Far better than I expected

Rating: Null/10 (13 April 2004)

All of the pre-release buzz led me to believe that the movie would present the revisitonist version of the story. I was extremely pleased that it didn't. Since I grew up in north-central Texas in the 1950's and '60's, the John Wayne version is what I held as truth for a long time. Since then, having done quite a bit of reading on the battle, and on the War for Texas Independance, it became clear that, while Wayne's movie really got my blood going, it was not very accurate. Hancock's movie tells the story, not only more accurately, but is just as rousing. I came away with a new appreciation of sacrifice and true courage, and just how much we owe the past. Contrary to what many have said, this wasn't a fight for white supremancy or the US trying to take more land. It was a fight between free-thinking people (from many different lands, including Mexico) and a centralist dictator with delusions of grandure who turned on many of the people who originally supported him (including Stephen F. Austin). The Alamo gave the fledgling government of Texas TIME to declare independance and begin to organize an army. The defenders knew toward the end that they were going to die...but they also had to know it was for a cause. The one problem I saw with the movie was that it could be difficult to understand why some of the things happened the way they did without prior knowledge. Overall, it was an excellent movie and should not be devisive if people are willing to look beyond their own prejudices. Remember the Alamo!