Although there are no guns blazing, or cannons going off, the audiance does get the war message lound and clear. The football game, however, should not have been in there. It just doesn't belong, and hurt the film.
The main character, "Hawkeye" Pierce (Donald Sutherland), is drafted. He comes to the 4077th not knowing what to expect. He soon meets friends, including one "Trapper" John McIntyre (Elliot Gould) whom he had met at a conference a few years before in Boston.
The film shows the horrors of war through comedy, surgery, blood and gore very well. There are MANY supporting cast members (who together have more lines than the films stars). Robert Duvall is non-existant from the second half of the movie, and Gary Burghoff makes his debute as Radar O'Reily, which he would continue into the T.V. show.
In its own right, it is a damn good movie. If you want a starting point for the series, watch this movie.
Plot:
Although there are no guns blazing, or cannons going off, the audiance does get the war message lound and clear. The football game, however, should not have been in there. It just doesn't belong, and hurt the film.
Ring Lardner, Jr., who wrote the screenplay, had every right to be mad about there being little of his "original" script in the final cut. His would have been a better film.
Still, M*A*S*H is a great film, and a good starting point to the rest of the cult phenominon. However, it should be noted that the film is ONLY a starting point for the T.V. series; they are almost nothing a like.
Visual Effects:
The cinematography is excellent. The blood and gore on the operating tables was very well done.
Sound:
Above average. The song "Suicide is Painless" is a perfect song for this film.
Character Development: 
There is little character development in the movie. Frank Burns goes insane; Hawkeye and Trapper don't change much (Trapper does become chief surgeon), and Magaret goes from some-what smart to stupid.
Atmosphere:
It is a war comedy, first of all. Second, if you've only seen the T.V. show you'll either be really surprised, shocked at how different they are, or mad because they aren't the same.
Realism:
Shows the horrors of war some-what acurately.
Warren’s Rating:
Movies it was nominated with for Best Picture:
Airport, (1970); Five easy pieces, (1970); Love Story, (1970); *Patton, (1970)
7.86/10 Is the movie worth your time to watch?
15-08-03
