M*A*S*H
This really is one of these must-see movies. In fact, I have been thinking about watching this for ages after everybody recommending it to me; it definitely was a good recommendation. However, just as it is the case for many comedies, there is not much to say about M*A*S*H. The type of humour made me think of “Adam’s Apples” a lot, and the topic made me think of “Jarhead”. The truth is, M*A*S*H is probably not comparable to any of these two, perhaps “Harold and Maude” would work the best: They are both movies from about the same time and with the same black humour, especially when it is about life and death.
So yeah, I guess my favourite character would be Hot Lips (hahaha!), and my favourite scenes were the guy who wanted to kill himself for being gay and the football play, although I realized yet again that I don’t know anything about football. That was the best ending the movie could have, and I totally understand how it had turned into a long, successful TV show – it works like a high school comedy, only in a different setting and with much better, original characters.
For awhile, I have been contemplating with myself if I should write “M*A*S*H” or “MASH”. The former makes me want t*o w*r*i*t*e l*i*k*e t*h*i*s…
I just wanted to start complaining how the movie isn’t all that Robert Altman-ish in my opinion until I read that his 14-year-old son wrote the lyrics to “Suicide is painless”. Oh goodness. XD
So you finally watched and approved it. I can now die in peace. :P
Hohohoho, I knew you would say something like that. But don’t die!
I’ve never seen the film but I ought to, really, since I’ve loved every episode of the TV series I’ve seen.
There seems to be a variety of dark ‘medical’ comedy that’s a bit like gallows humour – every time I watch Scrubs I see it as a more modern, but less sophisticated and more slapstick, version of M*A*S*H*.
Quite often I think that making a joke about a situation is a safety measure of sorts to prevent the gravity of the said situation becoming too overwhelming. In a war zone maybe you have to laugh otherwise you’d go nuts! There are quite a few serious issues addressed in M*A*S*H* of course, but laughing in the face of adversity is a brilliant way to deal with it.
Soon to be added to my ‘to watch’ list, then.
Well, a famous german-speaking author once stated (and beautifully explained why this is) that Comedy is the purest form of Tragedy.
Personally, beyond a certain point I just don’t cry, I laugh.
The TV series is much more lighthearted than the movie, so don’t be surprised. The movie is really mean at times.
@Martin: Hmm, you should watch the movie! I don’t think you would mind the blackness of the humour, it’s a little disturbing at times (uhh, I really don’t think I ever want to get operated again), but if you like the TV show, you definitely will like the movie.
Note that I haven’t seen the TV series though XD
@Pixelmatsch: Haha, but a tragedy is supposed to cleanse your heart or whatever catharsis was again. Indeed a comedy does that brilliantly.