Fantastic Character Study, but not the best movie

Rating: 9/10 (27 December 2009)

Patton is a movie that's been on my to do list for a long time. A character study like no other, Patton follows the tale of the most battle hungry, mad-dog general America ever had the pride to produce. Over this three hour long saga we watch Patton emerge victorious in Africa, Sicily, and finally in the very heart of Europe. We see how the Germans feared him all the way up to the man they called genius (Rommel) and we see how the Allies feared him even more, or at least his temper and unrestrained tongue. But this isn't a review of the man; it's a review of the movie.
There's no real plot to be found here, but that's good. This was set out to be historically accurate from the beginning, and to really get inside one of the most famous American general's head. But, this is the major thing that stopped me from completely enjoying the movie. It simply isn't entertaining. It's powerful, it's interesting, but it isn't entertaining. I'd almost call it a documentary. And in that area it excels.
As a war movie this does not stand out. It will not thrill you with action or drama. What it does do is impart respect for an historical figure that cannot be denied. We are shown the way one man fought for his rightful place in history, and struggled to be able to keep his own flaws from getting in the way of his serving the world the only way he could, as a commander. This epic film teaches you everything you need to know about Patton and gave me a soft spot for him on the list of famous soldiers. If you're looking for a fun time watching a movie, this isn't the place to go. But if you're looking to get deep into the character of one strong, foolhardy man, this movie does it flawlessly. I recommend seeing it once, but in the end, it's probably best to keep it to only once. Patton earns a 7/10 as a movie, but earns a 10/10 as a character study.
This has been a snippet of my review. To see the rest of the review, visit my site at docamos.blogspot.com