Patton

Rating:
Summary: Likely the best Hollywood war film ever made
Review: ...And I don't mean "Hollywood" as an insult. This *is* a glossy Hollywood big budget epic. That's not inherently bad. But for a while there was talk of John Wayne getting the role of Patton. Seriously, can you imagine that? It makes me shudder. "I want you buckeroos to know that no pilgrim ever won a war by dying for his country. You better believe it or you're dead where you stand, son." God help us. Fortunately, saner heads prevailed. Fortunately, studio executives actually decided to go with the one script (six were written) that was closest to the truth and didn't glorify or exaggerate. Fortunately, George C. Scott existed to play the part. Who else could have been Patton? I don't think there was or is another actor. He was born for the role.

What makes this film special is indeed how they stayed so close to the facts, starting with the masterful script, thoroughly researched and written by a young USC grad named Francis Ford Coppola. Then they combined the great script with great care in how the people, the places, and events looked, down to the smallest details in costuming and set design. Yes, a few ugly facts are glossed over, such as Patton's anti-semitism (actually not at all uncommon in the military then), but overall this film plays straight and fair with the facts, and you realize how dull history was the way they taught it to us in high school. The performances are all spot-on, with Malden's Bradley the perfect warm foil for the imperious George S., and Michael Bates a dead ringer for Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.

The transfer to DVD is special, with beautiful color and hardly a nick or scratch. If you've only seen this one on network TV or old videotapes, you've never really seen Patton before. The wide-screen presentation allows us to savor the compositions of some really extraordinary shots--all the battle sequences are amazing in how they are staged. (They used the Spanish army, because they now own all our surplus WWII combat equipment.)

Unfortunately, 20th Century Fox did find a way to blow it with this DVD--sort of. The original issue was a 2-disc set, the second DVD featuring an excellent documentary on the making of the film and the real George S. Patton, with comments by the director, producer, and George C. Scott, and others. It also has a track of just Jerry Goldsmith's wonderful score (beautifully restored in the film, btw). My only complaint was the documentary was not long enough--a subject as fascinating as Patton, and the making of Patton, deserves two hours, not one. Now Fox has taken the two-disc Patton out of circulation and replaced it with this version from the "Fox War Series"--only one disc, and for not many dollars less than the original double-set. I'd advise anyone who really care about this movie and loves DVD extras to cruise eBay for copies of the 2DVD Patton, as they do pop up frequently. That's the best way to own this film. The single-disc is a poor substitute.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!!
Review: My dad and I saw this when it was first released. Dad said " G.C.Scott didn't just play Patton; he was Patton". We have worn out two copies because we watch it all the time. Thank God for DVDs the extras are fanatastic. If you've never seen it, you should. My only regret is that it can only get five stars-this deserves more.

Rating:
Summary: Patton on DVD is a must have!
Review: Patton on DVD is a classic and should be owned by any WWII movie buff. The only complaint I can think of is that sometime the dialog seems to be a bit on the soft side, maybe I just had the volume too low. But other than that this is a great classice that everyonew with a DVD player should own.

Rating:
Summary: Great Entertainment, but . . .
Review: George C. Scott's portrayal of General George S. Patton is outstanding in capturing the essense of the man; so much so that one thinks of Scott when considering the historic Patton! Scott's deep voice better fits the profane and volcanic nature of the General, who was "blessed" with a high and squeaky voice! A classic war film that provides great entertainment with each viewing. That said, I must take exception with a reviewer who lauded the film's accuracy. It is anything but historically accurate. The overall timeline is correct, but anyone who has read a book on Patton (especially the "Patton Papers") will spot the dramatic license taken by the Hollywood producers. Just to name a few: Patton knew that he would command Third Army before he left the Mediteranean for England. In the film, he wasn't told until after D-Day! Another: the entire exchange between Patton and Montgomery in Messina was fabricated; as was the competition between the two for Messina. This said, "Patton" remains one of my favorite movies, and I recommend it to anyone. Just have that book ready on the coffee table (also available from Amazon!)

Rating:
Summary: Superb!!!
Review: This movie gives an accuate account of both war and GEN Patton's lfe. I would highly recommend to anyone. Goerge C. Scott at his best. Very realistic!

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: I must say that I really don't like movies made in the 70' because I a child of the computer generated film. However, that said, this movie is breathtaking. I think this movie insipires a side men that has been lost since WWII. Of all the genre of war I like this movie the best. I was overwhelmed by George C Scotts potrayal of Patton. His facial expression and eyes seemed war torn and battled. I think the cast director deserved an oscar. Scott's acting is awesome. One of my favorite scenes is the contrite patton beseeching the Lord for another command. I must say that is the best of Hollywood.

As the movie says Patton was made for war. My favorite line of the movie.."God help me I do love it so...". That has to be the overall tempo of the movie a man who loved war for simplicity of war itself. In short this movie is well worth 3 hours. If you like war, WWII, or historical movies this is a must.

I could watch this movie every week.

Rating:
Summary: We need a few more good men like Patton!
Review: Patton!
The name inspires respect, awe, reverence, and for some, FEAR. The liberals of this world fear men like Patton because he was the epitome of masculinity, the apotheosis of brutality, the apostle of death, and the prophet of American victory in World War II. Liberals, as any one with common sense understands, are opposed to war, guns, death, no matter the circumstances. These pacificial neo-Chamberlain (...) lunatics would have us turn the other cheek at Bin-Laden's parade or horrors that were visited upon the good people of New York on Sept. 11. Under their delusional reasoning that all war is quintessentially evil, it follows that our response to Japan's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor would have provoked similar outrage in these picket-carrying, flag-burning, country hating, bed-wetting, effiminate liberals.

These zealots should watch Patton so that for once in their miserable lives they will encounter an authority figure who is the antethesis to the bedwetting liberal professors they are exposed to in the surrealistic world of academia. Not to say that liberal professors are all bad, its just that one can imagine the outcome of the Battle of the Bulge had it been fought by men who think like they do, that flag-burning, and singing 'koom ba ya' are appropriate alternatives to defending Nazi advances into Western Europe. Hmmm, a nation full of Pattons during a time of war, or a nation full of effiminate liberal professors? In which nation would you prefer to live? You do the math!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best WWII movies of all time
Review: George C. Scott is brilliant in his portrayal of Patton. This remains one of my favorite WWII movies, and the DVD edition is a beautiful transfer of this classic film.

Rating:
Summary: PATTON
Review: THE STAR IS MR C SCOTT.
WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT A GREAT STAR THAT HE WAS.
HE PLAY PATTON LIKE HE WAS, HE PULLED NO PUNCHES, HE MADE MEN INTO A FIGHTING UNIT.HIS ACTING MADE HIM PATTON, ONE HELL OF A FILM!!.

Rating:
Summary: What a documentary!
Review: George C. Scott portrays Patton with such ellegence, it's undescribable. Best Scenes: Purple Heart scene, Chapel scene, Weather prayer scene. My great-uncle Will Lang Jr.from Time/Life magazine followed Patton's war campaign in WWII..so you might say there's a little PERSONAL tie-in with this movie.