Below is a review from DVD Talk by Preston Jones posted July 6, 2005 when the DVD came out.

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.  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 and Karl Vogler as Patton's nemesis, German general Erwin Rommel   -    but it's Scott's show the entire way. He doesn't so much command attention as sears 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.

   

Sara and I watched this 2003 British movie the other night and were delighted . The story sounds more risqué than it is . A charming story about women in their 40 t0 50s who are willing to be a bit risky to make money for a charity. You’ll find it on TV or a streaming channel.

I did not do the review but found one I liked and tweaked it some. I’d give it 3.0***

By; Diana Saenger If you can say "over 40 and nude" in the same sentence, you might enjoy Calendar Girls, a movie that offers laughs, maybe a tear or two and lots of heart. Calendar Girls is based on a true story that takes place in the Yorkshire Dales of England. When Annie's (Julie Walters) husband dies of cancer, her friend Chris (Helen Mirren) decides to do something to help the local hospitals and boost morale in the town. Both Annie and Chris belong to the Women's Institute (WI), a rather conservative group whose members meet regularly and perform good deeds. Chris tells the ladies she wants to produce a fund-raising calendar of them doing their ordinary chores or hobbies -- but in the nude! At first everyone scoffs, but once Ms. June, Ms. November and Ms. January pick their spots, the women fall over themselves to be included in the project. It takes some doing to find the right photographer, get the WI’s approval and market the calendar. But soon these women are national celebrities, and their ordinary lifestyles are as scattered as the months on the calendar. .As long as the story stays in the women's hometown, it's a charmer. We get insight into each of the women representing a different month on the calendar. Whether spurred on to overcome pain, a husband's infidelity or merely to grab the brass ring of feeling alive -- each has her own unique reason for agreeing to bare it all. It may have been a mistake to move the story to Hollywood at the end of the film. At this point the film loses some of its quaintness, but it quickly recovers when it returns to their English home. Most women and middle-aged to older couples will definitely enjoy Calendar Girls.

Sara and I re-watched this on TV the other night and were thoroughly entertained. This has a heartwarming story about the value of friendship and how women must learn to assert themselves to gain self-esteem. But its first and foremost about friendship. It has old Southern charm and modern day concerns since there are two stories going here both about friendship between 2 women. One set in modern day and the other in the 30s. A wonderful movie worth searching out. I’d give it 3.5 out of 4*** The review is not mine but presents as I would.

    Green Tomatoes –  (1991)

 Chuck O'Leary 
FulvueDrive-in.com

I was totally won over by Fried Green Tomatoes when I first saw it theatrically in January of 1992 (it received a limited release in late December, 1991 to qualify for awards consideration before going wide in late January, 1992).  In fact, I ended up seeing the film a second time in theaters a few months later and it ended up in the No. 5 spot on my annual best-10 list.

The pivotal character in Fried Green Tomatoes is an unhappy, overweight Southern housewife named Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates), who's settled into a humdrum, unfulfilling life with her longtime husband, Ed (Gailard Sartain), who praises her cooking, but would rather eat it sitting in front of the TV watching sports instead of sitting at the table and talking to her.  Ed's not a bad guy like another abusive louse we meet in the movie.  He's simply inattentive and addicted to sports -- if this were a crime, half the men in America would be on death row.

While visiting one of Ed's relatives in a nursing home, Evelyn meets a spirited nursing-home resident named Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy).  The elderly Ninny starts telling the repressed Evelyn intriguing tales of a tomboyish, independent-minded young woman named Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson), and her best friend, Ruth (Mary Louise Parker), who together ran the Whistle Stop Café in a tiny town called Whistle Stop, Alabama during the Great Depression.

As the film intercuts between Idgie's story in the 1930s and Evelyn's in the present day, Ninny's tales of Idgie and Ruth help inspire Evelyn to become more assertive, regain her self-esteem and take more control of her life.

Based on Fannie Flagg's novel, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, the film's screenplay was co-written by Flagg and Carol Sobieski (apparently with much uncredited help from director Jon Avnet).  Their collaboration is a warm-hearted, touching and funny ode to female bonding and the importance of friendship.

SHAZAM !   3.5***

  A superhero film based on the DC Comics book character of the same name. It is one of the funniest and most entertaining superhero films in a long time that does not come from Marvel.

In modern-day Philadelphia, 14 year-old Billy Batson  is taken in by a foster family after another run-in with police as a run-away while searching for his lost mother. While there, Billy befriends his slightly crippled roommate Freddie Freeman (uses a crutch) who has an amazing knowledge and affinity for superheroes. One day, Billy is mysteriously whisked away by a mysterious wizard who bestows Billy with incredible super powers by having him hold a magical staff and yelling the name "Shazam" out loud. And it works in reverse in that Shazam can return to being the 14 year old by yelling the same thing  Shazam testing his powers with Freddie provides the funniest and most entertaining moments of the film. Each test that he puts himself through is both hilarious and informative.

The film flawlessly weaves its comic relief and heart into every scene with its own distinct flavor, never once feeling as though it is stealing from those before it. This is equaled by  solid action scenes which are a pure joy to watch. Adding to the “feel good mood” is a diverse and sympathetic cast and a film that knows how to keep the balance between funny and decent drama. The comedy is completely goofy but not in a satirical sense, but rather, this is what happens when you give a 14 year old super powers. It also paints a wonderful picture of  foster families that I feel we don't see very often anymore. It's really nice to see the bright side for once with loving foster parents and a diverse but nice group of foster kids.   

All in all, Shazam is a blast! It's one of the most entertaining movie I've seen so far this year.  It also delivers a well-developed bad guy, menacingly portrayed by Mark Strong. Every member of the cast gives a strong performance, but Zachary Levi steals the show as Shazam. His whimsical attitude, reckless personality, and rich facial expressions are guaranteed to entertain you . Asher Angel and Jack Dylan Grazer are outstanding as the young kids, and the former's backstory carries emotional impact which passes on to the big guy he transforms himself into.

The action is packed with beautifully-edited sequences, powerful sound design, and cool, unique moments, but the climactic final battle drags on a little too long. The first act struggles to find its rhythm and its tone, but once it gets going, it's an exceptional journey. The best praise I can give the movie is that I didn't know anything about Shazam before entering the theater, and now I can't wait for its sequel. Well-directed, well-written and remarkably entertaining.  Go see it!  Be sure to stay after the movie ends while the credits run for two bonus scenes.