It's quite fascinating to watch Patton circa 2005. As the United States slips ever deeper into the Iraq quagmire and Osama bin Laden continues to elude capture, the military seems less an instrument of pride than a collective that's forced into unpleasant situations for reasons not entirely understood. In an era of carefully staged and micro-managed sound bites that seem to say everything but give away nothing, it's hard to imagine a straight shooting, colorful and utterly original soldier like George S. Patton fitting in with the rest of the troops.

As befits a soldier like few others, George C. Scott (in his Oscar-winning role) delivers a performance like few others in his lengthy and illustrious career - his interpretation of Patton is such that it's startling to watch actual newsreel footage of Patton; Scott nailed not only the physicality but also seemingly the psychology of this ageless warrior trapped in World War II but truly at home in the conflicts of ancient Rome or Greece.

Working from a screenplay by then-wunderkind Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North (which was based upon "Patton: Ordeal and Triumph" by Ladislas Farago and "A Soldier's Story" by Omar N. Bradley), Franklin J. Schaffner's vivid biography of one of America's truly great generals rarely, if ever, flags - Patton pulses with a life and authenticity often missing from conventional Hollywood biopics. By tracing Patton's efforts throughout his various World War II campaigns, Schaffner manages to paint a portrait of both a man and his battles - it's a mammoth war etched in miniature as seen through the poet-warrior eyes of Patton.

Scott is surrounded by a terrific, if minor-key, cast including Karl Malden as Omar Bradley, Patton's long-suffering compatriot, Karl Vogler as Patton's nemesis, German general Erwin Rommel and Frank Latimore as Lieutenant Colonel Henry Davenport, representing the British - but it's Scott's show the entire way. He doesn't so much command attention as sear the very screen with his presence. Volumes have been written about Scott's performance as Patton but it still somehow doesn't do it justice - this is world-class acting of a rare and magnificent scale. Patton the film is every bit as enduring and compelling as the man who inspired it.

The Video:

Patton looks as though it was released yesterday - the stunning 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen renders one iconic sequence after another in images sharp enough to cut through your TV screen. The opening speech delivered in front of the larger than life American flag is but one of the magnificent setpieces in Schaffner's film that look absolutely incredible with this recycled (from the previously released) transfer.

Despite its age, Patton is outfitted with a robust Dolby Digital 5.1 mix (a Dolby 2.0 stereo and French mono track are also included) - the cannon fire and explosions pack a satisfying punch while the directional effects are using sparingly but effectively during the numerous battles that transpire during the course of Patton. An excellent complement to the visual component.

This reduced-price edition of Patton is part of the "Fox War Classics" line and is missing one of the key attractions from the initial two-disc release - the 50-minute documentary "The History of Patton." What remains are trailers for The Longest Day, Patton and Tora! Tora! Tora!, as well as an audio essay that lasts roughly 60 minutes into the film by Charles M. Province, author of "The Forgotten Patton" and founder/head of the George S. Patton Historical Society.

Patton is a supremely entertaining biopic and war drama that features an utterly compelling and award-winning performance from George C. Scott as the titular general - it's a film that has aged extremely well and continues to entertain some 30 years on. Highly recommended (although if you can find the out-of-print two-disc version, I'd recommend that edition as a blind buy).