The Alamo

Another retelling of one of America's most dramatic battles, The Alamo depicts the futile 13-day standoff in 1836 between a brave group of "Texians" and their Mexican adversaries at a small Spanish church in San Antonio.

Despite the odds against them, the Americans are willing to sacrifice their lives for land they have chosen to call home. Patrick Wilson stars as the impetuous Lieutenant-Colonel William Travis, who struggles for the respect of his volunteers. But, like the character he portrays, the unpolished Wilson is overshadowed by Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett and Jason Patric as Jim Bowie. Thornton's performance as the compassionate and multi-talented "King of the Wild Frontier" is expressive, while the infrequently seen Patric is intense as the typhoid-suffering famous knife-fighter -- both are humble, knowing they are not the legends they have been made out to be.

Together, these three men must stand up for their ideals against ruthless General Santa Anna (Emilio Echevarria), who views them as "pirates". Determined to preserve the integrity of the Mexican territory, he is confident in the strength of his massive army -- though seemingly all pomp and circumstance, they are a formidable force.

Yet, director (and co-writer) John Lee Hancock is unable to bring much fervour to the story; perhaps he was preoccupied with his upcoming rehash of King Arthur. The battle scenes, though interesting, do not make up for the bland screenplay, which frequently stalls to explore the life stories of the three principals...the banal dialogue is as dry as the dusty compound where the action takes place.

Like Pearl Harbor, an unnecessary postscript is tacked on to protect American pride, but this merely lessens the impact of the tragedy. Here we see General Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid) leading the retaliatory battle and cry for Texas independence. As usual, the likeable but unaccomplished Quaid acts rather than lives his character -- he is as lifeless as the corpses surrounding the funereal fortress.

This version of The Alamo is not the epic it pretends to be. While the images of slaughter may unite some Americans against the terrorism that has affected their country, this film is only mildly inspiring. Unlike the actual event, it will not go down in history. Rating: 5 out of 10.