Movie Review: Patton (1970)

[Dave Gray]

Premise: The biography of George Patton, the only WW2 general truly feared by the Nazis.  His volitile personality was as dangerous and unpredictablee as his command.

Rating: Good

This is strange, because this "war movie" really doesn't have that much war in it at all.  There are a few battles, but the are seen from afar, for the most part, with Patton barking orders.   The battle scenes themselves look really good, considering they're from 1970.  They have a large scope, with sweeping views of planes attacking tanks in valleys, etc.  However, if you're going to watch this movie, bring a pillow...it's loooooong.  Too long, I'd say, at just under 3 hours, and 1 hour of that could have probably been cut without much loss.  This felt like more of a history lesson, which is not a bad thing at all.

He was 100% USA -- he only liked the Brits because he had to.  He wanted every German and Italian dead, and he couldn't even pretend to like his Russian allies.  I felt that Patton was pretty unlikable, and he seems like the kind of hard-nosed a-hole that I hate to see in power today.  I guess that's effective, when fighting Nazis, though. 

[JVides]

Great, Great, GREAT movie about one of this country's best "war time" generals.  I guess I must like bluster because Patton's one of my favorite historical figures, along with another "hardnosed a- -hole", Theodore Roosevelt.  Now, THAT was a President!

[Sunstroke]

This movie is right there next to Apocalypse Now and The Dirty Dozen for my all-time favorite military-based movies. Good stuff. I didn't think the 3 hour run-time was a big deal with this movie, but mainly because I get so engrossed in it that the time goes fast. 

[run_to_win]

"Patton" would be a great move even if one of the scenes didn't include a character who very well could represent my father.

[Dave Gray]

"Patton" would be a great move even if one of the scenes didn't include a character who very well could represent my father.

Which character would that be?

[run_to_win]

The private guarding the bridge right before it's blown up that Patton said a few words to in passing... something like "How are you doing soldier?"

I can PM you the whole story if you want.

[runtheball]

You should sue for royalties RTW.   

Patton likely would have made a lousy President, but was a great general.  The best part of the movie was the beginning speech.  I wonder what liberals back then would have done if that speech had been printed in newspapers.  My guess is that they would have demanded his immediate resignation, since he didn't preface every line by saying things like  "not all Germans are bad" and "not all Italians are bad".