NIJamesHughes Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 The subject of “Walking Tall” is the role of integrity in the success of good. The theme of the movie is the necessity of integrity to the success of good. The film is based on the premise that any compromise between good and evil only benefits evil. The movie beings when Chris Vaughn (The Rock) returns to his hometown only to discover that it has collapsed into moral, and sequentially, existential disrepair. The town is presented as being filled with pawn shops, cash advance depot’s, adult novelty shops and other insignia of a declining economy. The other buildings are vacant including the towns only industry; the lumber mill. At the heart of the decay is a casino that covers for a drug running operation. The population is represented by drug addicts, drunks, compulsive gamblers, prostitutes and dirty unattended children. At the heart of this decay is casino owner Jay Hamilton, who holds the town in thrall with the help of corrupt cops and a gang of thugs. One virtue, integrity, is what all the other good characters lack and that is what leaves them defenseless to the powers of evil. Deni (Ashley Scott) expresses the prevalent compromising attitude “The rent has to be paid,” meaning moral principles have to be sacrificed for the range of the moment. Vaughn’s unwillingness to compromise enables him to not be deterred in his fight for truth and justice. Displaying the power of integrity to the right principles, Vaughn ultimately defeats Hamilton and closes the casino, replacing it with the towns engine of production; the lumber mill. “Walking Tall” demonstrates the indispensability of the recognition of moral right and of integrity to it. I highly recommend this film to anyone who believes in moral certainty, the indestructablity of the good, and above all, integrity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Robinson Posted April 27, 2005 Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 The town is presented as being filled with pawn shops, cash advance depot’s, adult novelty shops and other insignia of a declining economy. How does this follow? Do people frequent adult novelty shops only when the economy turns sour? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIJamesHughes Posted April 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2005 Not necessarily, but the issue is that the shop was shown as representing the towns industry. As presented (in the absence of other business except those named) it represents the decadence of the culture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Thinker Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 By the way .... The Objective Review Magazine Websire looks amazing! When will it be completed? Can we submit reviews to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Robinson Posted April 28, 2005 Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Not necessarily, but the issue is that the shop was shown as representing the towns industry. As presented (in the absence of other business except those named) it represents the decadence of the culture. Unless an enterprise involves the inititation of force, we should permit and encourage any and all free market exchanges. I see no initiation of force involved in check cashing shops, pawn shops or sex shops. I'd be far more concerned about the culture if the store-fronts included welfare agencies, Social Security offices, government human rights bureaux, and other forms of getting something for nothing through the bully power of the state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIJamesHughes Posted April 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 Unless an enterprise involves the inititation of force, we should permit and encourage any and all free market exchanges. I see no initiation of force involved in check cashing shops, pawn shops or sex shops. I'd be far more concerned about the culture if the store-fronts included welfare agencies, Social Security offices, government human rights bureaux, and other forms of getting something for nothing through the bully power of the state. I agree about the government, but what i was pointing out was what happens to an economy when there is no actual production...(the artist chose to represent the towns economy with these types of business instead of factories and retail shops) it declines and stagnates and you get an abundance of second hand shops, auto repair centers.. nothing that is produced, just redone. And i didn't say it should be permitted, I was just noting what it signified for a town Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIJamesHughes Posted April 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2005 By the way .... The Objective Review Magazine Websire looks amazing! When will it be completed? Can we submit reviews to it? Thanks! I'm not sure when it will be ready.. right now I am gathering writers and really learning the layout of the site builder.. I am accepting submissions.. feel free to send them to [email protected] for an overview of the magazines plans and goals, "Free Thinker",.. you can find them in the trash can of this forum ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quantum Mechanic Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 Interesting movie review! But I gotta go with Occams Razor here. Do you think the writers and producers of this movie had these themes in mind, or do you think they attempted to milk a mediocre franchise from the 70s and the very mediocre acting talents of Rock? I found the movie dull, uninspired, absurdist, and downright silly (ie the scene where the local baddes shoot up the local Sherrif station). And what was with the Rock's character completely destroying that guy's truck because he suspected criminal activity? If I want to see the indestructability of the Good, I'll watch LoTR. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIJamesHughes Posted May 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 Interesting movie review! But I gotta go with Occams Razor here. Do you think the writers and producers of this movie had these themes in mind, or do you think they attempted to milk a mediocre franchise from the 70s and the very mediocre acting talents of Rock? I found the movie dull, uninspired, absurdist, and downright silly (ie the scene where the local baddes shoot up the local Sherrif station). And what was with the Rock's character completely destroying that guy's truck because he suspected criminal activity? If I want to see the indestructability of the Good, I'll watch LoTR. Cheers Integrity is the theme, not the indestructablility of the good. And I don't think that it matters if thats what the writers and producers were consciously pursueing, it is what they show. He destroyed the guys truck because the guy was evil and it was within his right to search every last corner from drugs since the guy has some on him. I'm sorry that you find the representation of integrity dull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quantum Mechanic Posted May 10, 2005 Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 Integrity is the theme, not the indestructablility of the good. And I don't think that it matters if thats what the writers and producers were consciously pursueing, it is what they show. He destroyed the guys truck because the guy was evil and it was within his right to search every last corner from drugs since the guy has some on him. If someone is caught with drugs, it does not follow that representatives of the law are morally justified in destroying his property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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