Just when we thought Edwards Cinemas were the good guys, they've gone and threatened to annihilate Houston's beloved Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

Triple Tap Ventures, which owns and operates two Alamo Drafthouse theaters in the Houston area (one at West Oak Mall and one in Katy) reacted Wednesday to the announcement that Regal Entertainment Group would be building an Edwards theater within West Oak Mall. It seems to be mutually accepted that two movie theaters cannot survive simultaneously within one mall complex, but Alamo pledged in a statement that they would "continue to operate with high standards of excellence throughout construction of the planned Edwards Cinemas."

For its part, West Oaks says Alamo has done a great job throughout its seven-year tenure at the mall and will "continue to be a vital entertainment destination within the mall throughout construction," meaning up until Edwards arrives.

Alamo is loved for its emphasis on craft beer, selection of first-run films, quote-alongs to cult classics and dinner-and-a-movie pairings like the Joe Dirt feast, set for March 10, which will include thunderbeans and weiners, gourmet sloppy joes and craft beer selections for every redneck-inspired course.

Says Triple Tap representative Lacy Smythe Edmondson, "There are definitely plans for expansion, although we're not going to comment on any specific sites. We are evaluating a number of places inside the Loop and in the Houston metropolitan area."

Hear that, inner-Loopers? There's hope for us beer-swigging cinephiles yet!

With regard to Alamo West Oaks seeing the writing on the Edwards marquee, Smythe Edmondson says "right now we're just focusing on giving our guests an incredible experience throughout the construction phase. Fall 2012 is a long way off, and we intend to remain open throughout construction and for the foreseeable future."

We say, long live the Alamo! And please, pretty please, move somewhere I have surface-road access.