Originally posted by David Germain"Walking Tall" transplants the tale from Tennessee to rural Washington, and it scraps the real-life protagonist, Buford Pusser, a name The Rock -- aka Dwayne Johnson -- apparently could not stomach.
Heh, that's what I originally thought as well (the image of a rough 'n tumble vigilante isn't exactly the first thing that comes to mind when one hears the name "Pusser"), but the Rock seems to discredit that - or, at the very least, tries to distance himself from that line of thinking with a little creative spin :
Originally posted by 411ManiaThe main character’s name has also been changed, from Buford Pusser to Chris Vaughn. “The reason why we changed the name is out of respect for Buford Pusser and the Pusser family,” Rock said. “They’ve been wonderfully supportive, and helpful with the research. http://www.411mania.com/ movies/columns/article.php? columns_id=2285
Alessandro "Hercules" Boondy
Just so you guys know: 75% of this crap [you read on the internet] is made up, either by the writer, or the wrestler the writer is getting the dirt from. Just so you know. -- Statement by "Tammy Sytch", from Hyatte's Dec. 29th column ... Lest we forget.
I don't quite see how they're "respecting the Pusser family" by taking their names out of the film. I do agree with them removing it though, because "Pusser" just doesn't look like The Rock and sounds way too...uh...rural for the kind of film they're going for.
World Champion by this time next year
Jumping On The Shelton Benjamin Rulez Bandwagon Before All the Smart Marks Do
It probably doesn't help that they're opening the same weekend as Hellboy.
s'io credesse che mia risposta fosse a persona che mai tornasse al mondo, questa fiamma staria senza piu scosse. ma percoche giammai di questo fondo non torno vivo alcun, s'i'odo il vero, senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo.
I just got back from it, and while it isn't the greatest movie ever its still a pretty good movie that happens to star the Rock. I didn't go in expecting Shakespeare and I walked out happy that I had seen it. Although I do have to say the Rock did take a fuck-load of punishment in this one and you do need to suspend a little belief that he made it while "lesser" men wouldn't have. Anyhoo it was a nice little film and that was really my only complaint.
Originally posted by Shem the PenmanWell, the critics for my pulp of choice (the Philadelphia Inquirer) shat all over WT, and it looks as if they're not alone:
It probably doesn't help that they're opening the same weekend as Hellboy.
Odd, my dead tree news source (the Kalamazoo Gazette) went the other way. WT garnered **** and plaudits for the Rock while Hellboy got a fairly tepid ***. Different strokes for different folks.
Tim
Trust me on this one. If you ever go adventuring, always try to find the situation where the appropriate words are: "Damn! We're too late! The villain hath done his villainy and decamped to parts unknown!" --Ignace, agent extraordinaire
Not bad. Hour of story stretched over 90 minutes. Good action from The Rock. Good...uh...breastage from Ashley Scott, who didn't really have anything else to do but look hot. Good for her.
THE FLAMES: 42-29-7-3 for 94 points in 81 games 3rd in Northwest Div.; 6th in Western Conf.; 12th in NHL CLINCHED PLAYOFFS FOR 21ST TIME...YEAH BABY!
ANYHOW, Buford is a legend back home, and did WAY more than the movie ever said.
TONS of stories the old times tell about old Buford. Some involve him having another family with a black lady, which was part of the reason Toehead White (a long, LONG off cousin of my mom's) was so intent on killing him.
ANYWHO, the girlfriend wants to see it, so I am going by default.
as much as all of us wrestling fans were cheering for the Rock to do well this weekend and break the mold of "wrestler as star of shitty movie" (thank you no holds barred) it appears as if he came up short..
early reports have Walking Tall coming in 2nd this weekend earling just under $16 million...
BTW - when Rock threw his 2x4 through the casino security window, did anyone else think no holds barred? I remeber hogan throwing some sort of pole through Mr. Brell's security window in the very same fashion...I thought it was funny...
Originally posted by tsmstuearly reports have Walking Tall coming in 2nd this weekend earning just under $16 million
I'll be surprised if this movie COST $16 million to make...and half of that budget probably went to cover up the tattoo that is overtaking his body.
Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised. This was just a dumb hour and a half of fun with production values reminiscent of an action televion series. But it WAS fun in any case. I actually enjoyed it more than "The Rundown", even if "The Rundown" was a better movie.
I cracked up when I saw the "in association with WWE films" credit.
The budget was $46 million. Johnny Knoxville got $5 million so Rock must have pulled $10 or more. The opening weekend for The Scorpion King and The Rundown both equalled out to 40% of the total domestic tally, so it's safe to assume Walking Tall will finish between $37 and $40 million. Not a flop, and not a blockbuster.
WHICH GROSSED MORE? Kevin Smith's Movies...or The Rock's?:
KEVIN SMITH Clerks [$31K opening; $3.1M domestic gross] Mallrats [$1.1M opening; $2.1M domestic gross] Chasing Amy [$52K opening; $12M domestic gross] Dogma [$8.6M opening; $30.6M domestic gross] Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back [$11M opening; $30.1M domestic gross] Jersey Girl [$8.3M opening...]
THE ROCK The Mummy Returns [$68.1M opening; $202M domestic gross] The Scorpion King [$36M opening; $91M domestic gross] The Rundown [$18.5M opening; $47.7M domestic gross] Walking Tall [$15.9M opening...]
If you include Mummy Returns....The Rock wins hands down. Without Mummy Returns...The Rock wins by about $35 million.
THE FLAMES: 42-29-7-3 for 94 points in 81 games 3rd in Northwest Div.; 6th in Western Conf.; 12th in NHL CLINCHED PLAYOFFS FOR 21ST TIME...YEAH BABY!
Thread ahead: Police give up search for suspect in abduction Next thread: HELLBOY Fucking ROCKS!!! Review/spoilers ahead. Previous thread: The Shield......Season 3, Episode 4
Maybe he was just getting back at CBS for spelling his name "Mathews" in the opening credits. Or wait, maybe he was just HIGH. With all those goings-on, I'm sorry I missed out on seeing Courtney Love, the human blow-up doll.