M*A*S*H

Hilarious, heartbreaking, wise.

Love the series and this was what the series was based on. I like watching from time to time

Not enough stars to give it!

I always loved watching the TV show and never knew there was a movie until now. It was funny and entertaining!

I've been a fan of MASH (the movie, not the TV show) since I first saw it at about age 14 or 15 on DVD. Recently, I've been getting into the rest of Altman's movies, so when I saw the blu ray I knew I had to check it out. If you haven't seen it yet, MASH is a bit of a (pardon me) mash up of a war movie, medical drama, and Animal House. Okay, it's really just a lot like Animal House. Some reviews I've seen online have pegged this movie as being sexist and outdated, but the film is really about the attitudes of a bunch of really talented and really bored twenty something male doctors BS-ing and causing trouble. Unlike the most of Altman's other work, this is very much a guy movie. I used to think this movie was just effortlessly brilliant and an easy going good time with a bunch of funny actors just doing whatever they felt like. On subsequent viewing after all these years, I can see just how much Altman's distinctive style had already taken shape in his first film. The scene towards the ends of the movie in long shot with Hawkeye getting news from Radar is absolutely astonishing in how much it conveys with no words at all. Even though I still remembered all the jokes and cringed at the awkwardness of some of the characters, I still found myself laughing out loud at some of the more subtle moments. Of course, these little bits might have gone unnoticed had I not sprung for the HD version. Again, other reviews on the films picture quality range from decent to miserable and the real result is somewhere in between. Immediately after watching the disc, I popped in the old THX mastered DVD, upconverted by my blu ray player. I'll admit I was a bit surprised. The major problem with the blu ray is an excessive amount of blooming on any scenes with white clothing. They give off a glow a few centimeters out from the characters. I first thought this was haloing, but no, they were just really bright in comparison with the dark backgrounds. On the DVD, this effect was a lot less noticeable, but everything else picture-wise was worse. For one, the image was a lot darker, smudging out a lot of fine detail. The rest was lost in the digital noise and non-film related pixelated graininess. However, in stripping away the murk on the blu ray, it revealed Altman's almost vaseline-like filter on the camera and color timing intended to accentuate the drab military greens. The first thing I looked for on the blu ray was just how much grain they did or didn't leave on the image. Thankfully, they left most of it in, but it does get a little overwhelming at times, with it seeming to snow over background scenery. There's a lot more surface detail on fabrics and the stubble on the actors' faces stands out a bit more. There's a scene near the beginning of the movie with nurses looking into a tent giggling that was less apparent on DVD, since it was so quick and more difficult to read facial expressions. I'm once again going to repeat the mantra of almost every reviewer covering HD movies from the 70's - this is probably the best this movie is going to look. The main reason I bought this was just to see what 70s Altman movie can look like in high definition. I assure you that now I'm going to hold out for the HD version of Nashville, instead of buying the DVD. As far as sound goes... well, I honestly couldn't tell you if it was an improvement or not. I don't have a surround sound system to really put the track to test, but I don't think there can be that much of an improvement over the 5.1 mix on the original DVD. I do think I could follow the rapid overlapping better than I used to, but that probably just comes from repeated viewing, rather than a real technical achievement. All of the extras were ported over from the previous disc, which is good, since it was a fairly packed two disc set. However, there's no real new stuff to be had. Overall, I'm really just jonesing to see how McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Brewster McCloud, and Nashville hold up on the format. It may not look perfect, or even that good, but this disc shows just what a little TLC can do towards making great murky-looking 70s films watchable on HD sets.

As compared to the TV series, the original MASH was obviously more geared toward everyday reality and the gritty side of humor when it came to war. It is important to be able to distinguish that fact versus the TV series itself which was geared more toward looking specifically at the comedic side of things in general. This Original theatrical release was relative for the time and those especially who had served. Though the time period remains somewhat misunderstood, MASH bridges that gap and remains a keepsake to those who understood this time period even when others didn't. Now for a look at the flip side... MASH S1EP23 "No Turnip Left Unsqueezed" Synopsis: The MASH unit hilariously tries to deal with a supply shortage. INT - OPERATING ROOM - DAY Hawkeye, BJ, Frank, Hotlips are operating on patients along with a few assistants. Hawkeye: Dammit! Looks like we're going to need a pint or two to compensate. Clamp. Nurse 1: Clamp. Nurse 1 hands Hawkeye a clamp. Hawkeye has a moment of delay. Nurse 1: Yes, Doctor? Hawkeye: Yes? To what? My after hours proposition or am I just that obviously tired? Frank: Oh, would you just wake up Pierce! Hotlips laughs, much to Franks surprise. Hotlips: Good one Frank. Frank: Why thanks lovey dove. BJ: Look out Hawk, you've got competition. Hotlips: Finally, some REAL humor around here for a change. BJ: (To Hawkeye) I don't think she meant yours. Hawkeye: Insult gladly accepted Margaret. The day something finally happens around here with Frank will be the day we can all finally get some sleep. BJ: I'll know I'll be laughing in mine... Frank: Ha, ha. BJ: ...or crying. Nurse 2 walks in. Hawkeye: Nurse, give me two pints AB negative. Frank: AB negative?! Hawkeye: Don't wake me Frank! Frank: You know that's in short supply! Hawkeye: And so are the people waiting in line to use it. Stat! Nurse 2: Yes, Doctor. Frank: You know, if we're going to use supply like this we're going to have to start making sacrifices. BJ: As if we haven't been already? Hotlips: (To Frank) What did you have in mind? Frank: I don't know. Maybe donating more blood? BJ: Sheer genius Frank. Hawkeye: Great. We'll start with our Turnip rations. All in favor? Frank: This is not a laughing matter! Hawkeye: It might not Frank, but you on the other hand are very laughable. Frank: I am? Hotlips: (To Frank) That wasn't a compliment. Frank looks dumbfounded. Frank: Oh. Hotlips: ENOUGH. We'll look into finding some volunteers later. Ok? Frank? Frank: Yes. That's right. We'll look into it later. BJ: Anybody we know? Hawkeye: Frank? Frank: What? Hawkeye: I know your AB negative, but I haven't been seeing you stand in line lately. Frank: Well, uhm, I've been busy. Hawkeye: Yea? Frank: I'm a senior officer. I'm needed. Hawkeye: (To BJ) Yes, I agree. It's good to be needed. Don't you think? BJ: Oh, yes. It's very good to be needed. Frank: I've got to stay up long hours. Hawkeye: long hours, yes. BJ: I know long hours. Frank: And to oversee everything. Hawkeye: Everything. Frank: And the stress. Hawkeye: We know about the stress. By the way, do we know about stress? BJ: I'm afraid we do. Hotlips: All right stop it you two. (To Frank) Don't reply Frank. They are just egging you on. Hawkeye: I think he's egging himself just fine. (To BJ) Don't you? BJ: Lots of egg, yes. End of Teaser

Always a pleasure to see.

Picture and sound quality are ok for a blu-ray but not amazing. There are some lengthy special features on the blu-ray which I found interesting, albeit there is some overlap between them. Remember this is the original feature film, not the TV series. The film came first and most of the actors from the film weren't in the TV series. Will you like the film if you like the TV series but have never seen the film? No idea? My personal opinion is that whatever you think about the film or its 'pitch' you will both appreciate and find objectionable some of the scenes but either way you get more more out of it. Its funny in places and there is some funny dialogue (most likely adlibbed) but for me it's just a good film not one of the all time greats.

Beim Durchsehen der vorhandenen Bewertungen stellt sich aufdringlich die Frage, ob dieser Film für einen Serienfreund sehenswert ist oder eben nicht. Die Serie halte ich für gut, der Humor ist relativ leicht und trifft den heutigen Zeitgeist. Wer auch mit modernen Komödien und Serien mit Lachern im Hintergrund etwas anfangen kann, für den ist auch die Serie sehr gut geeignet. Es klingt nun arrogant, und nicht sonderlich bescheiden, aber da nunmal beides auch auf den Film zutrifft: Dieser Film ist es auf keinen Fall. Es ist wohl traurige Tatsache, und ich verfalle jedesmal in tiefe Melancholie wenn ich es mir eigestehen muss, aber diesen Zeitgeist, den auch andere Filme aus dieser Epoche represäntieren, den gibts heute auf Celluloid nicht mehr zu sehen. Wenn man den unterschiedlichen Humor einmal ungeschminkt trennen will, könnte man zu einem traurigem Ergebnis kommen: Der Film macht sich über Ereignisse und Personen lustig, welchen eine naturgegebene Ernsthaftigkeit und oft Tragik anhaftet, dass es im Endeffekt zum echten Nachdenken über Sinn und Sinnlosigkeit über ein Ereignis wie den Krieg anregen kann, und wohl auch soll. Abgesehen davon hat eine ganz große Portion Respektlosigkeit wohl noch wenigen geschadet. Diesen Film würde ich gerne auf dem Platz des himmlischen Friedens auf der Leinwand sehen. Die Serie ist in ihrem Ansatz wie gesagt gut, aber sie geht bei weitem nicht so tief und weit, und zwar in jeder Beziehung, wie der Film. Die Serie setzt nunmal dort an, wo Laurel und Hardy aufhören: Dort wo es gehörig lustig ist, aber jeder mitkommt und sich keiner auf den Schlips getreten fühlt. Um es unverschämt zu sagen: Wer den Film im Verhältnis zur Serie abwertet, der hätte sich anstelle des Films lieber einen Tatort angesehen, der ist wenigstens spannend! Denen sich der Film erschließt werden feststellen, dass sich dieser Film in eine sehr kleine Reihe ultra-derber Späße einreiht, welche absichtlich vor keiner Konvention und keinem Tabu halt machen, und wirklich anspruchsvolles und amüsantes Kino für Erwachsene und junge Erwachsene darstellen. In eine Reihe mit diesem Geist würde ich "Die Ausgebufften", "Stoßtrupp Gold", "Wege zum Ruhm", "Dr. Seltsam oder wie ich lernte die Bombe zu lieben" setzen. Dritter Film ist wohl kein Spaß, aber die Absurdität und Doppeldeutigkeit sind beiden gemeinsam. Diese Rezension erhebt natürlich rein gar keinen Anspruch auf Objektivität oder Qualität. Da ich aber nicht verstehe, wie man einen Film, zu dem man keinen Zugang findet, dann auch noch schlecht bewerten kann, wars mir ein Bedürfnis einen möglichen Blickwinkel zu zeigen.

Très beau film plein d'humour

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Divertidísima comedia muy bien editada en este BluRay con gran calidad de imagen y sonido.