Topic: NFB - Movie Review - Well, I saw "The Alamo" Tonite. Unbelievable....
FireChicken
11 Secret Herbs & Spices
Member # 2067
posted
And, like most people in the audience, it was hard to not walk out of the theater with tears in my eyes. Being born and raised a texan, and knowing the history associated with the Alamo and the Texas Revolution, made the movie that much better for me. Billy Bob Thornton did an excellent job as Davy Crockett, and Dennis Quaid played an excellent Sam Houston.
The film did an excellent job; it showed the faults and frailties of the men, it showed how mexican soldiers fought on both sides of the war, it also showed the bloodthirsty viciousness of Santa Anna in contrast to the honor of his mexican generals and soldiers.
It also showed a very accurate depiction of the execution of Crockett after the fall of the alamo (a recently verified revelation that comes from the journals of the mexican soldiers who were there). The resulting attack and revenge enacted by Sam Houston at the battle of San Jacinto was also played out very well.
My only beef with the film was that a very important part was left out; Goliad. For those of you who are non-texans, the massacre of Goliad was as bad as the fall of the Alamo. General Fannin and approximately 400 texan soldiers were surrounded by Santa Anna's army before the siege of the Alamo. Fannin surrendered his troops, because the rules of engagement at the time dictated that prisoners of war were to be given "quarter" that is, kept as prisoners, and not tortured or executed. Santa Anna murdered Fannin and his men before firing squads, before marching on to the Alamo.
Sam Houston's battlecry at San Jacinto was "Remember the Alamo, remember Goliad". I was very disappointed to see almost no mention of Goliad whatsoever, or other battles in the revolution.
However, all that aside, its an excellent movie. If you are a texan, you will love it (especially Crockett's terms of surrender for Santa Anna), and if you are non-texan, it will give you an appreciation for why we are the way we are. I encourage you all to see it, its a very well done war movie with a great deal of subtle humor and one-liners in it.
Posts: 686 | From: Texas: Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck! | Registered: Aug 2003
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Thought it was David Crockett, not Davy. Also, the execution thing was only a sigle non-verified account according to his family and what I've read elsewhere.
Posts: 1163 | From: Rochester Hills, Mi | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by JeffY: Thought it was David Crockett, not Davy. Also, the execution thing was only a sigle non-verified account according to his family and what I've read elsewhere.
Jeffy his name may have been David but he was always known as Davy. When I was young they had a TV show every week about him and had songs that called him Davy. I remember seeing the first movie about the Alamo many years ago so I guess I will have to see this one. I think Parker played him in the series
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quote:Originally posted by JeffY: Thought it was David Crockett, not Davy. Also, the execution thing was only a sigle non-verified account according to his family and what I've read elsewhere.
Jeffy his name may have been David but he was always known as Davy. When I was young they had a TV show every week about him and had songs that called him Davy. I remember seeing the first movie about the Alamo many years ago so I guess I will have to see this one. I think Parker played him in the series
According to the new movie and all the recent reports, he was never called Davey until Walt Disney called him that. Crockett preferred David.
[ 11. April 2004, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: JeffY ]
Posts: 1163 | From: Rochester Hills, Mi | Registered: Feb 2000
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Thanks for the good review! I really want to see the movie.
quote:Originally posted by cytruffle:
quote:Originally posted by ss_rs_z:
quote: I think Parker played him in the series
That is correct Mike. Wes Parker did play Davy Crocket in the series.
The actor's name is Fess Parker.
....and on this genealogy page , his family refers to him by both names. I don't think it matters that much......
Didn't Fess Parker play Daniel Boone? I can't remember who played Davy Crocket.
-------------------- Jeff 2000 Camaro SS #1315, M6, Factory Hurst, Lou's Short Stick, !CAGS, MTI Clear Lid w/ Holley PowerShot 323 RWHP 333 ft lbs torque Posts: 121 | From: Gresham, Oregon USA | Registered: Oct 2000
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FireChicken
11 Secret Herbs & Spices
Member # 2067
posted
Boy, quite a bit of controversy I inadvertantly stirred up. I belive that Mr. Parker did play Mr Crockett, and while it may be that Mr. Crockett himself preferred to be called David, Davy is a known nickname for people named David, so its mincing words.
As for the execution scene, I recall the controversy over whether crockett survived teh initial fall of the Alamo. Its been a discussion I've heard my entire life.
Several years ago, some paperwork and documents were brought to Texas as a show of good faith from the Mexican government. Included among them were some diaries of mexican soldiers, and the Texas Flag from the alamo, along with some personal effects that had been taken. It was a sort of museum display, and historians who have gone through the documents believe that not only crockett, but also several other men survived the attack, and were executed by Santa Anna as according to his "No Quarter For Prisoners" policy.
Incidently, while the Texas government has repeatedly sought to buy the the original alamo flag from the mexican government, they will only sell it for the price of Santa Anna's personal saddle, which was taken from him at San Jacinto. No surprise, the Texas government has refused to consider releasing the saddle, because its a symbol of victory.
Posts: 686 | From: Texas: Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck! | Registered: Aug 2003
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quote:Originally posted by cytruffle: Texas!! YEEEEEEHAAAAAAWWWWWW!!!
....where the deer and the antelope play...and the weird guy across the street is probably packin' an automatic rifle....
....sunny beaches, rolling hills, armed stand-offs....
....illegally acquired; universally admired....
It really IS a whole 'nother country!
And don't forget the surviver series I sent you
-------------------- Willard (Mike) Scott Worldwide Camaro Club North Carolina state Rep. 2001 SS convertible with all SLP opts. Sunset Orange Neutral top Neutral leather http://community.webshots.com/user/wmss Posts: 737 | From: Siler City N.C. | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Who won?
Posts: 1907 | From: I hope I'm not repeating myself. Again. And Again. Stop picking on me! Waaahhh!! | Registered: Feb 2000
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I saw tonight and thought is was well done, however I think it would have been a Block Buster if it had been left in Ron Howards hands.
I got from the movie that Santa Anna was hanging around the Alamo and leaving ways into it open in the hope that Houston would decide to make a stand there and the Mexican Army could end it once and for all, but Houston had other ideas!!!
The movie is getting panned everywhere. All the more reason to go and see. I find the more CRITICS pan a movie the better it is!!
posted
...and they built a whole new "Alamo" set to film it in, instead of the old original movie set of the John Wayne and other reproductions of the "Alamo"! A Proud, Born, and Raised Texan here!
-------------------- Two 2002 35th Annivesary Camaro SS LE's "Julie" SS #6684 LE #3115 Coupe "Prom Queen with an Attitude" "Rare SS" License Plate "Tattoos" by Ed Hamburger and Scott Settlemire "Jenny" SS #2618 LE #925 Vert "A Dream Come True" "Rare LE" License Plate SLP SFC's SLP STB's SLP Air Lids Torque Thrust II's on Julie Black Earnhardt Intimidators on Jenny Auto Dim/Compass/Temp Mirrors Power Antennas with Switches Granatelli 200 mph White-Face Gauges(Black on Jenny) Red Z06 Fuel Rail Covers Bauer Eradispeeds Red Powder-coated Brake Calipers Chromed Brake Pad Brackets A Few Other Neat Trick Dress-ups Memeber of:SSOA, NSR, TSSRA, LSSRA Posts: 148 | From: Abilene,Texas | Registered: Feb 2003
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FireChicken
11 Secret Herbs & Spices
Member # 2067
posted
quote:Originally posted by Y2KSS1363: Apparently, not everyone liked it:
Im not surprised that it didnt do well. The original movie did well simply because John Wayne was in it, not because of the story. This movie will do well in Texas, but it has no name-brand actors in it other than Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Quaid.
If they had maybe had Mel Gibson, a few others..... who knows?
Posts: 686 | From: Texas: Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck! | Registered: Aug 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Mike2001SS: And don't forget the surviver series I sent you
That was HYSTERICAL!!! You oughta post it!!
quote:Originally posted by FireChicken: Billy Bob Thornton
I think he's an AWESOME actor!! I'll go see "The Alamo" just cuz he's in it! Posts: 3236 | From: Dallas, Texas | Registered: Nov 2002
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FireChicken
11 Secret Herbs & Spices
Member # 2067
posted
Im not reallly a huge fan of billy bob thornton's work, i think he's more famous for marrying angelina jolie than for any of his prior film work, but he did one hell of a job playing crockett.
Posts: 686 | From: Texas: Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck! | Registered: Aug 2003
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Did you see "Slingblade"?? .....and as for Angeline Jolie.....I wanna look like her when I grow up....daaaaaang she's gorgeous! Posts: 3236 | From: Dallas, Texas | Registered: Nov 2002
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According to CNN.com, The Alamo is currently ranked third in earnings, has earned 9.2 million. (1st is The Passion with 17.1 million and 2nd is Hellboy with 11.1 million) So, it cant be doing all that bad.
I remember the first time Bryan and I went to Florida to see his family there...everytime we passed a car with Texas plates we would ever so reverently hold our hands over our hearts and proudly say, "TEXAS!"
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