The Lone Ranger

How did an idealistic Texas Ranger become the legendary masked man of mystery? The Lone Ranger's partner Tonto (Johnny Depp) relates the story to a wide-eyed kid at a Wild West sideshow in this visually resplendent adventure. The story mainly revolves around the pair's efforts to thwart a corrupt railway magnate (Tom Wilkinson) from rolling through Comanche territory. Director Gore Verbinski engages in the same kind of myth-making that made the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise such a success, and he's aided enormously by Depp, who delivers yet another wonderfully quirky performance, and relative newcomer Armie Hammer who is perfectly cast as his clean-cut cowboy foil. Verbinski employs classic western vistas like Monument Valley to create a stunning backdrop for brilliantly staged action, helping to distract from a bloated midsection and Helena Bonham Carter's redundant turn as a one-legged madam. Once the iconic Rossini theme tune starts and a runaway train steams towards the finish, it all comes together as absolutely thrilling, top-flight escapism.