Catch-22
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alan Arkin, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Martin Balsam, Richard BenjaminBrand: ARKIN,ALAN
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 122 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-05-22
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of Catch-22
Movie Review: Improving Over Time
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a film about military absurdity and entrepreneurial creativity. If you have no military experience, watch it as a documentary. I received my indoctrination in the 1950's when I arrived in Korea as a Private. Upon arrival, we were sent to the Supply Room and given a long list of equipment and supplies which we were required to have immediately. We were also informed that there was a small problem. These items, normally furnished by the Supply Room, were currently out-of-stock and expected to remain so. Fortunately, an old woman just outside the fence had all the items in quanity, but if we purchased anything from her, we would be buying from the Black Market, which was illegal. The old woman liked a certain brand of soap, however, and would trade each item for an established number of bars of the soap. Fortunately, we could legally purchase unlimited bars of this soap (3 at a time) at the Post Exchange at a very reasonable price. For a few bars extra, she would arrange for all our new patches to be sewn onto our uniforms. All we needed to do was sign a receipt for advance pay which the Army would give to help us feel welcome and get settled in. We could use the money to purchase things like soap, for example. Did we all understand our duty? Yeah, Sarge. We got it!
We had a 24 hr Mess Hall, but the food consisted of large vats of things like powdered eggs, powdered milk, powdered potatoes, oatmeal, etc, which appeared to have been chewed, partially digested, then regurgitated before being served. Choice UDSA steaks, eggs, fresh vegetables, etc, were available in the local village to be traded for cigarettes and alcohol, which we could purchase in unlimited quantities at the Post Exchange at a very reasonable price. For a consideration, cooks in the Mess Hall would skillfully cook the food for us. Did we all understand our dining options? Yeah, Sarge. We got it! And so it went.
The Military Air Transportation Service was extensively used for world-wide distribution for all sorts of contraband. With US taxpayers covering all shipping costs, smuggling boomed.
I read Catch-22 in the 1960's. It was hilarious and insane. Due to my personal experience in the Army, I accepted it as a realistic, highly entertaining, but sometimes sobering, account of World War II in Europe. The subsequent movie was a big disappointment to me, because it left out so many parts of the book. Now, after 36 years, when I watch the DVD, I think the movie is superb and really captures the spirit of the book. Some well chosen special features and more commentaries would have been nice, but the movie speaks well for itself. Had it tried to cover the entire book, the movie would have made Gone With The Wind seem like a featurette.
Perhaps it has just been too long since I read the book, but, be that as it may, to anyone who hasn't read the book or seen the movie recently, I recommend that you ignore the critics and watch this DVD. Then, if you enjoy the DVD, read the book. In fact, I think it's time for me to check out a copy at the local library and read it again myself.
Summary of Catch-22
The cinematic adaptation of Joseph Heller's scathing black comedy about a small group of flyers in the Mediterranean in 1944.Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 13-AUG-2002
Media Type: DVD
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