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The Alamo

Play trailer Poster for The Alamo PG-13 2004 2h 17m War History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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29% Tomatometer 157 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In 1836 Gen. Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid) organizes a rebel army to liberate Texas from the brutal rule of Mexican dictator General Santa Anna (Emilio Echevarría). Though vastly outnumbered, Gen. Houston's volunteer army includes such folkloric figures as Jim Bowie (Jason Patric) and Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton). As Santa Anna's forces advance on San Antonio, the legendary general and his men prepare for a final heroic standoff at a battle-worn mission called the Alamo.
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The Alamo

The Alamo

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Critics Consensus

Too conventional and uninvolving to be memorable.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 09/09/2010
2/5
Doesn't work despite Thornton's top performance. Go to Full Review
Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness 05/03/2005
Laborious mush. Go to Full Review
Will Lawrence Empire Magazine 09/04/2004
2/5
In spite of two great performances, this is a muddled affair. Go to Full Review
Mattie Lucas The Dispatch (Lexington, NC) 06/05/2019
1.5/4
A big, lumbering, unwieldy epic that creaks and groans from speech to battle. Go to Full Review
Kevin Carr Fat Guys at the Movies 02/04/2015
2.5/5
Something was missing from the film. It lacked punch. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 10/03/2012
C
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Audience Reviews

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Anonymous P. @Prussian_film_critic Nov 27 Don’t listen to the other people this movie is a masterpiece with great characters and just extremely entertaining. ( Davy Crockett is the best character) See more Cylus S Oct 9 It's a must watch to the people who like history. I'm not a person who cares every little and big thing it is a masterpiece. First Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett, best thing ever and the movie is just good the way they made it was good I watched this in school and I was just admiring the way they did it how Davy Crockett with him using a violin at the middle and the end. And I know I was just talking about Billy Bob but really watch this and don't underestimate or overestimate the movie just go in like its a normal movie and take detail in how they copied how it did in real life. See more Hughe J @Hughe Oct 5 The Alamo was released in theatres in 2004 and stars Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, Jason Patric, Patrick Wilson and others in a historic epic about the famous battle of the Alamo. It's set in 1835 after Texas declared it's independence from Mexico and captured the Alamo and San Antonio. In response Mexico's leader Santa Anna leads the army to retake the fort and crush the rebellion. The movie features legendary real life people like Davy Crockett, James Bowie, and General Sam Houston and some of the battle scenes were quite good. I liked how the film tried to depict the people involved, good and bad, with all of the fears, motivations, and desires being present. The fight for the Alamo itself was really well done, as was the subsequent defeat of Santa Anna near the San Jacinto River days later. Overall I enjoyed the movie and the acting especially Thornton's portrayal of Davy Crockett. See more Mark F Aug 8 I liked it thought it was the most accurate to date See more Imaginarily B Jun 21 The only thing that could make yet another jingoist Alamo movie worse is Billy Bob Thorton. And someone just had to do it. See more Luke S Jun 17 This is film is supremely unfairly judged by critics. The historical significance of the event is expertly portrayed with a large amount of care put into the attention to detail in the context of time and the actual battle itself. The characters are flawed and leave you confused on whether or not you should be rooting for them. These are slave owners. Liars and drunks. Davy (David) Crockett; a product of his own legend coming to terms that he is, in all reality, just a man. Jim Bowie; another living legend that is flawed, complicated, and haunted by his personal demons. And LtCol Travis; the man who is just trying to hold it all together because it's what he believes he was put there to do. They are generally products of their time and were in actuality people just like you and I. Every actor chosen conveys their role well. This film is a guilty pleasure of mine and still pulls emotion from me every single time I watch it. If you're looking for a "hollywoodesque" portrayal of one of the most famous last stands of all time; this isn't it. If you're looking for a deep dive into the history of the Battle of the Alamo, the complex men involved, the raw unfiltered sacrifice they made and a well researched play by play of the actual battle (they legitamately built a 1:1 scale replica of the Alamo as it was and the surrounding area for the film); this is your cup of tea. See more Read all reviews
The Alamo

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1836 Gen. Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid) organizes a rebel army to liberate Texas from the brutal rule of Mexican dictator General Santa Anna (Emilio Echevarría). Though vastly outnumbered, Gen. Houston's volunteer army includes such folkloric figures as Jim Bowie (Jason Patric) and Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton). As Santa Anna's forces advance on San Antonio, the legendary general and his men prepare for a final heroic standoff at a battle-worn mission called the Alamo.
Director
John Lee Hancock
Producer
Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Mark Johnson
Screenwriter
Leslie Bohem, Stephen Gaghan, John Lee Hancock
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures, Imagine Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Sustained Battle Sequences)
Genre
War, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 27, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$22.4M
Runtime
2h 17m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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