• Aspect Ratio: 2.20:1
  
• Video Codec: AVC/MPEG-4
• Resolution: 1080p/24 (23.976Hz)
  
• Audio Codec: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz/24-bit), English Dolby Digital 5.0, French & Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  
• Subtitles: English SDH, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish
  
• Subtitles Color: White
  
• Region: A (Region-Locked)
• Rating: PG
  
• Run Time: 172 Mins.
  
• Discs: 2 (1 x Blu-ray + 1 x DVD)
• Digital Copies: N/A
  
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
  
• Blu-ray Release Date: November 6, 2012
  
• List Price: $24.99
  

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Overall
[Rating:4/5]
The Film
[Rating:4.5/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3/5]

Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures

(All TheaterByte screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG at 100% quality setting and are meant as a general representation of the content. They do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)

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The Film

[Rating:4.5/5]

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner with a superb screenplay from Francis Ford Coppola, this biopic about famous general George S. Patton is anchored by a towering performance from actor George C. Scott in the titular role. It follows the flawed tank division general through World War II from his time in North Africa through the invasion of Europe and the eventual fall of Hitler’s Third Reich. More fascinating, however, is how the film shows Patton to be more human than untouchable hero. Following him through his feuds with Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery and his awkward public appearances during his time in imposed exile. A good sense of historic references is preserved over the course of the various battles, and each player imparts a true sense of gravity to the role in which they were cast. The opening sequence with Patton giving a rip-roaring monologue in front of the U.S. flag is one of the most memorable moments in cinematic history. It’s also worth noting that the film’s production was the second and last to be be done in the short-lived 65mm Dimension 150 format from the Todd-AO company, both of which George C. Scott starred in, with The Bible being the first.

Video Quality

[Rating:4.5/5]

Patton was originally shot using the short-lived Todd-AO Dimension 150 65mm system originally intended for projection on wide-angled curved screens in 70mm prints. The Cinerama competitor resulted in fantastic depth of field with very fine grain structure and lively color reproduction, just as any good large format film should. This 2.20:1-framed AVC/MPEG-4 encodement of Patton from Fox is magnificently clear, detailed, and just as one should expect from a 65mm production. Unlike the Hamlet Blu-ray by Warner from a while back, I don’t see overwhelming evidence that this has been heavily scrubbed with DNR or over compressed in any way, it just looks as the format should, with a little clean up.

Audio Quality

[Rating:4/5]

Lossless and lossy surround tracks are on offer in the form of English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz/24-bit) and English Dolby Digital 5.0 tracks. There is very little difference between the two other than the DTS-HD MA track has a little more low end and more natural sounding high frequencies, which isn’t saying much. They both sound a little veiled and have a little bit of audible crackle.

Supplemental Materials

[Rating:3/5]

This reissue of Patton has a bonus DVD of extras included as well as an introduction and commentary by the film’s screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola.

The supplements:

• Introduction by Francis Ford Coppola
• Commentary by Francis Ford Coppola

Bonus Disc (DVD):

• Documentaries:
  • History Through the Lens: Patton: A Rebel Revisited (1.33:1; 01:30:04) – This documentary examines the film and the real life of General Patton.
  • Patton’s Ghost Corps (1.33:1; 00:46:35) – The first hand stories of the men who served under Patton.
  • The Making of Patton (1.33:1; 00:49:46) – This original documentary on the making of Patton features interviews with George C. Scott, Oliver Stone, Richard Zanuck, Jerry Goldsmith, Fred Koenekamp, director Franklin J. Schaffner, and producer Frank McCarthy. Also included are rare behind the scenes footage and camera tests.
• Still Galleries:
  • Production Still Gallery Accompanied by Jerry Goldsmith’s Complete Musical Score (1.33:1; 00:36:21)
  • Behind the Scenes Gallery Accompanied by Audio Essay on the Historical Patton (1.33:1; 00:53:16)
• Original Theatrical Trailer (2.35:1)

The Definitive Word

Overall:

[Rating:4/5]

There isn’t much more to be said about Patton that hasn’t already be said. It’s a fine biopic and a fine World War II film with a brilliant performance from George C. Scott.

Additional Screen Captures

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Purchase Patton on Blu-ray at CD Universe

Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com

Overall
[Rating:4/5]
The Film
[Rating:4.5/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4.5/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3/5]

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