The Alamo

"In the early 1990's, MGM/UA released a triple-disc laserdisc box of the complete, restored 192 minute version of The Alamo which, for all of its flaws, is a fairly powerful and compelling movie, however one may feel about the actual historical event represented; that laserdisc box came with all manner of supplementary materials, and it was very impressive. But when the company issued The Alamo on DVD in late 2000, for reasons best known to themselves they used the edited 162 minute version, which is missing some key and very exciting scenes, and is generally a less impressive movie. The mastering is not quite a match for the triple-disc laser set, though it is superior to the image on the older double-disc 162 minute laser edition. The color is solid if not exactly rich, and the image reveals greater detail than the laser, mostly by virtue of the lack of the playback anomalies that marred laser. There are two supplementary features, a trailer and the documentary ""John Wayne's The Alamo,"" which is sort of frustrating since the complete movie isn't here. The chaptering is adequate to the limitations of the source that was used, and the disc opens to the menu automatically."