Disney's "The Lone Ranger"

Pocohontas, a culturally sensitive portrayal of Native Americans say whaaaa?

I could see this working if they take a Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane approach. Not being sure what's really going on would, IMO, be a lot more enjoyable and creepy than just RAAAH SCARY MONSTERS!

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Say what you will about its blathering of history, but Disney went out their way to make the Powhatan be noble and not uncultured, have Native Americans voice the roles, and make unfair prejudice against races into the central theme.

edited 18th Jun '13 9:53:57 PM by Tuckerscreator

I know Australia's international reputation is in the toilet right now but our movies about Aboriginal Peoples have actual Aborigines cast in them. Just sayin', Johnny Depp.

Hell Hasn't Earned My Tears

He is partially Native American, supposedly, though I couldn't tell you what tribe.

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Depp can't tell you what tribe, either. From what I've heard, his adoption by the Comanche was pretty much a publicity stunt by the tribe. Which, hey, if I could adopt a celebrity and potentially boost my standing overall, I'd probably do it. Tonto is nothing but Jack Sparrow in redface, with a bird on his head. I mean, Depp got the idea for the makeup from a painting by a white guy who freely admitted that his paintings were nothing more than his own romanticized view if Natives.

My alignment is Chaotic Cute.

Disney has not been great with their live-action action films recently. It's like they have no idea how to market them in particular.

Technically, in whiteface. :D

I suppose I agree, though. One eighth Cherokee might mean something if the person actively takes part in its culture, but I doubt Depp had to encounter his Native American side much until this movie.

edited 19th Jun '13 7:56:10 AM by Tuckerscreator

I have a theory. The wendigo isn't Cavendish, it's this Latham Cole guy we keep hearing about. He's going to use his railroad to extend his cannibalism-inducing influence across the west.

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More on the whole "Depp and Native Americans" debate.

Interestingly, Johnny Depp has played Native Americans before.

I'm sure Johnny Depp will do a fine job, but I'm also sure that there are probably lots of actual Native American actors who identify with being Native American who could have done a fine job in this role. Wonder what Jay Silverheels would have to say about this?

He seems to be mixing in some of his Native American friend from Dead Man as well, I think.

So, apparently this is an old school PG-13 film - Y'know, with bloody firefights and the odd bit of cartoonesque gore, the way before some spineless idiots decided to sanitise media for the youths. Interesting, didn't think they would still get away with that (other than realistic close quarter combat with broken bones and a general glorification of violence that is, of course, totally fine for teens, because reasons and stuff).

Fear the cinnamon sugar swirl. By the Gods, fear it, Laurence.

So....I heard Disney paid people not to protest the movie? Any evidence of that, Internet?

Where did you hear that?

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And why would people protest it in the first place? Because of Tonto?

Anyone expecting a Disney Action Flick with Johnny Depp in it to be highly respectful of any culture, let alone Native Americans, has a screw loose.

And no, Pocahontas was not a sensitive portrayal of Native Americans. The duology played up the granola girl image of the Natives and cultural differences between them and the Settlers, while completely missing the point of the actual event. That granola image was less from loving nature and more from the intimate knowledge that if they disrespected nature, it would kick their asses into the ground. Backed up by spiritual beliefs that made it very apparent to them that said kicking would be literal, done by Spirits, and happen very quickly. They're neither better nor worse than the rest of us, with ways that, honestly, weren't any more sustainable than European ways.

edited 1st Jul '13 6:10:53 AM by Journeyman

Well I read at least one early review of it that gave it a D-. Why am I not surprised.

Source.

I found that last sentence amusing.

Honestly, I don't think that that should stop people from protesting it if they want to. People can protest things in full knowledge of what the things are, y'know.

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As for the question of if people expect anything respectful from Depp and Disney, I have seen people defend the movie's portrayal of Tonto by pointing out Deep's (possible) distant NA ancestry and his adoption by the Comanche tribe. It's easy to claim that the average person knows better than to think the movie has anything to do with actual Native people, but, pretty much by definition, ~50% of people are below average, so I guess I'm more cynical in my view of the general public.

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So if I liked Pirates, should I go see this?

And is it bad in a laughable way or just a painful way?

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From what I've heard, it's falls under SoBadItsHorrible. Overly long, unfocused, and pointlessly violent.

edited 3rd Jul '13 3:39:08 PM by Terrie

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The consensus I'm seeing is that it's so bad, it doesn't even have any of the camp or "so bad it's good" elements. One good review I saw said it's incredibly confused tonally, as it's shockingly violent and gorey (the reviewer advised people against taking their kids, even if they're fans of superheros/vigilantes) but then tries to be campy and silly at parts.

edited 3rd Jul '13 6:44:26 PM by comicwriter

Topless Robot has quite a positive review on it.