Enlisting the help of his old pal Ray Templeton (Johnny Knoxville), Chris gets elected sheriff and vows to shut down Hamilton’s operations. His actions endanger his family and threaten his own life, but Chris refuses to back down until his hometown once again feels like home.

Chris Vaughn won’t talk softly any longer…and he carries a very big stick.

The first big screen version of Walking Tall, starring Joe Don Baker as real-life Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser, debuted in 1973 and was a huge grassroots hit with moviegoers. Its two sequels, Walking Tall Part II (1975) and Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977), starred Bo Svenson as Sheriff Pusser and were also popular, memorable versions of the lawman’s heroic stand against crime in his small, rural Southern town.

In the new Walking Tall, the original theme remains – one man standing up for his beliefs and vowing to do what’s right against great odds – but the story itself gets an update. Buford Pusser is now Chris Vaughn (played by The Rock), a man who returns to his boyhood home in the Pacific Northwest after leaving to pursue a decorated career in the U.S. Armed Forces after high school. Slipping back into town unannounced, Chris is shocked and saddened by what he sees. His beloved town has been ravaged by poverty and corruption, its vital lumber mill is closed, and a crime-ridden casino is now the town’s biggest employer.

It seems Chris’s well-heeled high school rival, Jay Hamilton (Neal McDonough), has become the new robber baron of Ferguson, Washington. His wealth and influence have allowed him to open the casino, a gambling mecca called the Wild Cherry. Even Chris’s high school girlfriend, Deni (Ashley Scott) is one of the casino employees; she dances there as a stripper.

Upon Chris’s return, he and some old friends, including best friend Ray Templeton (Johnny Knoxville), visit the Wild Cherry on Jay’s “good will” invitation. But Chris discovers cheating at the craps tables, and a fight erupts with Hamilton’s security guards that ultimately leaves Chris overpowered, savagely beaten, and left for dead.

Chris’s family – dad Chris, Sr. (John Beasley), mom Connie (Barbara Tarbuck), sister Michelle (Kristen Wilson), and her son, Pete (Khleo Thomas) – help him recover and plead for him to leave things as they are. But Chris is a man who won’t back down. He decides to run for sheriff and rid his hometown of crime with the law as his main weapon.

With Ray as his deputy, Chris sets out to clean up the mess Hamilton has made. Now Sheriff Chris Vaughn, he wields a huge stick fashioned from lumber mill pine. He’s one man against many – but he is Walking Tall.

After meeting Buford Pusser, (it was less than a year before his mysterious and controversial death or “accident”), I became a fan. One of my dreams was to one day travel to McNairy County in southwest Tennessee and visit the places he had lived, to see where his wife Pauline was shot, and of course see the old State Line Bar and everything else. It was a hot summer just a few years ago that I accomplished that goal with the rest of my family. We spent 3 days there, meeting some of Buford’s old friends, eating at his daughter Dwana’s Restaurant, named appropriately “Pusser’s.” We also had the honor of meeting her as she served us sandwiches and chicken-fried steak. We even got to stay in the motel room that Buford had lived in for several months while they were remodeling his house. Over the years, I have purchased many collectibles related to the original Walking Tall, including the original print and radio advertising presses and multiple souvenirs from the museum in town, even a Buford Pusser Cook Book.

As you can tell, I would be one who was really looking forward to the release of the new Walking Tall movie. It didn't take long to find out, though, that it wasn’t really a remake: the story had been changed, the names were changed, Buford wasn’t married, shucks, his name wasn’t even Buford. Instead it was Chris Vaughn, played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson of The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King, The Rundown and, of course, WWE fame. Then I found out that Vince McMahan was the Executive Producer of this movie. My hopes were fading fast and -- to say the least -- I was getting a little angry. It was shortly after speaking to my daughter (who saw the movie opening week) that I decided to go see it. “They have a dedication to Buford Pusser at the end Papa and while it is not exactly like Walking Tall (the original), it pays tribute to the things that he stood for.” With that recommendation, I decided to go ahead and see the movie.

The original Walking Tall is a classic tale of one man’s willingness to stand up and walk tall against all overwhelming obstacles. His town has turned from its roots, and he has every intent to bring it back to a place where a family can feel safe. While the story has changed somewhat, the premise in the remake is actually quite similar. Instead of facing off against bootleggers (people who made and sold illegal whiskey) and members of the "Dixie Mafia" like Buford Pusser did, Chris Vaughn goes up against corrupt police officers, casino owners and drug peddlers after his return home from the service.

In the original, Joe Don Baker played the part of the real life legend Buford Pusser to a tee. While the editing in the original lacks somewhat, the acting and storytelling make it among the most compelling true stories ever told on film. While the storytelling in the new Walking Tall is often lacking, the action sequences may actually draw fans to watch the older movies, of which there were three, as well as a television series, and more.

The story is similar in other ways also, so we could say that this movie is inspired by the true story. Soldier returns home, his community is corrupt and he decides after being beaten and almost killed to run for sheriff and make a change in the community. More of the original story could have been used to lengthen the 1 hour and 27 minute movie, of which easily 5-10 minutes are closing credits. A good ensemble cast does a fine job. Playing the part of an old high school friend and new deputy is Johnny Knoxville of MTV’s Jackass fame. He does a fine job in the movie and helps bring some comedic relief.

One of the concepts that makes this movie enjoyable is that of a hero coming home to right the wrongs done by others. Vaughn becomes in many ways --just as Pusser did in real life -- a savior. The price of salvation comes at a cost, and that cost is blood. In real life, as is portrayed in the movie, the character gains strength only through the shedding of blood. One person can only do so much though. Once that individual has shed blood for the cause, it depends on those that choose to follow to take up their crosses and stand up for what is right. We see examples of this in this story. The real Buford Pusser made tremendous sacrifices to provide safety and opportunity to the real Adamsville and McNairy County. It cost not just his blood but the blood of his wife and numerous others. Yet, he did, as the characters in this movie do, decide to stand up for what is right. The innocent -- the children, the elderly, and the helpless -- are especially in need of protection, whether that be from drugs, abuse or neglect.

In spiritual terms, Jesus was that person, but he was more than just a person, he was the Son of God who shed his blood (as is portrayed in The Passion of the Christ) for the sins of all of humanity. It is nice to see in movies like this that there are individuals who also recognize the value of sacrifice. While Chris Vaughn is a fictional account of a real person, I hope the viewer never forgets that, to a lesser degree, it is a fair representation of what the real Buford Pusser suffered, endured, and accomplished. To get a taste of the pie, I would encourage seeing this new movie. To get an even bigger taste with some ice cream on top, see the original.

I am now going to do something that I have never done for a movie review: out of respect for the memory of the real Buford Pusser, I am not going to give this movie a rating. Instead, I am just going to say that in a season where we can see a movie showing the sacrifice that Christ made for us, it is nice also to see a movie that shows us a reminder that we all can make sacrifices for each other. We too can choose to stand tall and walk tall. In real life, a real Tennessee hero named Buford Pusser did that for the people he loved. May we see this as an inspiration to care enough for those around us to love and make sacrifices for them.

By the way, you can visit the official movie website but I would also encourage you to visit the official Buford Pusser web site at http://www.sheriffbufordpusser.com . Drop them a line and let them know that you saw the review here on Hollywood Jesus. And if ever in McNairy County, (southwest) Tennessee, stop by the museum and go to Pusser’s for lunch and tell them that Mike Furches from Hollywood Jesus sent you.

You’ve seen the same story in the great westerns of the 1930’s and 40’s. You’ve seen the same story in the war films of the 50’s and 60’s. You’ve seen the same story in the gritty action films of the 70’s, 80’s and the 90’s. You’ve seen this story countless times in the films of this very young millennium. Chances are, you will see this story told again…and again…and again…

The question: Why is this type of story still so popular? Why, after seeing this story told dozens of times, are audiences (like the one I saw the film with) still cheering when victory is won and our hero is vindicated? What attracts us to such a timeless story that is endlessly retold?

These Scriptures highlight two of God’s mighty characteristics: He is righteous and is known by and loves justice. He blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (right-standing). The hero of this film, Chris Vaughn (The Rock), as well as the heroes in other films of this nature, is hungry for righteousness and justice in his hometown. We, the movie going audience, pay our $9.50 admission (more or less, depending on where you live) to see these stories because there is a God shaped part of all of us who hunger and thirst after justice and righteousness.

In this film, Vaughn comes home from the Army and finds his town in a disgraceful state of affairs. The local mill, which was the heart, soul and financial center of the town, has been closed. In its place is a new financial center: a casino; a place of total decadence. The casino is run by his childhood rival, Ray Templeton (Neal McDonough). It’s a place where your inhibitions are left at the door. You can do whatever (or whomever) you want. Vaughn’s friends take him to the casino and he is not impressed. He sees illegal drug transactions taking place, sexual fantasies offered behind closed doors and eventually watches his friend get bamboozled out of his cash, thanks to some loaded dice. Vaughn stands up for his friend by kicking some major security guard butt. Unfortunately, his courageous act nearly costs him his life. He’s left permanently scarred by the incident…literally and figuratively.

But, in spite of a sheriff who won’t plead his case (due to his ties with the casino owner), Vaughn continues to take a stand for righteousness and justice…much like our classic movie heroes. After a near fatal overdose of crystal methamphetamine by his young nephew, Vaughn, in a scene reminiscent of Christ’s turning over of the moneychangers tables at the temple, throws down the gauntlet by ripping the casino apart with his trusty 2x4. His actions cause him to be put on trial. But he beats the rap and is eventually elected sheriff of the town. Then all hell breaks loose.

I would add a spoiler alert here, but it’s unnecessary. Everyone in the theatre knows that The Rock is going to emerge victorious. But, as the old saying goes, getting there is half the battle! The film is rated PG-13, so the battle is not as brutal as it should have been (this film is a remake of a 1973 film based on the true story of Buford Pusser. Both his life and the original film featured more extreme brutality that this film could every come close to showing), but the end result was definitely worth the bags of popcorn left behind in the auditorium.

We are a people who (most of the time) love justice just as much as God does. That’s why this story has been told and will continue to be told in various forms until the return of the Lord. No matter how evil some parts of our lives are, we still are attracted to the battle of good vs. evil. Movie going audiences across the USA still desire and hunger to see truth, justice and righteousness prevail over all obstacles on the big screen. If they’re willing to ignore the technical details and follow the simple, timeless truth of this story, they shall indeed be filled