Memorial Day Military Movie Time!! THE ALAMO (2004)

[indianasmith]

Every year at Memorial Day, I try to make a point of watching one of the better modern war movies, so that I can appreciate the sacrifice of those generations who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today.

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN was a little heavy for my 14 year old daughters, so instead we watched the 2004 epic, THE ALAMO.

I absolutely love this film, and I cannot understand the hate it got from so many critics.  It is very well done, with beautiful cinematography, a top-notch cast, and some genuinely fine acting.  And, I have to add, as a Texas historian, it is far and away the most historically accurate Alamo film ever made.  It definitely shows all sides in the conflict, including the almost-forgotten Tejanos, ethnic Mexicans who fought alongside the Anglos to win independence for Texas.  And while Santa Anna is portrayed as a shallow, self-centered villain, it's hard to avoid the conclusion that that is the best overall assessment of the man's character, if you read up on him. 

The chemistry between Jim Bowie and William Travis is incredible - they go from mutual hostility to mutual respect very slowly, not coming to a full understanding until the final days of the siege.  Billy Bob Thornton is BRILLIANT as David Crockett, a man caught in the larger than life mythology he created for himself.

One of my good friends, Bill Davis of Austin, TX, is a Texan Revolution re-enactor, and is in several shots in this film as an extra.

I simply cannot say enough good things about this movie.  If you have never watched it, it is a real treat, and a nice choice for this holiday weekend.

[Dennis]

This is a very good movie, historically as accurate as possible, and it humanizes the almost mythical heroes of the battle. You can see these men were, for the most part, ordinary people standing up for what they believed were their rights in extraordinary circumstances.
The scene between Billy Bob Thornton (David Crockett) and Emilio Echevarria (Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana) makes this movie worth watching, while the conversation may be contrived, it is known that some of the defenders were captured by the Mexican army, among them was a man identified as Crockett by various eyewitnesses, these men were executed or tortured to death by Santa Ana, who had previously had the Goliad garrison killed. The Texas men were understandably aroused by these atrocities and this explains the merciless slaughter of Santa Ana's army at the Battle of San Jacinto.
I've also heard or read somewhere that a remake of "The Alamo" is planned for 2010, this doesn't surprise me, if it's good the geniuses of Hollywood will do remake after remake till it's not.

[indianasmith]

Very small correction . . . . the men at Goliad were not massacred till March 27, several weeks after the slaughter of the Alamo garrison on March 6, 1836.

Santa Anna was a real turd.

[Dennis]

Thanks for the correction, I was never good with dates, except for the year something happened. This brought to mind a discussion we had in my high school American history class. Coach Holligan stated that most historical accounts are written by and for the people in charge or those who have won the war. He went on to say that these events in Texas can be seen differently if looked at from Santa Ana's viewpoint, he felt that these men were not prisoners of war but rather men who had committed treason and that as such they deserved to die. He said he wasn't condoning the executions just pointing out that there's more than one side to every historical event and looking at history from all sides is what makes it interesting.

[indianasmith]

Within the admittedly rough limits of military law at the time, Santa Anna was probably within his rights to order the execution of Fannin's men . . .  but it was STUPID.  Criminally so.

They had surrendered and thrown themselves on the mercy of the Mexican government after acquitting themselves nobly in battle.  Had Santa Anna had them released, and  escorted  to the border and  into Louisiana, they would have fanned throughout the Southeast telling stories of Texian incompetence and stupidity, and the mercy and good grace of Santa Anna's Mexican government.  It would have stopped the flow of volunteers and monetary support for the Texas cause cold.  It would have increased the number of desertions from Sam Houston's pitiful little army, and done much to eliminate Santa Anna's brutal reputation.  Instead, he ordered them gunned down in cold blood a week after their surrender, despite pleas from the Mexican general, Jose Urrea, who captured Fannin, to spare them.

Instead of inspiring fear in Texians, the massacre at Goliad inspired cold fury.  Instead of indifference in the U.S., it inspired sympathy and support.  Santa Anna sowed the seeds of his own defeat when he ordered the butchery of those men at Goliad.  And his subordinate generals knew it, which is why they all recommended clemency.

Interesting discussion, Dennis.  Thanks.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Well, I agree with everyone so far. I can't say it is my favorite version, as I've always been quite fond of the John Wayne version, but I do think it should have done better at the box office than it did, but then, historical films have never done that well for the most part, which I regret.

And while I'm not usually in favor of a director's cut on dvd,  I wish the people who had put out the dvd had done a director's cut this time. Because, as I understand, alot more was filmed then what we saw in the theaters, including the time that Sam Houston spent with the Cherokee Indians.

[BeyondTheGrave]

I watched this a long time ago at my friends house and wasn't too impressed. I remember feeling it was a bit too long and kept dragging along in some places. Than again it was awhile ago.

I think this flopped at the box office due to a overflood of "Epic Movies" that came out during the time like "Troy".  People get tired of seeing all the same type and thinking their all going to be the same and suck. So they avoid. Like after the "Matrix", "Equilibrium" came out people thought it was going to be a knock-off and avoided it while it was in theaters. Meanwhile it was a good flick.