Having had the opportunity to re-watch 2013's the Lone Ranger, I was struck by the missed potential. So, putting on our thinking hats and ask, what would I do different?
Frankly they already did a nearly perfect Lone Ranger film. In 1981 audiences had the chance to see the Legend of the Lone Ranger. They didn't, but a lead who had the charisma of a sock and a dubbed voice plus the PR nightmare of suing an old man out of work and home, well the script was the least of the film's problems.
So why not reuse it?
We open in 1850. A group of red legs decide to hang Tonto, a local youth. John Reid intervenes and saves him, but comes home to find the family ranch in flames. Tonto takes John back to his tribe and he is raised among them until his brother Dan comes back. Dan sends him back east to be raised by their aunt while Dan will stay and try to eek out a living in the west.
1870 and John Reid (Armie Hammer) is returning to Texas to meet his brother. Dan (James Badge Dale), who's now a captain in the Texas Rangers. The stage coach is robbed, but John manages to help capture two of the bandits. He turns them over to Sheriff Wyatt (Michael Shannon), but he can't help but notice how unconcerned the man is or how unprofessional his deputies act.
That would be because Wyatt is working for Major Sabastian 'Butch" Cavendish (William Fichtner), a disgraced Union officer and leader of the bandits. His gang has been robbing stagecoaches for weeks and stealing the land grants. Butch aims to get himself a small homestead and he's figuring Texas would do for starters. He has the captured men killed via firing squad for their failure.
That night the town has a party. Amy Striker (Ruth Wilson), whom John met on the stage, walks and chats with the newly minted lawyer when her uncle Lucas (Stephan Root) and his newspaper are blown up. Wyatt stays behind to help put out the blaze while the Rangers ride out.
John goes with them, promising to Amy to avenge her uncle. Their tracker Collins (Leon Rippy) leads them into a canyon where Butch and his men are waiting. A massacre follows, with John's bullet ridden body falling next to a dying Dan. Collins is told to ride back, but takes a shot in his leg (better to sell the story).
Some time later, Tonto (unknown actor, but there must be at least one Native American actor in Hollywood) finds the scene. Seeing John is still alive, albeit barely, Tonto treats his wounds and makes 7 graves. He takes him back to his village to rest. Training montage as John recovers and tries to figure out what happened. He decides to remain dead but a Lone Ranger is still needed.
Meanwhile, President Grant (Tom Wilkinson) is visiting the area and gets captured by Butch. Butch still holds Grant responsible for drumming him out of the Union army and plans to ransom him.
The Lone Ranger and Tonto sneak back into town and find Collins drowning his sorrows. He breaks down and confesses his sins, but a bullet in his back shuts him up. The towns people see Tonto standing over the dead Ranger and take him out to hang. Wyatt protests but doesn't really stop them. The Ranger rides in and saves Tonto from the hangman's noose. Tonto tells him he overheard Wyatt talking to Butch's men.
They follow the sheriff to Butch's hideout, rescue the President and lead the Calvary there. Mass gun fight breaks out, Butch tries to flee on horse but the Ranger chases him down and brings him back to face justice.
And so with a hearty 'Hi-Yo Silver, away!" our heroes ride off into the sunset.
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