I had wondered a long time why a new version of The Lone Ranger hadn't been done and it wasn't a huge surprise to learn that the WB was going to teenagerize the legend. The series was never picked up but left us with an updated version of the classic western films. Chad Michael Murray just minutes before his fame plays The Lone Ranger and his alter ego. Everyone seems to be genuinely upset about this rendition but I don't quite see the problems although they're are a few, no doubt about it.
This interpretation revolves around the arrival of future Harvard Lawyer Luke Hartman who has made his way out to Dallas, Texas to visit his brother and his wife and young son before making his way to school to fulfill his father's dreams. When Luke arrives a week early, his brother is on his way out on a manhunt. It turns out his brother is a member of a volunteer law enforcement group, a ranger. They are after a group of men called The Regulators who has been burning homes and causing problems in order to make way for the railroad coming through Texas. Luke disobeys his brother's warnings and follows the rangers out to find these men. During the night the Regulators led by Kansas City Haas, a man thought to be on the side of The Rangers, attacks the rangers and shoots them all where they sleep including Luke. However Luke doesn't die and is saved by a young Apache Indian whom Luke had saved his sister earlier that day. The Apache Indian known as Tonto takes Luke back to the camp and nurses him back to health with the help of the tribe. Luke begs for Tonto's help to train him in warrior ways in order to get revenge on Kansas City Haas and The Regulators. Tonto refuses knowing that it is against Tribal Law to train a white man. However after speaking to a close friend within the Tribe Tonto realizes he must help Luke. Together they train. Tonto teaches him everything he knows about being a warrior, hand to hand combat, discipline, mind control, everything. They lean on each other and become the best of friends. Tonto encourages Luke to don a mask in order to represent his warrior side and Luke becomes a masked man bent on revenge. Tonto and Luke track down The Regulators and when it comes down to Luke having the opportunity to avenge his brother's death, Silver, his horse stops him. Luke learns more while they work to find The Regulators a second time. When they meet again Luke learns that anger does not justify murder and he upholds and the law and captures the killer also deciding to stay and defend Texas as The Lone Ranger.
Some things must be considered when going into this film. First and foremost this is less of a retelling than creating the legend over again for youngsters who probably never heard of Clayton Moore. So the film is made specifically with them in mind and no one else. Set old time western action to modern day dance music, forget any remnants of historical accuracy whatsoever, and basically just touch on the old Lone Ranger. All the elements are here...Tonto, Silver, the Mask, the guns, hi ho silver, and jumping onto his back, but do away with the white hat, black mask (it's brown.) They really go back to the roots of where this character is coming from and you also have to remember that this was meant to be a pilot to a series so they are basically only setting things up for future plot developments, including the romance. Some things are left so open for that reason. The cast is actually quite excellent. The unknown (at the time) Chad Michael Murray fits in perfectly, not so much with the western scenery, but just with the character, he's definitely a teenage draw. Nathaniel Arcand plays Tonto and he is great. He DOES fit in with the western scene and is excellent as the teacher and semi-sidekick but more of a partner. One thing I was impressed with was the film is rich with Native American heritage. How true it is, might be a different story but still it has that element of culture that is so often not covered in films. Director Jack Bender who has done some great Television does his best but I think the writing lacked something. I think it would have gotten better as a series. Overall it was an enjoyable teen flick rendition of the classic character and I don't know why people give it such a hard rap. Check it out if you ever get to see it, it's a rare gem. 7/10
This interpretation revolves around the arrival of future Harvard Lawyer Luke Hartman who has made his way out to Dallas, Texas to visit his brother and his wife and young son before making his way to school to fulfill his father's dreams. When Luke arrives a week early, his brother is on his way out on a manhunt. It turns out his brother is a member of a volunteer law enforcement group, a ranger. They are after a group of men called The Regulators who has been burning homes and causing problems in order to make way for the railroad coming through Texas. Luke disobeys his brother's warnings and follows the rangers out to find these men. During the night the Regulators led by Kansas City Haas, a man thought to be on the side of The Rangers, attacks the rangers and shoots them all where they sleep including Luke. However Luke doesn't die and is saved by a young Apache Indian whom Luke had saved his sister earlier that day. The Apache Indian known as Tonto takes Luke back to the camp and nurses him back to health with the help of the tribe. Luke begs for Tonto's help to train him in warrior ways in order to get revenge on Kansas City Haas and The Regulators. Tonto refuses knowing that it is against Tribal Law to train a white man. However after speaking to a close friend within the Tribe Tonto realizes he must help Luke. Together they train. Tonto teaches him everything he knows about being a warrior, hand to hand combat, discipline, mind control, everything. They lean on each other and become the best of friends. Tonto encourages Luke to don a mask in order to represent his warrior side and Luke becomes a masked man bent on revenge. Tonto and Luke track down The Regulators and when it comes down to Luke having the opportunity to avenge his brother's death, Silver, his horse stops him. Luke learns more while they work to find The Regulators a second time. When they meet again Luke learns that anger does not justify murder and he upholds and the law and captures the killer also deciding to stay and defend Texas as The Lone Ranger.
Some things must be considered when going into this film. First and foremost this is less of a retelling than creating the legend over again for youngsters who probably never heard of Clayton Moore. So the film is made specifically with them in mind and no one else. Set old time western action to modern day dance music, forget any remnants of historical accuracy whatsoever, and basically just touch on the old Lone Ranger. All the elements are here...Tonto, Silver, the Mask, the guns, hi ho silver, and jumping onto his back, but do away with the white hat, black mask (it's brown.) They really go back to the roots of where this character is coming from and you also have to remember that this was meant to be a pilot to a series so they are basically only setting things up for future plot developments, including the romance. Some things are left so open for that reason. The cast is actually quite excellent. The unknown (at the time) Chad Michael Murray fits in perfectly, not so much with the western scenery, but just with the character, he's definitely a teenage draw. Nathaniel Arcand plays Tonto and he is great. He DOES fit in with the western scene and is excellent as the teacher and semi-sidekick but more of a partner. One thing I was impressed with was the film is rich with Native American heritage. How true it is, might be a different story but still it has that element of culture that is so often not covered in films. Director Jack Bender who has done some great Television does his best but I think the writing lacked something. I think it would have gotten better as a series. Overall it was an enjoyable teen flick rendition of the classic character and I don't know why people give it such a hard rap. Check it out if you ever get to see it, it's a rare gem. 7/10