A battle epic based on action and not gore

Rating: 10/10 (11 April 2004)

War movies and battle epics can shock and dismay with gore and special effects or they can tell the story of the struggle through good camera use, powerful suggestion, and the use of intense action to draw in the audience. The Alamo did the latter and I am pleased that it provided a good movie without relying on the annoying camera jiggle and gory effects of Private Ryan. The point of this movie is the struggle, and even though it is set in a battle setting, the higher message can be conveyed without shock tactics.
Billy Bob Thornton finally made David Crockett a real person without debunking the myth or the man. Crockett and others were there by happenstance, and were faced with a choice of dishonor or death. He is effective.