an American history epic - but not one of the good ones

Rating: 6/10 (23 October 2004)

This is the genre the Hollywood movie should be at its best - historic film inspired by the American history. This film is not one of the best in its category.
I actually am a history fan, but I am not very familiar with American history. Maybe I am close to ignorant on some respect, because I did not know before this film for example that Houston was a historic figure, and only vaguely knew about the Alamo. The problem is that the film did not help too much, and not being familiar with the characters of the period I had quite a hard time understanding the American characters views and differences. I have no complains, this is not supposed to be a documentary, but...
Sure, for the external world the story of Alamo does not tell too much. Non-American viewers do not resonate to it the same as do the American viewers and the Texan war that touches American patriotic cords is for other just another war fought almost two hundred years ago between two remote countries. The way the characters are divided between good American and bad Mexican may be by default right for the American viewer, but needs more argument in the film for a foreign viewer. The way its done, it makes me suspect some kind of stereotype. The Mexican general is presented too stupid to be credible, and showing him merciless to the defeated and corrupt morally does not help. Neither are we explained well why the soldiers and volunteers in Alamo fought with such fanaticism, nor why do they not send their families to safety.
There also is a missed opportunity for a great theme, with Sam Houston, having sacrificed his friends and fellow citizens for a bigger goal. However, if there was a moral dilemma for Houston in his acts, we are not shown it, instead we are instructed in his military tactics.
Moreover, the film seems too long, not much develops in characters, and if you are not really in the military history not much happens here. I liked more the drama in 'Cold Mountain', to take another American history epic, it had more interesting and powerful characters. The best act in Alamo was by far the one of Billy Bob Thornton, he is really fun to watch, but not enough to sustain a really good film.
'The Alamo' is a film to watch, but it does not exceed the level of mediocrity. 6 out of 10 on my personal scale.