Patton (1970)

One of the greatest screen biographies ever produced, this monumental film runs nearly three hours, won seven Academy Awards, and gave George C. Scott the greatest role of his career. It was released in 1970 when protest against the Vietnam War still raged at home and abroad, and many critics and moviegoers struggled to reconcile current events with the movie's glorification of Gen. George S. Patton as a crazy-brave genius of World War II.

How could a movie so huge in scope and so fascinated by its subject be considered an anti-war film? The simple truth is that it's not--Patton is less about World War II than about the rise and fall of a man whose life was literally defined by war, and who felt lost and lonely without the grand-scale pursuit of an enemy. George C. Scott embodies his role so fully, so convincingly, that we can't help but be drawn to and fascinated by Patton as a man who is simultaneously bound for hell and glory. The film's opening monologue alone is a masterful display of acting and character analysis, and everything that follows is sheer brilliance on the part of Scott and director Franklin J. Schaffner.

Filmed on an epic scale at literally dozens of European locations, Patton does not embrace war as a noble pursuit, nor does it deny the reality of war as a breeding ground for heroes. Through the awesome achievement of Scott's performance and the film's grand ambition, Patton shows all the complexities of a man who accepted his role in life and (like Scott) played it to the hilt. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

Patton

Patton is one of the real good stories about World War II. It is really pretty accurate from everything I have read on the subject. July 13, 2008

Patton Classics

I purchased this one because i saw it on tv last year. to add to my library collection.

thank you. July 7, 2008

Scott's Patton in Hi-Def

I have just seen this film in the Blu-ray format and it is superb!! A previous reviewer complained about the lack of grain in the film but that's what made the transfer so great!! Also there is a brief introduction by Francis Ford Coppola before the film starts and it is very insightful about his experiences in gathering information for this classic film. The transfer, as I stated before, is excellent and duplicates the experience of having seen it in the 70mm format (2:20) in the theatre. Although the film borders very close to 3 hours, this is one of those films that you wish could last a little bit longer (Scott was dissatisfied with the film and refused the Oscar,later did a TV film version of Patton's last days). So if you're already a fan of this classic, I do recommend getting this in Blu-ray --I will very shortly!! July 4, 2008

a professional soldier

Everyone is good at something, music, basketball, nuclear physics, but what about fighting wars? Patton was that guy, a military tactical genius. Unfortunately, he also had no personal skills to get along with the other generals. A great historical look at a flawed hero during one of the world's great conflicts. June 30, 2008

Avoid if you want to see the 'film'

Fox has turned Patton into a video game by filtering out all grain and fine detail from the picture. Patton never looked like this till this HD transfer. It's completely unauthentic and does not show the film as intended and made by the film makers. Very bad revisionist HD mastering. Thumbs down, way down. I want to see Patton the film, not Patton the waxy, ultrasmooth video game. June 11, 2008

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