a movie. And the fact that Oz really does not reform much just helps push that impression.

There are some really cute things here, like Oz working for the Baum Brothers Circus a tribute to Wizard of Oz creator L. Frank Baum. And I was pretty excited to see Oz the Great and Powerful. But for me it feel flat, felt slow and had numerous story problems. With a sequel confirmed, I have already made my viewing plans for the next installment. I will be renting the next Oz film!  Do you agree?

Mousey Movie Preview - The Lone Ranger Teaser Trailer

For a good chunk of my childhood there were 4 television stations in my house; ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS all coming literary over the airways.  Without cable TV, which I thought one had to be rich to have, viewing options were limited on weekend days where weather might keep a kid inside.  With my limited options, I did watch a lot of black and white westerns (often on a black and white TV).  This made me very familiar with the Lone Ranger, played by Clayton Moore, and his companion Tonto, portrayed by Jay Silverheels.  I was one of the few who were excited in 1981 for The Legend of the Lone Ranger because I was finally going to see these characters in color!  I can remember watching The Legend of the Long Ranger at least three times as a kid, which was remarkable since we did not have cable in the house or this newfangled device called a VCR.

So when I heard Disney was going to take a crack at bringing the Lone Ranger to the big screen I had mixed thoughts.  On the positive side, it was bringing back feelings of nostalgia for me.  On the other hand I was a superhero and not a western guy.  Honestly, I cannot remember the last western I have paid money to see the theater.  I think I may have been a teenager.   

Disney has launched a teaser trailer to begin the excitement for the 2013 release of The Lone Ranger.

What did you think?

At the moment I am still mixed.  There was a time when pirate movies did not get me interested, and this team changed my mind.  I do feel like this is the sort of movie that Walt Disney would have enjoyed solely because how much a train is highlighted.  It has a feel of The Great Locomotive Chase because of the train’s prominence.  If anything the train is the star of the trailer.  I will admit when I saw a shot of Helena Bonham Carter I asked myself if Tim Burton produced this movie!

At the moment I am optimistic but not fully on board the train!