New Alamo Movie

[Ohio Joe]

Well, the History Channel claims this newest movie about the, Alamo, in theaters April 9th, is historically correct... At least that's the claim of several history buff authorities that the H/C uses in interviews to promote this new "accurate" movie... I'm wondering why, if the old accepted stories of the Alamo was not historically correct,,, why did these so called "experts" claim them to be and suddenly now they've changed their tune? :: I will go see this movie and draw my own conclussions as I have little, if no respect for these "history experts" any longer. What are your thoughts???

 

[dholdridge]

Ohio Joe-

I don't know if you caught it, but HC also had a "History vs. Hollywood" show on last week on the Alamo featuring Billy Bob, Dennis Quaid and Jason Patrick. I had more respect for some of their comments than what I saw on the piece I think you're referring to.

I got a lot more out of the "Daniel Boone" and "Davy Crockett" documentaries that preceded the show.

I'm with you- let's see what the movie is like...

 

[Ohio Joe]

hodge,,, I agree... Billy Bob, Quaid, and Patrick, had some very good comments... I'm still skeptical of all those historians that claim the status of expert and pushed popular belief down our throats for fifty or more years and then do a complete reversal... They struck me as, "band wagon jumpers", and I use to respect those guy's views... I realize history is always being revised, and that is fine, but the documents they refer to have been available for over 160 years and they're just now getting around to the validity of them??? It would appear that the Mexican government and their historians have a better grasp of the truth then our people... :: :: The, Boone and Crockett documentaries were excellent! :applause: :applause: :applause: "Remember the Alamo"

 

tis a difficult thing to call. I've followed the supposed "recent" discoveries of Mexican documents and what really happened to Davey and some other assumed survivors of the battle and I honestly don't know what to believe.

For me, at this time and distance the gritty facts aren't as important as the eventual outcome. Another way to say it is that the sum is greater than it's parts. Still....Davey Crockett was a childhood hero and I'd sure like to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I doubt we ever will.

I had previously seen the documentary on Boone and Crockett and I enjoyed them as much or more the second time around that I did the first.

Like a lot of you guys I'm a student of history. It seems every time we get an answer to something all the answer serves to do is open up more questions. I really believe that is a good thing but just once I'd like to have something finite.

I really brought to conclusion a lot of things in that post, huh?

Vic

 

It will be of more interest to those of us who are in the market for a musket. Apparently most of the muskets used in the movie are from the Discriminating General.(militaryheritage.com.) For one, I'll be certain to see it at least once.
Daryl

 

[blckhrn]

Hopefully more historically accurate than John Wayne's rendition. Thought there would be a laugh in this:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976346974.htm

 

[Zonie]

All I know is it better have the 20 inch cannon in it and show ole Davy a jumpin up and down on it just like the one I remember seeing when I was a little kid!! If it doesn't then I'll know it's a bunch of hooie!!!! :: :: ::

The movie critics (ya, I know) are saying the movie does such a good job of cutting all of the main characters (Crocket etc) down and showing what a bunch of miss-fits and has beens they were, that by the time it's over you really don't care if they all get killed.

Although much of that is accurate history, dwelling on it IMO makes for a crummy movie.

I love accurate History, but I think we, as a nation need a few heros from time to time even if they are only based on partial truth.

With the new Alamo movie, I will reserve my own judgment until I see it myself.

 

[Ohio Joe]

I want accurate history as well... I do not see the roll of any of those brave men who died at the Alamo diminished by how they died there... I believe we have a law called, "truth in advertising"... This same law should apply to movie making especially when it comes to the historical record. Historians also need to get educated on the subject matter of which they speak. If your going to put forth an opinion for the world to see, you'd better seek some hands'on knowledge to back up those opinions!

 

[Claude Mathis]

When I watch "Hollywood" movies, it helps if I remember that the movie maker is trying to entertain and make a profit. Granted, some of them may care about history, but that is secondary to their enterprise. Accepting that premise allows me to enjoy the visual aspects of the film, and use them to try and imagine what life must have been like back then. I tend to use the visual aspect of the film to enhance what I already know of the era based on my own studies, not what little the film maker may know.

Keeping that in mind, I tend to look at all "historical" movies as being loosely based on fact. This keeps me from shouting out during the film and it helps keep my blood pressure down. :winking:

Just as we can accept today's factory flintlocks to be "modeled after" the real thing, we could look at hollywood films the same way. Just a few frames here and there that might be what it looked like.

"Go to the movies to be entertained, go to the library to study"
Benjamin Franklin - 1778 :haha:

 

[Stumpkiller]

<<"Go to the movies to be entertained, go to the library to study"
Benjamin Franklin - 1778>>

Boy! He really was a visionary!

Congressman John Dickinson: What's so terrible about being called an Englishman? The English don't seem to mind.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Nor would I, were I given the full rights of an Englishman. But to call me one without those rights is like calling an ox a bull. He's thankful for the honor, but he'd much rather have restored what's rightfully his.

 

[Ohio Joe]

Went and saw the new movie, "The Alamo"... :applause: :applause: :applause: I was impressed to say the least... I won't discuss it as I would not want to ruin the experrience for those of you planning to go... I will only say that I believe they got it as right as we will ever know... :applause: :applause: :applause:

 

[Plains99]

I saw the movie and thought it was as historically accurate as probably could be without destroying the heroic status of some of the men. And yeah, they were a bunch of "has beens" in many ways. But that was and is the beauty of our country. Texas was seen as a way of rebuilding lost fortunes and fumbled lives for many of these men. They took advantage of it. It worked for Houston. It didn't work for Crockett. Even Boone was ruined several times in his life and moved west to rebuild. It was the frontier experience. Heck, fellows, we've all been losers. Its the guys who try it again that become the winners....eventually... if they don't get caught at the Alamo.

 

"We've all been loosers huh? Boy have you got that right!
And even better is the rest of your ascertion that you have to get up and try it again.
Sometimes a guy goes down fighting, but I'd rather do that than become one of the "sheeple" that dominates our craddle to the grave society.
I'm a hardhead I guess, but I went down 13 times in the line of duty and kept getting back into the action. My second broken back left me with a paralyzed left leg. Nine months in rehab and a lot of work and the leg is good now, but I was finished as a cop.
I could be crying in my beer living on a small pension, BUT that ain't me. At 49 I started college, earned 2 science degrees and now work for G.M as a supervisor.
Then again maybe I'm just a slow learner. :haha: :haha:

 

[Rocky Johnson]

I liked the movie "The Alamo" It's a must see for any history nut weather it is accurate or not. Rocky /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[musketman]

I was there in 1976 (got a weekend leave from Lackland AFB) the Alamo is not really that big...

Looks are deceiving, but the existing building is not that large, I can only think it would be even smaller under siege...

 

[Ohio Joe]

musketman, I looked the Alamo up on some web site for historical background. It was not preserved until the 1890's I believe and much of it had been torn down before that time to make room for new buildings. If I remember right, it was quite a large compound/mission? I have never been there and don't really intend to go. I would like to go and see the set where the new movie was made and even the one John Wayne had built for his Alamo movie. I just don't like crowds. That alone is enough to keep me out of, San Antonio. Nothing personal, folks!

 

[Myra lou]

It is considered a Texas Shrine and when I visited a sign was posted that all people out of respect will remove their hats while in the Alamo.......It is a compound/mission with barracks......all that has been restored/fabricated......the building itself is the origional.....you can step out of the building and walk off the property and go to a popular burger joint......it's smack dab right down town......john.....

 

[texan0718]

I have found this thread about the Alamo to be quite interesting. Having spent most of my adult life as an amateur historian, and having thoroughly researched and written over 22 books on various historical topics, I have learned that the

 

[Gary]

Texan0718: Concur that both sides must be considered for a balanced perspective. Only one problem for most of us: we're not bilingual (or multilingual) and even translations must be suspect (different interpreters will interpret differently). The "truth" lies hidden somewhere inbetween the two extremes and it's almost always a shade a grey.

That said, what can you tell us about Felix de la Garza who shot Col. Ben Milam (San Antonio, 7 Dec., 1835)?

Furthermore, can you identify the commander of the citadel of Monte Video when the Brits invaded the place during the Napoleonic Wars?

 

[Claude Mathis]

Please do not change the subject of a message thread. If you would like to start a new topic, please do so.

I believe the original question was in reference to the new movie. Have you seen it and can you comment on it?