Disney's The Alamo, directed by novice John Lee Hancock (The Rookie), is a glimpse of the bloody 1836 standoff that does not live up to its potential. Watching brave Texans fighting for their independence against a cruel dictator should have been inspirational, especially considering the odds against the rag-tag Americans, but in reality it only seems clichd. In 1836, Texas was not a part of the United States, but rather under the rule of Mexican dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana, played by Emilio Echavarria (Y T? Mama Tambien). The Alamo, a fort in southern Texas, was considered a key landmark for control of Texas. "As goes the Alamo, so goes Texas" one departing officer says at the infamous fort prior to putting the eloquent Col. William Travis (Patrick Wilson, HBO's Angels in America miniseries) in charge.

The people stationed at the Alamo were far from trained military men. The Texas militia, led by the rough-necked, gravelly-voiced James Bowie and played by Jason Patric (Narc), combined with a few members of the military, a band of fighters who accompanied Davy Crockett and the crumbling walls of the fort was all that stood between Santa Ana's army of thousands and control of the Alamo. When Billy Bob Thorton (Monster's Ball), who plays Crockett, quips to Col. Travis "we're gonna need a lot more men" in his southern drawl, nothing could be more dead-on.

While The Alamo may provide an accurate depiction of the Texas battle, its obviously poignant thematic elements are constantly flaunted: the power of brotherhood, unity and patriotism. People from all walks of life were forced to fight together for a common goal. Bowie and Travis, one a smooth-talking trained military man, the other a tough-guy notorious for his knife fighting, begrudgingly came to realize that they needed to work together if they were to have a chance at survival.

Unlike movies like Saving Private Ryan and Full Metal Jacket, where the focus is on the extreme brutality of war and its ability to transform peaceful men into ruthless killers, The Alamo attempts to inspire rather than terrify. Rather than only focusing on the bloody conflict, the movie provides a little context, giving some background about the men who end up risking their lives to save the Alamo.

Thorton is terrific as Davy Crockett. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of this movie is watching him grapple with Crockett the legend and Crockett the man. All of the men are inspired by this legendary congressman's presence, so Crockett tries to live up to his reputation, despite being terrified. He even admits to the crowd that he prefers David to Davy, and that he only started wearing his famous raccoon skin hat because that is what he is portrayed as wearing in all of the Davy Crockett plays.
The movie is stocked with relatively inexperienced actors who carry the film along adequately. Patrick Wilson is believable as the slightly spoiled military man, while Jason Patrick is rather good as the renowned James Bowie, playing the part with stoicism and grit. Dennis Quaid (The Rookie) plays General Sam Houston, the alcoholic officer fighting for Texan independence, and he chases his army against the divided forces of Santa Ana after the battle at the Alamo. He does not have much screen time, yet he manages to deliver a gutsy performance.

Director John Lee Hancock does not make the movie as inspiring as he probably intended to. While the themes of unity are readily apparent, so is the clich behind seeing men in war fighting side by side. This is not a bold concept, and the toned-down, Disney-esque violence does not lend itself to eliciting strong emotions. There is none of the gut-wrenching gore that characterizes modern war movies, subsequently attracting audiences to the slew of war movies that Hollywood dishes out annually. Undoubtedly, the tragic nature of the event is conveyed, but without the viciousness that is needed in the war movie genre. The PG-13 rating dulls the effects of the horrific battle that took place.

The Alamo certainly has its moments, but falls short of the epic status it was striving for. It is strangely forgettable, and a war film that does not embed itself in one's memory is destined to be left out of the canon. Ultimately, this film does not have the required grit, and will therefore not be remembered as an epic war movie.