MovieChat Forums > The Lone Ranger (2013) Discussion > Great movie. From anti-gun lawyer he be...

Great movie. From anti-gun lawyer he becomes ...

posted 11 years ago by Cyclo Rider
10 replies | jump to latest

The pro gun-toting masked man!

This kind of character development is what movies are all about.

Most impressive is the inherent logic behind John Reid's transformation. It isn't one traumatic event that changes him per the Hollywood norm, but several. The end result is a rare character arc filled with purpose and meaning behind it. This is an extremely well-written film. Especially compared to most so-called "blockbusters."

Why does this young city lawyer change into the masked Lone Ranger character we see in the film's breathtaking climax?

The answer can be found in the series of traumatic events the character experiences during the course of the film. Events that shatter his educated idealism, yet reinvigorate his passion and resolve for JUSTICE.

The traumatic events that change John Reid are (in chronological order)...

1. Witnessing his brother's brutal murder.

2. Being shot and left for dead himself.

3. The kidnapping of his brother's widow and her young son by the same outlaw gang that murdered his brother.

4. Discovering that his brother's murder was more than just an outlaw settling an old score, but part of a larger insidious plot by a respected industrialist to break a peace treaty with the Natives, massacre the tribes, and expand the Transcontinental railroad through Indian territory. John's brother, Dan, had been a defender of the peace treaty from the Native perspective. Eliminating Dan and staging fake Indian raids on white settlements was the easiest way to break the treaty, so the railroad could be expanded.

5. Facing execution by firing squad and knowing the Natives were being massacred for crimes they didn't commit. John uncovering the villain's plot had to be eliminated like his brother Dan.

Those five traumatic events dramatically changed the anti-gun lawyer John Reid at the beginning of the film into the gun-toting Masked Man at the end. One of the best character arcs in modern cinematic history. A change not for cinematic convenience, but a change that is logical, purposeful, reasonable and plausible! The viewer witnessing not only the change from beginning to end, but the causes along the way.

Those who don't want genuine character development in film, but want a title character who never changes, never develops (according to any sort of logic) can always re-watch the movies in their Steven Seagal DVD collection.

This is great screenwriting and a fantastic epic adventure film.

[–] krypton_son 11 years ago

Well, I guess that every epic piece of *beep* has to have a fan.

[–] Cyclo Rider 11 years ago

Bet you didn't understand a thing I wrote. Missed all of that when you "saw" the film, didn't you. All YOU saw was Johnny Depp acting goofy, those evil rabbits, and the Lone Ranger guy wasn't shooting enough people. Sad. Virtually every director of late, except for Christopher Nolan, has had to dumb down (i.e. simplify) their films to reach viewers like you.

This movie has tons of fans. That's why it's rated a solid 6.6 on IMDb in spite of the tsunami of negative publicity from critics and the media which drove down the rating. Thousands of non-viewers rate films based on what the critics and media say. If a wonderful political candidate is the subject of intense negative press 24/7, his poll numbers drop, regardless if the information is true or not.

If there were no negative publicity and people just formed their own opinions on films after seeing them, this film would have a true rating of around 7.6.

I especially love its tonal similarity to some of the great Spielberg and Lucas films of the late 70's and early 80's. Same level of craftsmanship. Emphasis on characters, story and score. A throwback to when blockbuster films had good stories and memorable music.

[–] wooody 9 years ago

I genuinely admire your interpretation and passion for this unique, not perfect film. Keep it up!

[–] dakowill11 9 years ago

I loved those wascally wabbits!

[–] Sauvage_98 9 years ago

The Academy must be a fan, they nominated it for 2 Oscars.

~Never Forget. Never Forgive."

[–] Cyclo Rider 9 years ago

Yes.

[–] atg_commish 9 years ago

Very well said. Some have lamented the lack of a training montage, but the film was already long, and he grew up in Texas so he already had some background riding and shooting. And he learned to box in college.

[–] smoko 9 years ago

@Cyclo Rider I've heard that the opening action setpiece and the closing action setpiece are amazing, so if you just watch those two (and skip everything in-between) then you're almost guaranteed to be entertained. Thoughts?

[–] Cyclo Rider 9 years ago

Absolutely, but the story in-between is so underrated. Good build up to the film's climax. The title character actually develops and the villains are a superb contrast.

[–] benjobuff 8 years ago

So the problem here is that no one watches Lone Ranger for any of that. Tombstone. The outlaw josey Wales. Real westerns. Don't include the Lone Ranger in that. If they were going for that kind of serious dynamic movie, they should have hired a real Indian and written him more straight. The movie was half clownish and half socially aware. No thank you. Not at all.