| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| richfed |
Posted - December 17 2003 : 06:03:24 AM
If you mosey on over to Wade's Alamo Sentry Board and take a good look at the awesome shot of the Alamo under assault in the early morning hours of March 6, 1836, you'll begin to wonder if this, too, won't be a "historical" film laced with historical inaccuracies.
I hope not, but ...
The Alamo chapel sits way too flush to the long barracks. Ok, something most won't notice - or care about - but it looks mighty odd to the "experienced" eye. It is said this is for cinematic effect. Ok. I'll buy that.
The Mexican assault is waaay too spread out. Mexicans on every side, in every space. Of course, this is a still photo ... can't tell how the scene plays out before & after, but ... it looks very wrong to me. In reality, a very small force attacked from the south side [main gate]. Larger columns assaulted the other three walls, but were quickly reduced to a huddling mass at the base of the north wall by fierce fire, enfilading fire at that, on the east side, in particular. Then, the reserves were poured in - at the NORTH wall - to make a final push ... just too many Mexicans, concentrated in one place - more or less - for too few Texians to hold out any longer. The mental image I have of the scene does not look anything like that still photo, as awesome a picture as it is!
I just really hope the film does the event justice, but I'm not holding my breath! |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dillon1836 |
Posted - December 21 2003 : 7:06:47 PM
The set design relied on the mexican maps they had of the compound and the paintings done by George Nelson and Gary Zaboly.Both I have had the chance to chat with.Gary by email and George at the Alamo while he signed my book.There weren't many folks asking for signings so me and him had a good talk on the mission.
Good men indeed.They know their stuff and it seems yall do too.
I dont think yall will be dissapointed come April. |
| Two Kettles |
Posted - December 17 2003 : 9:41:26 PM
Rich,
That still of the assault comes from a moment in the trailer that I am pretty sure is very much based on the Gary Zaboly painting "A Moment in Time" that hangs on the Wall of History Exhibit at the Alamo. There are several scenes in the movie that are based on Gary's art.
The main problem that I see with the Mexican troop deployment (in the movie scene, not Gary's painting)is that it shows some fairly heavy action along the entire west wall, when most likely the action was concentrated at the southwest bastion (the 18 pounder position) and just west of the northwest bastion (at least according to Sanchez Navarro's diagram of Cos' maneuver). However, like Wade said, this is Hollywood, and it sure does look spectacular!
One of my disappointments with the movie, and this is a result of them using mostly locals and not reenactors for the Mexican army extras, is that Cos' movement, from the north wall just north of the northwest bastion, to the west wall just west of the same bastion, which was apparently made with an impressive series of obliques and wheels, is just going to be shown as a mad mob rush from one spot to another. If you look at Sanchez Navarro's diagram of the maneuver, and remember that it was done in partial light and under fire, you realize how well trained Santa Anna's army was. It would have been really cool to have seen that portrayed in the movie. Oh well...
Two Kettles |
| Hawkeye_Joe |
Posted - December 17 2003 : 3:55:24 PM
Ok .. I have to laugh at the PC'ness of the filter on the ALAMO Site.
[The de la Pena account also cites "an elderly woman and a negro slave" as the only Texian survivors of the battle. Susanna male organinson was hardly elderly, and there were more than fifteen other noncombatants who survived.]
*LMAO* |
| Dillon1836 |
Posted - December 17 2003 : 1:54:28 PM
It will do justice...but we have to remember this is Hollywood we are atalking about. |
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![The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!]](images/wwwboard.gif "The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!]")
