The Alamo (2004) - As a general rule, I'm a sucker for historical dramas where One Large Group of Guys rush towards The Other Large Group of Guys and a lot of people die for the Good Guys' freedom. "The Alamo" makes par for the course, barely.
As the title implies, the film details the 1836 Texan stand-off against Santa Ana's rampaging army. Because Disney can't end a movie on a down-note, we also see General Sam Houston defeating Santa Ana six weeks later at the Battle of San Jacinto.
On the up-side, "The Alamo" is seldom dull. Billy Bob Thorton gives Davy Crockett some much needed depth. The movie seems to give a good feeling for what Texas was like at the time.
Despite the positives, Alamo is mediocre at best. Emilio Echevarr+â-¡a's portrayal of Santa Ana is clich+â-¬ and uninspired. The film isn't politically correct and, by omission, it is historically inaccurate. The film makes mention of historical truths, such as James Bowie owning slaves, but it brushes them aside in true Disney fashion.
Your grandparents and Texan relatives will probably appreciate "The Alamo" for what it is. I can't say I recommend it, though.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) - In the first part of Quentin Tarantino's fourth film, professional assassin Black Mamba (Uma Thurman) begins her journey to seek revenge on the four assassins and their leader who attacked her on her wedding day.
"Kill Bill: Vol. 1" is exceedingly entertaining. It is effectively an hour and a half-long action sequence. Tarantino keeps the movie interesting by constantly changing the style in which the film is shot. Visually you will not find a more creative film.
Make no mistake, "Kill Bill Volume 1" is not a stand-alone film; it is only half of a larger piece. The film seems to drag on in the middle and the movie may be light on plot twists. Volume 2, which is released tomorrow, is supposed to remedy that.
Fans of Chinese kung-fu, slasher films, westerns and Tarantino's body of work will be thrilled. Tarantino may not be revolutionary, but he breaks the conventions awfully well.
Timeline (2003) - Based off of a post-"Jurassic Park" Michael Crichton novel, "Timeline" is about archaeologists of varying accent who are commissioned by the government to travel through a wormhole and bring back another stock character. Their destination? The cut scenes from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." There are also two love stories, an assassination attempt and Greek fire.
I feel most sorry for the actors of this film who, despite their contribution of negative acting, still should not have been required to say the terrible, terrible lines in the script. I would love to critique Richard Donner's direction of the picture, but physics make it impossible to comment or describe something that does not exist. I believe the score was borrowed from "Xena: Warrior Princess."
Some say director Richard Donner has lost his flair. I say that he never had any; he got lucky with "Goonies." Do not even contemplate giving this movie your time. Don't even look at the box art.
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