Reply #42: It's more complicated than good and bad

[SaveElmer]

Mexico invited the settlers there and then reneged on certain promises, and constitutional guarantees. The settlers did have a legitimate beef with Santa Ana and the Mexicans. Now that did not justify a war with Mexico, and many later prominent Americans said so at the time including U.S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln.

However, that does not take away from the quality of the movie. Santa Ana was portayed as sadistic, which he was, the Mexicans were portrayed sympathetically, and the Americans were not lionized in the movie. Travis was shown as a self pretentious fop who abandonded his family, Bowie as a hard headed turd, Sam Houston as a drunkard, and Davy Crockett as a man out of his element. Mexican troops were portrayed fairly accurately, as were the Mexican officers who attempted to dissuade Santa Ana from attacking the Alamo.

All in all a good piece of historical movie making with complex characters on both sides.