To War
Before getting specific about Patton 360, I’d like to point out what the 360 series is all about. What the show creators have done here is combine restored historical footage, 3D computer animation and graphics, interviews, and brief modern day comparisons to make what is a very well rounded show. The show blends these different elements seamlessly in every episode to not only give the viewer a lot of
information, but in rapid fashion. I was actually surprised at the pacing of each episode that rather relentlessly doles out information in droves for forty-plus minutes. Other documentaries I’ve seen don’t necessarily go slower, but I felt that in Patton 360, the information just flowed constantly.
The series begins in the Fall of 1942. The Americans, persuaded by the Brits to not try and take Berlin by going directly through Europe, set up shop in Northern Africa. The first two episodes focus on the Allied invasion (Operation Torch) of Northern Africa and the eventual victory they achieve in sending the Germans and Italians out of the region. Patton and his men at first face the Vichy French, who surrender after three days of fighting, but the German Army isn’t so readily defeated. Hard fought battles including the seaborne invasion of Morocco and the ground battle at Kasserine Pass are detailed with maps, 3D computer animated models, historical footage, and interviews with current enlisted men and soldiers who were there.
With success in Northern Africa, Patton leads the 7th Army into Sicily, the location in which many of the Axis forces escaped to as they retreated from their last holdings in Africa. Named Operation Husky, this month long struggle saw the Allies pushing further into Europe. This is where the infamous ‘slapping’ incident occurred that saw Patton get in trouble with the top brass.
Fast forward to episode six set in 1944, and Patton is moving towards Paris. The Lorraine campaign, and eventually the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944 lead up to the final episode which sees the end of the war in 1945.
On Blu-ray
Patton 360 on Blu-ray arrives in a standard size case containing two discs. The first disc contains the first five episodes, the second disc contains the latter five. The menus on both are the same, and are good looking and easy to use.
You have the option to Play All, choose an Episode, or enable English subtitles. There are no further options, or extra features, on either disc. It’s too bad there are no extra features — it makes recommending this set for purchase a bit more difficult.
As for the actual presentation quality, it looks great. I’m sure we’ve all seen some TV shows that don’t look their best on Blu-ray, but for Patton 360, the image quality is crisp and vibrant. The DTS-HD 2.0 audio track does very well for itself, too.
with that, let’s get to the summary…