Review of M*A*S*H (1970) by Shane V — 24 Dec 2009
Taking a look back in time to the Korean War & Donald Sutherland's career with today's review of the movie that started the series, M*A*S*H.
Captain "Hawkeye" Pierce & Captain "Duke" Forrest are two new surgeons at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit 3 miles from the front line. There they meet several characters with whom they work and fraternize to make the horrors of war more bearable.
This is definitely a movie made for the time period. It literally throws the world of the Korean War in your face, but not "in-your-face" like. The characters are enjoyable when they're coherent, and there was a major under-use of Robert Duvall. It tries to be a character piece, but it seems a too muddled and confusing, making it more like a group movie. It tries to convey a group trying to survive the horrors of war by being crazy, but it never actually even hints at the so-called horrors. But I do have to applaud M.A.S.H. for one thing: that it was meant solely to entertain and lift the hearts of the civilians and soldiers who saw it during that terrible time period. And that is what films are supposed to do: entertain; remove us from our own hectic lives. And MASH does exactly that. It is a true blue example of the purpose of movies altogether. Unfortunately, its best qualities make it almost completely irrelevant to people in modern times. I give M*A*S*H 8.5 insane pranks out of 10.
"No. No booze. Sex. I want sex. Bring me some sex. That one. The sultry bitch with the fire in her eyes. Bring her to me. Take her clothes off and bring her to me." -John "Trapper" McIntyre.
This review of M*A*S*H (1970) was written by Shane V on 24 Dec 2009.
M*A*S*H has generally received very positive reviews.
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