"You are a very weird person, Yossarian"

Rating: 10/10 (22 January 2001)

Like many movies, the reading of the book for background information is really helpful here, but not mandatory. For 1970, it has the biggest and best crew of stars probably ever offered on film. It's unfortunate that most university graduates from pre-1980 have heard the expression "Catch-22" but haven't watched the movie or read the book.
During one part of the story, Yossarian, the lead bombardier, finds out that they are going to bomb an Italian village that has no stragetic interest to the US war effort. He decides to drop his bombs on the Mediterranean Sea, and since he's the Lead Bombardier of his Army squadron, everyone else has to follow suit. The General, General Scheisskopk (check out what that means in German, folks) wants to court marshall him, or shoot him. His Colonels dissuade him from doing this, give Yossarian a medal and promote him to avoid the negative publicity which would happen if this information got the press.
This movie has many ironic experiences shown, including the horrors of war. The cinematography is excellent and the movie is well worth watching. Yossarian is the anti-hero who goes through many adventures that young people should see before entering service.
Jack Hamann