It feels like an eternity before the movie achieves any sense of classic status. For thirteen days, these courageous men defend their position... The Alamo isn't the film it ought to be, and even the 2004 remake—a strong film that offers a thoughtful perspective—doesn’t resolve this issue. We are still waiting for an exciting and stirring portrayal of the story surrounding what occurred at the small mission known as The Alamo. It is San Antonio in 1836, and General Santa Anna's large army is advancing into the disputed territory of Texas. Standing against them is a small group of heroes: Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, and their men, led by the inexperienced William Travis. Their task is to provide time for General Sam Houston to assemble an army capable of defeating Santa Anna’s formidable forces. Simply put, The Alamo doesn't work as a film; it's too long. Several versions have been created in attempts to transform the existing footage into an epic classic, but none succeed in making it the dynamic and engaging movie it could have been. John Wayne directed the picture and clearly had a passion for the project—an investment of his own money would suggest that—though rumors persist that Cliff Lyons stepped in to take over directing at some point. It’s easy to see why this might have happened, although many sources dispute these claims and attribute the film entirely to Wayne's direction. Wayne, having learned from John Ford, had a clear vision for the movie, and its scope is quite impressive; the recreation of The Alamo structure itself is particularly well done, as are the depictions of Santa Anna’s armies, which finally bring some energy to the story. However, these moments of quality are few and far between. The acting isn't very good, with Wayne himself dominating the Crockett character to the point where it becomes a John Wayne showcase. Richard Widmark, playing Jim Bowie, manages to maintain his composure and deliver some compelling exchanges with Wayne and Laurence Harvey (William Travis), but beyond that, there’s not much praise to offer. The final third of the film almost redeems it and the Academy Award for best sound was certainly well-deserved; nevertheless, The Alamo remains a slow and tedious relic that fails to inspire when it should be stirring emotions. 5/10

Source on TMDB