To the point where I feel sorry for the performers.

"dumb" or "bad" or "deaf retarded" phony hollywood character to the white "he who knows more".

translated from the spanish, these are the derogatory meanings of "tonto" and "quemosabe".

He being the actor who played Tonto in all but four episodes of the TV series.

;0

Because you're right. Tonto means stupid.

Depp has the power to turn it into something great. He can take the character and give it his own voice. The source Tonto was a sidekick for comedy relief based on racism and prejudice.

They're still playing the role for comic relief but the bits are reversed. Tonto is now the competent one and Kemosabe's somewhat of a dullard being dragged into his destiny by the Magical Indian who is also functioning as sidekick-ex-machina.

When I first saw the trailer for the move, I shouted out to the TV, that's not Tonto! Like Depp wasn't Jay Silverheels. I'm sorry, having grown up with Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels, no one else can play those parts and be believable. I guess I'm just old.

But, still...

From the trailers I've seen of the film, Tonto is a strong character, and an equal, rather than a sidekick. It's kind of a shame that they couldn't find someone like Adam Beach to play the role, rather than Depp. Nothing against Johnny Depp, this Tonto seems far more a worthy role than the old TV version.

From what I can gather from the commercials and reviews, they haven't made them equals...they've swapped the historical roles for comedic and plotting value rendering Kemosabe into a dullard embarking on a hero's quest and Tonto into some sort of Virgil-like Native American spiritual guide and sidekick-ex-machina consistently called-upon to rescue our burgeoning hero.

It's a version of what in media criticism is called "magical Native American" (sometimes, when the author wants to especially and immediately highlight exactly how racist this is, the term "Magical Injun" is used instead.). The fact is that this portrayal isn't any less racist...it typically robs the character of the capacity to be fully-formed and human by making them a sort of "noble savage" whose different ways (or racial magic) render them a solution to every problem.

But making it similar to the relationship of Mani and the Chevalier Grégoire de Fronsac from Brotherhood of the Wolf. A reimagining of what may have happened in Gevaudon France, with the Beast of Gevaudon.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237534/?ref_=sr_1

This was before they started talking about making a Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp. Of course, I wanted an R rated flick, but I am sure something gritty could be pulled off at PG 13. Had this idea while researching about Bass Reeves for fun.

Could probably also use someone like Justin Rain, Eddie Spears or something. Then again, I am going to regret saying this but, they could have looked at the cast of Twilight for someone. Ok, I still can't believe I said that.

I am now going to hang my head in shame.

He played Kevin Costner's friend in Dances with Wolves. He's a very talented and appealing actor.
But shouldn't the term Native American be a bit broader than just the continental US? Shouldn't it cover North and Central and South America as well?

at some point he actually was a really good actor doing small films.

Like that one with Brando.

but alas, no one goes to those, so he takes the big money.

But it seems like he is playing the same role over and over and over.

$$$$ rules Hollywood.

Example: Superman Returns grossed $400 million on a $200 million budget, and Warner was unhappy it didn't make $500 million so they rebooted Superman into Man of Steel, instead of doing a sequel to Superman Returns.

Then again, Johnny Depp prefers roles that require tons of makeup; he's basically the miniature Ron Perlman.

Just like African American.
I don't know a single black friend of mine that uses the term.
And the Indians I know prefer to call themselves Indians, not Native Americans. I'm part Indian myself. I have ancestors from the Seneca Tribe of the Iroquois Nation from the Buffalo, NY. region.

california chumash indian. it's respectful to ask people what they call themselves.