About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Fans of The Rock will find plenty to cheer for in this action/drama that allows the wrestler-turned-actor a real opportunity to show off his skills. Fans of the classic "Walking Tall" film might not be quite so pleased to see the changes the new film has made. But keep in mind, the filmmakers never wanted to make a strict, frame-by-frame remake of the 1973 film starring Joe Don Baker.

Pros

• The Rock emerges as a real actor with a surprising range
• Lots of action, good stunt work, and a charismatic group of actors
• Great collection of bonus features

Cons

• This 2004 remake suffers from comparison to the original

Description

• Audio commentary by The Rock
• Audio commentary by director Kevin Bray, as well as the director of photography and editor.
• Short blooper reel
• Three deleted scenes
• "The Porch" - Alternate ending featuring The Rock and Johnny Knoxville
• "Fight the Good Fight" - Featurette on the film's stunt sequences
• 28 stills from "Walking Tall"
• DVD Release Date: September 28, 2004

Guide Review - "Walking Tall" DVD Review

The Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson) stars as Chris Vaughn, a retired Special Forces soldier who returns to his little hometown only to discover everything he remembered about the sleepy little burb has disappeared. In place of a friendly, thriving mill community is a city run by Jay Hamilton, a big-time criminal (Neal McDonough) who runs a gambling casino and deals in drugs.

Vaughn doesn't like what he sees and enlists his boyhood pal Ray (Johnny Knoxville) in a plan to take over and kick the bad element out of town.

Similar to the first "Walking Tall," Vaughn carries out his plan to help his hometown get out from under the control of the criminal element by carrying a big stick and using it very liberally.

The Rock does a fairly decent job of making the film entertaining, and it's refreshing to see the stunts are more old-school than most current releases which rely too heavily on computer generated effects even when it's not entirely necessary .

The "Walking Tall" DVD is well-stocked with bonus features, including a terrific behind-the-scenes look at the stunts. Narrated by The Rock, the "Fight the Good Fight" 8-minute long featurette includes storyboards and fight scene rehearsals, as well as interviews with the cast and crew. There's also a very short 'blink and you'll miss it' blooper reel offering a more light-hearted look at the making of "Walking Tall."