The Alamo (Widescreen Edition)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Billy Bob Thornton, Dennis Quaid, Emilio Echevarrķa, Jason Patric, Patrick WilsonBrand: Buena Vista Home Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 137 minutes
Published: 2004-09-01
DVD Release Date: 2004-09-28
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Product features:
- From the studio that brought you PEARL HARBOR . Academy Award(R) winner Billy Bob Thornton (SLING BLADE, Best Adapted Screenplay, 1996; BAD SANTA), Dennis Quaid (THE ROOKIE), and Jason Patric (RUSH) team up for the acclaimed action epic about one of the most important events in American history! It's the heroic tale of the 200 brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom d
Movie Reviews of The Alamo (Widescreen Edition)
Movie Review: Epic Entertainment. Fine Character Studies. Rigorous Detail.
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Alamo" is an excellent example of what Hollywood does best. It tells personal stories against a sweeping historical background. The film recreates the legendary 13-day siege of the Alamo, when, in the winter of 1836, a group of about 180 federalist army and militiamen tried to defend the fort at San Antonio, Texas against the advancing Mexican Army under the command of General Santa Anna. They were impossibly outnumbered, as they waited for reinforcements that never came. But the volatile mix of Army, Texas militia, and Tejano militia fighters were all committed, for various reasons of their own, to securing independence for Texas, which was then part of Mexico. "As the Alamo goes, so goes Texas," they believed. Ironically, their defeat facilitated Texan independence.
The story of "The Alamo" lends itself perfectly to epic filmmaking. A more interesting and notable collection of characters could not be imagined. Nor could a more complex, pivotal, and stressful scenario. The film integrates character studies of the three most talked about and influential men at The Alamo into the story of Texas' most infamous battle. Commanding the regular army at the fort was Lt. Colonel William Travis (Patrick Wilson), a very image-conscious man in his twenties. Having already been a newspaperman, a lawyer, abandoned one family, and gambled his way into debt, he now sought greatness in a military career. He thought he'd never see action at The Alamo. Commanding the militiamen was the legendary Col. James Bowie (Jason Patric), consumptive land-swindler, slave-trader, knife-fighter extraordinaire -hence the "bowie knife". He was a living epitome of frontier legend. Ambition brought another legend, David Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton), to the Alamo. Known far and wide for his great feats of outdoormanship and fresh from two terms representing Tennessee in Congress, he joined the Texan militia for land and political opportunity. Most of the film is spent on the 13-day siege, but unlike most Alamo films, this one doesn't end there. We follow the movements of another military legend, General Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid), whose strategy eventually defeated General Santa Anna. Alcoholic and a touch imbalanced, Houston adds to the cast of fascinating, colorful characters that populated the Texas frontier. These 4 men have very little in common on the face of it. But they were all very ambitious and extremely mindful of self-promotion. It's no wonder their personalities are larger than life, as their legends were even in their own time.
Director John Lee Hancock has gone to extraordinary lengths to make this film historically accurate. There are inevitable changes in chronology and extra scenes necessary to demonstrate some point. But apart from some details that were consciously changed, "The Alamo" is remarkably and admirably accurate. Both American and Mexican records were relied upon to get things right, and historians of every ilk were consulted. Since there are records of who was present at the siege of the Alamo, each extra took on a specific identity. The most memorable performance of the film is Billy Bob Thornton's, but that is probably because he plays the most interesting character. The cast is universally superb. Of course, the siege of the Alamo has always been a hotly debated topic. I've never understood what there is to debate. Like the United States' founders a generation before them, the men who fought for Texan independence did so for both personal gain and ideological advancement. Mexico had every right to defend its territory, although not to abolish Texas' constitution. Mexico lost. But the conflict's final battles are a fascinating part of US history. "The Alamo" is epic filmmaking at its finest: Well-written, brilliantly portrayed characters against a backdrop of historically important, meticulously recreated events. It's great entertainment, and it's informative.
The DVD: I have to mention the audio commentary first, because it's superb. Military historian Alan Hughes and Texas historian Stephen Hardin, both of whom advised on the film, do the commentary. They discuss historical accuracy, including the occasions on which the film departs from reality and why. And they provide a great deal of context and detail in addition to what we saw in the movie. It's worth sitting through the film twice to hear it. Other bonus features include 3 featurettes and 5 deleted scenes with commentary by director John Lee Hancock. "Return of the Legend: The Making of the Alamo" (18 minutes) provides a nice overview of how and why "The Alamo" was made the way it was, including interviews with John Lee Hancock, principle actors, various historical consultants, costume designer Daniel Orlandi, and the SpyderCam operators, among others. It includes an interesting look at "The Alamo"s 51-acre set, the largest ever constructed in North America. "Deep in the Heart of Texas" interviews the considerable number of cast and principle crew who are from Texas, including the film's director and its many extras/re-enactors. "Walking in the Footsteps of Heroes" profiles the 4 legendary men depicted in the film: William Travis, James Bowie, David Crockett, and General Sam Houston. Subtitles for the film are available in French and Spanish, captions in English. Dubbing is available in French.
Summary of The Alamo (Widescreen Edition)
A dramatic true story of one of the most momentous battles in american history. The alamo is a tale of a handful of men who stood up for what they believed in & made the ultimate sacrifice - fighting for their country. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 01/12/2007 Starring: Billy Bob Thornton Jason Patric Run time: 137 minutes Rating: Pg13Similar DVD Movies
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