Rating: 
Summary: OK entertainment...but patriotism....? I don't think so.
Review: Frankie Avalon at the Alamo? Or for that matter Marion Morrison? Don't get me wrong. I love John Wayne. I think he was brilliant in movies like Stagecoach and the Searchers. He had a great sense of humor and until the end of his career had a refreshing sense of humor about himself. But this was a guy who put career over country in WWII. Nothing wrong with that, but not exactly a great image for patriotism. As far as the film goes, it's a fairly entertaining horse opera, but all that sentimentality - what is that Michel LeGrand-like song that keeps being sung in the background? & the little girl's Brithday party? I guess this is Texas patriotism. Must be why I root for Santa Ana whenever I see this.
Rating: 
Summary: YOU OWE IT TO THEM........
Review: It seems for the last few years a thing called patriotism has gone in an out of style just as fast as some new fashion scheme. Only after the tragic events of 9/11 did it become "cool" again to go around waving the flag and preaching patriotism. We often forget just what the price of our kind of freedom really is. Well if you need your wake up call here it is.This film was John Wayne's lifelong passion. Everything the film stood for so did Wayne. Here was the story of 185 men who believed in patriotism and lived it ever second of their lives. Nowhere in the volumes of American History will you find a greater example of courage and the human spirit than was displayed during the terrible 13 day seige of an army of 7000 mexican soldiers on the Alamo. Over the past few years it has been the subject of much controversy surrounding the truth of what happened there and why. Many scholars have tried to belittle the importance and the reasons for this battle and to cast a dark cloud on the intentions and actions of some of the most visible of the Alamo defenders. Most of these so called "experts" have never worn any type of uniform and have no idea of what any code of honor means. No matter what they say or try to prove there was only one reason these men sold their lives and that was to buy time. While the rest of Texas organized in preperation of Santa Anna's onslaught these men held their ground and gave Texas the time it needed. They had a choice, in fact several. Many couriers came and went during the seige and several small bands of patriots were able to get in to reinforce. There is no doubt that up until the last couple of days of the seige these men could have walked away. They were honorably given a choice and they made it. This same choice is being made everyday somewhere around the world. I spent 6 years in the Spec Ops community with the US Army 7th Special Forces Groups and with Army Delta and I can assure you that it was from men like Jim Bowie, Davey Crockett, Juan Seguin and James Bonham that give us inspiration to do the job we must do. This type of man was our example and our heritage.
For parents, I must tell you, that for the time that this movie was made, the footage is pretty graffic. The battle scenes to this day are some of the most spectacular ever put on film. But there is no hiding the fact, this is how it is and this is what it costs. We do our children a great disservice by shielding them of white-washing the truth. So in spite of the violent content of this film it is one that they need to see. They need to know just exactly what the price is so they will HAVE RESPECT FOR WHAT THEY ENJOY. If they don't know they can't appreciate it.
Although this is not the complete version it is still an excellant movie with unforgettable performances and visions. The 2 tape directors cut(no longer Available) is the one that you will want to own if you can still find any. It contains about 45 minutes of additional footage and some very heartwarming extra scenes that may even shed some more light on the gravity of the situation and the emotions of the men inside the walls.
In closing let me ask you, When you put your children to bed at night,listen to their prayers and tuck them in, ask them to Remember the Alamo. You owe it to them.
Rating:
Summary: mixed feelings on this one
Review: I didn't realize it at the time I bought the dvd, but this isn't the director's cut that is found on the vhs, rather a slimmed down version (though why anyone would create a lesser version for dvd...I would think you'd want your dvd to be at least as good as the vhs). There is a 40 minute making of documentary on it, but the overall sound and picture quality is not a step up from video. Flunks the dvd test. It's tough to review the movie, since not all of it is here. But you have a larger than life actor playing a larger than life character in a larger than life incident in American history. And it is Wayne's debut as a director. Sort of all fits together. Maybe when MGM releases a complete version of the film I can give it five stars (and a more thourough review), but for now this is all I can do. And shame on you MGM.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Dukes best Westerns
Review: People always talk about "Stagecoach","Red River",and "The Searchers". These are classics, but most people underate many of the Dukes great Westerns. "The Alamo" and "The Horse Soldiers" are two not to be missed! This is an action-packed classic true story. Richard Widmark is also in fine form as Jim Bowie. The DVD edition is a great disc, and the film is clean and clear. This is great considering the film is over forty years old. This film also featured some uncredited direction by the legendary John Ford. Duke stars,directs,and produces this masterpiece!
Rating:
Summary: one of the best alamo movies ever!!!
Review: this is an awsome 2 part movie of John Wayne's version of the events that lead to the battle of the Alamo. a sweet movie that will live on forever. again, the best part of the movis the long battle scene and when the Alamo blows up. indeed, one of Wayne's best movies ever!!!
Rating: 
Summary: DVD Disappointment
Review: Having the VHS version of this wonderful movie with surround sound and the director's cut I looked forward to the DVD being released. Unfortunately, the distributors have short changed all of us here by releasing the short version of the film with 2 Channel Stereo and no Overture, Intermission or Exit Music. Come on guys, look at what the VHS offers in content. Surely the DVD should be just as good or better!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: About 40 Minutes Too Long But Worth The Price Of Admission!
Review: This is a romantic look at the infamous battle of the Alamo in 1836 Texas. John Wayne is fun to watch as Davy Crockett as is Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William Barrett Travis, the Alamo's galant commander. This film is about 40 minutes too long. The special effects during the battle segments are well done and are without a doubt strong points of the film as is Dimitri Tiomkin's meaningful and memorable score.
Rating:
Summary: Wasted Potential
Review: Maybe the most influential moive of my life (I saw it when it came in in 1960 when I was 10) I have since viewed it numerous times. The best part of the movie is the wonderful set and the music. But after learning what one can learn of this fight, it is almost too sad to see this movie as a typical 1950's flick. Terrible screenplay which lessens the grit that we want to bestow on the heroic dfenders. The "Travis-Bowie" conflict is tense, but historically misses the fact: they argued over command, not strategy. As for the set itself, I have been there 3 times and it is worth the visit. In some ways it holds the sense of the defenders isolation; the real Alamo in San Antonio has been altered so much that it is hardly recognizable. As for the "truth" of the Alamo itself? One must look into their own soul and find the meaning there. Bravo to the Duke for trying.....I still love Arthur Hunnicut the best...AND Fess Parker......but let's see who will do it next, and what they can do.
Rating:
Summary: THE ALAMO!
Review: Sorry, but I LIKE this movie! A massive MOVIE SPECTACLE about the heoric defense of "The Alamo!" JOHN WAYNE not only plays Davy Crockett, he directs this 1960 epic! RICHARD WIDMARK is Jim Bowie, LAURENCE HARVEY is Will Travis, and RICHARD BOONE is Sam Houston! If you are a fan of Westerns you will recognize a DOZEN of the finest CHARACTER ACTORS in this one! Yes, there are lots of HISTORICAL LIBERTIES with this one, but the DIMTRI TIOMKIN score pretty much makes up for that all by itself! The ending always gets me with this one, as soon as the songs starts lowly in the background! The DVD Extras on this one include a beyhind-the-scenes documentary as the Duke chain-smoked his way through this one! Don't you apologize for liking this one either!
Rating:
Summary: An Epic Not to be Missed
Review: Tremendous epic, but a big shame on MGM for only releasing
this edited copy. Would have been 5 stars otherwise.
When's the full length version coming out then??
I'll have to keep my VHS of the full length version a few years longer no doubt!!
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