“Remember the Alamo.”Every American schoolchild grew up with those words haunting their historical mythologies. “Remember the Alamo.” As adults, we realize that what was meant from this phrase was that people should learn from their mistakes. Hopefully Disney Studios has learned this lesson and the public will not be subjected to another over-reaching historical epic in the near future.

Originally scheduled for a December 2003 release, “The Alamo” was pushed back to early April. The timing could not have been worse.

In a time when we are seeing a large number of soldiers losing their lives overseas, the last thing the public would want to see is a film about a battle that was lost.

Though glorious in its vision and technical achievements, the film is lost in a bad script that attempts to take on too many stories to chronicle the struggle for Texan independence.

“The Alamo” tells the tale of 183 Texans and Tejanos (Texas born Mexicans) commanded by Colonel William Travis as they are besieged by a Mexican army of 2,000 under the leadership of Mexican dictator-general Santa Anna. Though ending with the victory for Texas independence at the battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, the film spends a majority of its more than two-hour running time focusing on Travis, played by Patrick Wilson, and the rag tag group of fighters that included Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jim Bowie (Jason Patric) and their epic stand off.

Cornered in an abandoned mission on the outskirts of San Antonio, Powell and his men spent 12 days holding off the Mexican forces, and if this movie is to be believed, waxed poetically about their place in the future. Here is where the cracks begin to show.

The only problem with this film is its script. In an attempt to cover all bases the writers (there are 3 listed in the credit-never a good sign) strived to tell too many stories with too much accuracy when broad brush strokes were all that were needed to complement the excellent camera work.

One part of the script that was particularly bothersome was a conversation between Crockett and Bowie discussing what the world will remember about them. Their conclusion? Crockett will be known for his coonskin cap and Bowie for his large knife. Get it?

The actors are not at fault for this fiasco. Billy Bob Thornton turns in one of the best performances of his career and will surely be remembered at Oscar time next year.

Though the film accurately portrays the struggle of Texans under Mexican dominance and shows the true spirit of man to be free, this could have been accomplished by a one-hour special on the History Channel.

It is that sense of spirit that I will take away with me and not this visual catastrophe when I “Remember the Alamo.