MASH

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: January 25, 1970

7.2	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 72 Ratings

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txrangersfan72Mar 4, 2012

I come from the most peaceful time militarily in number of years. I've always known the stigma around Vietnam, and lord knows the concept of vulgar comedies has thrived in my lifetime. South Park, anyone? And though I know little of theI come from the most peaceful time militarily in number of years. I've always known the stigma around Vietnam, and lord knows the concept of vulgar comedies has thrived in my lifetime. South Park, anyone? And though I know little of the Korean War, I get that M*A*S*H was groundbreaking when Robert Altman unleashed the film version of the book in 1970 because it not only made light of war, which, when the book was released in 1968, was a hot topic, but also because of the unique pacing of the film and the astoundingly vulgar situations, by even today's standards. The film, I didn't know, was originally given an X rating. However, I always thought the TV series was painfully boring. I still think it is one of the most overrated shows ever. So the desire to see the original film was not in me. Yet, I did. My take is that there is vulgar and there is disturbing. If I took M*A*S*H contextually at its time in history, I get it's relevance. I realize there was nothing like this movie at the time, and has been little like it since. I praise it for being such a groundbreaking film, but to watch it for the first time in 2012 is a hard thing to do. Especially as a Gen-Exer, who can't appreciate why making fun of war so strongly is a humorous thing. Why being so insensitive to women, blacks and authority in general while at war makes absolutely no sense to me. I found the movie dull. I may have chuckled a couple of times, but maybe this movie's genius is that it is such a strong portrayal, albeit unrealistic, of what war does to its participants and the inhumane conditions it expects modern people to accept, so the way they cope is to cure the boredom and sadness with as much outlandishness as can entertain them. I understand that the book was meant to be a satirical and over-the-top comedy about war told from someone who was very much against war, but had to participate in war, but calling it a comedy is stretching things a bit far. At best, it's an inside joke. To me, it just wasn't funny.… Expand

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Compi24May 20, 2020

Considering the tangentially related international events occurring around the time of this film's release, I completely understand the almost universally agreed upon sentiment that Robert Altman's "M*A*S*H" is significant. Not only did itConsidering the tangentially related international events occurring around the time of this film's release, I completely understand the almost universally agreed upon sentiment that Robert Altman's "M*A*S*H" is significant. Not only did it provide a refreshingly flippant and breezy attitude in the face of such harrowing concepts as war and death, it spawned what many believe to be the greatest television series of all time. This in mind, though, there's still a lot here that prevented — nay — dissuaded me from liking it more than I did. While it's mostly funny and enjoyable overall, there are a few attempts at humor that really do cross a line for me. Now, I get it. It was a different time. But, time is a concept that's always moved forward. I happen to live in the now. Past the time of this movie's release. Past the time when humiliating people through sexual means was considered hilarious. This especially sucks for me, because I think a good portion of the rest of this movie is fine and palatable in a post-New Hollywood sense of the term. Maybe 80-85%? Time and time again I'll see movies from certain bygone eras that make one or two small mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes ultimately thrust the entire product off the path of "aging well" and I wonder what might have been. This is one of those times. "M*A*S*H" is in no way a "bad" movie. It's just trapped in a very discernible, intermittently disagreeable time.… Expand

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WalterLebowskiMay 19, 2014

Directed by famous Robert Altman, a guy who inspired his actors to improve, this movie is about surgeons who use to treat wounded U.S. soldiers fighting in Korean War. Though the premise sounds like it is a serious movie, it is actuallyDirected by famous Robert Altman, a guy who inspired his actors to improve, this movie is about surgeons who use to treat wounded U.S. soldiers fighting in Korean War. Though the premise sounds like it is a serious movie, it is actually satirical black comedy set in background of Army Hospital.
The movie follows three surgeons named Hawkeye, Trapper Joe and Duke, who spend their free time in womanizing and drinking. These three protagonists or "anti-hero" may be one of most unlikable characters to put on screen with not much of redeeming quality except the fact they are good surgeon who saves lives of soldiers. They like to break rules for their benefit and bully anyone they don't like or does not cooperate with them. Though the audience should be rooting for them as they are rebelling against authority which is strict, it is pretty difficult to root for them as the authority they are rebelling against is not so bad. I mean they get to play, womanize and drink in their free time. What makes rooting for them even harder is the fact that antagonists (Hot Lips and Colonel Blake) are actually likable character who are humiliated and bullied just for the sake of fun. The audience is supposed to laugh at these people but it is difficult to laugh when the pranks played to nice people are cruel and unnecessary. Here, not only lead characters are misogynist, but the whole movie's storyline in misogynist. Worst of all is the leading characters never feel ashamed for their cruel joke.
Though the movie is often referred to "anti war satire", the movie does not feel anti war at all, because the protagonist does not suffer from war much but instead they are having time of their life. There is no excuse or good reason for their bad behavior.

Saying all this, I am not saying movie is bad. The director was quite revolutionary for the technique used in movie, which sets the atmosphere of a dirty hospital and even brings to your world. If you want to see the movie for its direction, do watch this. But if you are expecting good humor, entertainment and a smile on your face, you will have hard time. You will enjoy this movie, only if you are ready to drop your moral and sanity.… Expand

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