Customer Reviews

Walking Tall, Part 2

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Walking Tall" was a rather good film, largely because of the commanding screen presence of Joe Don Baker. In this uninspired (and uninspiring) sequel, Bo Svenson replaces Baker, and does so quite poorly. There wasn't anything particularly new or interesting to add to the original story, which makes for a boring experience for the viewer. Cast, script, and direction are all far inferior to the original. This film is a waste of time - avoid it. This one gets two stars only because it doesn't reek as badly as its successor, but that doesn't say a great deal for either of them.

"Walking Tall" was a big sleeper hit in 1973,making around 40 million dollars at the box office.Adjusted for inflation that translates to around 100 million in today's dollars.That is considered a legitimate blockbuster by Hollywood's standards.Not bad for a low budget movie with no big stars from a small independent studio. Buford Pusser said in an interview that his "only criticism of "Walking Tall" was that it wasn't violent enough".That's saying something.Pusser served three two year terms as sheriff from 1964 to 1970,"Part 2 Walking Tall" (as it was originally called,now it's Walking Tall 2,big difference)takes up where the first one left off.Part 2 covers perhaps a year in the Sheriff's life.I first saw Part 2 in the theatre when it first came out in the summer of 1975(the summer when "Jaws" first came out) and I'm sorry to say I was disappointed in this followup.Bo Svenson took over the role of Sheriff Pusser,after Joe Don Baker decided it would be better not to play the part for a second time.At 6ft.5in.Svenson physically looked more like the actual Buford Pusser but I didn't think he was nearly as good in the role.Joe Don Baker who is a mere 6ft.2in.(however he still walks tall),and hails from Texas and went to the prestigious Actor's Studio,is a fine actor and he gave a powerful,emotionally charged performance in the first film that is sadly lacking in Part 2.Also,Part 2 had a different writer,a different director,even a different studio(the studio which released the first film called Cinerama Releasing,unfortunately went out business the year before),American International Pictures released Part 2.American International went under back in the early '80's,after 25 years in the movie business.The first film had a more adult R rating.Part 2 was considerably toned down compared to the first film,it was only PG.Part 2 plays more like a luke warm '70's style TV movie.Bo Svenson played Sheriff Pusser again in 1977 in "The Final Chapter:Walking Tall"(which I never saw),and again in a TV series that ran on NBC in 1979,(which I also never saw),the series was short lived,it ran only for a few months.

If this script was written by the same person as the original, the writer must have become a test subject for Prozac in the interim. In addition to Svenson's weak performance (compared to Joe Don Baker)the sequel lacks all of the intensity and rage that made Walking Tall a classic.

Near the end of the Original WALKING TALL, Sheriff Pusser's wife is killed while the mob is attempting to kill him. Now it is time for payback. There are a few changes, though.

Bo Svenson replaces Joe Don Baker as the likable sheriff. He does a creditable job but, under the circumstances, he is less concerned with the niceties of exactly following the law.

He's still effective, though. He is so effective that the mob is desperate to get him and hires a variety of hit men to do the job. One of the mob leaders, in particular, is just as obsessed with getting the sheriff as the sheriff is with getting them. That leads to an intense conflict and no concern for niceties. That means violence and mayhem.

Even with his proclivity for violence, the sheriff is concerned for his people. He is still a "nice" guy unless you are one of the people who is responsible for the problems. He still manages to get most of the small fry but the big fish still elude him.

This is not a bad movie as sequels go but it is not as good as the original. Anger can only take you so far in progressing the plot. It cannot make up for a lesser script and lesser story.

Bo Svenson is damned good in this. No he ain't the actor we were used to having in the role since he ain't Joe Don Baker but he's very good in this. He has a real integrity about him and conveys a hunger for justice.

Just like the original film, I saw Part II at the drive-in as a new release with my dad. We weren't sure how good it would be with Bo Svenson replacing Joe Don Baker as Buford Pusser. We were actually pleasantly surprised. Svenson is quite different from Baker, but he played the part well. This movie also includes a lot of violence as Pusser continues to confront the evil forces at work in his county. I enjoyed it.

This isn't a bad movie. It has kept me entertained for many years. I think the original was better, but this still isn't a bad movie. I've owned it on VHS and DVD.

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT MOVIE! THE WALKING TALL MOVIE WITH DUANE THE ROCK JOHNSON AND ALOT OF ACTION MOVIES TODAY CAN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO THE WALKING TALLS MADE IN THE 1970'S STARRING JOE DON BAKER AND BO SVENSON.

This DVD was a bit better than the other Bo Stevenson Walking Tall, The entire series. It still didn't compare to the original one that I saw on T.V. years ago.

the movie was the same as walking tall,i don't like the wide screen.they cut the top and bottom part of the movie off.i like all my movies in full screen.

I truly enjoyed this movie and plan on purchasing Walking Tall Final Chapter as well. The product arrived on schedule and was in the condition the seller said it was.