Good Alamo Movie

Rating: 10/10 (12 April 2004)

I've read all the criticism associated with this film and I think some of it is a little unwarranted. As an Alamo buff my judgement of this film is definitely biased, but I will offer my opinion anyway. I think "The Alamo" is a very good Alamo film, definitely the best interpertation ever made about the epic battle. I loved John Wayne's film, but this movie has a more realistic approach. Some people criticize the film about certain scenes such as the Crockett's death, his fiddler on the roof scene and other tidbits that took place inside the Alamo compound. Some people try to use those scenes as proof that the movie contains historical inaccuracies. The truth is there will never be a complete historically accurate Alamo film because we really don't know, nor ever will know what really took place. Any director is going to create his view of th battle. I also think is the best movie ever made about Crockett. Billy Bob Thornton captured the personality of the real Crockett. It doesen't matter if the fiddler on the roof scene never took place. That scene by itself captures the true spirit of David Crockett. A man that is more of an entertainer than wild frontiersman, an entertainer so talented that he can entertain the Mexican Army and temporarliy keep them from firing their cannons. We can see his charisma shine and we understand why he was probably elected to Congress. People make a big deal about how Crockett, Bowie and Travis died at the Alamo. Does it really matter? They were there until the end. Thats what counts. I do believe the movie could have been better. It definitely suffered from editing and even a little star power to carry certain scenes. I think the director's cut will serve the movie justice and I believe over time people will have more respect for this movie. I don't beleive it is a perfect movie by any means at all. I do believe that it has much more to offer than what people are giving it credit. Again I'm huge fan of the duke, but I view his film as more of a John Wayne movie than an Alamo movie and there is nothing wrong with that. I just beleieve this Alamo is closer to the true story.