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M*A*S*H, a review by Jon

M.A.S.H.
4 out of 5



Hailed as one of the best comedies ever made and nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, the story focuses on army surgeons who develop a lunatic life-style in order to handle everyday horrors encountered in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. Though highly skilled and deeply dedicated this irreverent mob of madcaps is equally adept at making a shambles of army bureaucracy.

M.A.S.H. is a great comedy. Kind of like a forerunner of Police Academy, except not. It feels authentic even when in the middle of utter lunacy. Much of this is due to Robert Altman's unique direction style. Even though this was an early film for him and a difficult shoot, his method is key and follows little of what you may expect to be a proper narrative. Scenes are fluid, with few edits, but threads are left unresolved as we move onto a new set-up and it isn't clear how long it's all taking; days, weeks, who cares? This is really funny stuff! Essentially, disguised by the laid back pace, it's a collection of hilarious set-pieces as we follow Hawkeye (Donald Sutherland), Trapper John (Elliot Gould) and Duke (Tom Skerritt) stitching troops back together in Korea.

If anything I was disappointed that there wasn't more serious scenes. I don't remember the TV show well, but I seem to think there was more poignancy. But that's being picky, because within the film is a unique atmosphere that must have seemed very audacious on release and it does have moments that make you think. Nothing is focused on for too long though. Like a good magician, Altman is all about misdirection (dialogue in particular is indistinct). I think you could watch this film a dozen times and keep finding something new.

All the cast work very well together with fantastic banter between them and playing to their strengths. For instance, Robert Duvall is possibly the most serious as Frank, which just makes him funnier in the chaos. All the running gags like the Colonel's one-sided conversations and the base announcements are great fun and serve as tenuous links to the next inspired caper, like a trip to Japan to operate on a child and get a game of golf in, or the quest to find out if Hot Lips really is blonde! Brilliant stuff.

Altman went on to greatness, but here only earned a flat-fee. Funny thing though, is his son wrote the theme, which carried on into the TV show and he ended up earning far more than his Dad!

(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 12th, 2009)

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, a review by addicted2dvd

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
When the city's most feared gangsters are systematically eliminated, the Caped Crusader is blamed. But prowling the Gotham Night is a shadowy new villain, the Phantasm, a sinister figure with some link to Batman's past. Can the Dark Knight elude the police, capture the Phantasm and clear his name?

Unmasking the Phantasm is just one of the twists in this dazzling animated feature. Discover all-new revelations about Batman's past, his archrival the Joker and Batman's most grueling battle ever - the choice between his love of a beautiful woman and his vow to be the defender of right. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is "a mystery that is genuinely absorbing, suspenseful and moving." (Cincinnati Enquirer)

My Thoughts:
This is a theatrical release from the people that made Batman: The Animated Series. This is a right good movie. I enjoyed how they showed through flashbacks what Bruce Wayne went through to become Batman. And the story of his first love interest was good as well. But I did find it pretty obvious who was behind the Mask of the Phantasm.  The quality of this DVD is very good... no problem with audio or video. But I did find the release lacking when it comes to the extras. Unfortunately all we get is the Theatrical Trailer.

(From Batman Marathon on August 30th, 2008)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Full Metal Panic? FUMOFFU (2003/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 300 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

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Plot:furumetaru panikku? fumoffu
1.01 Minami Kara ki ta Otoko / Dakyou Muyou no Hosute-ji (2003-08-26)
Writer: Shouji Gatou (Original Material By), Shouji Gatou (Screenwriter)
Director: Yasuhiro Takemoto
Cast: English Vocal Cast), Chris Patton (Sousuke Sagara (voice)), Luci Christian (Kaname Chidori (voice)), Hilary Haag (Teletha Testarossa (voice)), Chris Ayres (Atsunobu Hayashimizu (voice)), Monica Rial (Kyoko Tokiwa (voice)), Kira Vincent Davis (Ena Saeki (voice)), Nancy Novotny (Ren Mikihara (voice)), Christine Auten (Mari Akutsu (voice)), Tiffany Grant (Yoshiki Akutsu (voice)), Kelly Manison (Principal Tsuboi (voice)), Andy McAvin (Vice Principal (voice)), Jason Douglas (Juvenile Delinquent A (voice)), John Gremillion (Juvenile Delinquent B (voice)), Kyle Jones (Juvenile Delinquent C (voice)), Nomed Kaerf (Juvenile Delinquent D (voice)), Christine Auten (Additional Voices (voice)), donaldo (Additional Voice (voice)), Jason Douglas (Additional Voice (voice)), Chris Hawley (Additional Voice (voice)), Nancy Novotny (Additional Voice (voice)), Mike Vance (Additional Voice (voice)), Mike Yantosca (Additional Voice (voice)), Japanese Vocal Cast), Tomokazu Seki (Sousuke Sagara (voice)), Satsuki Yukino (Kaname Chidori (voice)), Yukana (Teletha Testarossa (voice)), Toshiyuki Morikawa (Atsunobu Hayashimizu (voice)), Ikue Kimura (Kyoko Tokiwa (voice)), Mizuka Arima (Principal Tsuboi (voice)), Shiho Kikuchi (Ena Saeki (voice)), Rie Tanaka (Ren Mikihara (voice)), Mayumi Asano (Mari Akutsu (voice)), Masumi Hamada (Yoshiki Akutsu (voice)), Ikuya Sawaki (Vice Principal (voice)), Yasuyuki Kase (Juvenile Delinquent A (voice)), Katsuhiro Harasawa (Juvenile Delinquent B (voice)), Junro Maruyama (Juvenile Delinquent C (voice)), Yasuhiko Kawatsu (Juvenile Delinquent D (voice))

This is the comedy spin-off to Full Metal Panic. I think it is really funny. A must-see after having seen Full Metal Panic.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 20th, 2011)