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Rogue One (2016)
Enough of all that's good about the franchise
I have now watched this film twice and I will confess to struggling with the first viewing with almost too much of what I have known and enjoyed of Star Wars over 40 years.I found it almost too serious for the first hour but given that the entire story is predicated on one line from episode 4 about loads of folk dying for the cause, inevitably one is going to experience some fairly bleak stuff. That said,I found the script to be almost too adult as if I was watching a modern war movie by the likes of Ridley Scott or even Quenten T without any blood, and be assured this movie has no blood.There are lots of great surprises in terms of links with Ep 4 especially and the introduction of character actors from other genres to create a new dimension to the action(Johnny Yen, Yip Man)was a creative move I found quite acceptable.The following on from Ep7 with a strong female lead works really well for me also. Dare I say the on the money moment in the film was a Vader entrance which I found absolutely stunning and the seamless link into Ep 4's opening was sensational for me. I do have a couple of minor quibbles ...I'm sorry but the two stunt men in the Vader suit at different times didn't seem quite huge enough to me but maybe Dave Prouse had bigger heels, or maybe all the actors in this film are a bit taller!! All in all by the end of the second viewing in what was a daytime empty auditorium I was suitably emotional to forgive any anomalies, hence the maximum score here withe small reservation that you really do need to concentrate for the first hour and a distracting full first night audience doesn't help that atal.
The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
Moments of sheer brilliance with some irritation
All that is Edgar Rice Burroughs is portrayed perfectly in this story based on his characters. I cannot emphasise enough the sheer brilliance of the films ability to translate onto the screen every aspect of the ERB's world from the stunning landscapes to the animals imbued with almost human demeanour's to make Tarzans connection with them all the more real. All this makes the film well worth watching and a real cut above many drama/adventure type films which we are constantly being fed. Iwill go and watch it again probably on the big screen for all the reasons mentioned. However whilst I much admire one very famous actor who has asignificant role in the film I found his character and script veryirritating and not necessary for the story.I also found what seemed to me an almost political point making all through the film to be very annoying and detracting from the beauty of the characters and original idea. I think perhaps the script writers tried almost too hard when all we needed was ERB's world brought to life. Casting notwithstanding the 'star' already mentioned was perfect and the lord of the jungle himself was beyond words in the role.
Eddie the Eagle (2015)
An outstanding 'feelgood' film about human spirit
I remember all the hype surrounding Eddie the Eagles achievement in compeating in the Winter Olympics.I don't really care how accurate aspects of the film are,its a brilliant piece of entertainment about overcoming unbelievable odds to achieve an ambition which took real courage and determination.One thing that the film got right was the fact that 'The Eagle' got an individual mention in the closing ceremony,possibly the only individual athlete ever to be honoured in this way. But that is the whole point about his story. Its about having the courage to see something through without all the sponsership and financial support which clouds all sport today.The story speaks for itself, this film is not a documentary but its a wonderful piece of entertainment .
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
A Very Serious Piece of Cinema
I'm not sure what my expectations were but I was excited at the prospect of my two favourite comic book characters appearing in the same film.This is a very grown up film which deals with some astonishing issues in a very serious way. Notwithstanding the genre is 'comic strip' and therefore very 'not real', this is a highly successful piece of thought provoking entertainment.It is difficult not to use some very over worked superlatives but , yes, well cast, good story, excellent effects(I didn't notice the bad bit of CGI others have mentioned) but I do sit near the front in the cinema as part of the plan to 'leave reality at home'. All in all a film that will stand several re viewings and I imagine will still be worth watching a few years on. I apologise for singling out one aspect in that Ben Aflecks performance was right up there with some of the best I have ever seen.It will surprise you, staggering!!
The Revenant (2015)
An exceptional piece of cinema
I have now seen this film twice in four days and the second viewing affirmed what I thought after the first, This is an exceptional piece of cinema. The caveat to that is that folks who like to be spoon fed their entertainment may find it difficult viewing in places but be assured it is exceptional for a number of reasons in my view. Not least the casting, from the Hollywood mega stars(Leo&Tom) to the relatively unknown (to me) Native Americans. The other most important ingredient is the setting, harsh in the extreme.. All played their roles superbly with an unbelievable sense of the time in history when it is set as much as we can really understand what life was really like then. I would assume, pretty 'brutal' by the standards of modern western society. I had no trouble hearing and understanding the dialogue but often it was not greatly of consequence whether understood or not because there is a continuous sequence of events which leads to a fairly likely conclusion. On first viewing I did have a sense of wondering what was going to happen next most of the way through and unlike some reviewers I was not 'bored' for a moment, so much of what occurred was so dramatic as to be a constant chain of surprises, knowing from the meaning of the title what the final outcome would be.I should point out that both viewings were on the biggest screen of my local complex and I sit fairly near the front to get that totally imersive experience.I don't know where the filming took place but wherever, it was a good platform for early 19th century 'back of beyond' USA and that coupled with the unrelenting precipitation of snow or rain gave the whole thing a feeling of great authenticity.I have noted one or two reviews have been very picky about details but for me it was an outstanding piece of drama presented to the highest production values in a staggeringly beautiful if somewhat bleak, at times, setting. Not for watching on a phone or an ipad but as I said to start with an exceptional piece of cinema with outstanding performances from Leo and Tom especially.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
The story continues
Some one once asked me if I liked one of the prequel films, I cant remember which it was but thats irrelevant to my feelings, to me it was just another bit in a very long story, a story I have lived with for nearly forty years, so any episode is just another bit of that story and accepting the first trilogy as worthwhile means any before and afters are simply backing up that original concept . There is no book , there is no founding tradition beyond those first three films so whatever happens we are stuck with what the guys with finance give us its that simple . Its a franchise still evolving unlike bond or the bible we don't have a back reference point beyond the Lucas imagining of Ep4. All that said I enjoyed this awakening but with the success of the star trek revamp I was fairly sure JJA would do a professional and thoughtful job of continuing the saga satisfactorily. In minutia, I thought all the cast performances were excellent. new and old well blended. The sfx were superb, but what else would we expect.The production values beyond the sky and the emotional content almost too much to bear at times. I confess I didn't 'get' all the script and I doubt many 12 year olds will but for me a few more viewings should sort that out. I thought period continuity was really cleaver and gave me great comfort at times. I hesitate to say, just go and see it but I think you wont be disappointed if you do and then you can talk about it with all the rest of the world, although 20 years ago I did meet a man who didn't know what Star Wars was, quite refreshing but unlikely to happen ever again in my life!!!
Maggie (2015)
This is not a Zombie movie, it is real life drama
I have just watched this on my adequate large screen TV having not had the opportunity to see it in the cinema.I am very glad I read no reviews and I had no thought of relating the ideas in it to anything like the cinematic vehicle of 'Zombie' movies which I didn't once consider whilst viewing. It is a heart rending story about an incurable viral desease which manifests itself in the sufferers with appalling consequences to both the sufferer and those around them.Arnold's performance is astonishing in its depth and breadth which he is very quick to qualify in an interview as being based on his real life experience of being a Father. I found this both touching and very easy to relate to. This is a film of high level dramatic entertainment. I couldn't say it is enjoyable but it is entertaining with the Schwartzenegger charisma shinning through in ever frame he was in. Steller performances from the rest of the cast make it a travesty that it hasn't been seen by a bigger audience. Of course Arnold has to make his blockbusters but I would welcome more dramas in which his performances truly show him to be a man who is very good at reinventing himself over and over again to a spectacular level of success.(only 8 out of 10 because it made me so sad)
Bronson (2008)
Not for the faint hearted.Tom Hardy beyond words
The only reason I have given this 8 out of ten is because I found much of it hard to watch.Tom Hardy has become one of my favourite actors of late with stunning performances every time he graces the screen but much of what this film deals with , institutionalised violence and mental instability which I do not find entertaining whilst acknowledging its existence and understanding that it should not remain hidden personally I don't feel the need for the graphicacey we experience here as with a number of other almost surreal classics from Kubric, Roeg,Antonioni et al. I guess, putting society's desperate need for the cult of celebrity aside I think this film becomes an extraordinary exercise in characterisation on the part of TH to rival anything I have seen in cinema over the last sixty years.I had the feeling at times that what I was watching was how far an actor could transform themselves into projecting the existence of another person to move you to almost like that character no matter how awful that character might be.I am minded of Charlton Hestons last performance as the Natzi criminal Mengaler with which he almost had the audience believing that his(Mengeler's) ethos was correct and the whole of the rest of society was out of step.So what you experience with this film is a performance beyond words creating an empathy and sympathy for the character which is probably misplaced in the cold light of day but it leaves you questioning the ineptitude and lack of ability on the part of us (society) as Bronsons keepers to resolve or at least help resolve his issues rather than exacerbate them which is how it appears from what we see.So in summation, Tom Hardy 10/10 subject matter , not sure, I don't know whether I needed to see it or not but I do not feel the need to watch it again but maybe one viewing is necessary just to admire the performance which as I said, is beyond words!!
Legend (2015)
A Masterclass in acting from Tom Hardy
I guess if you want to know the history of the Kray Twins, you can google it and I'm sure all the historical facts will be there. The thing which makes this film so good, is everything about it. You could be tempted to say as I have in my heading , it is a masterclass in acting but it is just so good in all other respects right down to the two brief cameos by John Sessions as Lord somebody to Kevin McNally as Harld Wilson.Everything about it was utterly believable without all the stylised stereo types we have grown accustomed to with films about East End gangsters. Oh yes and whilst we see blood occasionally it didn't take on the proportions of a cartoon which again seems to be the stock in trade of most Hollywood efforts. This was an extremely well made film about real people who were larger than life characters but at no point did it stray into caricature largely due to excellent directing and outstanding performances from Tom Hardy , ably supported by Emily Browning Paul Bettany and of course Chris Eccleston. The periodness seemed perfect to me again without all the silly stereotypes associated with films set at this period and the street sets were stunning in their film noir appeal . If Tom Hardy doesn't get at least nominated for an Oscar then there is no justice but the entire production was nothing short of superb.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
outstanding performances ,bit disappointing film
I think I started to read a review and it made the statement'well I guess there's not really many folks who will remember this as the TV series!! Well there are, I'm sure plenty of us and many of them will be a bit disappointed with this take on something that I have very fond memories of. Lets be clear, The two main protagonists , Henry and Armie gave stellar performances with good support from Hugh and the young lady whose name I cant remember but the plot line was so hard to follow initially and getting used to an Illia kuryakin who was directed as a bit of a thug with a Napolion Solo who was clearly just as capable physically, was all a bit odd. I appreciate that It was never going to be a big screen version of the series but take a tip from Tom Cruise(Mission Impossible reboot) couldn't we at least have the music from time to time, lets face it , in the 'Lone Ranger' which I loved , it was definitely made more exciting by including the original TV theme at the appropriate moments as with MI 1,2,3,4& now5. I understand that as a director Guy Richie has a style all his own but it owed more in this revamp to Michael Caines Harry Palmeresque spying world than to the much lighter definitely fictional world of U.N.C.L.E. (not Uncle) and T.H.R.U.S.H.(don't remember what that stood for but they were the baddies). I think the biggest problem was the attempt to say this was real spying during the cold war but the TV series never made any attempt at reality and thats what made it so much fun and I think this movie whilst the acting was great I doubt they had any fun making it and it wasn't much fun to watch, what a shame, what a waste of a great genre of non reality. I have had the release date on my calender for six months , my expectations were high with an excellent cast ,but I really was not expecting a remake of 'Funeral in Berlin' but thats what it felt like. Oh yes and my cinema marketing billed it as an action comedy. Trust me, all the funny line(yes I mean line, not lines) were in the trailer and that was it! I doubt it will run to a sequel or two but clearly that is the expectation from the ending.Not a chance unless they've already been canned.what a shame,I feel so let down.
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)
he works so hard
I have only experienced one TC film I did not enjoy and I am not even able to remember the title but he played an ageing Rock star brilliantly but I just didn't find it entertaining. Now I've got that out of the way, I must agree with one or two other reviewers in saying this may be the best MI film yet. Two things did it for me. I am a hugh opera fan and I found the whole sequence in the Viena Opera house absolutely riviting with the wonderful music acting as a perfect background to the unbelievable action .My other stand out aspect was the location filming in London which appeared utterly authentic to me and I thank TC for his loyalty to uk fans in setting so much of the climactic drama in the UK capital. brilliant. Every other aspect of the film was what I would call total action entertainment. Yes of course it falls into the category of a total suspension of disbelief but isn't that why we go to the cinema to suspend reality. I guess the most important ingredient is the man himself, he clearly works so hard to get it right and in the true Hollywood tradition of Errol Flyn et al he is a star and has made this 'boys own' daring do' genre all his own almost without rival. I will continue to attend TC films without too much concern as to whether or not I will enjoy them as his record is almost flawless!
Terminator Genisys (2015)
Arnold is perfection. Tears, laughter, suspense, a lot to think about
Just got back from what pleased me no end, a proper Arnie film with all the eliments there should be. Action, Suspense, laughter, tears, and a great story at whatever level, incorporating everything that was best in what has gone before as well as a few surprises. I watched all four in the preceeding days (yes even T3)and it all seemed relevant with some excellent and thoughtful script writing superbly tying it all together.Casting (support) excellent, which I would not have believed possible especially 'Sarah' Conner. I hope Arnold is proud of what he has contributed to the most unlikely heroic genre every created,Go and be entertained, I'll probably go back in a couple of days , but whatever, I'll definitely be back!! Now seen it three times, it really does get better and better,amazing, I feel very sorry for those who have not been able to enjoy it ,they are missing so much, 15 out of 10 really!!!!
Jurassic World (2015)
Very disappointing, but very well made
I guess against the grain of consensus opinion, my initial thought leaving this film behind was ,that really was one of the silliest films I have ever seen, but I do often say to friends who want an opinion of a film... well it was complete rubbish but I loved it. Well heres the rub. This film was complete rubbish and I didn't really like it at all mainly because it didn't really entertain me. It was as many have said, utterly predictable and no where near as imaginative as it could have been, given its obvious budget and actually quite good cast, Chris Pratt in particular tried to save it several times being an excellent 'bad ass' heroic type but even he seemed restrained somehow by unimaginative .clichee ridden directing together with what has to be admitted incredible special effects/cgi or whatever we're supposed to call it now. The Dinos definitely weren't real,none were brilliant actors wearing those computer suit things like in Avatar, but there seemed to be a lot of real people in crowd scenes but then they started to be pick off by flying Dinos so I guess they weren't real in all cases. Two big problems.... The story was rather like a worst Dr Who episode rather than an epic film as promised. You could easily have seen it all in half an hour and the best bit of the original series (imo) ie John Williams theme was nearly played about three times and then disappeared after making my senses think oh, now its going to get exciting( ask yourself, what is one of the key continuity aspects of all film franchises;Bond, Star Wars, dare I say Mission Impossible.... its the thematic aspect of the music, so don't play three or four bars as a token gesture , play it all and play it loud and at least the audience can latch on to every second of excitement they've ever felt when they've heard those sounds before even if it ain't really happening before their eyes the rest of their sensibilities will imagine it is because musical memory is a very powerful influence on the emotions. To sum up I believe a successful film will entertain by making me laugh, making me cry, making me wonder whats coming next and making me gaze in wonder at the screen when I get the audio cues to remind me its not reality...... which I've left at home. Didn't get that today , shame as I had expected far more from the trailer.
Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
A real Epic for our time
I have been a fan of the Cecil B DE Mille versions of this movie nearly all my life so I went to view this with some trepidation as to what Riley would have done with it given his unquestioned talent for taking any story and making it an epic tale.I was not disappointed by any aspect of what is truly a master piece in filming when tackling such a classic story with so many prejudice's surrounding the production from its inception as a project a couple of years ago. Production values through the roof as we have come to expect from Ridley with a 'Red Sea ' finale which did everything to live up to its illustrious predecessors.The way all the plagues were dealt with I found utterly plausible and the build up of angst in the Egyptian sufferers was more than believable as was their cruel stubbornness in accepting their need to give in to the not unreasonable idea that the Hebrews would like to go home after 400 years of slavery. I noted and enjoyed several tributes to the 1959 film, but others who haven't lived with it for sixty years nearly might not notice. I thought both Joel Edgerton and Christian Bale as the sibling rivals were superbly cast and gave stellar performances that even Chuck Heston and Yule Bryner would have applauded if they were around today. Well done Ridley, a man never fearful of doing what he knows is right. A stunning epic for our time, superbly produced acted and directed, I can't wait for the directors cut which must surely follow if only in 3d blue-ray
Mr. Turner (2014)
An opportunity lost, unrealised potential
I don't often write reviews of films I don't really like so I will try and be as constructive as possible and attempt to mention the positive whilst being critical to a large extent. I love Timothy Spall as an actor but felt his characterisation was both misguided and cliché ridden. A shame because clearly he worked very hard.I waited throughout the film to see a bit about painting but all I learnt was that at some point in his career Turner spat at his work presumably to enhance the ease with which he could move the paint around on the canvas. I learnt that he had a thing for his housekeeper, culminating in the worst filmed love making I have ever had to experience(I felt really sorry for both actors.)I struggled to hear or understand most of the 'Victorian Speak', (a huge cliché which did nothing except limit any understanding of what was being said)and yes the costumes and settings were quite pretty at times but so obvious was the set dressing that I felt as if the props folk had only just left the sets when filming rolled and it was all a bit obvious decoration to real locations.That said, the natural locations were filmed beautifully , all the correct filters were used to make us feel we were looking at the world 150 years ago but actually you can go and see those places now and such images turn up in all kinds of documentaries if filmed well.I think my feelings are best summed up by saying 'an opportunity lost' or an experience of 'unrealised potential', but maybe it just isn't that interesting having film 'about' when in fact we have the paintings he left us and we should get the story from them and not worry to much about whether he was in love with several women at the same time and treated none of them fairly as a consequence.In summing up, 'Great Paintings' 'worked too hard',acting, sadly not a great movie ..... interestingly I got that from the trailer and only went to see it against my better judgement. Should have listened to my better judgement and saved a fiver.
Hercules (2014)
Simply excellent entertainment
I give this film ten simply because it was way up there for sheer entertainment, with no over the top blood and gore , something I find mostly completely uneccessary. It made me laugh when it was meant to and it had that 'Saturday morning pictures'(sorry all those under 60years old) feel of excitement without any of the cheap sensationalism which so many films seem to employ these days.Maybe others call it cheesy but I actually like it when the good guys win(a certain George Lucas made quite a success of that). So if you like the poster(Dwain never looked better) you want to be entertained for 98minuites without having to work too hard, I'm gonna say this is an excellent (maybe great) movie and I will check back in to see it again tomorrow. Oh yes and it has two movie moments which are superb in my view, I leave you too work out what they are but they both involved the 'Rock' at his best even if he did need to swear for one of them, it was worth it, and the other, well Heros always have to emerge from clouds of smoke or flames or some such and given how hard the man worked to get himself looking right I reckon he does one of the best emergence ever, go and enjoy it, and watch Tinker ,Taylor, Soldier, Spy another day.
Sabotage (2014)
His best acting role ever, the charisma never wanes
I confess to being an ardent Arnie fan of long standing and being the same age I've been watching his career for a long time.To me this film was heavily influence by the current trend in TV series which push the boundaries of what we expect to see on screen whether its extremes of gore (visual extreme) or extremes of language(verble extreme).I recently only managed to get to the end of the third season of Breaking Bad because I found it just too much whilst acknowledging it may be the best performed TV drama ever, with Game of Thrones a close second. So with that perspective in mind I went to the cinema in eager anticipation of Arnolds latest outing, having thoroughly enjoyed Last Stand. Like other viewers I guess I found the plot twists and turns a bit had to follow(but hey ,I'm as old as Arnold , so I've got an excuse.) That said, whenever he's on the screen or uttering dialogue in that unique way that only he can manage I found it compelling viewing right up to the last blood dripping final few moments when his face did as much acting as he ever has in his career.As one cinema steward commented, Arnie is not an actor, he's a Star , and that says it all. Don't expect Shakespeare(Sir Sir Patrick, Sir Ian and Sir Antony will give you that)but what you get from Arnie is that indescribable charisma that enabled him to become a star on the back of almost no dialogue and then several outings with very cryptic dialogue. As an aside I will mention an almost unrecognisable Sam Worthington gave an excellent performance along with an equally excellent supporting cast(not the Royal Shakespeare Company)but they did the job.The gore does nothing for me, the strong language does even less(we've heard it all before) but for sheer screen presence you get what you pay for and thats a superb performance from a mature star who has now seen a lot of life and enjoyed a position of power in the real world we live in. I think there's a great deal more entertainment in Mr S yet and I for one will continue to enjoy his offerings and hope that the scripts come somewhere near the quality his giant and unwaning charisma. He will be back and I look forward to it as much as ever.
The Gypsy Warriors (1978)
I am a die hard Tom Selleck Fan
I have been a die hard TS Fan since the heady days of Magnum being 'the Watch' of the week, ,when VCR's were just beginning to become household items and most films(unless designated'horror) showed no blood as a consequence of gunshot wounds.... Clearly there was a whole range of superb war films produced by 1978 , even along similar themes to this film(Heroes of Telemark, Operation Crossbow, to name but two around that time,) . Putting this film in that context it would be quite kind to say it is 'Poor' by comparison but that said , lets not forget , it was made for TV, the production values matched most ordinary children's TV adventure shows. There is nothing accurate about it at all except for Toms moustache but on the other hand it has a fascination rather like the knitwear ads (stills) featuring a very young Roger Moore, note I use the word 'fascination'. For me the entertainment value is high simply because Tom Selleck's charisma still shines through despite the odds being stacked so high against him. That communication with the audience which became such a feature of the later made Magnums does emerge in this' no' budget cliché ridden piece of 'drama'. I love the 'el lo, el lo'(Uk French resistance comedy, sitcom) aspect of the English spoken with German accents, most hilariously by Tom himself. Suffer from no illusions, 'Where Eagles dare' it isn't, but it held my attention for that Selleck magic consistently all through the 72 minutes . I didn't think the image quality was that bad, certainly ignorable for the entertainment value of the performance by himself. I am one of those fans who find that TS becomes more entertaining with every project he gives himself to, a bit like Sir Michael Caine, I'd enjoy him reading a dictionary !So, taking all that bias into account, if you collect him , then spent a couple of quid and add this to the collection, it is, when all's said and done a piece of very simple 'boys own' adventure yarn-age... it isn't 'Plattoon' or' Born on the fourth of July' but it is a very early performance by probably the most underrated actor of our time(recommend 'Countdown to D-Day' and 'Quigley Down under' as bench marks for their genre). I enjoyed it, what have you got to loose!
Rush (2013)
Brilliant from every aspect, directing,acting,filming, effects and soundtrack
I was a fan of formula 1 then and am still a formula 1 fan.James Hunt was one of the most charismatic drivers the UK has ever produced and I am pleased to say this film faithfully conveys that mix of Button/Hamilton/Beckham/Best which he seemed to embody to a public who were only just starting to appreciate the idea of celebrity in a way which we take for granted now. The fact that he died so young and in such obscurity makes this story so tragic and moving. I was so pleased that there was a clear demonstration of mutual respect by the two protagonists if only in the very last minutes of the film.Nikki Lauder remains quite rightly one of the most influential men in F1 , a portent of which is clearly demonstrated by his early genius.Personally I found the whole experience of watching their story incredibly emotional and brilliantly portrayed on every level,directing/acting/ filming and effects, oh yes and not to forget a superb soundtrack by the ubiquitous Hans Zimmer( how does he keep doing it?).I will go again, and buy the blue-ray as soon as its available.....well done everyone involved.
The Lone Ranger (2013)
Very Entertainingand uplifting,ignore unfair criticism
I have been a Lone Ranger fan for over fifty years ( I have an autographed photo of Clayton Moore and Silver on my mantle), so I was very excited at the prospect of a modern film about the character ever since it has been on the horizon, about a couple of years I guess.I even remember George Clooney's name being linked to the role along with JD as Tonto ,which I thought sounded very interesting. I was a bit disappointed when it finally emerged that a relatively unknown actor would have the role but still with JD as Tonto and I was even more disappointed when I saw the trailers a total of five times and saw JD in interview when he was very down beat about the whole thing making it that it was all about some kind of reversal of roles with Tonto being the instigator of all things rather than the LR. Well, I just returned from my first viewing of the film and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it in every respect.It owed a bit to Buster Keatons General, it definitely had elements of the first Banderas Zorro but for me this was all good cinema. It was entertaining on every level, with enough tributes to the original show to more than satisfy my need for the Lone Ranger effect.( ie good will conquer evil but it expects nor needs any thanks). JD was superb, of course he was but so were the rest of the cast, and as for idiotic behaviour I think all the characters seemed to suffer from that from time to time ,but so what, it all made excellent entertainment, the only one who didn't do anything stupid was probably the horse ,who was truly amazing even if it needed a lot of CGI help in places. I have the pilot of the original show and there was enough in this film to link with that to make it OK for me so I would suggest many critics probably don't have or haven't seen the original pilot or just didn't get all the references which I picked up on. For example Clayton Moore always spoke perfect grammatical English and as far as I could judge so did this LR. Tonto's original horse was piebald and at least by the time we get to the end of the film it had arrived.I did put a spoiler alert at the opening of this but anyone who is in any doubt about this LR being what he needs to be, be in no doubt, he doesn't kill anyone deliberately and his whole creed is about Justice.The final 20 minutes of the film with a lot of perfectly acceptable CGI help was absolutely superb and I will definitely be going back to see it all again and be ordering the blue ray as soon as possible. Ignore the critics and enjoy a highly entertaining movie.