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The Alamo [DVD] [2004]

DVD ~ Dennis Quaid

4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

RRP:	�14.99
Price:	�3.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	88% buy the item featured on this page: The Alamo [DVD] [2004] 4.3 out of 5 stars (13) �3.98
	6% buy The Alamo [DVD] [1960] 3.6 out of 5 stars (14) �6.48
	2% buy Open Range [DVD] [2004] 4.2 out of 5 stars (42) �7.78
	2% buy The Magnificent Seven (Special Edition) [DVD] [1960] 4.2 out of 5 stars (20) �4.98

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Product details

Actors: Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, Jason Patric, Patrick Wilson, Emilio Echeverria
Directors: John Lee Hancock
Format: PAL
Language English
Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
Number of discs: 1
Classification: 12
Studio: Touchstone Home Video
DVD Release Date: 27 Dec 2004
Run Time: 131 minutes

Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

ASIN: B0006989SU
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 21,235 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Synopsis

An epic that evokes films such as HOW THE WEST WAS WON and DANCES WITH WOLVES, THE ALAMO details the key 1863 battle fought to win Texas from the Mexican government. Originally constructed as a Spanish mission, the Alamo provided a secure post between Texas settlements and the troops of General Santa Anna (Emilio Echevarria), protecting the scores of people working to develop the budding territory, including Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton), James Bowie (Jason Patric), and Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid). But when it was left in the care of an inexperienced leader, the men stationed at the Alamo found themselves in a deadly ambush by Santa Anna. With an insurmountable advantage in strategy and sheer numbers, Santa Anna led the complete slaughter of Alamo forces, an act that incited the ire of Houston who initiated the turnaround that brought Santa Anna's quick defeat. Thornton provides a standout performance as Davy Crockett, who had gained notoriety as an adventurer, rumored to have jumped the Mississippi River. As the Alamo troops prepare to fight, Thornton's nuanced Crockett tempers their adrenalin with horrific battle tales and helps them come to terms with their impending mortality. While graphically reminding viewers of the horrors of war, the film also pays homage to the bravery and patriotism of the men who fought to liberate Texas, live in a free democratic society, and build better lives.

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An elegant and elegiac epic, 15 Nov 2005

By	Trevor Willsmer (London, England) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

2004's The Alamo is one of the most undeserved flops of recent years (and possibly inflation-adjusted as big a disaster as Heaven's Gate). Bad timing may account or some of it, as America's image went from besieged victims to bloody aggressors (certainly it was barely even released outside the US), but the film's sombre, mournful tone is probably more to blame - beginning with the dead bodies of the defeated defenders, there's a sadness and inevitability to the film that's the complete antithesis of the feelgood destruction-and-revenge of Pearl Harbor. Even Carter Burwell's haunting low-key score is more a lament than the broad action scoring you might expect. The script is well crafted, the characterisation surprisingly strong and the comparative absence of cgi pays dividends with a level of verisimilitude that's been lacking from most recent epics.

It also benefits from an extraordinary performance from Billy Bob Thornton as Davey ("He prefers David") Crockett, a crowd-pleaser faced with having to live up to his own legend, and blessed with the film's best dialogue and it's best scene as he silences the Mexican guns with his fiddle. Thornton owns the film in a way I haven't seen from any actor for a long, long time. He's definitely the heart and soul of the movie.

Thankfully, it's not quite a one-man show. Patrick Wilson does surprisingly well as Travis, Jason Patric's tediously one-note surliness is for once put to effective use as Bowie and the supporting cast is filled with great faces, all caught wonderfully by Dean Semler's superb cinematography. Only Dennis Quaid fares less well as Houston, failing to make much of his admittedly limited opportunities.

True it falters somewhat after the fall of the Alamo, but it's still an impressive, intelligent and sometimes quietly moving epic that didn't deserve its fate at the box-office.

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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, if slightly inaccurate, 1 Mar 2006

By	Teemacs (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is the only Alamo film of which I'm aware that actually gets the battle right (the attack took place without fanfare in the pre-dawn darkness and it was all over when the sun was hardly above the horizon). Why then did they get San Jacinto so wrong? (It was not a pitched battle but a bloody massacre that lasted about 20 minutes - the Texians attacked at siesta time and lost less than 10 men, the Mexicans hundreds). I guess they needed a bit of glory and heroism for the US audiences.

Having said that, this is far, far better than the ridiculous, overblown, cliché-ridden John Wayne epic of the same name. Billy Bob Thornton in particular infuses the character of Davy Crocket with new and interesting life, and the supporting cast is also excellent, with only Dennis Quaid a bit of a let-down as Sam Houston.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Different twist on a old tale, 2 Feb 2005

By	Crafty Sue (Dagenham, Essex) - See all my reviews

Once you stop looking for John Wayne, and the other old stars from the film we all remember from the 60s, to come riding in it is a good film. Slow to start but keep at it and I think you will enjoy it.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth watching
This DVD was bought as a gift. The recipient said it was an excellent and more accurate portrayal of the actual events than the original Alamo film. Well worth the money.

Published 3 months ago by C. Cooper

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Solid Movie
I really enjoyed this new version of the Alamo and it is somewhat more accurate than the original John Wayne version. Read more

Published 15 months ago by AJ

5.0 out of 5 stars AN EXPLOSIVE TEXAN EPIC !!!
Everybody has seen the John Wayne version, so this takes a little getting used to, but it's worth it. Most of this film is chillingly realistic and historically spot on. Read more

Published 23 months ago by Red Rose

4.0 out of 5 stars on a par with the original
on a par with the original but without the stirring song (and the men came from texas )but it is far more accurate, and far more embracing in its scale , a very good male... Read more

Published on 1 Oct 2007 by Ann Willan

4.0 out of 5 stars Texan Braveheart
Texas good, Mexico bad. Slow start, but builds up very well. Fantastic character acting and epic battle scenes. Only works if you can stomach American patriotism. Read more

Published on 31 Jul 2005 by Emily L. Macdonald

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Epic Film
John Lee Hancock's 2004 Alamo is the best full length Alamo motion picture on the market today. (San Antones swear by the 37 minute IMAX "Alamo:Price of Freedom", 1988, which is a... Read more

Published on 14 Jun 2005 by Julius Victor

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting music
This version of the 13 day siege of the Alamo in 1836 is more believable with still bigger than life characters. Read more

Published on 13 Mar 2005 by bernie

3.0 out of 5 stars FORGETTING THE "ALAMO"
Although the ALAMO may be good as a historical tool, as entertainment it is only average. American audiences who remember "The Alamo," most likely are thinking of the John Wayne... Read more

Published on 13 Jan 2005 by F. Sweet

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than John Wayne
I'd seen the 1960 John Wayne version of this classic battle many a time and always loved the story of Davy Crockett so i was real intrigued to see this film and also to see why it... Read more

Published on 8 Jan 2005 by Mr. Matthew C. Wolski

5.0 out of 5 stars Remember the Alamo!!!
In the short week it was shown in cinemas on 3rd September, my Dad and myself managed to see twice, and we both found it amazing!! Read more

Published on 30 Nov 2004 by Wayne Travis

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