Not as bad as reported - in fact, it's GOOD!

Rating: 8/10 (14 April 2004)

Full disclosure: I am an Alamo buff.
That said, I was sorely worried about the movie and the negative buzz I've been hearing over the past year. Ron Howard dropping out, Russell Crowe dropping out, the Christmas opening being scrapped - all of it. The "Disney factor" also had me wary, following their treatment of "Pearl Harbor" (could they possibly edit that to remove all of the crap?). I was also afraid that it could be another John Wayne "Alamo", buying in all of the legends and adding some baldfaced lies as well.
But this move is good.
I loved the attention to history and culture - it was as accurate as I could imagine it to be. The photography was gorgeous. The story was fairly true to history, with just enough anecdotal stories to satisfy and not outrage. The acting was decent and believable, particularly Billy Bob's.

Again, I'm an Alamo fan and a history nut. I'd probably see it again, and will likely buy the DVD.