Making a film about the Alamo in 2004 was a risky business. On the one hand, you have the traditional story which doesn't always stand up to close historical scrutiny. One the other, you have revisionist history which often tosses out the inconvenient, replacing it with material which is just as suspect, but politically correct.

This film takes the middle road which, like all compromises, is guaranteed to leave both sides unsatisfied. I believe this simple fact underlies many of the poor reviews this film received.

It is to the film's credit that it presents the most historically credible version of the events leading up to the birth of the Republic of Texas. To be sure, there are still points which may be quibbled over. But without the benefit of a time machine, it's difficult to come up with a more reliable exposition of the known facts.

And that is, to many critics, another of the film's weaknesses. The average movie goer wants to be entertained and reacts negatively to any obvious attempt to educate him/her in the process. That's a sad commentary on our society, but that's the way it is. This movie could have been more entertaining, but then it wouldn't have been as educational. I appreciate accuracy and educational value in historical films, so I really liked it.

The bottom line is this... If you're looking for a familiar retelling of the Alamo story which sticks to the established mythology, this isn't for you. If you're looking for a complete retelling which turns the entire story on its ear, this isn't for you. If you're looking for mindless entertainment, this isn't for you. If you're looking for a real story of real people who changed the face of America, this is a really good film.

Another version of the Alamo battle has been released and this is it. The Alamo recreations of the past in such films as The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory and John Wayne's version have both been very popular but just touch base on the facts.

The story is the one we learned in grade school. Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton has come to the Alamo so he can earn a piece of land once the war for Texas independence is won. He is now under the command of Jim Bowie (Jason Patric) and William Travis (Patrick Wilson) and is defending a small, unfinished mission near San Antonio.

Slowly Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid) makes his away across Texas but is not permitted by the government to make an attack on Santa Anna's forces. Slowly the Alamo is surrounded and violent skirmishes occur around it. Eventually an all out night-charge is called on and the Alamo is overrun.

The same story but it is done a little more interesting this time with better acting. Instead of young Alec Baldwin as Travis we get small time actor Patrick Wilson and does a fine job. Billy Bob Thornton does a fine job after his disastrous Bad Santa (2003) and really brings out the character of Davy Crockett never really done before.

The battles are nicely done: not to much gore, believable deaths, and good visuals. Filmmaker John Lee Hancock brings out a fine Alamo film which is just short of being a great film. Now some accuracies brought out. Unlike most films showing the bed stricken Bowie standing up and firing off shots then swinging his knife, Bowie is finally made out to what actually happened, not being able to stand up and barely able to move. It is quite sad actually. No 1459 Mexicans are killed in this which makes it much better than the 1987 version where a bullet is fired and it kills ten guys. In actuality, historians believe that around two hundred Mexicans were killed, double that wounded.

The movie is very good. It has some good action and some fine acting. The plot is thin at a couple of points and Santa Anna is made out to be a Bond villain but it's fine. It is well worth a trip to the video store.

The Alamo. Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Dennis Quaid, Jason Patric, Patrick Wilson, and Emilio Echevarria.

3 out of 5 Stars