Slightly dated, but still a fine film.

Rating: Null/10 (20 May 2002)

This is a review of the MASH 5 Star Collection DVD.
Comparing MASH the movie and MASH the T.V. show is like comparing apples with oranges; they're two completely different entities. Although I was a bit young, I watched MASH on CBS, but I didn't know about the movie until after it's run ended. It wasn't until they announced on T.V. about the restored version of the film that I decided it would be a good time to check it out. When I got my PS2, MASH became the second movie that I saw with it (the third, what else, Showgirls!).
MASH the movie is a thinly veiled account of the Vietnam War, although the film is set in Korea. We follow the lives and antics of doctors who tended to the wounded during the conflict. A superb black comedy, it finds its humour in the gory operating scenes and abuse of several individuals. It also delivers one of the most entertaining football games in cinema history as well. There's even a take on the Passion Play that's done with class.
The acting is superb (I liked Donald Sutherland's Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce the best; Sutherland has a rich, distinctive voice), Robert Altman's direction (with his trademark overlapping dialogue and zoom-in) is first rate. The film is alive with spontaniety and delivers its anti-war message without being overbearing.
The 5 Star DVD package has two discs containing the film, 3 (count 'em) 3 documentaries, a film restoration short, a 30th anniversary tribute for Robert Altman made in June, 2000, and more. They're good, too; although Altman's commentary of his film is too sparse. I was surprised to see that Robert Duvall, a future Oscar winner, did not participate in any of this; I guess he's too famous or something. Still, lots of good entertainment worth seeing.