Davy Crockett and co return to the big screen in another film version of their famous stand against the Mexican army at a fort in San Antonio, Texas in 1836.
After some of the press criticism and the fact that The Alamo did not do too well at the box office, I was pleasantly surprised that it was such a good film. The story is carefully crafted, with events slowly leading up to the climactic battle in which William Travis and Jim Bowie perish, while Davy Crockett is captured alive. I was prepared for his death scene to annoy me as I had read about hime "begging for his life". Instead, I found a feisty Billy Bob Thornton challenging Santa Anna and his huge army to lay down their guns and surrender!
This version of The Alamo builds its narrative up well and the main characters are carefully developed. The arrival of Santa Anna's army and the subsequent wait for the attack provides some intense tension, interrupted briefly by minor skirmishes. The disappointment of the defenders when only 30 men arrive as relief is palpable, but they stoically remain at their posts. The climactic battle is excitingly filmed, but as it is at night some of the scenes are difficult to comprehend fully, which is a shame. This film also depicts the aftermath where Sam Houston, creditably played by Dennis Quaid, defeats Santa Anna. The aerial crane shots of this battle are breathtaking.
Another plus is the strong acting by the minor characters, while Santa Anna himself is played with great relish as a grandiose "Napoleon" pretender.
We will publish your review of The Alamo [2004] on DVD within a few days as long as it meets our guidelines.
None of your personal details will be passed on to any other third party.
Lavish remake of the 1960 John Wayne epic. The film retells the remarkable events of the 1835-36 Texan War of Independence, in particular the historic siege of the Alamo - a crumbling abandoned Franciscan mission near San Antonio where a rag-tag band of some 200 soldiers and volunteers, led by Colonel William Travis (Patrick Wilson) and including Davey Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jim Bowie (Jason Patric), joined together in a courageous pact: they would stand firm against the Mexican army of more than 2,000, under the personal command of dictator General Santa Anna (Emilio Echevarria), and willingly give their lives for freedom. The film also chronicles the Battle of San Jacinto in which the Texan army, led by General Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid), took on and defeated Santa Anna's army, finally winning freedom and independence for Texas.
The events which took place before, during and after the siege of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836 - events which led to the independence of Texas.
This site uses cookies.
More details in our privacy policy
