Watch The Alamo

'The Alamo', based upon the historical battle, is a 2004 war film directed by John Lee Hancock, and starring Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, and Jason Patric. Detailing the events leading up to the battle, the story unfolds via an omniscient observer and touches upon the likes of historical figures, though the script's historicity is somewhat manipulated for dramatic purposes.

While at a party, Sam Houston (Quaid) tells fellow guests about migrating to Texas, but his spiel falls on mostly deaf ears. Houston later encounters Davy Crockett (Thornton), telling Crockett that immigrants to Texas can have their pick of vast tracts of lands, and a new life. Texas, at this time warring for its independence from Mexico, has recently seen an influx of Texas colonists and its fair share of political upheaval. Houston sees this as an advantage for men seeking their fortune on the frontier.

But upon the frontier, mini battles and skirmishes break out between Texans and Mexicans, the former group having rebelled against the tyrannical president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (Emilio Echevarria). After Texans capture the former Spanish mission, the Alamo, Santa Anna retaliates with military force, himself commanding an army to confront the Texans upon the now legendary sight. Houston, having lost a campaign for reelection to Congress, is subsequently voted out as general of the Texas army. Embittered and angry, he commands Jim Bowie (Patric) to destroy the Alamo.

Crockett, having meanwhile had his interest aroused in conversations with Houston, journeys to San Antonio to examine his prospects. He is under the impression Santa Ana has come and gone, and the Alamo is safe. When Santa Ana arrives prematurely, Crockett and his fellow Texans are force to seek shelter within the Alamo, and fortify it. The famous battle ensues. Santa Ana's army encircles the Alamo and besieges it.

Using sweeping cinematography to intensify the frontier setting, 'The Alamo' offers classic historical Western appeal and action with modern special effects.

The Alamo is a 2004 history movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 17 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 47.