| Overall Grade: |
B |
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| Story: |
C |
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| Acting: |
B+ |
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| Direction: |
B |
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| Visuals: |
A- |
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An Ending To Remember
by Yahoo! Movies User (movies profile)
Feb 19, 2008
88
of
101 people found this review helpful
"The Alamo" is, admittedly, a little slow at getting its feet. But at about halfway through its 2 hour and 17 minute running length, it really finds its bearings and delivers. It's a sometimes boring, but often rousing historical epic that may not be a classic, but it should not be forgotten.
You all know the story (I'd think and hope) so I'll just get straight to the criticism. Character building is very important, especially when depicting real-life events. But you cannot sacrifice the audience's interest and risk their boredom to achieve it. In the first hour or so of this movie, not much happens. Luckily, the second hour-plus is so good that it makes the first forgivable. However, if the first hour had been like the second, we might of had a classic on our hands. One thing I did like about the story was its depiction of Davy Crockett as a man who just wants to be ordinary, not larger-than-life.
Speaking of Crockett, Billy Bob Thornton delivers a great performance of him. He brings a ferocity, but also a tenderness, and just a sense of humanity to a man who is considered a legend. Thornton really leaves a mark, and I believe if the movie had been released at its originally planned date in December, he could of got an Oscar nomination. Dennis Quaid is the only other actor who leaves much of an impression. His fierce speech at the climax of the movie is a wonderful symbol of patriotism. Everyone else is serviceable and manages not to turn the movie into a cheesefest.
John Lee Hancock does an admirable job, considering the scale of this project and it being his second time behind the camera. As I said before, he's a little slow at first, but once you get him into the battle, it's anything but boring. The final battle for the Alamo is one of the most tragic, yet rousing, scenes I've seen in awhile. It blends heroism with sadness, and the final scene with Crockett's execution is one of the history books. The battle between Santa Anna and Sam Houston is more by-the-books, but it's still very well-done and very satisfying. I just wish Hancock had made the whole movie the way he made those two set pieces.
"The Alamo" has received a pretty bad rap, considering its release delays and the initial disagreement between the production company and the original director, Ron Howard. All that considered, I think we've got a pretty good film. If you aren't sure at first, give the movie some time. If you stay through it all, I'm sure you'll remember "The Alamo". |
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