The Alamo (DVD)

For those who already know the history of Texas, this film will be satisfying and memorable. They will sit back and say - "Well, Thank God Davy Crockett didn't wear a stupid fur hat all through the movie!"
The trouble is - That is the way those of us who do not have a degree in American Continental History perceive The Alamo. A battle between American 'good guys' and Spanish 'baddies' who slaughtered them.
My son watched this ...
...Texas in the USA? George Bush comes from Texas! - So did Buddy Holly!".
And THIS is the problem. The legend has become so entrenched in our minds that we are shocked to find that Texas was actually a part of Mexico. The Texians (people from many countries who had settled in 'the new paradise because you were given six hundred acres of free land if you joined the Militia') stole the place, declared a republic, and attacked the small Mexican ... more

For those who already know the history of Texas, this film will be satisfying and memorable. They will sit back and say - "Well, Thank God Davy Crockett didn't wear a stupid fur hat all through the movie!"
The trouble is - That is the way those of us who do not have a degree in American Continental History perceive The Alamo. A battle between American 'good guys' and Spanish 'baddies' who slaughtered them.
My son watched this film and said - "That was great! - But isn't Texas in the USA? George Bush comes from Texas! - So did Buddy Holly!".
And THIS is the problem. The legend has become so entrenched in our minds that we are shocked to find that Texas was actually a part of Mexico. The Texians (people from many countries who had settled in 'the new paradise because you were given six hundred acres of free land if you joined the Militia') stole the place, declared a republic, and attacked the small Mexican force that had been stationed at San Antonio in a fort called The Alamo. Davy preferred being called David and only put on a coon skin cap after seeing a melodramatic play about himself. Jim Bowie didn't invent the Bowie Knife - they were mostly made in Sheffield, England - and was riddled with diseases. And The Alamo itself was never a Church.
This is rather like making a film about Robin Hood set in Yorkshire with Kevin Costner firing a crossbow.

I admire what the makers set out to achieve. The old town of San Antonio was reconstructed in great detail and makes you realise how 'false' the modern digital effects can look in battle scenes. The action will satisfy the war film buff and the players appear as real people rather than superheroes.
The casting is adequate. Billy Bob Thorton having the plumb role of the sharp-witted, bumpkin senator, Colonel Crockett. Randy Quaid plays a gruff General Sam Houston (perhaps his brother Randy might have been a better choice). Patric Jason is his usual dour self as Colonel James Bowie. Emilio Echeverria plays The Mexican dictator Santa Anna and goes for the 'evil grin' effect. Unfortunately, he appears to have a set of badly fitting dentures and looks more simple than wicked. Colonel Travis, the man in charge of The Texian force, was played by somebody but it seems to have washed over me. The character parts often outshine the major players.
The script is amusing, satisfying but doesn't sparkle. It's gets a bit 'wordy' as it tries to explain the confusing situation. It was filmed in Texas so you can't complain about the accuracy of the lovely scenery. The gore is not too gory but there is very little romantic relief ... And you do get to fly like a cannon ball.

Forget what you think you know, sit back and enjoy the action packed 'truth'. You may find that you thoroughly enjoy it? I did! ... It's a darn sight better than John Wayne's fantasy and continues the story into the events that followed the battle.

The extras are the usual 'making of film' type - and I'm delighted that the deleted scenes were deleted as they were mostly ones that featured those dentures. There is a featurette which dips a toe into the history of the times in slightly greater depth but a proper documentary would have been a handsome bonus. The other details are pretty much as in the maker's hype.

I didn't even know that they had made a new version of The Alamo. It was a bargain price and a pleasant surprise. I've watched it twice and will watch it again. Give it a go... As DAVID Crockett says - "We need more men!" - "And we need more people to watch our film.
 

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