Alamo, The MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 1/2 Content: -1/2

The Alamo vividly portrays the story of the famous battle of The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. In 1836, David Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton), Jim Bowie (Jason Patric) and less than 200 others under the command of William Travis (Patrick Wilson) defend the Alamo against the onslaught of the Mexican despot, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (Emilio Echevarria). For 13 days, the rag-tag band of Texans stand their ground against the Mexican army until they waged their final, valiant battle against impossible odds. Though they fought bravely for their ideals and for the independence of Texas, none of them survives against Mexican forces who are too many and show no mercy. But in the days to follow the historic battle, the Texan army under General Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid) rallies to the cry, Remember the Alamo, defeats Santa Anna and wins Texas independence. Produced by Ron Howard.

Legendary war stories, like the Battle of the Alamo, have a certain attraction.The Alamo paints a picture of men united by high ideals. And though they know that the odds are against them, they are willing to lay down their lives for the sake of the common cause of liberty. There is a certain virtue in laying down ones life for a worthy cause Christ calls believers to give their lives away for His sake even as He did on the cross of Calvary for their sake but the reality of war is a harsh and deadly consequence of sin, sin that is sometimes our own. The viewer should remember that wars were rarely as glorious as they are portrayed. Moreover, due to some objectionable language and extended battle scenes, Preview cautions those who would view The Alamo. If not for a few occurrences of the s-word, this film would have received a positive acceptability rating.

Preview Reviewer: Shaun Daugherty
Distributor: Touchstone