Abstract This paper begins by stating that some attempts to find the story of Christ in virtually every medium strains the contention beyond credulity. The author then tells the story of the film "Walking Tall" and attempts to relate it to segments of the New Testament. The paper points out that the film is a retelling of the Jesus narrative only in the loosest sense and that there is only token acknowledgment of the downtrodden, the outcast and the poor and there are no parables or no lessons. The paper concludes that, while many films can be seen as retellings of the Jesus narrative, "Walking Tall" is not such a film.
From the Paper "Vaughn then goes to Jay's mill, where he is momentarily tricked onto a trap door. When this opens, he hangs as if crucified, but manages to escape, leading Jay into a climactic fight of fire-ax against crude club. Eventually Vaughn beats Jay, delivers a final, emasculating blow (compare Matthew 5:38-45 [turn the other cheek]), and announces proudly, "This is my town. You're under arrest." The movie ends with Vaughn and Ray making anti-gay jokes about Jay, while Vaughn basks in his unexplained but clearly miraculous accomplishment."
